ABOUT THIS EVENT
This online course is designed for land trusts actively working on stewardship projects in forests, suburban and urban forests, forested watersheds and wetland systems. It will be held over four weeks requiring 4.5 hours of virtual live classes, a self-guided field session and assignments. Instructors will provide guidance, weekly check-ins and coaching.
Land Trust organizations can register for the course here
Logistics
- The course follows the Quick Guide to Adaptation Planning for Land Trusts published by the USDA Forest Service in partnership with the Land Trust Alliance. Download the publication here.
- This course will be held over four weeks requiring three 90-minute virtual live classes, a self-guided field session, and assignments. Instructors will provide guidance, periodic check-ins, and coaching.
- Land trusts can participate as individuals or in groups up to five.
- For the self-guided field session, participants are asked to visit a property or natural area of their choosing and think about real-world applications of the course material.
- Office hours are available throughout the week - participants can setup a 15-minute meeting with course instructors as needed.
Course Goals (Oct. 25, Nov. 1 and Nov. 15 |2-3:30 p.m. Eastern)
- Identify locally important climate change impacts and vulnerabilities.
- Understand a step-by-step process for considering climate change and carbon in land stewardship and management.
- Develop management actions to help your project or natural area adapt to changing conditions.
- Communicate with stakeholders and rights holders about climate impacts and adaptation responses.
Self-guided field session (Nov. 8)
Participants will be asked to visit a property or natural area of their choosing and think about real-world applications of the course material.
About the instructors
Mattison Brady is a climate adaptation specialist with the Northern Institute of Applied Climate Science based at Michigan Tech University and a Fellow with the USDA Northern Forest Climate Hub. He focuses on scientific collaboration to share the results of recent studies of vulnerable keystone forest species throughout the Midwest and Northeast. His research deals with forest health and silviculture in temperate forests, focusing on sugar maple decline phenomena.
Samantha Myers is a forest adaptation specialist with the Northern Institute of Applied Climate Science based at the University of Vermont and a Fellow with the USDA Northern Forest Climate Hub. She supports natural resource managers in the Northeast in developing climate-informed management plans and adaptation projects. She also serves as a regional point of contact for activities related to climate adaptation and carbon management in forest ecosystems. Prior to joining the NIACS team, Sam completed her Masters in Applied Forest Ecology at the University of Massachusetts Amherst and worked with The Nature Conservancy in Maryland on the land management team.