Presentation by Chris Swanston at the 2015 National Adaptation Forum.

1. ADAPTATION MINIONS
Chris Swanston, USDA Forest Service
www.forestadaptation.org
EMBRACING DIVERSE VALUES,
WORKING WITH WHAT YOU HAVE,
AND COMMITTING TO ACTION

2. Climate Change Resource Center
www.fs.usda.gov/ccrc
Climate Change Response Framework
www.forestadaptation.org
NIACS MINIONS

3. CLIMATE EDUCATION
 Online modules – climate,
carbon, adaptation
 Silvicultural certification
 0.5- to 2-day climate workshops
 Webinars
 5-day advanced course
 >80 presentations per year
Swanston and Janowiak 2012; www.treesearch.fs.fed.us/pubs/40543
Less talk,
more action!!

4. ADAPTATION RESOURCES
 Designed for a variety of land
owners with diverse goals and
objectives
 Tailored to eastern forest types;
the first version is now in revision
 Menu of adaptation strategies and
approaches for forest ecosystems
 Does not make recommendations
 Now expanded into an online tool!
www.adaptationworkbook.org

5. Swanston and Janowiak 2012; www.adaptationworkbook.org
ADAPTATION WORKBOOK
A structured process to integrate climate change
considerations into management planning and activities
1. DEFINE area of
interest, management
objectives, and time
frames.
2. ASSESS climate change
impacts and
vulnerabilities for the
area of interest.
3. EVALUATE
management objectives
given projected impacts
and vulnerabilities.
4. IDENTIFY and
implement adaptation
approaches and tactics .
5. MONITOR and
evaluate effectiveness of
implemented actions.
Vulnerability
assessments, scientific
literature, and other
resources
Adaptation
Strategies and
Approaches

6. ADAPTATION WORKBOOK
Ways the Adaptation
Workbook can be used:
 Coordinator facilitates
individual or small group
 Managers use the workbook
independently
• Online version now available!
• Future: online course
 Forest Adaptation Planning
and Practices workshop
• General (VT ANR; UConn, etc.)
• Conservation (WCS; DU)

7. REAL-WORLD PROJECTS!
 Natural resource professionals & partners
 1.5-2 days
 Hands-on (no observers!!) - bring a project!
 Work in small teams (preferred) or individuals
 Leave with tiered adaptation tactics
 13 workshops, 3 scheduled, more in discussion
Forest Adaptation Planning and Practices
A “working workshop”

8. PREWORK: DEFINE OBJECTIVES
 Select a forest or natural
resource management project
 Define management objectives
 Assemble relevant materials
and information your project
Workbook Step 1 asks:
Where are you
and what do you
care about?
Resources
 Forest Adaptation Resources
 Online Adaptation Demonstrations (examples)

9. PREWORK: REVIEW ASSESSMENTS
Workbook Step 2 asks:
How is this
particular place
vulnerable to
climate change?
Regional climate change vulnerability
assessments provide a starting point
Central Appalachians Forest Ecosystem
Vulnerability Assessment and Synthesis: A
Report from the Central Appalachians Climate
change Response Framework ProjectMinnesota Forest Ecosystem
Vulnerability Assessment and Synthesis: A
Report from the Northwoods Climate change
Response Framework Project
Wisconsin/Western UP Forest Ecosystem
Vulnerability Assessment and Synthesis: A
Report from the Northwoods Climate change
Response Framework Project

10. PREWORK: REVIEW ASSESSMENTS
Workbook Step 2 asks:
How is this
particular place
vulnerable to
climate change?
…and we provide webinars to cover
regional climate and vulnerability
trends and projections.

11. IN-PERSON: ADAPTATION COACHING
Workshop is a combo of step-by-
step explanation, whole-group
activities, and work time. Adaptation coach says:
Same job –
different climate!
You got this!

12. IN-PERSON: ASSESS PROJECT AREA
Project-groups explore the
climate trend step-down
Workbook Step 2 asks:
How is this
particular place
vulnerable to
climate change?

13. IN-PERSON: ASSESS PROJECT AREA
Whole-group exercises explore
the trends in project focus and
professional judgment
Workbook Step 2 asks:
How is this
particular place
vulnerable to
climate change?

14. IN-PERSON: ASSESS PROJECT AREA
Project-groups use best
judgment and info to assess
Workbook Step 2 asks:
How is this
particular place
vulnerable to
climate change?

15. IN-PERSON: EVALUATE OBJECTIVES
More chances to brainstorm and
learn from each other in the
whole-group challenges
exercise…
Workbook Step 3 asks:
What challenges
or opportunities
does climate
change present?

16. IN-PERSON: EVALUATE OBJECTIVES
…followed by project-group
considerations
Workbook Step 3 asks:
What challenges
or opportunities
does climate
change present?

17. IN-PERSON: IDENTIFY-IMPLEMENT
The favorite.
Workbook Step 4 asks:
What actions can
help systems
adapt to change?

18. IN-PERSON: IDENTIFY-IMPLEMENT
The favorite.

19. IN-PERSON: MONITOR
The not-at-all-favorite.
Workbook Step 5 asks:
How will we know
whether the actions
are effective?

20. IN-PERSON: MONITOR
The not-at-all-favorite.
Is it about climate? Adaptation?
Objectives?
Workbook Step 5 asks:
How will we know
whether the actions
are effective?

21. www.forestadaptation.org Click ‘Demonstration Projects’
ADAPTATION DEMONSTRATIONS

22. ADAPTATION DEMONSTRATIONS
forestadaptation.org
Learn through examples!!
 Diversity in lands
 Diversity in objectives
 Acknowledge difference,
build on similarities
 Demonstrate shared
perspectives

23. TANK YU!
Embrace diverse values
Work with what you have
Commit to action
Learn by doing, learn together