Research Topics
Climate Change - Developing Strategies for Mitigation and Adaptation
Main Topic |
Climate Change |
Ecosystem Effects |
Carbon Cycle |
Mitigation & Adaptation Strategies
PSW scientists collaborate with National Forest System and other natural-resource
managers to provide scientific bases for new methods on adaptation and
mitigation to climate change and greenhouse gas emissions.
Ongoing Research:
Mitigation
Adaptation
- Climate
and Landscape Change Contact: Connie Millar, cmillar@fs.fed.us
Climate change introduces a significant challenge for land managers
and decision makers in the western U.S. An urgent need
exists to incorporate climate-change considerations across the spectrum
of issues and at the spatial scales that concern resource managers
and decision makers. Despite over 20 years of climate-change science
and increased understanding of the effects of climate change on natural
resources, this information has not been delivered effectively to
public land managers or incorporated in management of national forests.
In addition, routine aspects of NFS management and planning have not
been assessed for their potential role in adaptation. Many existing
paradigms (e.g., historic range of variation) and tools (e.g., plant
association guides) assume long-term climate stability. Because climate
and natural resource conditions are changing rapidly, existing paradigms
and tools need to be reviewed, and new approaches may need to be developed.
In response to these challenges, PSW scientists are developing general
frameworks for management in a climate-change context, undertaking
case studies with national forest units, and designing specific decision-support
tools and reference materials that will incorporate climate-change
considerations into decision making. The target audience is National
Forest System (NFS) managers and decision makers from Ranger District
to Regional levels. However, much of the information developed will
be broadly relevant to other managers, policy makers, and scientists.
- Restoration
of Ecosystem Processes
- Forest
Management Services in Tropical Ecosystems
- Conservation
of Biological Diversity
- Forest
Function and Health
- Water and Watershed
Processes
- Biodiversity
and Conservation Genetics
Research is conducted by:
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