Purpose of Workshop: The planned workshop will focus on how climate change is affecting natural resources in deserts of the western U.S., as well as the land, water, and species management and research needs that are essential to address in the coming decade.  Workshop objectives include:

• Increase understanding of climate change processes and their effects on the physical systems and biota of the Great Basin and Mojave Desert
• Provide the "best available" scientific information for adapting to change
• Examine research and management needs
• Evaluate management constraints and determine potential solutions
• Develop effective research and management collaborations for addressing climate change into the future

Participants: Stakeholders in the natural resources management and research communities with interest and expertise in the potential effects of climate change on the aridlands of western North America.  The intended audience includes federal, state, tribal, and local government land and resource management agencies; federal, state and local government officials; federal, state, university, and non-governmental researchers; and other partners of interest.

Draft Workshop Agenda: The planned workshop will focus on how climate change is affecting natural resources in deserts of the western U.S., as well as the land, water, and species management and research needs that are essential to address in the coming decade.  Workshop objectives include:

• Overview: Climate change drivers affecting the interior West; synthesis presentations about natural resource responses to climate change and associated mitigation and adaptation options
• Current research and information needs: Will not only consider "best available scientific information," but will also provide different perspectives on future research emphases and management information needs
• Tools: Data, analyses, models, and conservation planning related to species, habitats, and conservation areas, in addition to socioeconomic drivers of change in the arid West; existing and new possibilities for improved coordination
• Strategies and Actions: An examination of existing efforts: What networks and organizations exist or need to be formed to mitigate and adapt to ecosystem changes driven by a changing climate?

The conference, which will take place over 2 1/2 - 3 days in Las Vegas, will include synthetic plenary and focused break-out sessions designed to foster innovative applications to climate-related management problems. The workshop's lofty objectives include formulation of issue-specific research-management working groups and using technology to reduce environmental and monetary costs of the workshop.