Training in Advanced Climate Change Topics

Project Summary

The Training in Advanced Climate Change Topics (TACCT) is an intensive one-week course in climate change concepts for natural resource professionals that provides advanced instruction on climate change science, concepts, and strategies for managing ecosystems for an uncertain future. It identifies climate- and carbon-related resources and tools managers can use and directly addresses the need to build organizational capacity to respond to climate change.

Outcomes

NIACS hosted TACCT courses in 2010 and 2012. More than 40 individuals have participated, representing four regional offices, many National Forests and Grasslands, and other resource management organizations. Instructors have come from a number of organizations including NIACS, Michigan Technological University, the University of Wisconsin-Madison, and the Forest Service Northern, Southern, and Pacific Southwest Research Stations.

As part of the course, participants plan a climate change outreach activity at their home location following. Several outreach activities have been completed to date, including:

• Educational posters for National Forest/Grassland staff and visitors
• Educational presentations to members of the public
• Earth Day event for National Forest staff and local students
• Forest carbon assessment
• Informational presentations to Forest/Grassland leadership, staff, and specialists

Additional Resources

• Climate Change Resource Center
• Climate Change Atlas  (US FS Northern Research Station)
• Adaptation Options for Climate-Sensitive Ecosystems and Resources  (U.S. Climate Change Science Program SAP 4.4)
• Climate, Fire, and Carbon Cycle Sciences  (US FS Northern Research Station)

Collaborators

Northern Institute of Applied Climate Science:

• Leslie Brandt, Climate Change Specialist
• Patricia Butler, Climate Change Outreach Specialist
• Maria Janowiak, Scientist, Climate Change Adaptation and Carbon Management

U.S. Forest Service, Northern Research Station:

• Chris Swanston, NIACS Director & Research Ecologist

Michigan Technological University:

• Linda Nagel, Associate Professor

U.S. Forest Service-Eastern Region

• Tom Doane, Deputy Director; Air, Water, Lands, Soils, Minerals and Environmental Engineering/Services