IAP Approach & Schedule
- Establish an effective long-term science-management partnership involving multiple agencies and stakeholders to continually assess climate change science and its implications for biophysical and social resources. Develop this science-management partnership comprised of key personnel from throughout the region, national forests, national parks, Forest Service research stations, and other organizations. (Spring/Summer 2015)
- Conduct a vulnerability assessment of priority resources (species, ecosystems, ecosystem services) (Summer/Fall 2015) and develop associated adaptation strategies (Winter/Spring 2016) to help build resistance, enhance resilience, and facilitate ecological transitions for the Intermountain ecoregion.
- The assessment and adaptation strategy will be peer reviewed and published, providing the scientific foundation for operationalizing climate change in planning, ecological restoration, and project management.
- Educate and engage with partners, stakeholders, decision makers, planners, and resource specialists to:
- Build an enduring partnership to facilitate application of climate-smart management.
- Provide tools to incorporate and apply adaptation options through assessment, planning, project implementation, and monitoring.
- Write a draft climate change vulnerability assessment that addresses the priority resource areas.
- Convene workshops for the science-management partnership and other participants to identify the most significant vulnerabilities to climate change throughout the region, and develop specific adaptation strategies and tactics. Conduct workshops for each subregion with scientists, land managers, conservation practitioners, and other stakeholders to review the vulnerability assessment. (Spring 2016)
- Downscale information from the region-wide assessment to identify the most significant vulnerabilities to climate change for priority resources in each subregion.
- Identify adaptation strategies and tactics to reduce resource vulnerabilities. Adaptation strategies and tactics will be linked to corresponding management operation levels at different spatial and temporal scales.
- 2-Day Workshop dates in May/June 2016
- Develop guidance for the implementation of adaptation strategies and tactics at various management operation levels (project design, resource program, and forest planning).
- The partnership builds on the success of three similar climate change partnerships - in the Olympic Peninsula, the North Cascades, Washington (North Cascadia Adaptation Partnership), and the Blue Mountains of Oregon (Blue Mountains Adaptation Partnership). These efforts provide a foundation for climate change adaptation work on national forests and adjacent lands.
- Compile all information in a report, conduct peer review, and publish the report.
Timeline
April 21, 2015: Kickoff Meeting, Ogden, Utah
May 2015 – April 2016: Compile information for vulnerability assessment
June 11, 2015: Partner and Informational Webinar
March 2016: Focus Area Webinars, approximately 10 one-hour webinars from 9-11am MT on March 3, 10, 17, 24, 31, 2016
May/June 2016: Convene workshops for science-management partnership in Utah, Nevada, and Idaho/Wyoming; review vulnerability assessment and development adaptation options
May 4/5: Ogden, Utah
May 11/12: Boise, Idaho
May 18/19: Salt Lake City, Utah
May 25/26: Reno, Nevada
June 1/2: Idaho Falls, Idaho
June 2016 – June 2017: Complete final report, review, and submit for publication
