Videos
Interactive Conservation Planning for the Appalachian LCC
The Appalachian LCC is currently engaged in an effort to develop a draft regional conservation plan for the Cooperative using an interactive and iterative spatial prioritization framework. Using available data and modeling approaches that are well supported in the literature, researchers from Clemson University are developing conservation planning models that include site selection, ecological threat assessments, and broad ranging habitat and ecological connectivity analyses.
Ensuring Climate Resilient Aquatic Communities
Partners of the Appalachian LCC presented the “Riparian Restoration Climate Change Resilience Tool” to the aquatic management and research community at the Annual Eastern Brook Trout Joint Venture (EBTJV) meeting in early September.
Climate Change's Growing Threat to Public Lands
Secretary Jewell attended the 2014 World Parks Congress in Australia, where she stressed the need for international cooperation on public lands and the growing threat of climate change.
Assessing Future Energy Development across the Appalachians
The Nature Conservancy - with support from the FWS - has completed a study to assist policy makers, land management agencies, and industry in assessing potential future energy development and how that may overlap with biological and ecological values.
Assessing Future Energy Development across the Appalachians
The Nature Conservancy - with support from the Appalachian LCC - has completed a study to assist policy makers, land management agencies, and industry in assessing potential future energy development and how that may overlap with biological and ecological values.
Document: Notes from 09-26-2014 Core Team Meeting
Annotated notes from Kevin McGarigal's presentation and transcript of discussions by Core Team.
Goal 1: Data and Toolsets of Work Plan Report Card
FY2014 Annual Steering Committee Meeting 5-Year Work Plan ( “Report Card” updated August 2014).
Listening for the Rain
Listening for the Rain starts a pluricultural conversation in which some Indigenous people who live in the central United States of America discuss their observations and understandings of, as well as responses to, climate change and variability.
Video Update: Climate Change Vulnerability Research
This presentation from Lesley Sneddon of NatureServe provides an update to the Steering Committee on this Appalachian LCC funded research project. Research is compiling climate change vulnerability assessments and other relevant information on vulnerable species and habitats, discerning the various methodologies and criteria used in these assessments, and using a team of expert peer reviewers to recommend the most efficient, effective, and appropriate methods for adoption by the Appalachian LCC for conservation and adaptation planning. The recommended method will then be deployed, resulting in vulnerability assessments for a suite of key species/habitats selected in consultation with partners of the Appalachian LCC.
Video Update: Climate Change Vulnerability Research
This presentation from Lesley Sneddon of NatureServe provides an update to the Steering Committee on this Appalachian LCC funded research project. Research is compiling climate change vulnerability assessments and other relevant information on vulnerable species and habitats, discerning the various methodologies and criteria used in these assessments, and using a team of expert peer reviewers to recommend the most efficient, effective, and appropriate methods for adoption by the Appalachian LCC for conservation and adaptation planning. The recommended method will then be deployed, resulting in vulnerability assessments for a suite of key species/habitats selected in consultation with partners of the Appalachian LCC.
Climate Change Vulnerability Research Update
This presentation from Lesley Sneddon of NatureServe provides an update to the Steering Committee on a Appalachian LCC funded research project. Research is compiling climate change vulnerability assessments and other relevant information on vulnerable species and habitats, discerning the various methodologies and criteria used in these assessments, and using a team of expert peer reviewers to recommend the most efficient, effective, and appropriate methods for adoption by the Appalachian LCC for conservation and adaptation planning. The recommended method will then be deployed, resulting in vulnerability assessments for a suite of key species/habitats selected in consultation with partners of the Appalachian LCC.
Riparian Restoration to Promote Climate Change Resilience Research Update
This video presentation by Jason Coombs of the U.S. Forest Services provides an overview to an innovative riparian planting and restoration decision support tool. The tool, which is funded by the Appalachian LCC, allows managers and decision-makers to rapidly identify and prioritize areas along the banks of rivers, streams, and lakes for restoration, making these ecosystems more resilient to disturbance and future changes in climate. The tool works by identifying vulnerable stream and riverbanks that lack tree cover and shade in coldwater stream habitats. By locating the best spots to plant trees in riparian zones, resource managers can provide shade that limits the amount of solar radiation heating the water and reduces the impacts from climate change.
Aquatic Ecological Flows Research Update
This presentation from Dr. Todd Walter of Cornell University provides an update to the Steering Committee on the Appalachian LCC funded research project. The Aquatic Ecological Flows project is providing a report assessing availability of hydrologic and ecological flow model(s) suitable for the region, a georeference assessment of available ecological data to inform the ecological flow model(s), the application of the model(s) to anticipate how altered flow regimes will affect critical conditions, and a report that forecasts changes in hydrology and associated predicted biological responses in relation to different water resource development scenarios for critical watersheds.
Video Update: Aquatic Ecological Flows Research
This presentation from Dr. Todd Walter of Cornell University provides an update to the Steering Committee on this Appalachian LCC funded research project. The Aquatic Ecological Flows project is providing a report assessing availability of hydrologic and ecological flow model(s) suitable for the region, an assessment of available ecological data to inform the ecological flow model(s), the application of the model(s) to anticipate how changes in stream flow will affect environmental conditions, and a report that forecasts changes in hydrology and associated biological responses to critical watersheds from different water resource development scenarios.
Data Needs Assessment Research Update
This presentation from Dr. Robert Baldwin of Clemson University provides an update to the Steering Committee on the Appalachian LCC funded research project. The Data Needs Assessment project is evaluating existing spatial data, assembling public data in geodatabase, defining conservation planning tasks that can be accomplished, identifying problems to address if data gaps are filled, interpreting uses of data, and conducting analysis of ongoing planning efforts.
Video Update: Mapping and Classification of Cave and Karst Resources
This presentation from Professor David Culver of American University provides an update to the Steering Committee on the Appalachian LCC funded research project that is assembling and identifying key location and classification data while developing products that depict and map cave and karst habitats and biological resources across the Appalachian LCC. Developing a consistent classification system and mapping for cave and karst habitats is a foundational need for these highly unique habitats.This project will develop cave and karst data and a georeferenced suite of products that are consistent in methodology to support larger-scale planning efforts, yet usable at scales that will support local resource decision-makers.
Assessing Future Energy Development Across the Appalachians Research Update
This presentation from Judy Dunscomb of The Nature Conservancy provides an update to the Steering Committee on this Appalachian LCC funded research project. Assessing Future Impacts of Energy Extraction project is creating models of wind, shale gas, and coal development potential for the entire range of the Appalachian to predict potential future energy development and impacts to natural resources within the Appalachians. Models results and a web-based map server will help inform regional landscape planning decisions that can effectively avoid, mitigate, or offset impacts from energy development to important natural areas and the valuable services they provide.
Stream Classification Research Update
This presentation from Mark Anderson and Arlene Olivero Sheldon of The Nature Conservancy provides an update to the Steering Committee on this Appalachian LCC funded research project. A Stream Classification System for the Appalachian LCC is developing a hierarchical classification for stream and river systems and a GIS map for aquatic ecosystems. The study will include a report describing the methods used to evaluate and develop the classification system, a literature review of existing stream classifications, and a GIS stream data set.
Video Update: Stream Classification Research
This video presentation from Mark Anderson and Arlene Olivero Sheldon of The Nature Conservancy provides an update to the Steering Committee on this Appalachian LCC funded research project. A Stream Classification System for the Appalachian LCC is developing a hierarchical classification for stream and river systems and a GIS map for aquatic ecosystems. The study will include a report describing the methods used to evaluate and develop the classification system, a literature review of existing stream classifications, and a GIS stream data set.
Enhancing the Climate Resilience of America’s Natural Resources
The President's Climate and Natural Resources Priority Agenda is the result of an interagency process to inventory and assess current policies, programs, and regulations related to climate change adaptation. The Agenda builds upon the robust climate change adaptation work already accomplished by Federal agencies and identifies significant actions moving forward. It specifically mentions how Federal agencies working to address ecosystem management issues through LCCs and other multi-stakeholder bodies will work with partners to select flagship geographic regions for which they will identify priority areas for conservation, restoration, or other investments to build resilience in vulnerable regions, enhance carbon storage capacity, and support management needs. Within 24 months, these agencies and their partners will have identified and mapped the initial list of priority areas within each of the selected geographic landscapes or regions.
