The Northern Institute of Applied Climate Science and USDA Northern Forests Climate Hub are offering several online Adaptation Planning and Practices (APPo) trainings for forest and natural resource managers in 2022. These courses will provide hands-on training in considering climate change information and identifying adaptation actions for natural resources management professionals working in natural ecosystems. Participants will receive coaching and feedback while using the Adaptation Workbook to develop their own real-world climate adaptation project. Most courses consist of seven weekly web sessions and three discussion sessions, with independent work time occurring between sessions. There are no registration fees thanks to the support of the US Forest Service and the USDA Northern Forests Climate Hub.

Through these trainings, participants will be able to:

• Identify locally-important climate change impacts, challenges, and opportunities
• Develop specific actions to adapt forests to changing conditions
• Use the Adaptation Workbook to create their own “climate-informed” projects
• Better communicate with stakeholders about key climate change impacts, challenges, and opportunities
• Access post-training support from NIACS staff during project planning and implementation

Application Process

We ask participants to bring real-world projects of their very own to use as examples in the course.

Ideally, the project is relevant to your work, such as a management plan or another effort that you're currently working on. During the course, we'll help you consider how climate change could affect your project area, your ability to achieve your goals, and support your assessment of available adaptation options. At the end of the course,  you’ll have a custom-built adaptation plan that’s ready to implement!

After registration, we will evaluate applications to ensure that participants have a project appropriate for the course. To apply, fill out the application form below and upload a completed Step 1 worksheet.

Download the Step 1 worksheet. Upload this form at registration

Register for a training

If you are interested in participating, we recommend that you consider selecting the course your real-world project would most appropriately aligns with.

Wildlife management:  February 28 – April 20, 2022

The registration period closed for the wildlife course on February 14.  

Managing forested ecosystems for carbon: March 21 – May 11, 2022

Register for the carbon course

 *Note: the General Winter course was canceled (the course was advertised to run Jan 24-March 2022).

General Course Agenda

Session 1  — Course Introduction; Defining Project Goals and Objectives. Discussion session. Introduce the project to a small group.

Session 2  — Understanding and Evaluating Climate Change Vulnerabilities. Optional discussion session on climate resources and tools.

Session 3  — Evaluating Management Challenges and Opportunities. Check-in with instructors: Each project schedules a short meeting with course instructors (optional).

BREAK WEEK (No session, independent work time).

Session 4  — Identifying Adaptation Strategies, Approaches, and Tactics. Discussion session (recap Step 2 and Step 3)

Session 5  — Monitoring and Evaluating Effectiveness. Check-in with instructors.  

Session 6  — Climate Change Communication. Discussion session (recapping Step 4 and Step 5).

Session 7  — Course Participants present Adaptation Plans (5 min presentations).

Continuing education credits will be requested for each course from the International Society of Arboriculture and the Society of American Foresters *(21 credits).

Download the Step 1 worksheet. Upload this form at registration.

Contact Danielle with any questions.