Southern New England Climate Forestry Training Modules
These online training modules provide an overview of climate change impacts, adaptation, and forest carbon mitigation concepts relevant to forest managers in Southern New England (MA, CT, RI). Content in these videos was developed by NIACS and the USDA Northern Forests Climate Hub and is presented by Samantha Myers, Adaptation Specialist with NIACS, the USDA Northern Forests Climate Hub, and the University of Vermont.
Module 1: Southern New England Forests and Climate Change
This module describes the observed and future projected impacts of climate change to forests in Southern New England.
Additional Resources:
Module 2: Adaptation Concepts for Natural Resource Professionals
This module provides an overview of climate adaptation planning concepts for natural resource professionals.
Additional Resources:
- Adaptation Workbook
- Adaptation Menus of Strategies and Approaches
- Quick Guide to Adaptation for Natural Resource Professionals
- Adaptation Demonstration Project Library
- Avalonia Land Conservancy Demonstration Project
Southern New England Resources:
- Managing Forests for Climate Change in Massachusetts (MA DCR)
- Managing Forests for Climate Change Resiliency in Rhode Island (RI DEM)
- Caring for Your Woods: Adapting to Changing Conditions (MA DCR)
- Caring For Rhode Island’s Woods: Increasing Resiliency and Adapting to Changing Conditions (RI DEM)
- Climate Change & Our Forests: Guidance for Foresters and Land Managers (MassConn Partnership)
Module 3: Management Considerations for Forest Carbon in a Changing Climate
This module provides basic definitions of forest carbon and considerations for forest carbon management for natural resource professionals.
Additional Resources:
- Managing for Forest Carbon in Massachusetts (MA DCR)
- Guide to Forest Carbon in the Northeast (Northern Woodlands)
- Soil Carbon primers (USDA Northern Forests Climate Hubs)
- Forest Carbon: An essential natural solution to climate change (UMass Extension/UVM)
- Restoring Old-growth Characteristics (UMass Extension/UVM)
Supplemental Resources
Pests/pathogens and climate change in Southern New England:
- Insect Pests and Pathogens in a Changing Climate (NIACS/USDA Forest Service, 2022)
- Forest Pest Risk with Climate Change (UMass Extension, 2023)
- Invasive Forest Insects in MA (UMass Extension 2023)
- Beech Leaf Disease and Forest Health (VT UCF, 2024)
- Identifying and Managing Beech Leaf and Bark Diseases (US EPA)
- Forest Management and Ash Preservation in Response to Emerald Ash Borer (Mass Land Trust Coalition, 2024)
- Oak Wilt (VT UCF, 2024)
- USDA Forest Service database state forest health monitoring reports
- USDA Forest Service National Forest Health Conditions and Highlights Story Map
Contact Samantha Myers, for more information.