March 2016 Newsletter

News and upcoming events related to the Southeast Climate Science Center.
Subscribe to the monthly newsletter here.

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—— SE CSC NEWS: ——————————————————

North American Coastal Plain Designated as Biodiversity Hotspot. Research by SE CSC PI, Jen Costanza, helped inform this designation. Read more.
Read our new Research Spotlight of Rachel Atkins, 2015-16 Global Change Fellow.  Read the Spotlight.
Join the Sustainability Showcase for The Great Animal Symphony on April 17 at NC State. A great opportunity to present your resrearch on global change. Read more.
Webinar Recording Now Available: If you missed University Director, Ryan Boyles’, presentation on “Visualizing the Impact of Future Climate on Pine Forests”, you can find the recording here: Watch the Recording
Seminar Recording Now Available: A recording of Robin Grossinger’s talk, Designing Resilient Landscapes: Patterns of the Past, Visions of the Future, part of the Ecology and Evolution Seminar series, is now online! Watch the Recording

Read about our new FY15 Funded Projects which include work on wildlife refuges, amphibians in tropical environments, urban ecology, and protecting cultural resources from sea level rise. Learn more. 
 
—— FEATURED RESOURCE: ——————————————

Sea Level Rise and Coastal Flood Web Tools Comparison Matrix. 
Why Use This? This  matrix was created to provide the planning and coastal management communities with an expandable chart to compare the functions and methods of publicly available sea level rise and coastal flood web tools. The information in each column is provided by the web tool owner. Specific questions about the tools can be addressed to the tool owner through the contact information provided in their matrix column. Select a state in the drop-down menu below to get started. Learn More And Access the Comparison Matrix


—— RESOURCES: ——————————————————–

Art and Climate Impact Graphs: Jill Pelto’s watercolor paintings are a vivid combination of her interests in art and earth science. The paintings present line graphs that convey information about the earth’s changing climate along with beautiful landscapes and wildlife. The goal of the project is to reach a broader audience and have people become inspired or become educated in small ways from the work. View Graphs
New Journal: Climate Services is at the interface between climate research and application, specifically related to climate services. Climate Services address all sectors affected by climate, at global, regional and local scale. They connect natural and socio-economic research with practice. Access the Journal
New Report: Effects of Drought on Forests and Rangelands in the United States: A Comprehensive Science Synthesiss. Read the Report
First Nationwide Survey of Climate Change Education: How is climate change being taught in American schools? Is it being taught at all? And how are teachers addressing climate change denial in their classrooms, schools, and school districts? Until the release of NCSE’s comprehensive nationwide survey, no one knew. Learn More and See the Survey

New Study: “Sensitivity of global terrestrial ecosystems to climate variability” in Nature. Read the Nature Article  Also reviewed in The New York Times: Read the Review

New Report and Interactive Map: Climate Central has released a report, entitled Unnatural Coastal Floods: Sea level rise and the human fingerprint on U.S. floods since 1950, along with a new interactive map tool, both isolating how the human contribution to global sea level rise has increased coastal floods around the United States. Read the Report and Access the Interactive Map
Why Restoring Nature Could Be the Key to Fighting Climate Change: A new study in the journal Nature offers the strongest evidence yet that biodiversity strengthens ecosystems, increasing their resistance to extreme climate events and improving their capacity to stem climate change. Download the Report
Up to 13 Million Americans Are at Risk of Being Washed Away: New research highlights a threatened coastal region where attitudes capture the nuances of the climate change debate. See the Research

Story Map of Climate Information: Northwest Climate Science Center’s online interactive tool Story Map allows users to explore, interact with, and access data on a number of climate change-related topics, such as sea-level rise, loss of mountain snowpack, and the vulnerability of spotted owl, sage-grouse, bull trout, and whitebark pine to climate change. See the Map
CAKE Highlight: Policy-Ready Projections: This resource shows us how to make climate models more useful to planners. See the Resource
Guide for Community Resilience Building Workshops: A flexible approach that could be applied anywhere at any scale to get communities, corporations, organizations, and agencies further down the resilience path. See the Guide
Guide to Non-Academic Conservation Careers: Article in Conservation Biology: Graduate Student’s Guide to Necessary Skills for Nonacademic Conservation. See the Guide
Podcasts on Climate Adaptation: Climate change is calling. The adaptors are responding. Stories brought to you twice a month. Listen and Subscribe to the Podcast
Turning Science into Policy: What scientists should (and should not) do when talking to policy-makers. Learn More


—— PUBLICATIONS OF INTEREST: ———————————–
Understanding why nights are getting warmer faster than days  |  From Uni Research  Read this Publication
Public Understanding of Science: Predictors of Trust in the General Science and Climate Science Research of US Federal Agencies  |  From the Yale Program on Climate Change Communication  Read this Publication
New science helps put spotlight on unseen global impacts  |  From Michigan State University  Read this Publication


—— WEBINARS: ———————————————————-

Importance of Traditional Ecological Knowledge in Adaptation Planning: March 23rd | 1:00 PM EST | Join us March 23, 2016, 1PM EST/ 10AM PST for the quarterly National Adaptation Forum Webinar to learn about the importance of Traditional Ecological Knowledge (TEK) in climate adaptation planning. Presenters include Margaret Hiza Redsteer of the USGS, Preston Hardison of Tulalip Natural Resources, and Kyle Powys Whyte of Michican State University. Learn More and Register
Landscapes for Butterfly Conservation: March 23rd | 2:00 PM – 3:00 PM EST | Given the recent decline in numerous butterfly species, using current knowledge of habitat requirements and landscape configurations is imperative to maximizing the potential of recovery for these species. Loss of historic habitat in North America is extensive due to land cover change, habitat fragmentation, and changes in agricultural practices. Participants in this webinar will learn best management practices for butterflies at site and landscape scales. Learn More and Register
Navigating the Data Basin Platform: A Guided Tour: March 24th | 1:00 PM EST | Dr. Tosha Comendant, Senior Scientist at Conservation Biology Institute, will give an introductory tour to demonstrate multiple ways to explore and create content in Data Basin. Data Basin is an online mapping and analysis platform that supports learning, research, and sustainable environmental stewardship. Learn More and Register
Incorporating Nongame Habitat Features into Stream Restoration Projects: March 24th | 2:00 PM EST | Jeff Hastings (Trout Unlimited) will introduce participants to several best management practices designed for nongame species, discuss funding opportunities , the project review process and ongoing monitoring efforts. This is a part of the Restoration Webinar Series. Learn More and Register
Spring Flooding Outlook: March 29th | 9:30 AM – 10:30 AM EST | This webinar, part of NOAA’s Eastern Region Climate Services Webinar Series, will cover March weather conditions and the spring flood outlook and will be hosted by Ed Capone of the National Weather Service’s Northeast River Forecast Center. Learn More and Register
—— UPCOMING EVENTS: ———————————————–

Earth Month at NC State University: NC State University’s month-long emphasis on the planet, sustainability and how you can make the world a better place. April’s Earth Month calendar is shaping up, and there are numerous ways to get involved including the 30 Days, 30 Ways Challenge. Learn More
Film Screening: How to Let Go of the World and Love All the Things Climate Can’t Change: March 29th | 7:00 PM EST | Talley Student Union Ballroom, NC State University | A documentary film screening with Academy Award nominated director Josh Fox and Cornell University’s climate scientist Tony Ingraffea. View Trailer. Free and open to the public.

SAVE THE DATE: Third National Adaptation Forum: May 9th – 11th, 2017 | RiverCentre- Saint Paul, MN | The National Adaptation Forum is the gathering of the adaptation minded. Since the Forum is created by and for the members of the adaptation community, the meeting focuses on issues of the day – established and emerging. The Forum gathers the adaptation community to foster knowledge exchange, innovation and mutual support for a better tomorrow. We invite you to join the convening of adaptation practitioners from around the country focused on moving beyond adaptation awareness and planning to adaptation action. Learn More and See Highlights from Previous Forums

Citizen Science, Ecology, and the Environment: April 16th | 8:45 AM – 6:00 PM EST | French Family Science Center Room 2231, Duke University | Join a gathering of citizen science experts, researchers, and educators on National Citizen Science Day at this Citizen Science Symposium. nvited talks and group discussion will focus on the role of citizen science in three areas: ecological and environmental research; science education and outreach in the university; and environmental monitoring, conservation, and community action. Learn More and Register
Learning from the Land National Workshop: June 7th – 8th | College of Menominee Nation, Keshena, WI | College of Menominee Nation Sustainable Development Institute is offering this workshop for sharing indigenous ways of teaching and learning for sustainability science. Learn More and Register


—— TRIBAL NEWS: ——————————————————-
WEBINAR: The Importance of Traditional Ecological Knowledge in Adaptation Planning: March 23rd | 1:00 PM EST | Join us March 23, 2016, 1PM EST/ 10AM PST for the quarterly National Adaptation Forum Webinar to learn about the importance of Traditional Ecological Knowledge (TEK) in climate adaptation planning. Presenters include Margaret Hiza Redsteer of the USGS, Preston Hardison of Tulalip Natural Resources, and Kyle Powys Whyte of Michican State University. Learn More and Register
Isle De Jean Charles Band of Biloxi Chitimacha Choctaw Receive National Disaster Resilience Competition Award for Resettlement: The Isle de Jean Charles (IdJC) Band of Biloxi Chitimacha Choctaw and the Lowlander Center are pleased to announce the receipt of a $48 million grant from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). Read the Full Announcement
Native American Tribe Gets Federal Funds to Flee Rising Seas: In a disappearing section of Louisiana coastline, the people who call Isle De Jean Charles home are moving to save their community and culture. Read More


—— SEMINARS AT NCSU: ———————————————–
MEAS Special Seminar: March 22nd | 3:30 PM EST | 1214 Jordan Hall Addition | Dr. Carli Arendt of the Earth System Observation Group at Los Alamos National Laboratory will deliver a seminar entitled Constraining the Impacts of Climate Change on Arctic Systems: Combining Meltwater Records, Isotope Models, and Ocean Chemistry to Better Understand the Hydrology of the Cryosphere
The Future of North Carolina’s Barrier Islands: March 22nd | 7:00 PM – 9:00 PM EST | James B. Hunt Library Auditorium | This free program  will feature a keynote presenation by Dr. William Schlesinger, James B. Duke Professor of Biogeochemistry and Dean Emeritus of Duke University’s Nicholas School of the Environment. It will also include a showing of the film “North Carolina’s Two Coasts: The Coast We Know & Coast We Are Creating” as well as a panel discussion on “How does North Carolina maintain a viable coastal economy and protect it’s natural resource base into the future?” Learn More and Register
2016 Brandt Lecture: March 24th | 3:30 PM EST | 101 David Clark Labs | The NC State Department of Applied Ecology presents Dr. Kirk Winemiller from Texas A & M University as the 2016 Brandt Lecturer. The topic for Dr. Winemiller’s lecture will be “River Flows, Fish, and the Things We Do To Them”. There will be a catered reception in the Faculty Research Commons in Hunt Library following the lecture. Learn More and Schedule a Meeting With Dr. Winemiller
—— LCC NEWS: ————————————————————
Appalachian:
*2016 Appalachian Regional Reforestation Initiative – Mined Land Reforestation Conference   Learn More
*Service and Partners Announce Science-based Tool to Help Prioritize and Target Fish Habitat Conservation   Learn More
*Power Companies, Tribe, Agencies Take Steps to Save Rare Fish    Learn More
*USDA, Partners to Invest $720 Million in Large-Scale, Targeted Conservation Projects across the Nation  Learn More
More News from Appalachian LCC
Caribbean:
*11vo Festival del Tinglar/11th Leatherback Sea Turtle Festival  Learn More
*Biodiversity Without Boundaries 2016  Learn More
More News from Caribbean LCC

Gulf Coastal Plains and Ozark:
*Read the Latest GCP LCC Newsletter February 2016  Learn More
*The Teddy Bear is Back: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Delists Louisiana Black Bear Due To Recovery  Learn More
*USFWS Director Recognizes 4 Gulf LCCs for “Transformational Conservation Science”  Learn More
*Hell and High Water – Masterful Journalism Highlights Key Vulnerabilities for Texas Coast  Learn More
*Coarse, Fine, and Connected: Gulf Coast Prairie LCC Landscape Conservation Design Approach Explained  Learn More
*Getting a GRIP on Grassland Declines in Texas  Learn More
More News from Gulf Coastal Plains and Ozark LCC

Peninsular Florida:
*February 2016 “Summary of Florida Conservation Lands” acreage summary report up on Florida Natural Areas Inventory site  Learn More
*Deepwater Horizon Trustees Propose Fifth Phase of Early Restoration  Learn More
More News from Peninsular Florida LCC
South Atlantic:
*The Mega FUTURES project  Learn More
*Steering Committee approves revised mission statement, establishes Investment Committee  Learn More
More News from South Atlantic LCC


—— OTHER NEWS: ———————————————–——–
February Smashes Global Temperature Records to Become the Warmest Month Since Records Began: The Earth’s temperature reportedly rose to another record high in February, providing further evidence that the problem of global warming is only getting worse. Read More
Feds Refer Exxon Climate Investigation to FBI: Environmental groups on Thursday welcomed news that the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) had referred the federal investigation into ExxonMobil‘s decades-long suppression of climate science to the FBI’s criminal division. Read More
Revamped Satellite Data Shows No Pause in Global Warming: Climate change doubters may have lost one of their key talking points: a particular satellite temperature dataset that had seemed to show no warming for the past 18 years. Read More
How Cities Around the World are Protecting Billions of People from Climate Change:  Climate change has the potential to bring down a hailstorm of consequences on urban areas, including flooding, public health risks and economic collapse. So protecting the billions of people who live in these places is a big concern for world leaders. Read More
This Is How Much an Urban Forest Is Worth: Trees within the city limits of Austin, Texas contribute nearly $34 million in ecosystem services to the community annually, according to a new report by the U.S. Forest Service (USFS). Read More
A Better Approach as Biologists: Linda Deegan of the Marine Biological Larboard in Woods Hole co-authored a NY Times op-ed, “T-Shirt Weather in the Arctic”.  As the planet warms, we need new approaches to identify which species and ecosystems are most at risk. Read More

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