Climate change for effective resource management and public policy in the Western United States

The conference format will encourage participation by all attendees in a series of breakout sessions and panel discussions that will address important issues/questions relevant to climate change adaptation and the research needed to address it. Keynote speakers will provide a context for research and adaptation strategies.

Theme
“Adapting to climate change- scientists and decision makers working together to accommodate climate change in their planning and research initiatives”

The workshop will focus on

• Assessing the effects of climate change: Informing adaptation strategies
• Adaptation Planning: Evaluating options and their associated economic, environmental or social cost.
• Communicating climate change science for education, management, and policy

• Engage key stakeholders and scientists interested in climate change science and/or its translation to resource management and policy.
• Inform key stakeholders and scientists about new climate change science efforts and capabilities in Nevada, Idaho and New Mexico.
• Identify stakeholder’s key climate change questions and data needs.
• Build collaborations among scientists and stakeholders in climate change science utilizing the new capabilities in Nevada, Idaho and New Mexico.
• Initiate climate change adaptation information and strategies: provide information that can be readily used by land managers and initiate actionable collaborations.

Sessions
Plenary Session #1
What is climate change and how is it manifested in the western USA?

Plenary Session #2
Frameworks for decision making - How does climate change fit into the equation?