Building Partnerships to Assess Tribal Adaptation to Climate Change and Science Needs in the Southwest
Tribal Adaptation Initiative & Support for Enhanced Scenario Planning Outcomes
Dates
Start Date
2015-09-15
End Date
2016-09-14
Release Date
2015
Summary
Native Nations face unique challenges related to climate change. Native Americans have a deep connection to the natural environment within which their livelihoods, cultural identity, and spiritual practices are rooted. Changes to water flow and hydrology, landscapes, and ecosystems, in combination with socio-economic and other factors, amplify tribal vulnerabilities to climate change. In the Southwest, tribes are already experiencing a range of impacts that are at least partially related to climate change. They include serious water quality and supply issues in the context of prolonged drought; reduced ability to grow or collect important traditional crops and raw materials; loss of forest resources from large and landscape-transforming [...]
Summary
Native Nations face unique challenges related to climate change. Native Americans have a deep connection to the natural environment within which their livelihoods, cultural identity, and spiritual practices are rooted. Changes to water flow and hydrology, landscapes, and ecosystems, in combination with socio-economic and other factors, amplify tribal vulnerabilities to climate change. In the Southwest, tribes are already experiencing a range of impacts that are at least partially related to climate change. They include serious water quality and supply issues in the context of prolonged drought; reduced ability to grow or collect important traditional crops and raw materials; loss of forest resources from large and landscape-transforming wildfires exacerbated by drought, aridity, and insect infestations; and health impacts from heat waves, dust storms, and smoke from wildfires.
The Southwest Climate Science Center is partnering with the University of Arizona Center for Climate Adaptation Science and Solutions (CCASS) to leverage previously existing and newly developing tribal engagement capacity within CCASS and to help identify emergent opportunities to support tribes in adapting to climate change. Through this project, CCASS is conducting a preliminary assessment of tribal interest and capacity for adaptation across the Southwest via interviews with selected tribal leaders and resource managers. In November 2015, CCASS also partnered with the Desert Landscape Conservation Cooperative to hold a meeting with tribal members that focused on successful tribal climate adaptation plans, lessons learned, traditional ecological knowledge, and tribal adaptation activities across the U.S. The CCASS project team is also developing a set of products to help tribes use “scenario planning” in their climate adaptation plans, allowing the tribes to consider different possible future scenarios in a changing climate.
Native Nations face unique challenges related to climate change. Native Americans have a deep connection to the natural environment within which their livelihoods, cultural identity, and spiritual practices are rooted. Changes to hydrologic regimes, landscapes, and ecosystems, in combination with socio-economic and political factors, amplify tribal vulnerabilities to climate change. In the Southwest, tribes are already experiencing a range of impacts that are at least partially related to climate change. They include serious water supply and water quality issues in the context of prolonged drought; loss of ecosystem services and reduced ability to grow or collect important traditional crops and raw materials; increased impacts to forest resources from large and landscape-transforming wildfires due to drought, aridity, and insect infestations; health impacts from heat waves, dust storms, and smoke from wildfires; and the potential spread of infectious diseases from geographic shifts in disease vectors. The remoteness of many villages also compounds difficulties in aiding tribal members during extreme weather events such as floods and heat waves, leading to over-stressed emergency management systems. The aim of this project is to help develop a partnership that leverages previously existing and newly developing tribal engagement capacity within the Center for Climate Adaptation Science and Solutions (CCASS) and identifies emergent opportunities now possible with enhanced investment. Ultimately, a SW CSC-LCC-CCASS partnership will support achieving a suite of shared objectives in the near and longer-term. CCASS will expand the current work of the SW CSC and build on prior investments of the University of Arizona-based and NOAA-funded Climate Assessment for the Southwest (CLIMAS), while building the programs and services of the CCASS/Haury Native Nations Climate Adaptation Program.
Project Extension
projectStatus
Completed
Budget Extension
annualBudgets
year
2015
totalFunds
100445.0
parts
type
Agreement Number
value
G15AP00172
type
Agreement Type
value
Grant
totalFunds
100445.0
Preview Image
Great Basin Sunflower Flats - Credit: Shanell Owen, FWS