The Department of the Interior Pacific Islands Climate Science Center (PI-CSC) supports adaptation in Hawai‘i and the US Affiliated Pacific Islands by producing new knowledge and tools through research, working with resource managers and community planners to incorporate environmental knowledge in adaptation decision making, and providing education and training to build capacity in resource managers and scientists.
In the Pacific Islands region, over 500 endangered and other vulnerable species exist in a complex set of landscapes and seascapes. People, built environments, natural heritage, agriculture, and economies are interwoven in a patchwork compressed onto small land areas. Therefore, a holistic approach to management that integrates climate adaptation in human communities and natural areas is required.
To meet its mission, the PI-CSC uses a 5-year science plan, called a Science Agenda, to guide investment in research and training for climate adaptation in the region. The PI-CSC works with a Stakeholder Advisory Committee to identify natural and cultural resource management priorities, and aligns those with national priorities. In this Science Agenda, the PI-CSC has identified five Themes for the period 2018 – 2022:
- Drought in the Pacific Islands
- Coastal Adaptation & Planning
- Forest Conservation in a Changing Environment
- Core Questions for Resource Managers
- Adaptation and Survival in Low Islands and Atolls
The Science Agenda document provides a thorough description of the science framework and how it supports the priorities of natural and cultural resource managers in the region.
