The First Annual Event
The first annual International Seminar on Climate Change and Natural Resources Management (Seminar) took place from May 9-30, 2010 in California and Washington, D.C. This year's Seminar served as a pilot under the United States Forest Service International Programs (USFS IP) and involved 23 participants from 22 different countries, as well as 7 leadership team members from USFS IP, the University of California Davis and the Training Resources Group (TRG).
A Broad Spectrum of Issues
According to the Seminar Leadership Team (SLG), the Climate Change and Natural Resources Management Seminar was designed to stimulate interaction and learning on a broad spectrum of issues related to climate change and its implications for natural resources management. Through field site visits, class and field instruction, guest lectures by recognized experts, participant presentations and facilitated discussions, the participants learned about assessing the likely impact of climate change on natural systems, alternative land management techniques, institutional responses, adaptation strategies, and mitigation measures for responding to the impacts of climate change. While exchanging ideas and experiences with colleagues from around the world, the Seminar's intent was to foster a learning environment where ideas and management practices can be applied in the participants' home countries.
Site Visits and Themes
The seminar participants gathered in Washington, D.C. for 4 days of orientation to national and international programs. They then traveled to California for 7 classroom training days and 10 field training days, during which time they visited several field sites. UCD was chosen as the host University because of California's leadership in passing progressive environmental and climate change legislation and UCD's extensive environmental research and education programs. In both Washington, D.C. and California, participants met with scientists, foresters, park rangers, resource managers, and political analysts to discuss a variety of climate change topics from different perspectives. Major management themes included:
- Watershed management best practices
- managing water delivery
- forest and fire management
- institutional capacity development
- weather
- other monitoring efforts
- carbon markets
Each participant also gave a 20 minute presentation on his/her organization, their role within that organization, and current climate change and natural resources challenges their home country faces.
Action Plans
At the conclusion of the Seminar, each particpant developed an Action Plan or project proposal for his/her home region, designed for presentation to his/her supervisors. UCD researchers and USFS staff provided consultation and information resources, both in Washington, D.C. and throughout the course. Individuals presented their plans to other participants in round table discussions for critique before finalizing. A group-wide discussion of the major components to the plans was one of the final sessions.
Above Image:
Group in Yosemite Valley:
Kanchana (Thailand), Rokia (Mali), Lucy (Kenya), Aida (Kirghistan), Tony (Indonesia), Irina (Kazakhstan), Maria (Columbia), Irini (Greece), Mamadou (Mali), Pijush (India), Paola (Ecuador), Georegette (Ghana), Nico (DRC), Jessica Stein, Karen Beardsley, Denise (Bolivia), Rima Eid (US Forest Service), Alex Moad (US Forest Service), Carey (Guyana), Sudi (Uganda), Hussein (Jordan), Scott Loomis (Training Resources Group), Jap Pal (Nepal), Jim Quinn
