Mass ECAN March News
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Spring feels right around the corner with warming temperatures, singing birds, and changing clocks. Spring is often considered the season of hope – full of possibility. But, given all that’s going on in the world right now, things may feel more overwhelming than inspiring.
You may be finding it hard to muster to read the latest IPCC report (see Reader section below) and you are not alone. IPCC authors themselves have expressed grief and frustration, wishing that more was being done to implement mitigation and adaptation in light of their science. To get to the punchline, the report highlights the urgency of doing as much as we can this decade. It’s a call to action to be strategic to limit each fraction of a degree of warming. But, it’s still hopeful.
Sometimes I find it helpful to remember that so much is related in our world; even the conflicts in Europe are connected to continued reliance on fossil fuels. So, if it feels like the challenge is too vast, let's imagine that we’re all chipping away at our own pieces of it – not in silos, but in concert. Here’s to accelerated climate action!
I find hope and inspiration in this community of practitioners and the dedicated people across the country who are taking action to advance climate adaptation every day. Thanks for all that you are doing! Please take the time you need to take care of yourself this month and remember that you are in good company.
See below for news specifically curated for our community of practice:
Feel free to forward this newsletter and invite colleagues to join us!
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Best,
Melissa Ocana
Climate Adaptation Coordinator, UMass Amherst
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Mass ECAN Expert Work Group Spotlight
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We heard your request for more updates from our affiliated work groups, so we will highlight one each month to learn about their latest activities. As a reminder, our small work groups are specifically for experts on various climate adaptation topics that require cross-organizational collaboration for success. We share work group products here in the newsletter for the rest of our community to run with. See a summary of all our work groups here.
Forest Climate Adaptation Network Expert
Work Group (Forest CAN)
Organized in 2019, Forest CAN convenes a community of practice for scientists, managers, and other forest professionals that are actively engaged in forest adaptation in Southern New England. Forest CAN fosters collaboration across organizations by providing a venue for community members to share their adaptation projects with a trusted group of experts to receive constructive feedback and advance their work on the ground.
Two recent key projects that enable the group to collaborate across the region are the Increasing Oak Resiliency in Southern New England, led by the Forest Stewards Guild, and the Mohawk Trail Woodland Partnership, a collaborative project involving the New England Forestry Foundation, Northern Institute of Applied Climate Science, and Mass Audubon, among others. An example of how this collaboration model works is a newly launched Oak Resiliency Assessment Tool. While in development, the Forest CAN group provided critical feedback to help refine how the tool functions and improve outcomes for tool users. For more information, contact group co-lead, Logan Johnson.
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Every month, we highlight someone in our community of practice so you can learn about a variety of adaptation work and "meet" a new colleague!
 Emma Gildesgame
Climate Adaptation Scientist
The Nature Conservancy - MA
Bio: Emma has focused on water and climate issues from a wide range of perspectives including watershed management and planning, wetland restoration, and climate communication and education. Before joining TNC in November, she focused on nutrient pollution, TMDLs, estuaries, and climate resilience for NEIWPCC, a regional commission that helps the Northeast states collaborate towards clean water. She loves winter, but can’t wait for paddling season on the Mystic and Charles Rivers.
Climate adaptation project: Emma is shaping a TNC effort to work with community-based organizations and environmental justice partners to expand and enhance Massachusetts funding sources and strategies which advance community-centered, equity-driven climate adaptation and resilience work that supports the communities at the frontlines of the climate crisis. Contact Emma to learn more about this project or her other work at TNC.
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Funding Opportunity - Culvert Replacement Municipal Assistance Grant Program. This funding is for municipalities to replace aging culverts with better designed crossings that meet improved structural and environmental design standards and flood resiliency criteria in areas of high ecological value. Apply by 3/14.
Funding Opportunity - Climate Adaptation Fund. The Wildlife Conservation Society offers grants to nonprofits implementing ground breaking, science based projects using traditional and new conservation tools applied in strategic ways to help wildlife and ecosystems adapt to climate impacts. To learn more, attend the information session on 3/10 at 2pm and see the Applicant Guide. Submit pre-proposal applications here by 4/8.
Funding Opportunity - Southeast New England Program (SNEP) Watershed Grants. Restore America’s Estuaries offers grants to target water pollution, habitat degradation, and other high-priority environmental issues to foster sustainable coastal and watershed communities. To learn more, register for an upcoming webinar: 3/17, 1:00pm or 3/22, 10:00am.
Call for Abstracts - Southeast New England Program (SNEP) Symposium. Propose presentations related to environmental challenges facing Rhode Island and southeastern MA, including climate change impacts and mitigation and adaptation strategies. Submit by 3/15 for the virtual symposium on 5/18.
Workshop - Massachusetts Climate Change Assessment. Provide input on the statewide analysis detailing how people, environments, and infrastructure may be affected by climate change and related hazards through the end of the century. Results will inform updates to the State Hazard Mitigation and Climate Adaptation Plan. Register for an upcoming workshop: 3/8, 11:30am and 3/9, 6:00pm.
Webinar - Municipal Vulnerability Preparedness (MVP). The MVP grant program provides support for cities and towns across the Commonwealth to plan for climate change resiliency and implement priority adaptation projects. This webinar will give an overview of the program, review anticipated changes to this round's applications, and answer questions. Register here. 3/8, 2:00pm.
Webinar - Climate-Adaptive Population Supplementation (CAPS): Cost-Effective Management for Fish and Forests, Northeast Climate Adaptation Science Center. Join this webinar to learn more about a framework for adjusting planting and stocking programs and identifying best management practices in the face of climate change. 3/16, 4:00pm.
Webinars - Monitoring and Evaluation of Adaptation Progress and Successes Series, National Adaptation Forum and EcoAdapt.
Job - Stormwater & Greenways Program Manager, Charles River Watershed Association, Boston. Design and implement green stormwater infrastructure, support watershed communities, and identify and implement opportunities to integrate environmental restoration, conservation, and climate resilience across the watershed. Apply by 3/11.
Job - Management Specialist and Project Technical Leader, CDM Smith. Support the climate resilience team and strategic initiatives in climate change services, including vulnerability assessments, climate resilience and adaptation plans.
Job - Deputy Director, Boston Green Ribbon Commission, Boston. Advance the Boston climate strategy and implementation work, with emphasis on climate resilience and policy priorities for the City and Commonwealth. Apply by 3/18.
Job - Watershed Restoration Coordinator, Buzzards Bay Coalition, New Bedford. Coordinate the Buzzards Bay Watershed Restoration Partnership and manage the development and implementation of coastal, wetland, and riverine ecological restoration projects to improve resiliency to climate change.
Job - Program Assistant - Climate, Lincoln Institute of Land Policy, Cambridge. Support several areas including their climate change campaign and climate resilience and migration work.
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In case you've been wondering what to read next...
- New IPCC Report: The Working Group II contribution to the Sixth Assessment Report assesses climate impacts and considers capacities for adaptation, looking at ecosystems and human communities. See highlights according to the authors here, a summary with more of an adaptation focus, including safeguarding nature here, and a more hopeful 101 interpretation here.
- Celebrate Women's History Month: Let's take time this month to celebrate the work of women climate change colleagues, hear their stories, and reflect on how to empower more women in climate adaptation, for example here.
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Learn from fellow Mass ECAN members at these upcoming conferences!
March 1-12 - Massachusetts Association of Conservation Commissions (MACC) Annual Environmental Conference Week. View their Schedule or detailed Session Descriptions and Register Here.
Tuesday, March 8
Thursday, March 10
Saturday, March 12
March 24-26 - Massachusetts Land Conservation Conference. Hosted by MassLand. View their Schedule or detailed Session Descriptions and Register Here.
Thursday, March 24
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2:30 – 3:30 PM - Responding to a Changing Coast: Strategies for Climate Resilience
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4:00 – 5:15 PM - How To Do Climate-Smart Forest Management...and Get Paid for It!
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Joshua Rapp, Mass Audubon
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Laura Marx, The Nature Conservancy
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4:00 – 5:15 PM - Land Trusts & Climate Change: Practical Pointers
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7:00 – 8:15 PM - Working with Municipalities to Find Common Ground in a Changing Climate
Friday, March 25
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Have Something to Add?
Sharing in the Newsletters
Do you have something related to climate adaptation that you would like to see in a future newsletter? If you have project, job posting, event, outreach product, or something else that you’d like to submit for consideration, you can fill out this google form. Please note that this does not guarantee inclusion. We’ll select the climate adaptation items most relevant to our community of practice to continue to provide a curated newsletter. We look forward to hearing from you!
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Why am I getting this email?
Welcome to Mass ECAN!
You are receiving this email because you joined Mass ECAN.
Welcome to a supportive community of climate adaptation practitioners and researchers who are interested in ecosystem resilience and natural resources conservation in Massachusetts.
Mass ECAN is creating a space for us to learn from and with each other. Together, we can build capacity for climate adaptation that promotes ecosystem resilience and weaves natural resources conservation into actions across sectors. Mass ECAN is coordinated by UMass Extension. |
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