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November 2024 Newsletter

November 19, 2024
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Southeast CASC News

Save the date! The 2025 Southeast Climate Adaptation Science Symposium is scheduled for Sept 9-11, 2025, more information will be announced soon…

Applications are open for the 2025-26 Global Change Research Fellows cohort! There will be an informational webinar on Dec 4 at 11am ET. Register here.

There’s still time to register to virtually attend the Drought and Aquatic Ecosystems in the Southeast Workshop happening Jan 7-9, 2025. Register here.

Researcher Spotlights: Read about 2024-25 Global Change Research Fellows, Gwen Kirschke’s work on the spatial distribution of floral resources for pollinators and Jamie Huerta’s research on algal blooms in the Albemarle Sound.

Watch the replay of the Global Change Seminar on Bridging Borders: Collaborative Approaches to Watershed Resilience.

Watch a recording of Xingli Giam’s seminar on the impacts of climate change on non-native fish in the Tennessee & Cumberland River Basins.

2022-23 Global Change Research Fellow, Emily Nastase shares her experience as a Science to Action Fellow and her research on Henslow’s Sparrows. 

Greg Cope shares his research on protecting endangered freshwater shellfish at the new Yates Mill Aquatic Conservation Center.

Ryan Emanuel co-authored a new paper in Nature on Near-term ecological forecasting for climate change action.

Consortium Director, Rebecca Irwin and her student April Sharp share how she paddleboards to collect difficult to reach pollinator data. 

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Research Affiliate Spotlight

View a searchable list of all SE CASC Research Affiliates and find your next collaborator!

Community News from the Southeast

Partners

The Institute for Tribal Environmental Professionals is seeking host sites for Summer 2025 Indigenous Climate Change Internships, apply by Dec 2. 

The NC Office of Recovery and Resiliency and the State Climate Office of North Carolina are accepting applications for the NC Planning for Extreme Heat Cohort, apply by Dec 4. 

The NIHHIS Center for Collaborative Heat Monitoring is accepting applications for Community Science Partners until January 17, 2025.

NAFWS is offering travel assistance up to $1500 to attend the 2025 National Conference, apply by March 15, 2025.

In this SECAS blog, the authors reflect on a U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service workshop on the potential for rivercane ecosystems to support bird habitats. 

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is downlisting the red-cockaded woodpecker from endangered to threatened status under the Endangered Species Act. 

The U.S. Global Change Research Program is seeking public comments on the First National Nature Assessment’s Zero Order Draft.

The Washington Post shares photos of the impact of Hurricane Helene on North Carolina Forests.

Tribal

Visit USET Climate Change Headlines for updates and highlights from across the USET region.  

This article outlines the importance of place-name repatriation of Kuwohi by the Eastern Band of the Cherokee Indians.

The Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians has been awarded a $7.7 million grant from the EPA to implement community-driven solutions to cut climate pollution.

Gatherings

Webinars

Events

Find more events on our calendar.

Resources and Publications

Resources

  • Update to the EPA Office of Water’s Understanding Climate Change Impacts on Water Resources Module. This module explains the causes of climate change, its potential impacts on water resources and the challenges water resource managers face. The updated module reflects the findings of the Fifth National Climate Assessment (2023) and Office of Water’s Climate Adaptation Implementation Plan (2022). 
  • Nature-Based Solutions Policy Tracker. This report from Nature4Climate tracks policies that promote nature-based solutions from across the world.
  • SECAS Blueprint 2024. The latest update to the Southeast Conservation Blueprint, version 2024, is now available. The new version includes improvements for 12 indicators covering terrestrial, freshwater, and marine, improved prioritization methods to better account for regional variation.
  • NC Wildlife Green Growth Toolbox. The Green Growth Toolbox is a technical assistance tool designed to help communities conserve high quality habitats as communities and developers continue to build new homes, workplaces, and shopping centers.

Publications

Wildlife Society Bulletin

Few pollinators have been listed as Species of Greatest Conservation Need in State Wildlife Action Plans, making them ineligible for many federal conservation grants. This is often attributed to the lack of available data on the distribution and abundance of insect pollinators. The authors of this paper examined 4 case studies to argue that sufficient conservation status data now exists to merit their inclusion as Species of Greatest Conservation Need.

Society and Natural Resources

Authors interviewed professionals working at southeastern U.S. Extension programs to assess their knowledge and experience in doing outreach around prescribed burning. They address many challenges and argue that education and other outreach activities can increase the acceptance and adoption of prescribed fire use by private landowners.

Earth’s Future

There has been considerable investment in research into the physical drivers of coastal change, but prediction models often lack human behavior. In this paper, the authors outline four social science approaches that could provide a more robust understanding of future change.

Frontiers in Climate

In this article, the authors explore the takeaways from recent work in incorporating Indigenous knowledge into climate adaptation planning and related projects. They present some key considerations that include the importance of sustained and multi-level tribal engagement, operational approaches to Indigenous knowledge incorporation, cross-cultural challenges, and how climate adaptation planning can support existing tribal priorities.

Opportunities

Student Announcements

The HBCU Climate Change Conference is accepting student abstract submissions. Due by Dec 15.

The North Carolina Water Resources Research Institute, in collaboration with North Carolina Sea Grant, is accepting applications for The Mountains to Sea Graduate Research Fellowship. Apply by Dec 16.

The NC State Global One Health Academy is calling for applications for the 2025-26 cohort. Apply by Jan 26, 2025.

Hiring Announcements

The USGS Water Mission Area is hiring a Communications and Engagement Team Lead. Apply by Nov 22.

The Nature Conservancy is hiring a Restoration Ecologist for the Virginia Aquatic Resources Trust Fund. Apply by Dec 1. 

The USGS St. Petersburg Coastal and Marine Science Center seeks an Ocean Hydrodynamic Modeler ORISE fellow. Apply by Dec 6.

The EPA Office of Research and Development’s Integrated Climate Sciences Division seeks a Climate Sciences and Community Resilience Education and Outreach ORISE fellow. Apply by Feb 28, 2025.

RTI International seeks a tribal liaison. Open until filled. 

Southwest CASC is hiring a Communication Specialist for extended temporary employment. Open until filled.

The Deep South Center for Environmental Justice is hiring various positions. Various closing dates.

Funding Announcements

USGS Cooperative Landslide Hazard Mapping and Assessment Program grants are open for state, territorial, local, and Tribal governments to apply. Due by Jan 15, 2025.

NSF requests proposals for the Organismal Response to Climate Change program. Due by Jan 23, 2025. 

NOAA Fisheries requests proposals for the Restoring Fish Passage through Barrier Removal Grants. Due by Feb 10, 2025.

NOAA Fisheries requests proposals for Restoring Tribal Priority Fish Passage through Barrier Removal Grants. Due by Feb 25, 2025. 

Burroughs Wellcome Fund has committed $10M for Climate + Health Excellent Centers (CHEX). Proposals are due August 2025.