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February 2025 Newsletter

February 19, 2025
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Southeast CASC News

Save the date! The 2025 Southeast Climate Adaptation Science Symposium is scheduled for Sept 9-11, 2025 in Asheville, NC. More details to come.

There’s still time to register for our next science seminar happening today on Science Needs Related to Harmful Algal Blooms and Climate Change at 1pm ET.

2022-23 Global Change Research Fellow, Julianne Reas, is a co-author on an NPS science report reviewing the effects of climate change on visitor use in US public lands and waters.

Marcelo Ardón explains how his new study examines how climate change has shaped coastal forests over the last decade.

In his talk at the Envisioning Charlanta event, Adam Terando spoke about the future of urban sprawl and the future of megacities.

Lydia Olander shares her insights on when a disaster hits close to home. 

DOI has published a handbook on Procedures for the Inclusion and Application of Indigenous Knowledge.

Paul Armstrong published a new study in Environmental Research Letters that finds vulnerable communities face greater risks from multiple environmental hazards.

Community News from the Southeast

Partners

Resources for the Future has released their Changing Hazards, Exposure, and Vulnerability in the Conterminous United States document for 2020–2070.

The Nicholas Institute at Duke has launched their Nature Activation Hub which aims to seed a growing capacity in nature-based solutions at the university.

Global One Health Academy has announced their 2025 Local Engagement Seed Grant Awardees.

Tribal

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

Catawba Nation marked the opening of a new road accessing remote tribal properties. 

Gatherings

Webinars

Events

Find more events on our calendar.

Resources and Publications

Resources

Publications

Shifts in marsh erosion, migration, and wave exposure over nearly two centuries of sea-level rise in the Gulf of Mexico. Estuarine, Coastal, and Shelf Science

Coastal wetlands are threatened by sea level rise and saltwater intrusion, but if they migrate into higher elevation they can persist. The authors examined the rate at which shorelines changed and marshes migrated along the Gulf of Mexico. They found that marsh migration is not occurring at sufficient rates to compensate for marsh loss, and that barriers like steep slopes prevent migration. They also found that marsh migration may lead to an overall reduction in forested or freshwater habitats.

Quantifying the Coastal Hazard Risk Reduction Benefits of Coral Reef Restoration in the U.S. Virgin Islands. Institute of Marine Sciences

In this paper, authors assessed the social and economic benefits of coastal habitat restoration to protect communities against natural hazards in the U.S. Virgin Islands. Through a standardized approach, they located potential restoration sites along the coast, applied multiple restoration scenarios, and quantified their protection value. They found that the benefit of restoration varied across the island.

Exposure, sensitivity, or adaptive capacity? Reviewing assessments that use only two of three elements of climate change vulnerability. Conservation Science and Practice

In this article, authors conducted a literature review to document the utility and procedures of 2-element Climate Change Vulnerability Assessments (CCVAs). CCVAs are important tools for understanding which species are most vulnerable and why they are vulnerable to inform conservation action. However, they can be difficult to conduct incorporating all 3 elements of assessment, so it’s becoming more common to choose 2 to focus on. They found that by clarifying the purpose, limitations, and opportunities for using a 2-element approach this review could serve as a resource for choosing methods to conduct 2-element CCVAs.

Urban tree cover provides consistent mitigation of extreme heat in arid but not humid cities. Sustainable Cities and Society

The authors found that in cities with more arid environments tree cover was more effective at cooling than in cities with more humid environments. Furthermore, they found that during heat waves in arid cities trees were more consistently efficient at cooling, while during extreme heat in humid environments tree cover had varied effects. The study was done by applying predictive machine learning models to microclimates across 8 cities along a gradient of aridity.

Opportunities

Student Announcements

National Geographic Society has various internship opportunities. Apply by Feb 28.

NAFWS has several internship positions open. Apply by March 28.

The Rachel Carson Council is accepting applications for their National Environment Leadership Fellowship Program. Apply by April 15.

Dr. Ghosh at the Department of Forestry and Environmental Resources at NC State University seeks a PhD student to work on the societal dimensions of forest carbon offsets. Position starts in August 2025.

Hiring Announcements

Archbold Biological Research Station seeks a GIS Research Assistant/Spatial Ecologist. Apply by Feb 21.

The Virgin Islands Department of Planning and Natural Resources seeks a GIS and Data Coordination Fellow and a Watershed Resilience Fellow. Open until filled.

Funding Announcements

The 2026 Sentinel Landscape Designation Cycle is now open. Submit an expression of interest by April 9.