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Synthesis Projects

Turning research into actionable knowledge to help communities and ecosystems adapt to a changing climate.

Effective climate adaptation depends on strong partnerships and actionable science. At the Southeast Climate Adaptation Science Center (SE CASC), we work closely with partners to co-produce synthesis products that translate research into usable knowledge, address pressing management needs, and inform real-world decision-making.

This page highlights a selection of synthesis efforts led by our researchers, staff, and students—demonstrating how applied science and collaboration drive meaningful climate adaptation across the Southeast and Caribbean.

Click on these links to go directly to Synthesis Projects or the working groups archive.

Projects

Drought and Ecosystem Workshop Database (DEWD)

DEWD features over seventy tools and resources to support ecological drought response. Users can download data on streamflow, nutrient levels, contaminants, and biological indicators.

View the DEWD

Working Groups

During Phase 2 of the Southeast Climate Adaptation Science Center (SE CASC), thematic working groups were established to bring together researchers, practitioners, and partners around shared adaptation challenges. These groups helped identify priority needs, coordinate expertise, and ultimately catalyzed many of the synthesis projects featured above. The links below lead to archived information on each working group’s original membership and goals.

Ecosystem Services and Global Change

Integrate natural capital/ecosystem services into natural resource and wildlife management decisions to improve communications with stakeholders, linkages with partners, consideration of co-benefits and unintended consequences and potentially providing a way to track status and trends of these benefits that nature provides to people.

Lead: Lydia Olander (Duke University)

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Coastal Resilience to Global Change

Elucidate the needs/gaps and opportunities for coastal resilience in the southeastern U.S. region through development of a network of researchers among consortium members, leveraging existing efforts and stakeholder connections.

Leads: Karen McNeal (Auburn University), Micheal Allen (University of Florida), Lydia Olander (Duke University)

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Evaluation of Actionable Science

Identify factors that increase the likelihood that joint science and action objectives of actionable science projects are being met. Evaluate factors in select SE CASC-funded projects.

Leads: Paul Armsworth (University of Tennessee), Karen McNeal (Auburn University)

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Water Supply and Demand in a Changing Climate

Utilize a stakeholder-scientist partnership to increase the relevance of climate science data and tools at relevant time and space scales to support decision-making in water resource management, planning, and supply operations that is protective of aquatic ecosystems.

Lead: Wendy Graham (University of Florida)

Southeast Conservation Adaptation Strategy

Coordinate efforts of the Southeast Climate Adaptation Science Center, Southeastern Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies, and the Southeast Conservation Adaptation Strategy. Evaluate conservation communication framing strategies and changes in how wildlife management is prioritized by the public.

Lead: Nils Peterson (NC State University)

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Integrating Climate Change into State Wildlife Action Plans

Evaluate how researchers can best support further integration of climate change considerations into the 2025 revisions of State Wildlife Action Plans.

Lead: Paul Armsworth (University of Tennessee)

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(Phase 1) Southeast Regional Invasive Species and Climate Change (SE RISCC) Management Network

Coordinate and share information for regional management of invasive species. Determine the information needs of managers and develop a strategy to address those needs through targeted research and communication. Leads: Brett Scheffers (University of Florida)

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