Introducing three newly funded
science projects for FY24! Join us for three lightning talks from the researchers and partners conducting the work, creating science that is useful and used.
Register here:
go.ncsu.edu/f24scisem-lightningtalks
The new projects are:
Ghuts, Grit, and Gills: Synthesis of Hydrologic, Water Quality, and Ecosystem Data for Climate Adaptation Planning
The US Virgin Islands are vulnerable to climate change, especially sea level rise, intense storms, and unpredictable rainfall. These changes influence the health of freshwater streams (or ghuts) that affect marine ecosystems important for Indigenous peoples’ heritage, local fishermen, the tourist industry, and unique biological communities. The proposed work brings together stakeholders to assess available data and identify critical knowledge gaps needed to inform science-based decisions. A Virgin Islands Water and Climate Needs Assessment will be drafted to outline actionable steps to address data needs, identify funding sources, recommend responsible parties, and set timelines to document progress.
Read more: https://secasc.ncsu.edu/science/ghuts-grit-and-gills/
Improving Land Change Models for Climate Adaptation, Urban Development, and Conservation Action Across the US Caribbean
Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands are experiencing high levels of out-migration caused by economic and climate stress, yet new homes continue to be built, often near areas of conservation concern. As climate change increases the risk of intense coastal storms, flooding, and extreme heat across the region, decisions about housing development and natural area protection will have large impacts on future human wellbeing. Computer models can make predictions of land and population change and test possible outcomes of different decisions and policies. However, land change models need constant updates to account for changing circumstances, and current models struggle to accurately predict futures where development continues despite people leaving in large numbers.
This project team will partner with policy makers and resource managers who are involved in managing protected areas, climate adaptation, and land-use planning in Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands. Together, they will co-produce a new land change model that will support decision-making in the understudied region that is experiencing both new residential development and emigration.
Read more: https://secasc.ncsu.edu/science/caribbean-land-change/
Urban Tree Health in Socially Vulnerable Neighborhoods in the Southeast: An Ecological and Economic Assessment
Urban forests provide valuable ecosystem services such as mitigating air pollution, moderating temperature, and sequestering carbon. As climate change creates warmer conditions across the southeastern US, maintaining these valuable services will require keeping urban tree canopies healthy. However, urban forest managers in the region lack essential information for making decisions about tree plantings, selecting species, and tree maintenance. The project will provide baseline information about the dominant species of urban forest canopies and will identify critical information gaps for future management at the state and municipal levels. Resulting information about which tree species should be proactively planted to maximize climate adaptations can be used by urban forest managers across the region.
Read more: https://secasc.ncsu.edu/science/urban-trees/
