THURSDAY, OCTOBER 12th: Stakeholder – Scientist Dialogue

THE GOALS:

Foster partnership, interaction, and information-sharing between local stakeholders and scientists regarding the implications and potential impacts of climate variability & change in the San Juan Mountain region.

Development of a San Juan Mountain Climate Initiative: a stakeholder-driven climate research, outreach, and partnership program.

Stakeholders will contribute information on the climate-related stresses that affect their operations and the types of information that they need to prepare for, mitigate, and/or adapt to climate stresses now and in the future.

Stakeholders include us all! Specifically, individuals and groups whose job responsibilities, livelihoods, and/or quality of life are impacted by climate are encouraged to participate. The conference will focus on six “sectors” of stakeholders in the San Juan Mountain region and involve professionals and laypeople interested in the following sectors:

• Water, Land and Community Planning
• Recreation & Tourism
• Agriculture & Ranching
• Forestry, Timber & Wildfire
• Energy
• Biodiversity & Wildlife

Scientists will contribute the best available research and information on climate variability and change for the San Juan Mountains. Is the climate changing? If, so how? What can we expect in the future for temperatures, precipitation, droughts, and storms? What are the observed and expected effects of climate change on the natural resources that sustain our communities and region?

THE ASSIGNMENT:

Stakeholders are asked to think about the following questions prior to the conference. Stakeholders will reflect on how climate change could affect their interests (for example changes in temperatures, precipitation, seasons, drought and storms). Breakout groups will discuss and answer these questions:

1. What are the major impacts of climate in the San Juans on your sector?
2. What can we do now to reduce our vulnerability to climate variability and potential climate change?
3. What new tools or knowledge would be helpful to adapt to climate variability and potential climate change

THE PRODUCT:

A conference proceedings will be developed and include a summary of presentations and breakout group discussions. It will also include a draft San Juan Mountain Climate Initiative “Plan for Action”, including:

1. identified data, communication, and outreach gaps,
2. potential research, applied projects, and outreach to fill these gaps, and
3. suggestions for partnerships, funding opportunities, and next steps for establishing the initiative.

View Agenda >>