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College of Natural Resources

Adapting Forest Management to Changing Climate

McIntire Stennis - Climate Adaptive Management for Forest Ecosystem Services: An Assessment of Future Forests - College of Natural Resources at NC State

Project Title

Climate Adaptive Management for Forest Ecosystem Services: An Assessment of Future Forests

Project Description

Forestry is a major contributor to the economies of North Carolina and other southeastern states. More than 90% of the region’s forestland is privately owned and managed for multiple objectives, from timber production to wildlife habitat and biodiversity conservation. Forests also provide critical ecosystem services, including a clean, stable water supply and carbon sequestration and storage. However, climate change and related disturbances, such as more intense storms, threaten the continued delivery of these services. This project will assess whether researchers can mitigate the effects of climate change through forest management, focusing on the location, scale and timing of management actions.

Principal Investigators

Collaborators

  • U.S. Department of Defense
  • The Nature Conservancy
  • The Working Lands Trust
  • U.S. Forest Service
  • U.S. National Park Service
  • U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
  • Environmental Protection Agency
  • U.S. Geological Survey
  • Weyerhaeuser
  • Rayonier
  • Other public and private stakeholders

Expected Outcomes

  • Stakeholder outreach and engagement through webinars, regional conferences and a partnership with NC State Extension
  • Publication in peer-reviewed scientific outlets
  • Training for two graduate students in modeling forest management scenario outcomes, a skill critical for the next generation of forestry scientists

A McIntire-Stennis supported project

About McIntire-Stennis

The McIntire-Stennis program, a unique federal-state partnership, cultivates and delivers forestry and natural resource innovations for a better future. By advancing research and education that increases the understanding of emerging challenges and fosters the development of relevant solutions, the program has ensured healthy, resilient forests and communities and an exceptional natural resources workforce since 1962.