Planning for the Future

Human population growth. Adverse weather events. Shifting development patterns. The world is expected to face increasingly complex challenges throughout this century and beyond that can negatively impact a community’s built and natural environments, which could also affect human health, livelihoods, heritage and recreational opportunities. Maintaining these natural and cultural resources will require communities to anticipate and plan for these challenges rather than react to them.

Our research works to build adaptive capacity within communities that enhances their ability to plan for and respond to these challenges. Therefore, we strive to identify key factors (e.g., capitals and vulnerabilities) that enhance or inhibit community resilience by studying global change (e.g., environmental change planning and natural disaster recovery, environmental contamination) through informed and inclusive decision-making, the creation of strong partnership networks, and the bridging of transboundary institutions. We engage a variety of stakeholders in our research, such as community and resource management leaders, residents, and tourists/visitors. Our work spans diverse geographies, including coastal zones and mountainous regions at regional, national and international scales.

Meet Our Experts

At the College of Natural Resources, our faculty are at the forefront of education and research in the field of community capacity and resilience.

• Bethany Cutts, Associate Professor
• Corey Johnson, Professor
• Lincoln Larson, Associate Professor
• Yu-Fai Leung, Professor and Graduate Program Director
• Louie Rivers III, Associate Professor
• Erin Seekamp, Professor
• Kathryn Stevenson, Associate Professor
• Jelena Vukomanovic, Assistant Professor