The Plants and Natural Communities Working Group’s mission is to focus on plants and their natural communities, ecological functions, and processes. The group assesses climate change vulnerabilities and promotes science-based, adaptation-focused management of plants and natural communities.
Amy Staffen
(608) 261-0747
amy.staffen@wisconsin.gov
Sarah Johnson
(715) 682-1550
sjohnson@northland.edu
Near-Term Goals
- Facilitate incorporation of climate change considerations into planning documents for natural areas (e.g., master plans, management plans) by producing a compendium of tools/resources for use by planners and managers across agencies, NGOs, policy makers, and institutions.
- Identify existing long-term monitoring programs and facilitate development of new monitoring programs to evaluate local-scale climate change impacts and to assess effectiveness of climate adaptation actions.
- Facilitate communication between scientists and managers to identify research and monitoring needs and opportunities for collaboration relative to climate change and adaptation science and management.
Members
- Owen Boyle, Chief, Species Management Section, Bureau of Natural Heritage Conservation, Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources
- Peggy Burkman, Biologist, National Park Service
- Ellen Damschen, Professor, Department of Integrative Biology, UW-Madison
- Jason Fleener, Wetland Habitat Specialist, Wildlife Management, Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources
- Jason Granberg, Invasive Plant Specialist, Natural Heritage Conservation, Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources
- Sarah Johnson, Associate Professor of Natural Resources, Northland College
- Kelly Kearns, Invasive Plant Coordinator, Natural Heritage Conservation, Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources
- Carly Lapin, Conservation Biologist, Natural Heritage Conservation, Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources
- Ryan O’Connor, Ecologist/Inventory Coordinator, Natural Heritage Conservation, Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources
- Hannah Panci, Climate Change Scientist, Great Lakes Indian Fish and Wildlife Commission
- Shea Schachameyer, Wetlands Specialist, Bad River Band of Lake Superior Chippewa
- Danielle Shannon, USDA Northern Forests Climate Hub Coordinator, Northern Institute of Applied Climate Science
- Quita Sheehan, Conservation Specialist, Vilas County Land and Water Conservation Department
- Sara Smith, Midwest Tribal Resilience Liaison, College of Menominee Nation Sustainable Development Institute
- Amy Staffen, Conservation Biologist, Natural Heritage Conservation, Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources
- Matt Zine, Conservation Biologist, Natural Heritage Conservation, Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources
Services and Resources
Climate Symposia and Workshops
We offer large workshops and conference symposia, as well as small site-based workshops where we work with property managers and stakeholders to help managers translate big concepts relating to climate change impacts into tangible, real-world actions. Contact us with your workshop needs, big or small!
Climate Adaptation Demonstration Sites
Adaptation demonstration projects are real-world examples of how managers have integrated climate considerations into land management planning and activities. These projects strengthen partnerships and help to test new ideas and actions for responding to changing conditions. They come in all shapes and sizes, showing a variety of adaptation actions that also achieve natural resource management goals. Our working group has added two demonstration sites to the larger compendium created by the Northern Institute of Applied Climate Science (NIACS); see their website to learn more or contact us for more information.
2019 Climate Adaptation Strategies and Approaches for Conservation and Management of Non-Forested Wetlands
This document includes a set of adaptation strategies and approaches for non-forested wetlands that can be used by managers working on projects that support hydrologic function, vegetation management, ecological restoration, and infrastructure improvements. Learn more at the NIACS wetland adaptation pages.