Climate Change and Southern ForestsThe PLT & PINEMAP Partnership

Renee StrnadNC PLT State Coordinator

NC State University

Project Learning Tree• A program of the American Forest Foundation, a nonprofit organization that works for:– Healthy forests– Quality environmental education– Informed decision-making about our communities

and our world

Project Learning Tree • In North Carolina, PLT is sponsored by:– NC Cooperative Extension– NC Forestry Association– NC Forest Service

A Comprehensive EE Program– High quality, PreK-12 EE

curriculum materials– Diverse, international

network of partners– Implementation via a

successful delivery system of professional development

Project Learning Tree

PLT’s MissionPLT uses the forest as a “window on the world” to:– Increase students understanding of our complex

environment– Stimulate critical and creative thinking– Develop the ability to make informed decisions on environmental issues– Instill the confidence and commitment to take responsible action

Project Learning Tree History• Early 1970’s: Partnership between education, resource

agencies, and businesses– started Project Learning Tree to teach young people about the

environment • 1976: PLT materials first implemented in 13 western states

– PreK-6 and 7-12 Environmental Education Guides• 1990: PLT materials revamped into PreK-8 and Secondary

Modules• 2006: Major revisions to the PLT PreK-8 Guide and

continued development of Secondary Modules• PLT was so effective it inspired other EE programs based on

the PLT model– Project WILD in 1983 – Project WET in 1992

PLT’s Environmental Goals Awareness

KnowledgeChallenge

Responsible Action

“Teaching students how to think, not what to think about complex environmental issues”

-Rudy Schafer, Founder of PLT

PLT Curriculum• PLT for PreK-8 – Environmental Experiences for Early Childhood– PreK-8 Environmental Education Activity Guide– Energy and Society

• 5 GreenSchools! Investigations• PLT for Secondary – 5 printed modules– 2 online modules

PreK-8 Environmental Education Activity GuideFeatures:

– Reading Connections– Technology Connections– Differentiated Instruction– New Design

Aligned to National and State Standards

Classroom Friendly – 96 hands-on, interdisciplinary activities– Indoor and outdoor activities

PLT GreenSchools! Investigations• School Site• Energy• Waste & Recycling• Water• Environmental QualityAll available online:www.plt.org/greenschools

Secondary Modules (Grades 9-12)• Focus on Forests• Forests of the World• Places We Live• Municipal Solid Waste• Focus on Risk• Biotechnology (Online)• Biodiversity (Online)

Introducing….• Southeastern Forests and Climate Change– A unique PLT Secondary Module developed as part

of the PINEMAP (Pine Integrated Network: Education, Mitigation, and Adaptation Project)

PINEMAP• Combines Research, Extension, and Education11 Universities8 Research Co-opsSE Climate ConsortiumSouthern Regional Ext. ForestryUSFSMany others….

PINEMAP• PINEMAP integrates research, extension, and

education to:– Enable landowners to manage forests to increase

carbon sequestration– Increase efficiency of nitrogen and other fertilizer

inputs– Adapt forest management approaches to increase

forest resilience and sustainability under variable climates

PINEMAP: Why the Southeast?• Southeastern forests provide critical economic and

ecological services to U.S. citizens. – 1/3 of the contiguous U.S. forest carbon – 5.5% of the jobs, and 7.5% of the industrial economic

activity of the region– backbone of an industry that supplies 16% of global

industrial wood• Focus on loblolly pine (Pinus taeda) which

accounts for 80% of the planted forests in the region

Why SE Forests & Climate Change?• Climate change has been identified as the

single biggest challenge that faces society today, but not everyone agrees

• The potential impacts of climate change on southeastern forests could be significant

• Climate change is more meaningful to students when examples of impacts are local and they are empowered to participate in creating solutions

PINEMAP & PLT• PINEMAP is designed to promote scientist and

citizen understanding of future risks to pine forests and opportunities to address them– Important educational outreach component– Activities echo dimensions of PINEMAP research– Intensive curriculum writing/pilot testing led by a

team from the University of Florida

SEFCC Curriculum• The activities draw on a variety of learning

theories and teaching strategies to help educators actively engage students in learning about a controversial, social, and scientific issue.

• The process of addressing climate change will not lead to a single best answer, but requires that people use skills of systems thinking, critical thinking, and group process as they work together towards solutions

SEFCC Curriculum• This module can assist you in helping students

understand the following:– Why a variety of perspectives of climate change exist– How to build consensus with people who represent a

variety of perspectives– How to explore underlying beliefs and address missing

information– How to respect differences of opinion– How to find common ground of agreement– The scientific evidence for climate change

SEFCC Curriculum• Potential impacts of climate

change on ecosystems• The limitations and purpose

of climate models & projections

• The nature of science• How data are analyzed

& used for inferences• Why policy recommendations

can be sources of controversy• Where to find accurate answers to questions about climate

change