Sue WotkynsInstitute for Tribal Environmental ProfessionalsNorthern Arizona University

National Tribal ForumApril 30, 2013, Fountain Hills, AZ

Climate Change Adaptation Planning by Tribes

Presentation Overview• Overview of ITEP• Climate change impacts and vulnerabilities• Mitigation and adaptation• Climate change adaptation planning• Tribal examples of adaptation planning• Climate change resources for tribes

• Northern Arizona University, Flagstaff, AZ• Mission: ITEP serves tribes through outstanding, culturally-

relevant education and training that increase environmental capacity and strengthen sovereignty

• In 20 years, ITEP has served over 500/566 tribes nationally• ITEP Programs: Climate Change, Air Quality, Waste

Management, K-16 Environmental Education and Outreach, Tribal Clean Energy Resource Center

Institute for Tribal Environmental Professionals (ITEP)

San Francisco Peaks, Flagstaff, AZ

Impacts and Vulnerabilities

2011 Las Conchas Fire in New Mexico. Credit: D. Chavarria, Pueblo of Santa Clara

Sand dune migration on Navajo Nation. Credit: M. Hiza, USGS

Source: NOAA

Pinyon pine loss --drought stress, bark beetle outbreak. Credit: C. Allen, USGS

Climate Change Mitigation and Adaptation

• Mitigation: Dealing with the causes. Actions that reduce level of greenhouse gases in atmosphere• Reducing emissions• Enhancing carbon sinks

• Adaptation: Dealing with the effects. Taking action to minimize impacts of climate change. Includes reducing vulnerability of people and places to effects of climate change

Source: USDA NRCS

Adaptation Planning

• What is “adaptation planning”?

• What will be possible outcomes if we don’t plan and prepare for climate change impacts? (i.e. we do nothing)

• What are possible outcomes if we do plan and prepare for climate change impacts?

Climate Change Adaptation PlanningPlanning and preparing for impacts of climate change.Be proactive instead of reactive!Process: • Get started, form planning team, initial scoping of impacts,

gather information, build capacity• Build support from tribal council and community--

outreach and education• Find funding, form partnerships• Assess impacts, vulnerabilities and risks, prioritize• Develop goals and strategies• Write adaptation plan (or mainstream climate change into

existing plans)• Implement plan, monitor progress, update plan

• Funding – for impact and vulnerability assessments, development and implementation of adaptation plans

• Tribal support (from tribal leadership and community). How to make climate change a priority (other competing immediate issues)?

• How to get started? Process?• Limited staff time• Where to get information--climate projections, impacts,

adaptation strategies• Integrating traditional knowledge and western science

Adaptation Planning: Challenges

Example: Swinomish Indian Tribal Community (WA)• 2007—Tribal Senate proclamation directing

action to respond to climate change challenges • 2-year, $400,000 project, 80% funding from US

Dept. of Health & Human Services, Administration for Native Americans

• Comprehensive Impact Assessment Report (2009) and Adaptation Action Plan (2010): http://www.swinomish-nsn.gov/climate_change/climate_main.html

• Tribal profile: http://www4.nau.edu/tribalclimatechange/tribes/northwest_swinomish.asp

• Implementation of plan

Example: Nez Perce Tribe (ID)• Enrolled in Climate Solutions University, received

educational scholarship grant• Developed adaptation plan for forest and water resources

(2011) http://www4.nau.edu/tribalclimatechange/resources/docs/res_NezPerceCCAdaptPlan.pdf

• Climate Solutions University now offers 2 options:A. 10-month program—webinars, weekly calls, technical

assistance, access to library of adaptation resources: $25,000

B. Self-directed—monthly calls, access to archived webinars and library : $5,000

Source: John McColgan, BLM, Forest Fire Gallery

Example: Grand Portage Band of Lake Superior Chippewa (MN)• 2008—Trust Lands Administrator requested

white paper on climate change• Formed team, monthly meetings, specific

assignments, developed guiding principles, interviewed elders

• Evolved into adaptation plan: 1) White paper on climate change; 2) Strategic planning for resource management

• Air quality, water quality, forestry, fish/wildlife, solid waste, food, and energy

• April 2013—tribal council resolution for climate change adaptation initiative

• Finalizing draft plan, external review soon• Tribal profile http

://www4.nau.edu/tribalclimatechange/tribes/greatlakes_lschippewa.asp

Source: M. Lockhart/USFWS

Source: S. Moore, Grand Portage Band

Source: S. Moore, Grand Portage Band

Example: Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes (MT)• Began early 2012; estimated completion summer

2013• June 2012--attended ITEP course; Sept 2012 hosted

ITEP course; using ITEP templates• Formed planning team—multiple depts. • November 2012—tribal council resolution• Developed CSKT climate change strategic planning

guide• External assistance with writing plan• Incorporating Traditional Ecological Knowledge—

videos of elders• Developed partnerships, external science panel• Funding sources: Roundtable on the Crown of the

Continent and the Great Northern LCC

Example: Coquille Indian Tribe (OR)

• Incorporating climate change considerations into Strategic Plan • Potential climate change implications for each

department• Strategic plan objectives in light of climate change

• Tribal profile http://www4.nau.edu/tribalclimatechange/tribes/northwest_coquille.asp

Coquille Plankhouse. Source: USDA

Example: Native Village of Newtok (AK)

• Threatened by river erosion, permafrost degradation, flooding. Needs to relocate

• 2006—formed Newtok Planning Group, multiple external partners

• Aug 2011--Relocation Report: Newtok to new village site of Mertarvik

• Developing Strategic Management Plan for Relocation

• http://www.commerce.state.ak.us/dca/planning/npg/Newtok_Planning_Group.htm

Aerial view of Newtok.Source: AK Dept. of Environmental Conservation

Other Examples?

ITEP’s Climate Change Training• Climate Change Adaptation Planning

• Offered in different regions• 3-days long, approx. 20 participants, plus team of

instructors• Process of adaptation planning; tools and resources• Talking Circles, presentations and tribal case studies,

discussions, activity (computer-based), field trip• Supported by US EPA cooperative agreement

Climate Change Adaptation Planning -- Pueblo of Santa Ana, NM, February 2013

Templates• Template for a Tribal Resolution: Climate

Change Adaptation Initiative• Template and 4-page guide• Focused on establishing a climate change

adaptation initiative for tribe

• Tribal Climate Change Adaptation Plan Template • Guidelines and suggestions for writing an

adaptation plan• Key terms, additional resources

• Available by request: susan.wotkyns@nau.edu

Website and Newsletter• Tribes & Climate Change Website• Basic info, Tribal Profiles, Resources Library,

and more• http://www4.nau.edu/tribalclimatechange/

• Tribal Climate Change Newsletter• Delivered monthly by email• ITEP CC Program News, In the News, Technical

Resources, Funding Opportunities, Upcoming Events

• Sign up be sending email to: susan.wotkyns@nau.edu

Climate Change Webinars

• AK-focused quarterly webinars, in collaboration with USEPA Reg.10

• Webinar series—in June and July• Climate Change: What it is and why its important• Impacts of Climate Change on Tribes• Climate Change Outreach and Education

• Archived at: http://www4.nau.edu/itep/climatechange/tcc_webinars.asp

Climate Change Outreach MaterialsClimate Change Fact Sheets2-page•Focused on impacts and adaptation strategies•Collaborating with University of Oregon• Drought• Fisheries• Forestry• Invasive Species• Wildfire

Available at: http://www4.nau.edu/itep/climatechange/tcc_SWProj.asp

Additional Fact Sheets being developed

Resources from other organizations

Univ. of Oregon’s PNW Tribal Climate Change Project:•Tribal Climate Change Funding and Program Guide http://tribalclimate.uoregon.edu/funding-guide/

•Exploring the Role of Traditional Ecological Knowledge in Climate Change Initiatives http://tribalclimate.uoregon.edu/files/2010/11/TEK_Climate_Synthesis_Oct-12-1nkf2o3.pdf

Resources from other organizations

Promoting Generations of Self-Reliance - Stories and Examples of Tribal Adaptation to Change (US EPA) http://www.epa.gov/region10/pdf/tribal/stories_and_examples_of_tribal_adaptation_to_change.pdf

Climate Change Planning Tools for First Nations Guidebooks (Centre for Indigenous Environmental Resources)http://www.yourcier.ca/information-and-resources/publications-and-products.aspx?id=412

Native Communities and Climate Change (Univ. of Colorado) http://www.tribesandclimatechange.org/index.php

Tribal networks/initiatives focused on climate change

• Alaska Native Tribal Health Consortium—Local Environmental Observer (LEO) Network: http://www.anthc.org/chs/ces/climate/leo/about.cfm

• First Stewards: http://firststewards.org/

• Indigenous Peoples Climate Change Working Group: http://aianccwg.ning.com/profile/146mfvc6wl8v9

• ONR (Our Natural Resources): http://www.ournaturalresources.org/

• National Tribal Science Council: http://www.epa.gov/osp/tribes/who.htm

Tribal networks/initiatives focused on climate change• USDA Forest Service multi-station tribal initiative• Univ. of Oregon – Northwest Tribal Climate Change Project:

http://tribalclimate.uoregon.edu/network/• Institute for Tribal Environmental Professionals – Southwest Tribal

Climate Change Project: http://www4.nau.edu/itep/climatechange/tcc_SWProj.asp

• College of Menominee Nation• University of Hawaii• University of Georgia

Many tribal environmental/natural resources conferences include climate change sessions.

Contact Information

Sue WotkynsClimate Change Program ManagerInstitute for Tribal Environmental Professionals928-523-1488Susan.Wotkyns@nau.edu

Tribes & Climate Change website:http://www4.nau.edu/tribalclimatechange/index.asp

For more information about ITEP, please visit our website:http://www4.nau.edu/itep/