Information Exchange with Protected Areas of Eastern and Southern Africa and the U.S. National Park Service
This webinar series supports the exchange of information between managers and scientists in Transfrontier Conservation Areas and other protected areas in Eastern and Southern Africa with the U.S. National Park Service (NPS) Climate Change Response Program and its partners. The 10-part series held in 2022 will share climate change priority issues, tool, case studies, and best practices to advance climate change adaptation planning in protected areas.
This series is part of the U.S. Embassy Science Fellows Climate Change Rapid Response Round and is hosted by the U.S. Department of State and the U.S. Department of the Interior.
To subscribe to future events, email climate_change@nps.gov.
Climate Change Vulnerability Assessments
Join scientists from SANParks Cape Research Centre and U.S. NPS Climate Change Response Program to review best practices for vulnerability assessments in the United States and explore the socio-economic challenges and opportunities within which climate change vulnerability is assessed in South African protected areas.
Climate Change in Freshwater Management
Dr. Eddie Riddell uses a strategic adaptive management approach to consider the effects of future climate on freshwater ecosystems of the Great Limpopo Transfrontier Park. Then Drs. Lawrence and Thoma introduce the concept and application of water balance models to better understand future water availability in U.S. national parks.
Climate Change Scenario Planning
Participatory scenario planning offers a framework to imagine a range of potential future conditions and develop adaptation actions despite high uncertainty across future societal and environmental trajectories. Drs. Schuurman and Miller share their experience using scenario planning in U.S. national parks, engaging participants, incorporating both qualitative and quantitative information, and translating scenarios into action.
Frameworks for Climate Change Adaptation
Harisoa Rakotondrazafy and Kevin Codrey introduce case studies to build resilience in African protected areas. Then Gregor Schuurman explores ways to strategically manage change using the Resist-Accept-Direct framework in U.S. national parks.
Restoration in Climate Change Adaptation
Dr. Masubelele and Mrs. Phophe share lessons, challenges, and opportunities for adaptation and mitigation in South African National Parks. Then Matt Germino will explore wildfire, invasive species, and restoration in the semiarid western U.S and the tools available to address those challenges.
Transboundary Collaborative Conservation
Explore partnership and funding strategies in the context of human-wildlife interactions, climate change, and other stressors across Latin America, the Southeast United States, and the Kavango Zambezi TFCA with Drs. Nyambe Nyambe, Edson Gandiwa, and Amanda Sesser.
Socio-Economic Impacts of Protected Areas in the Great Limpopo TFCA and U.S. National Parks
This series of presentations on November 30, 2022 begins by describing ways to measure economic impact in communities surrounding U.S. national parks, followed by strategies and interventions taken in the Great Limpopo Transfrontier Conservation Area (TFCA) and within Kruger National Park to engage communities, diversify livelihoods, and strengthen local economies.