A Climate Adaptation Menu for North American Grasslands
North American grasslands, which span vast territories across the continent, are important yet often overlooked ecosystems in climate policy and conservation efforts. Bernath-Plaisted et al. (2025) developed the Grassland Adaptation Menu, a structured guide designed to support managers in implementing climate resilience strategies tailored to grassland ecosystems.
State of the Birds 2025
Birds are good indicators of ecosystem health. In the new 2025 "State of the Birds", it's reported that over one-third of U.S. bird species are in trouble, with 112 “Tipping Point” species having lost more than half their populations in just 50 years. But it’s not all bad news: the report also highlights successful conservation efforts that have helped bird populations rebound.
Upcoming Webinar: Assessing the Future of Sagebrush Ecosystems to Inform Climate Adaptation
Join the NC CASC on April 10 at 11am MT to learn about future changes in sagebrush ecosystems and current climate adaptation efforts!
Webinar Now Available Online
The Sagebrush Conservation Design (SCD) is a tool to identify intact sagebrush areas and address the largest threats to the ecosystem. The SCD focuses on first protecting intact and functioning sagebrush ecosystems, called Core Sagebrush Areas, then works outward toward more degraded areas (i.e., “Defend the Core”).
When
Sagebrush rangelands occupy 76 million hectares across western North America and provide a wide range of ecosystem services, notably wildlife habitat. However, these sagebrush rangelands are being transformed by combinations of wildfire, invasive species, and drought. Our work seeks to understand the potential impacts of climate change on these important ecosystems that have been decreasing by ~0.53 million hectares per year. In this webinar, we will present results about future long-term changes in ecological drought, widespread declines in ecological resilience and resistance, and potential geographic shifts in sagebrush plant community structure and ecological integrity. We will also describe our current research efforts related to climate adaptation in sagebrush. These analyses are coproduced with natural resource managers and are designed to provide actionable information to maximize the long-term value of sagebrush ecosystem conservation and restoration investments.
New Publication - Grass Invasion in Prairie Pothole Region
The Prairie Potholes Region of the northern Great Plains is under threat from the combined effects of introduced perennial grasses and climate change, which are driving plant community shifts and biodiversity loss. Check out a new publication about this from the NC CASC's RCAP (Rapid Climate Assessment Program).
Upcoming Webinar from USFWS Scientist (Former SE CASC Fellow!)
The Southeast Climate Adaptation Science Center (SE CASC) is hosting a webinar featuring one of their former fellows, Julianne Reas! The webinar, "Understanding the Role of Conservation Social Science in Improving Natural Resource Management Applications," will take place March 19 at 11am MT.
Understanding CMIP6: Key Insights and Implications for Climate Modeling
The North Central Climate Adaptation Science Center (NC CASC) provides climate science support for resource managers, researchers, and stakeholders navigating climate-related challenges. As part of this effort, we offer resources and expertise to help interpret and apply climate data to decision-making.
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