2026 Sustainability Research Summit
Members of the North Central Climate Adaptation Science Center (NC CASC) participated in CU Boulder’s inaugural Sustainability Research Summit, held October 8-9, 2026.
NC CASC Webinar: November 5, 2026
Grassland birds are among the most rapidly declining bird groups in North America. This upcoming NC CASC webinar will explore how the Central Grassland Bird Working Group is developing a coordinated, science-based approach to support their recovery.
When
This webinar will highlight the efforts of the Central Grassland Bird Working Group to recover 17 steeply declining grassland bird species. We will describe a systems-level approach that integrates spatial variation in population dynamics, limiting factors, and the human dimensions essential for successful species recovery and long-term grassland conservation.
We will introduce an iterative, two-step “where, then what” framework. First, spatial prioritization is used to identify where coordinated conservation efforts are most likely to benefit declining species. Second, data on species responses to management are used to determine what actions are most effective for maximizing population recovery. Together, these approaches provide a pathway for targeting conservation investments and adapting management to local conditions.
Finally, the webinar will introduce SPARRO (Spatial Prioritization for Avian Recovery & Rangeland Opportunity), a new decision-support tool designed to facilitate coordinated, targeted, and effective grassland conservation delivery across the Central Grasslands.
NC CASC Webinar Recording: Wind River Reservation
The Wind River Reservation offers a powerful case study on the historical and contemporary challenges Tribal Nations across the American West face in quantifying and using their water in alignment with their values.
2026 CIRES Science Summit
The 2026 CIRES Science Summit took place on Thursday, October 1, 2026 and brought together researchers and staff from across CIRES to encourage collaboration across internal networks, increase awareness of existing research, outreach, and engagement efforts, and identify areas for future growth and exploration.
Eat Bison to Save Bison?
For thousands of years, bison shaped North America’s grasslands while providing food, materials, and deep cultural and spiritual connections for Indigenous peoples. After being driven nearly to extinction in the late 1800s, bison have made a remarkable comeback.

