Aug 4: The Superior Watershed Partnership (SWP) in cooperation with Climate Solutions University (CSU) announced a funding opportunity for developing community-based climate adaption plans in the Great Lakes. The Model Forest Policy Program has developed a Climate Adaptation program called Climate Solutions University: Forest and Water Strategies (CSU) and is seeking applications from Great Lakes rural forested communities to participate in 2012. Applications to participate in 2012 are now available at with a deadline of September 19, 2011.
According to an announcement the CSU program works to empower local, rural communities in the U.S. to become resilient in the face of a changing climate by protecting their forest and water resources and their resource-dependent livelihoods. The program invests in a multi-year engagement with communities to assess their climate risks and develop a climate readiness plan to be implemented over the next several years. The CSU training and coaching process begins with a 10-month rigorous curriculum of distance learning with a monthly webinar, a monthly conference call, plus individual coaching and assistance. This will be complemented by extensive work by the local Great Lakes project leader and their local organization's planning team. CSU offers a direct $10,000 scholarship to support local staff time plus an estimated $50,000 in the value of the CSU educational and coaching process. The local community leader is expected to provide a $10,000 in-kind match so as to assure at least a half-time person dedicated to leading the project with the help of their local stakeholder team.
By the end of 2011, 14 communities will have completed the CSU process with excellent results in the climate adaptation plans they have developed and some beginning to implement in 2011. Their goals are location specific, driven by local decision makers, and aimed at benefiting the social, environmental and economic needs of the community.
Access a posted announcement with links to more information (click here). Access a registration form to obtain program guidelines and a complete application (click here). Access the SWP website for more information (click here).
