Building Climate Resiliency into your Terrestrial Restoration Project
2022 Webinar #2
This workshop focuses on case studies that integrate climate change adaptation and resilience into their on-the-ground terrestrial restoration projects.
AIR DATE: Wednesday, February 9
PRESENTATION 1: Bees to Bears – Integrating Climate Adaptation and Restoration in the Kootenai River Valley
PRESENTERS: Jessie Grossman, US Program Manager, Yellowstone to Yukon Conservation Initiative & Casey McCormack, Wildlife Diversity Biologist, Idaho Department of Fish and Game
DESCRIPTION: The Bees to Bears Climate Adaptation Project takes an innovative approach to climate adaptation by implementing restoration techniques meant to support functional hydrology and cool air and soil temperatures, supporting climate refugia for six of northern Idaho’s species of greatest conservation need. The project is located along the US/Canada border in Idaho’s Panhandle in an important connectivity corridor for wildlife. Jessie Grossman and Casey McCormack will explore best practices and lessons learned in the planning, implementation, and follow up for the project and discuss on-the-ground climate adaptation project components including topographical alterations, native vegetation plantings, and construction of water features.
PRESENTATION 2: Back to Baseline: Restoring open forests and cultural burning for climate resilience
PRESENTER: Sonja Seher, Lands & Resources Project Coordinator, ʔaq̓am
DESCRIPTION: ʔaq̓am’s five-year Ecosystem Enhancement project aims not just to restore forests, but also natural processes and cultural practices in a fire-adapted landscape. The multi-faceted project encompasses 1,300 hectares of community lands forming Kootenay Indian Reserve No. 1 near Cranbrook, BC. In 2022, ʔaq̓am will complete forest thinning activities, followed by prescribed and controlled fire in 2023. In getting back to a pre-fire suppression baseline, ʔaq̓am hopes to return to the practice of cultural burning and fire-keeping for the safety of ʔaq̓amnik̓ and the health of All Living Things in a changing climate. Sonja Seher will share in her experience supporting the implementation of this new and novel project.
Jessie Grossman is the US Program Manager for the Yellowstone to Yukon Conservation Initiative, where she works to connect and protect habitat from Yellowstone to the Yukon so people and nature can thrive. She lives in north Idaho on traditional Qlispeì, Ktunaxa, and Schitsu’umsh lands.
Casey McCormack is the Wildlife Diversity Biologist for the Idaho Panhandle at Idaho Department of Fish and Game. He holds a BSc in Wildlife Resources and MSc in Environmental Science from the University of Idaho. Since 2012, he has worked on various wildlife research and monitoring projects. In his current position, Casey primarily works to increase understanding of and improve habitat conditions for species of greatest conservation need, which includes addressing climate adaptation for these species.
Sonja Seher is a settler hailing from Secwepemc, Tsilhqot’in and Dakelh territory in BC’s Central Interior, and now living and working in Ktunaxa Territory. She is the Lands & Resources Project Coordinator for ʔaq̓am, a forester-in-training and a student in allyship.
