Above: A map of the SE CASC region, host institution, and consortium partners. Source: Southeast Climate Adaptation Science Center.
The SE CASC is one of a national network of nine regional Climate Adaptation Science Centers (CASCs) managed by the Department of the Interior – U.S. Geological Survey. The CASC network is a partnership-driven program that teams scientists with natural and cultural resource managers and local communities to help fish, wildlife, water, land, and people adapt to a changing climate. A Consortium Partner serves on a CASC leadership team to address regional impacts of Climate Change on natural and cultural resources and to ensure the delivery of scientific information that addresses the Climate Change adaptation priorities of federal, Tribal, state agencies, and other partners.
CASC Consortium partners and their programs and staff (e.g., USET and USET-Member Tribal Nations) are also eligible to compete directly for USGS funding to support climate change adaptation research projects that address local and regional priorities. Funding competitions are held annually in each region and the USET Climate Change Resilience Program will reach out to USET-Member Nation leadership and staff when details of the next competitions are announced, likely in spring or summer of 2024. Additionally, USET’s membership in the consortium enables greater participation of Tribal Nation staff and citizens in CASC programs including science seminars, symposia, and graduate student training and funding opportunities.
USET has partnered with the CASC network through the Tribal Climate Resilience Liaisons Program since 2017. Now, in this expanded role, USET joins seven other Tribal Nations/colleges/organizations that serve on regional CASC Consortium partnerships:
- Affiliated Tribes of Northwest Indians - Northwest CASC
- Chickasaw Nation – South Central CASC
- Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma – South Central CASC
- College of the Menominee Nation - Midwest CASC
- Great Lakes Indian Fish and Wildlife Commission – Midwest CASC
- Great Plains Tribal Water Alliance - North Central CASC
- Northwest Indian College – Northwest CASC
- United South and Eastern Tribes – Southeast CASC
Learn more about the new USGS cooperative agreement with the Southeast CASC here. For additional questions, you may contact Steph Courtney, USET’s Assistant Climate Science Liaison, at scourtney@usetinc.org.
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