Projects by Region
Projects by Region
Each region of the country contains its own unique ecosystems, communities, and cultural values. Regional CASCs work with partners to develop products that address specific climate adaptation needs of wildlife, ecosystems, and people in the states within their footprints. Browse our projects by region below or use our Project Explorer database to explore our science.
Filter Total Items: 1003
Reconstructing Vegetation and Climate Histories on Palmyra Atoll to Assist with Climate-Smart Adaptation
Project Overview Palmyra Atoll National Wildlife Refuge (NWR) is a critical nesting site for seabirds in the central Pacific Ocean, with ecosystems that are regularly impacted by the El Niño Southern Oscillation (ENSO). Researchers supported by this Pacific Islands CASC project aim to understand how past ENSO-driven climate variability and human activities have affected vegetation and...
Refining Flood Risk Predictions in Hawaiʻi with Generative Machine Learning
Project Overview As climate change intensifies, accurately forecasting regional flood, drought, and heat risks is critical for planning, but current global climate models lack the resolution needed for useful local predictions. Researchers supported by this Pacific Islands CASC project will use generative artificial intelligence (AI) to create high-resolution precipitation maps and flood...
Rekindling Relations: Integrating Mvskoke Indigenous Knowledge for Bio-Cultural Climate Adaptation
Project Overview A collaborative research team including the North Central CASC, University of Oklahoma, and College of the Muscogee Nation will conduct ethnographic interviews in the Mvskoke Language (Opvnvkv) documenting Mvskoke Indigenous Knowledge (IK) on several culturally significant species relevant to climate adaptation. The findings will support local management efforts by...
Relieving the Sting: Spatial Prioritization for Pollinator Conservation Under a Changing Climate
Project Overview The Rusty Patched Bumble Bee, and other native bees and pollinators, are declining due to climate change, habitat loss, and other stressors like pathogens and pesticide-use. Researchers supported by this Midwest CASC project will study how certain stressors interact to affect the geographic distribution of Rusty Patched Bumble Bees, using mapping techniques and future...
Research to Action for Yukon River Salmon: Adapting to Climatic, Food-Web, and Habitat Changes
Project Overview Salmon populations in the Yukon River Basin have plummeted to historic lows, disrupting fisheries, fueling conflicts, and impacting communities that have relied on salmon for generations. Researchers supported by this Alaska CASC project will combine traditional knowledge, field data, and modeling to identify the key drivers of salmon decline and create tools to guide...
Restoring Climate-Resilient Atlantic White Cedar Wetland Forests in the Northeast: Lessons from Culture and Science
Much of the cranberry bog farmland in Massachusetts used to be Atlantic white cedar ecosystems, which provide important habitat, water filtration, and cooling effects on the landscape. Researchers supported by this Northeast CASC project will experiment with modern restoration strategies and integrate Indigenous cultural stewardship practices to build and sustain climate-resilient...
Restoring Hawai‘i’s Wetlands and Investigating Potential Impacts from Climate Change
Project Overview The James Campbell National Wildlife Refuge in Hawai’i provides important wetland habitats for four species of endangered waterbirds. However, due to invasive species and climate change impacts, these habitats are becoming unsuitable for the fledging and longevity of these birds. Researchers supported by this Pacific Islands CASC project will examine the effectiveness of
Science-Driven Methods for Scaling Afforestation of Dry Grass-Dominated Landscapes
Project Overview Restoring grass-dominated landscapes into resilient forested ecosystems is a key strategy for addressing the growing risk of wildfire Hawaiʻi. However, conventional afforestation efforts typically require regular maintenance due to the persistent invasion of grasses in planted areas. In collaboration with Native Hawaiian Organizations, researchers supported by this...
Small Prairie Stream Health Within Fort Berthold Indian Reservation
Project Overview The Fort Berthold Indian Reservation faces challenges in maintaining stream health due to recent extreme weather events, oil and gas development, and row crop expansion. Researchers supported by this North Central CASC project will assess how these changes affect stream health while providing career development for undergraduate researchers from Nueta Hidatsa Sahnish...
Social Network Analysis of the Environmental Justice and Climate Justice Community Active in Climate Adaptation and Conservation: George Mason University
The purpose of this project is to develop and test a SNA methodology for the national and regional CASCs to identify, map, and measure relationship patterns among organizations engaging in environmental and climate justice work related to climate adaptation and conservation. The planned deliverables of this project are designed to support the CASCs, resource managers, restoration...
Social Network Analysis of the Environmental Justice and Climate Justice Community Active in Climate Adaptation and Conservation: University of Colorado
This research will expand the future impact of CASC research via the potential for increased, targeted work with stakeholders, managers, and rightsholders in the future by identifying thematic areas and key partners with whom the CASCs can work right now, as well as how to sustain those relationships moving forward. Findings from this research will also support USGS, CASC network, and...
Social-Ecological Vulnerability in Human Communities Surrounding Large Protected Areas in the Southeast
Project Overview Rural communities near large, protected areas, such as national parks, face a complex interplay of environmental risks and benefits from nature. As climate and land-use changes intensify, these environmental risks may grow, potentially reducing the benefits from nature that these communities currently enjoy. Researchers supported by this Southeast CASC project will...