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NCASC Webinar Series: Incorporating the RAD (Resist-Accept-Direct) Framework into Resource Management Planning

The National CASC is hosting a quarterly webinar series on the RAD (Resist-Accept-Direct) framework, a tool that helps resource managers make informed choices for responding to change. This series focuses on examples of RAD implementation and reflects on practical applications of RAD concepts. 

Webinar Series Overview

“RAD helps managers navigate a transforming world like a compass helps an explorer navigate towards a specific destination.” – John Morton, Alaska Wildlife Alliance 

Media
A cartoon of a person walking through a forest, asking "which road should I take"?

The RAD (Resist-Accept-Direct) Framework is a simple tool that is gaining traction within resource management communities navigating the challenges of system change. RAD helps decision makers evaluate a broader suite of potential strategies beyond traditional options commonly considered. This is especially important as decision makers may need to switch RAD strategies to balance current and future value as systems, feasibility of strategies, and desirability of objectives change.

The RAD framework lays out three approaches for making management decisions for systems undergoing ecosystem transformation: 

  1. Resist, where managers work to maintain or restore ecosystem composition, structure, processes, or function on the basis of historical or acceptable current conditions
  2. Accept, where managers allow ecosystem composition, structure, process, or function to change autonomously
  3. Direct, where managers actively shape change in ecosystem composition, structure, processes, or function toward preferred new conditions

In this webinar series, speakers explore how RAD is useful for resource managers exploring multiple approaches for addressing future uncertainty. Perspectives include Federal, state, and Tribal agencies, nongovernmental organizations, local communities, and academics. We invite anyone interested in RAD concepts or the potential of applying RAD to view the recordings in this series. We hope these sessions are of particular value to researchers and managers open to considering options beyond resisting ecosystem change and may instead consider whether accepting change or directing it along a preferred pathway might be more appropriate (RAD framework). 

Join this webinar series to hear from the RAD community of practitioners on the many applications of the RAD framework!

Sign up for the RAD Community Distribution List to receive the RAD newsletter and other RAD updates from the ‘RADish’ community of practice!

Schedule

Date and TimeWebinar TitlePresentersRegistration link
July 24, 2025 (3-4:00 PM ET)RAD Perspectives

Gregor Schuurman (National Park Service) 

Aaron Shultz (Great Lakes Indian Fish & Wildlife Commission)

Nicole Ward (Minnesota Department of Natural Resources)

Nifer Wilkening (U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service)

View recording
January 22, 2026 (3-4:00 PM ET)Social Science Perspectives on RAD

Wylie Carr (National Park Service)

Amanda Cravens (USGS)

Jaclyn Rushing (U.S. Forest Service)

Register Now!
April 22, 2026 (3-4:00 PM ETAdaptive Management & RAD

Ellie Brown (USGS) 

Katherine Siegel (University of Colorado Boulder)

Bob Newman (University of North Dakota)

Ken Williams (retired, USGS)

Register Now!
July 23, 2026 (3-4:00 PM ET)Structured Decision Making & RAD 

 

Mike Runge (USGS)

TBD
October 22, 2026 (3 - 4:00 PM ET)Scenario Planning and RADBrian Miller (USGS)TBD

Who We Are

This webinar series was hosted by the USGS National Climate Adaptation Science Center in partnership with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service National Conservation Training Center

Webinar Recordings

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