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Established in 2011, the Southwest CASC provides regionally-relevant scientific information, tools, and techniques to resource managers and communities in Arizona, Utah, California, and Nevada. 

Map of the Southwest CASC showing consortium members
Map of the Southwest CASC region and consortium members. The SW CASC serves the states Arizona, Utah, California, and Nevada. The SW CASC consortium includes the University of Arizona (Host), University of California-Davis, University of California-Los Angeles, Desert Research Institute (Nevada), Colorado State University, Scripps Institution of Oceanography, and Utah State University.

The Southwest Climate Adaptation Science Center (SW CASC) was established in 2011 to provide objective science to help resource managers and other interested parties anticipate, monitor, and adapt to climate change impacts in the southwestern U.S.

The SW CASC believes that the Southwest’s ecosystems, communities, and cultures are resilient and thriving as the climate changes, and that resource management decisions are informed by climate adaptation science. The CASC seeks to develop actionable science and implementable climate adaptation solutions in partnership with natural and cultural resource managers, policy makers, Native Nations, and researchers across the region. SW CASC activities are grounded in its core values of respect, collaboration and reciprocity, co-production, inclusivity, scientific integrity, and a commitment to nature-based solutions.

To facilitate communication and collaboration with Tribal Nations in the region, the Southwest CASC is joined by a Bureau of Indian Affairs Tribal Resilience Liaison.

 

Consortium

  • University of Arizona (Host)
  • Colorado State University
  • Desert Research Institute (Nevada)
  • Scripps Institution of Oceanography
  • Utah State University
  • University of California - Davis
  • University of California - Los Angeles
  • Past consortium members: 2011-2018: University of Colorado

 

Management Priorities Include

  • Indigenous Conservation Practices
  • Ecological Transformation
  • Aquatic Ecosystems
  • Decision-Support Tools
  • Cultural Burning and Wildfire 

 

Key Documents & Reports

 

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