Forest ThreatNet

The Template for Assessing Climate Change Impacts and Management Options (TACCIMO), an interactive, web-based tool that provides users opportunity to integrate current climate change science into land management planning decisions, has added upgrades. TACCIMO version 2.0 features:

An enhanced Geographic Information Systems (GIS) tool -- TACCIMO links text with data maps, charts, and climate model projections in a GIS environment. Users can generate a standardized report highlighting trends in temperature and precipitation for any state, county, or National Forest in the contiguous United States and can easily examine these trends with the aid of an accompanying graphing tool.

An expanded Forest Service land and resource management plan database -- TACCIMO users can explore forest plans for all National Forests east of the Mississippi River. The forest plans can be directly linked to TACCIMO’s database of climate change impacts or used as independent resources.

An expanded climate change science database -- TACCIMO users can generate customized reports based on an extensive database of direct climate change impacts and management options derived from peer reviewed literature. TACCIMO’s climate change science database is constantly growing and is responsive to user requests and needs.

EFETAC scientists and staff are developing TACCIMO in partnership with Forest Service Southern Region Planning, Land and Resource Management, and Cooperative Forestry units. ”The TACCIMO partnership has focused on building a sound foundation designed to meet the information needs of forest resource planners and managers associated with climate change. Now that the foundation is laid, we can begin expanding content responsive to emerging science and user information requirements,” says Emrys Treasure, an EFETAC biological scientist working with the TACCIMO development team. “While we will continue to improve functionality where needed, the real emphasis going forward is capturing and transferring information critical to sustainable resource management under a changing climate, including assisting the National Forest System in developing successful strategies for climate change adaptation and mitigation.”

Additional upgrades planned for mid-2011 include a keyword search functionality; a prototype application allowing users to view maps, graphs, and text simultaneously; and supplementary science and climate projection content. The TACCIMO development team offers demonstrations and customized training sessions for specific user groups and needs. To participate, contact EFETAC ecologist Steve McNulty at steve.mcnulty@usda.gov and Emrys Treasure at emrys.treasure@usda.gov. Visit http://www.forestthreats.org/tools/taccimo to learn more.

TACCIMO Development Team Honored for Technology Transfer Efforts

The USDA Forest Service 2010 Regional Forester Honor Award for Technology Transfer (Southern Region) was presented to a team of EFETAC researchers and natural resource managers and planners from the Forest Service’s Southern Region in Atlanta. Jerome Thomas, Deputy Regional Forester for Natural Resources, presented the TACCIMO development team with the award during a December ceremony. Recipients were Steve McNulty, EFETAC ecologist; Emrys Treasure, EFETAC biological scientist; Jennifer Moore Myers, EFETAC resource information specialist; Rob Herring, EFETAC applications programmer; Chris Liggett, Southern Region planning director; David Meriwether, Southern Region ecosystem management coordinator; and Paul Arndt, Southern Region regional planner.

The team was selected for both TACCIMO development and numerous outreach activities, including online and face-to-face demonstrations and training sessions.

Above: The TACCIMO development team received the Regional Forester 2010 Honor Award for Technology Transfer – (left to right) Steve McNulty, Emrys Treasure, David Meriwether, Paul Arndt, Chris Liggett, and presenter Jerome Thomas.