The central objective of this project was to answer two questions: 1) how downscaled climate datasets, modeled vegetation changes, and information on estimated species sensitivities can be used to develop climate change adaptation strategies, and 2) how model results and datasets can be made more useful for informing the management of species and landscapes. To answer these questions, we identified enthusiastic partners working in two very different complex landscapes within the North Pacific Landscape Conservation Cooperative (NPLCC): 1) the British Columbia Park system, specifically the midcoast region, and 2) the National Wildlife Refuge system in the Willamette Valley, OR. The issues and concerns of each group were very different both with regard to the types of climate impacts expected, the ecological systems of concern, and the degree of familiarity with climate adaptation planning. In addition to these two landscapes, we conducted similar workshops in two landscapes in the Great Northern LCC: the Columbia Plateau and the Pioneer Mountains - Craters of the Moon. In this report, we draw on our experiences with these four landscapes to develop a set of “lessons learned” from this process. Specifically, we will present a list of recommendations for refinement of the Pacific Northwest Climate Change Vulnerability Assessment (PNWCCVA) data products and key information needs that are not currently met by these products.
