Rangeland-based livelihoods in the western U.S. are threatened by escalating drought and climate disruption. Robust climate-smart outreach programs are needed to equip stakeholders with the knowledge and skills needed to combat these challenges.
This project will organize and facilitate a novel community of practice, STrengthening Extension and Education in Rangeland Systems (STEERS) for Greater Climate Resilience, that will unite an interdisciplinary team of university Extension professionals and faculty, two USDA Climate Hubs, the Ute Mountain Ute Tribe, and a stakeholder advisory committee with broad expertise in rangeland climate adaptation and educational program design to co-develop climate-smart drought programming.
STEERS will:
- Assess existing rangeland drought training programs and resources;
- Develop and deliver place-based rangeland drought training programs to facilitate adoption of climate-smart agricultural practices and regionally-relevant, climate-informed decision making for stakeholders in underserved communities;
- Increase access to on-the-ground drought planning capacity with the Ute Mountain Ute Tribe by co-developing climate-smart grazing management planning; and
- Evaluate project training programs to inform dissemination and scale-up of climate smart extension and research.
STEERS will also engage students in hands-on training opportunities in climate-smart rangeland agriculture, Extension, and educational program design through STEERS-EXCITE Internships.