Rachel Williss (left), presents at a School of Natural Resources seminar on Oct. 7 titled "Bringing Climate Change Home: Making Climate Data Local, Visual, and Useful."NDMC Communications
NDMC receives accreditation from the UNCCD
In August, Mark Svoboda, NDMC director, visited Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia, for the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD)’s Conference of the Parties (COP 17) for side events, presentations and meetings.
In September, the National Drought Mitigation Center received accreditation as an observer from COP17 to the UNCCD. This designation was made following a recommendation from the UNCCD secretariat.
As an accredited observer, the NDMC will automatically receive an official invitation to attend the sessions of the COP and its subsidiaries, as well as any future events involving the Parties. There are currently around 1,200 civil service organizations accredited with observer status, and these organizations help stakeholders gain a broader understanding of how to make an impact.
New paper explores drought management strategies in Montana forests
Tonya Haigh, NDMC social science coordinator, was the lead author of "Tangled problems, tacit frames: understanding drought management in Montana forests, USA,” which was published in Socio-Ecological Practice Research in August.
The paper explores the social and institutional barriers and opportunities associated with forest ecosystems. Authors provide insights into how public U.S. forest management organizations frame drought-related problems, and how conflicting frames and logics might be managed to better adapt to future drought risk.
NDMC staff participate in DEWS partner meeting
NDMC staff Brian Fuchs, Curtis Riganti and Kelly Smith attended the Missouri River Basin Drought Early Warning partner meeting in September. Smith helped organize the impacts discussion. The event is co-hosted by NOAA’s National Integrated Drought Information System and the Northern Great Plains Regional Incubator in Drought Resiliency.
Third Great Plains Stock Pond Symposium held
NDMC staff Cody Knutson and Tonya Bernadt hosted the third annual Great Plains Stock Pond Symposium on Sept. 24, with over 50 participants across the Great Plains in attendance.
This event was part of a larger effort to share information about stock ponds and drought across the Great Plains, called the Great Plains Stock Ponds Working Group. The NDMC hosts the working group in collaboration with the USDA Northern Plains and Southern Plains Climate Hubs, with support from the USDA Office of the Chief Economist.
NDMC staff present at SNR seminar
NDMC affiliated faculty Deb Bathke, NDMC graduate student Rachel Williss and Haigh presented at a University of Nebraska-Lincoln School of Natural Resources seminar on Oct. 7, titled "Bringing Climate Change Home: Making Climate Data Local, Visual, and Useful." Smith moderated the panel of speakers.