Research

Societal Dimensions: Current Research

Interviews with Natural Resource Managers: Water Resources, Fisheries, Forests, and Coastal Zone

Personnel

• Edward Miles (contact person)
• David Fluharty
• Melissa Andersen

Background

The Climate Impacts Group (CIG) first surveyed natural resource managers concerning their use of climate forecasts and other information in natural resources management in 1996-1997. Interviews were undertaken with managers in the CIG’s four major research sectors: water resources, fisheries, forests, and the coastal zone. The results for water resources and coastal zone managers were reported in Callahan (1997), Callahan et al. (1999), and Johnson (1998).

The surveys revealed then that fisheries and forest managers made only limited use of climate information. The CIG has decided to conduct these surveys regularly on a five-yearly basis in order to keep abreast of changes in each sector, to document changes in the use of climate forecasts and other information attributable to CIG activities, and to learn how we can serve the user community better. The second survey was conducted in 2003 and is currently being analyzed.

Research Questions Posed

• What changes in management approach, requirements, or concerns have occurred that will affect the sectors’ resilience to climate variability and change?
• What is the extent of understanding of processes of climate variability and change and their implications for regional natural resources?
• How has this understanding changed over time? Why?
• What does the user community need from the CIG?

Selected References

For more publications on the societal dimensions of climate impacts and adaptation in the PNW, please see CIG Publications.

Callahan, B.M. 1997. The potential of climate forecasts for water resource management in the Columbia River basin. MMA thesis, School of Marine Affairs, University of Washington, Seattle.

Callahan, B., E.L. Miles, and D. Fluharty. 1999. Policy implications of climate forecasts for water resources management in the Pacific Northwest. Policy Sciences 32:269-293.

Johnson, Z.P. 1998. Sensitivity of the coastal management system in Washington state to the incorporation of climate forecasts and projections. MMA thesis, School of Marine Affairs, University of Washington, Seattle.