The training courses here can help you acquire the tools, skills, and knowledge you need to manage your climate-related risks and opportunities. All courses are free of charge, and are offered in at least one of three formats: online audio-visual presentations ("Online, Self-Guided" and "Tool Tutorial"), training webinars ("Online, Scheduled Lecture Series"), and residence training courses ("Onsite, Instructor-Led"). Each training module is accompanied with a test to help you evaluate your knowledge. These courses feature scientific information adapted from authoritative sources, prepared by recognized subject matter experts. The courses have been pilot tested with users and other subject matter experts and may be updated periodically, as needed.
Coastal communities increasingly realize the need for adaptation strategies, but many are unsure where to begin. Attend this two-day, instructor-led course to gain a thorough grounding and practical skills for incorporating adaptation strategies into planning processes. Time in class is provided to practice applying what you’ve learned, and opportunities for local collaboration and next steps are emphasized through discussion, participant activities, and local speakers and examples. The course is designed for planners, public works staff, floodplain managers, hazard mitigation planners, sustainability managers, emergency managers, community groups, members of civic organizations, and coastal resource managers. Participants are eligible for continuing education credits through the American Institute of Certified Planners and Certified Floodplain Manager (CFM) professional certifications.
This is the second in a series of three climate education modules created for natural resources professionals. This module explores current and projected climate effects on water resources, vegetation, wildlife, and disturbances for forest and grassland ecosystems. The modules were created using a curriculum developed by the Forest Service's Office of Sustainability and Climate and the Northern Institute of Applied Climate Science.
This course will build on the first course of the series, Coastal Hazards Awareness, by supplementing the awareness knowledge with tools and skills for practical use. The one-day, performance-level training course provides training on available tools for the assessment and planning for natural hazards and vulnerabilities that uniquely affect coastal communities. Examples of these hazards include short-term events such as high surf, storm surge, and tsunami inundation or long-term threats from sea level rise and coastal erosion. The goal of this course is to enable participants to identify methods and considerations for assessing hazards and vulnerabilities of coastal communities, compare and select sources and methods for collecting coastal hazard and vulnerability data, and utilize available web-based tools to conduct a preliminary hazard and vulnerability assessment in their community.
This one-day, awareness-level training course aims to increase the awareness of the hazards facing coastal communities and basic strategies to reduce the risk to those hazards. This course provides training on the basic science of, assessment of, and preparedness for natural hazards and risks that uniquely affect coastal communities. Examples of these hazards are short-term events such as high surf, storm surge, and tsunami inundation or long-term threats from sea level rise and coastal erosion.
The National Estuarine Research Reserves, a network of 29 coastal sites along U.S. Coasts and the Great Lakes, host a range of education, outreach, and training opportunities through their Coastal Training Programs. The overarching goal of these programs is to provide current science and skill-building opportunities for decision-makers in coastal communities. The Coastal Training Programs increase audience understanding of the environmental, social, economic, and policy consequences of human activities, and facilitates coordination among stakeholders to support evidence-based policies and actions.
Each Reserve’s program is different, and many sites host trainings related to resilience and climate change. Some sites have the flexibility to meet the needs of specific decision makers at specific times by organizing or developing custom trainings for local or regional decision makers. Reserves also frequently host the NOAA Digital Coast trainings.
To access training opportunities, or find contact information for program coordinators, select a reserve from the national map. View the Reserve page, and then go to the Reserve Website (under Important Links). Check the Reserve Website for Training, Education, and Outreach opportunities.
An ArcGIS Tutorial Series to help users apply the geographic approach for climate resilience planning. Using a climate resilience planning process—the Steps to Resilience documented in the U.S. Climate Resilience Toolkit—this curriculum is designed to help you use geographic information systems to document climate hazards that could harm the people and places you care about, decide which situations you most want to avoid, and come up with workable solutions to reduce your climate-related risks.
This guide provides a step-by-step approach for incorporating climate change information into new or existing conservation plans. The guide’s six steps draw from existing strategic conservation planning frameworks but focus on climate considerations and key resources specifically relevant to the coastal environment, including coastal watersheds.
This course, designed for those curious about what lidar is and why it is useful for management decisions, provides quick and flexible access to several topics needed to understand the lidar landscape. The course features engaging video and audio, optional knowledge checks, a final quiz with certificate, and assistive services for those with disabilities.
Learn an approach for identifying your community’s coastal hazard issues, ecosystem services that can reduce hazard impacts, and green infrastructure practices that can provide those services. Develop the beginnings of a community green infrastructure plan.
This online module series aims to increase the capacity of municipal decision makers to make effective choices supporting resilience to the impacts from climate change. Considering current and future impacts helps shape decisions that enhance the health, safety, and welfare of Rhode Island’s communities. The brief modules provide an understanding of the implications of a changing climate in Rhode Island. Each module consists of a voice-over PowerPoint, speaker notes, and a resources document. Relevant examples and lessons learned from Rhode Island communities are included, as well as ways to use various resources and tools in decision making. PREP-RI builds upon existing state efforts and is the product of collaboration among experts from a variety of fields. While this series is primarily geared toward coastal municipalities, much of the information will be helpful for inland communities as well as other public- and private-sector stakeholders throughout the state.
This manual describes a method developed by the Center for International Earth Science Information Network (CIESIN) at Columbia University for climate vulnerability mapping that can be applied to any geographic area. The manual was designed for a five-day training course for GIS analysts in the framework, data, and methods to develop a vulnerability map using the spatial index approach. The primary focus is on the methods needed to process and transform the raw spatial data in order to develop a spatial vulnerability index (and constituent indices for exposure, sensitivity, and adaptive capacity) using a combination of ArcGIS and R statistical computing software. Developed with Tetra Tech ARD under the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) Planning for Resilience in East Africa through Policy, Adaptation, Research, and Economic Development (PREPARED) and the African and Latin American Resilience to Climate Change (ARCC) projects. Best used as a guide for training courses, though can be used by individuals to develop vulnerability maps.
