Earth Day Takeaway from SDI Director Chris Caldwell

Posoh,

As some of you may know, Earth Day turned 43 years old on Monday[1]. Thanks to United States Senator Gaylord Nelson’s efforts back in 1970, we now recognize April 22^nd as a day that promotes environmental awareness and protection efforts across the earth. Originally planned as a teach-in opportunity for college campuses to focus on issues of the environment, the event has since grown to inspire the creation of the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) [2], as well as global efforts like the United Nations General Assembly adoption of Resolution 63/278 to recognize April 22^nd, as International Mother Earth Day[3].

At The Sustainable Development Institute we participate in Earth Day activities because of the common ideals between Earth Day and the SDI mission to promote the values of sustainability. However, the primary inspiration for our mission comes not from Senator Nelson, as important as his contributions have been, but from the long history of the Menominee tribe and its protection of the land, and care for the resources and people. The Menominee Forest history is the example and impetus that is at the heart of what drives SDI and its mission. This year SDI participated in Earth Day activities by holding an Earth Day fair which discussed mining, water resources, climate change, and sustainability pledges, which culminated in a special presentation by Al Gedicks, author of Resource Rebels, who discussed past and current mining issues in Wisconsin. We were able to coordinate this event and especially Mr. Gedicks participation thanks to the CMN SEEDS student group[4].

I think the main message for Earth Day is wherever you draw your inspiration and desire for all things sustainable, it comes down to an individual choice to follow that with action. Whether its simple things like stopping and picking up a piece of garbage, recycling, signing a sustainable living pledge, or something long term like choosing to pursue an education, internships, or a career in an environmental field, or even totally changing the way you approach living in this world. It all takes a personal commitment to the values you choose to follow.

As the new Director of SDI I’ve found myself questioning[5] more and more, what does it really mean to be sustainable? Am I doing everything I can to make better choices not just for my children and grandchildren’s future, but for the future of our forest and our Nation? It can be tough to think about these things with our busy schedules, but it is necessary as individuals and communities if we intend to care for the land and resources we have been given.

Waewaenon,
Chris Caldwell
SDI Director

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[1] My original deadline for this blog was Monday. Please see my excuse at procrastination (sub-titled for my Spanish speaking friends).

[2] http://www.earthday.org/earth-day-history-movement

[3] http://www.un.org/ga/search/view_doc.asp?symbol=A/RES/63/278

[4] AISES, another CMN student group had a table set up. I always have to give my props to AISES from my days with the UW-Madison AISES group.

[5] Well, not totally true, my wife and kids ask me as well. What does sustainability mean? I can’t lie and say it means sitting watching TV all day, Can I?

SDI Participates in Federal Outreach and Science Planning Meetings

SDI Director Chris Caldwell (right)
Photo property of http://necsc.umass.edu

Sustainable Development Institute's Involvement in NECSC: 

Chris Caldwell, College of Menominee Nation Sustainable Development Institute Director, and Dean Fellman, Director of the Center for First Americans Forestlands, recently attended two regional stakeholder meetings for the Northeast Climate Science Center (NECSC). NECSC is part of a federal network which provides scientific information, tools, and techniques to assist managers and other institutions interested in land, water, wildlife, and cultural resources to adapt to climate change.

Both regional stakeholder meetings took place in January 2013, the first at the University of Massachusetts in Amherst, MA, and the second at the University of Minnesota in Minneapolis, MN. Chris Caldwell gave presentations at both meetings on Science -  “ Impacts of Climate Variability and Change on Cultural Resources”. Chris also facilitated small group discussions on this theme. Dean Fellman used the small group sessions to emphasize the importance of forests in the geographic region covered by NECSC, their vulnerability to climate change, and thus the need to include them as a priority resource for continued research.

Dr. Bill Van Lopik and Dr. Mike Dockry also participated as members on the CMN team to the consortium, and attended the Minneapolis meeting to participated and share their input.

Read an article about the NECSC stakeholder meeting here from the NECSC website.


Below is more information about the NECSC, partnerships, and grant and funding information:

“The Northeast Climate Science Center (NECSC) is part of a federal network of eight Climate Science Centers created to provide scientific information, tools, and techniques that managers and other parties interested in land, water, wildlife and cultural resources can use to anticipate, monitor, and adapt to climate change."

Recognizing the critical threats and unique climate challenges and the expansive and diverse
nature of the NE region, no one institution can provide the region-wide expertise on all critical
levels. Thus, the University of Massachusetts Amherst (UMass), College of Menominee Nation
(CMN), Columbia University (CU), Marine Biological Laboratory (MBL), University of
Minnesota (UMN), University of Missouri Columbia (UMO), and University of Wisconsin-
Madison (UWI) have formed the Northeast Climate Consortium (NECC) to host the DOI
NECSC, providing the USGS with deep and diverse resources for successfully meeting the
regional needs for climate impact science assessment, education and stakeholder outreach
throughout the NE region. In addition to the host institutions, the NECSC will include several
resource management partners, including Landscape Conservation Cooperatives (LCCs) that
exist, in part or whole, within the NE CSC bounds.” (More information about the NECSC can be
located on their website at http://necsc.umass.edu)

All of the domestic climate science centers are currently funded through grants from the Department of Interior (DOI), through initial 5 year awards which can be renewed. The NECSC is the most recently formed unit of the network and is in the process of developing a strategic science agenda to reflect evolving partner needs. The agenda essentially consists of seven “Science Themes” which will be validated through a process of review and input which includes regional stakeholders. Once validated, NECSC will produce an annual science plan that outlines the research goals for each fiscal year. These goals will then reflect priority research areas which will be used to select specific proposals offered via the consortium members for additional funding.