Armsworth Discusses Climate Adaptation with US Interior Secretary Haaland
United States Secretary of the Interior Deb Haaland and US Geological Survey Director Dave Applegate joined students, scientists, and community partners affiliated with the Southeast Climate Adaptation Science Center at NC State University in February for detailed conversations about climate adaptation.
Paul Armsworth, professor in the UT Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, was invited to participate in a roundtable discussion on “Future Landscapes in the Southeast and Caribbean” with Secretary Haaland and Director Applegate, as well as Liz Wright, director of the US Bureau of Ocean and Energy, and an interdisciplinary group of researchers and federal, state and Tribal nation partners.
“My contribution to the discussion focused on how research can be co-produced with state and federal agencies to support them in their climate adaptation planning,” said Armsworth, who works in partnership with the Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies on research to support states planning for climate adaptation.
Armsworth and staff with the US Fish and Wildlife Service, a federal agency, also participated in a second roundtable with Director Applegate where they shared their experiences working together to support climate adaptation planning.
“Secretary Haaland, as well as Directors Applegate and Wright, were eager to hear how public research investment has resulted in real-world impact for people and nature by improving management of Southeastern ecosystems,” Armsworth said. “It was neat to be able to share examples with them where our partnership approach bringing together researchers with state and federal partners made that possible.”
Read more about the Secretary’s visit to the Southeast Climate Adaptation Science Center.