Abstract:

Navigating landscape management decisions under climate uncertainty is increasingly challenging. In this talk, I present an overview of our collaborative project with the College of the Menominee Nation, in which we explore the use of immersive virtual experiences and modeling to better illuminate shared values about forest futures.  Our project highlights that common objectives for forest management must be considered together, specifically managing for biodiversity as well as carbon, so as to more fully embrace multiple dimensions of sustainability.  We also showcase that there are opportunities to use proactive forest management to maximize these co-benefits, but that management opportunities shrink under more severe climate change scenarios.  Overall, our project highlights the importance of bridging ways of knowing between Indigenous and Western knowledge systems, and the importance of transdisciplinary research for guiding landscape decision making.