ASSESSMENT AND PLANNING TOOLS

TW7G Adaptation Planning Tool Kit

This toolkit is a collection of templates and other resources developed by the Institute for Tribal Environmental Professionals (ITEP) to assist tribes in their climate change adaptation planning process. The materials provided are not "one-size-fits-all" solutions, and users are encouraged to modify the materials to better represent the needs and priorities of their own tribe. The primary users of these materials will be the tribe’s climate change working group.

Access the tool:  https://itep.nau.edu/tw7g/resources/adaptation/

Background and guidance for users: http://www7.nau.edu/itep/main/tcc/Resources/adaptation

Geographic coverage: United States

Topics: tribal climate change adaptation planning

TRRG Planning Resources

The Tribal Resilience Resource Guide (TRRG) is a one-stop-shop for Tribes and partners to find resources related to both Tribes and other resilience programs in a single format across agencies, regions, Tribes, and groups. TRRG has compiled a list of planning resources to benefit tribal climate resilience efforts.

Learn more: https://www.bia.gov/bia/ots/tribal-climate-resilience-program/tribal-resilience-resource-guide-trrg

Geographic coverage: United States

Topics: adaptation planning and vulnerability assessments; adaptation strategy prioritization and implementation; capacity building; mitigation, renewable energy development, and energy efficiency; emergency planning and disaster risk reduction (DRR); relocation and coastal management

Tribal Climate Adaptation Guidebook

The Tribal Climate Adaptation Guidebook supports Tribes in their efforts to prepare for climate change. The Guidebook provides a comprehensive framework for climate change adaptation planning that explicitly recognizes the distinct circumstances of Tribal governments, culture, and knowledge systems while highlighting exemplary efforts by Tribes to adapt to climate change.

Access the tool: https://tribalclimateadaptationguidebook.org/

Background and guidance for users: https://tribalclimateadaptationguidebook.org/about/

Geographic coverage: North America

Topics: tribal climate adaptation

Indigenous Climate Change Adaptation Planning (ICCAP) Toolkit

The objective of the Indigenous Climate Change Adaptation Planning (ICCAP) Toolkit is to provide a suite of user-friendly tools, resources, and key considerations to support Indigenous individuals and communities interested in undertaking climate change adaptation planning. The intent is for the toolkit to be used by communities at all different stages of the adaptation planning process, including communities with little or no prior experience.

Tribal Climate Adaptation Menu (TAM)

Many climate adaptation planning tools fail to address the unique needs, values, and cultures of Indigenous communities. The Tribal Climate Adaptation Menu, developed by a diverse group of collaborators representing tribal, academic, intertribal and government entities in Minnesota, Wisconsin and Michigan, provides a framework to integrate indigenous and traditional knowledge, culture, language, and history into the climate adaptation planning process.

Access the tool: https://glifwc.org/ClimateChange/TribalAdaptationMenuV1.pdf

Background and guidance for users: https://www.icrn.us/tribal-climate-adaptation-menu

Geographic coverage: United States

Topics: customizable

Forest Climate Adaptation Toolkit

This interactive map presents real-world examples of place-based stewardship, strategies, and tools for forest climate adaptation that are rooted in Indigenous Knowledge and Western Science.

Access the tool: https://experience.arcgis.com/experience/f069301a3a6f4f0cb509636c0a93b225/

Background and guidance for users: https://adaptiveforeststewardship.org/

Geographic coverage: United States and Canada

Topics: forest climate adaptation, knowledge systems, Indigenous Knowledges

NIACS Adaptation Workbook

The Adaptation Workbook is a structured process to consider the potential effects of climate change and design land management and conservation actions that can help prepare for changing conditions. The process is completely flexible to accommodate a wide variety of geographic locations, ownership types, ecosystems and land uses, management goals, and project sizes.

Access the tool: https://adaptationworkbook.org/

Background and guidance for users: https://adaptationworkbook.org/about

Geographic coverage: United States

Topics: customizable

Resilience Metrics

Resilience Metrics is the cumulative result of more than 10 years of collaborative research, involving a wide range of experts, decision-makers and stakeholders from across the U.S. It compiles information, tools, and resources that support efforts to define and track climate adaptation success and progress.

Access the tool: https://resiliencemetrics.org/

Geographic coverage: United States

Topics: monitoring and evaluation of climate adaptation

Climate Change Adaptation Checklist for Climate Smart Projects: A Tool for Natural Resource Agencies

This tool is designed to help you determine if, given climate change, your project will continue to deliver intended benefits. The Checklist supports your ability to: explicitly evaluate the implications of future conditions on project function, longevity and impact; build climate consideration directly into funding, permitting and planning phases; reduce liabilities or avoid actions that will be ineffective under future conditions.

Access the tool: https://sites.google.com/ecoadapt.org/adaptation-checklists/home

Background and guidance for users: https://sites.google.com/ecoadapt.org/adaptation-checklists/home

Geographic coverage: United States

Topics: climate change adaptation

Climate-Smart Conservation: Putting Adaptation Principles into Practice

This guide will help conservationists and resource managers incorporate climate change considerations into their work. The report demystifies the discipline of climate adaptation by offering a common-sense approach to adaptation planning and implementation that breaks the process into discrete and manageable steps.

Access the tool: https://www.nwf.org/-/media/PDFs/Global-Warming/2014/Climate-Smart-Conservation-Final_06-06-2014.ashx

Background and guidance for users: https://www.nwf.org/climatesmartguide

Geographic coverage: United States

Topics: climate change adaptation

Climate Change Field Guides

Created by the USDA Northern Forests Climate Hub, the Climate Change Field Guides are designed to put useful climate change and adaptation information into the hands of natural resource professionals as they walk through the woods.

Access the tool: https://www.climatehubs.usda.gov/hubs/northern-forests/topic/climate-change-field-guides 

Geographic coverage: Michigan, Minnesota, New England, New York, Wisconsin

Topics: adaptive capacity, forest system characteristics, northern forests, site-level considerations, vulnerability

Climate Change Considerations for Forest Operations in Northern Forests

This guide was developed to identify practices for adapting forest operations to climate change. Key topics discussed include climate change impacts on operations in northern forests, considerations for planning, and practices that may be useful for protection of natural resources and continued forest operations in the changing climate.

Access the tool: https://www.climatehubs.usda.gov/hubs/northern-forests/topic/climate-change-considerations-forest-operations-northern-forests 

Geographic coverage: Michigan, Minnesota, New England, New York, Wisconsin

Topics: climate change impacts, erosion control, invasive species, monitoring, northern forests, planning, riparian management, stream crossings, wetlands, wildlife

USDA Climate Hubs Vulnerability Assessment Resources

The US Department of Agriculture’s Climate Hubs program maintains a list of Vulnerability Assessment resources and examples that focus on various exposure units, are applied at different spatial scales, and are relevant to different locations.

Access the tool: https://www.climatehubs.usda.gov/actions-and-resources/vulnerability-assessment 

Geographic coverage: United States

Topics: climate change vulnerability assessments

Ecoregional Vulnerability Assessments

Eight vulnerability assessments have been developed through the Climate Change Response Framework. Each vulnerability assessment provides the best available information about future changes in climate and the potential effects on the forest ecosystems in that particular region. The assessments are designed for natural resource managers and identify the key characteristics that increase or minimize risk in forest communities.

Access the tool: https://forestadaptation.org/assess/ecosystem-vulnerability 

Geographic coverage: Connecticut, Delaware, Illinois, Indiana, Maine, Massachusetts, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, West Virginia, Wisconsin

Topics: climate change vulnerability assessments for priority ecosystems in the Midwest and Northeast U.S.

Great Lakes Climate Adaptation Resource Guide

The International Joint Commission’s (IJC) Great Lakes Water Quality Board created this Great Lakes Climate Adaptation Resource Guide with materials to help small and medium-sized Great Lakes communities integrate Great Lakes water topics into their climate adaptation and resilience strategies. The resource guide is intended to help Great Lakes communities use a common framework to create their own climate change adaptation and resilience strategies. The guide lists tools, strategies, materials, and training resources.

Access the tool: https://ijc.org/sites/default/files/WQB_Climate-Adaptation-Resource-Guide_2024.pdf 

Background and guidance for users: https://ijc.org/en/wqb/gl-climate-adaption-guide?utm_source=All+GLRO+Contacts+and+Stakeholders&utm_campaign=849c98852f-Press_Release-WQB-Climate-Guide&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_-c47a716e2d-1223774457&mc_cid=849c98852f&mc_eid=9235e6649e

Geographic coverage: Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Minnesota, New York, Ohio, Ontario, Pennsylvania, Wisconsin

Topics: climate change, Great Lakes communities, water

NPS Climate Change Scenario Planning Showcase

The US National Park Service maintains resources related to climate change scenario planning, including examples and guidance from US National Parks.

Access the tool: https://www.nps.gov/subjects/climatechange/scenarioplanning.htm 

Geographic coverage: United States

Topics: climate change scenario planning, US National Parks

U.S. Climate Resilience Toolkit

The U.S. Climate Resilience Toolkit is a website designed to help people find and use tools, information, and subject matter expertise to build climate resilience. The Toolkit offers information from all across the U.S. federal government in one easy-to-use location.

Access the tool: https://toolkit.climate.gov/

Background and guidance for users: https://toolkit.climate.gov/content/about

Geographic coverage: United States

Topics: built environment, coasts, ecosystems, energy, food, health, marine, transportation, Tribal Nations, water

Resist-Accept-Direct (RAD) Framework

The Resist-Accept-Direct (RAD) framework is a decision-making tool that helps resource managers make informed strategies for responding to ecological changes resulting from climate change. The USGS Climate Adaptation Science Centers program maintains online information and resources related to the RAD framework.

Access the tool: https://www.usgs.gov/programs/climate-adaptation-science-centers/science/resist-accept-direct-rad-framework

Geographic coverage: United States

Topics: climate change, decision-making, resist-accept-direct (RAD)

Lead Service Line Replacement Cost Calculator

Free Lead and Copper Rule Improvements compliance tool to accurately estimate lead service line replacement costs and protect public health. Supporting key United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and advancing equitable climate-resilient drinking water infrastructure across the U.S.

Access the tool: https://ephillc.com/lead-service-line-replacement-cost-calculator/

Background and guidance for users: https://ephillc.com/lead-service-line-replacement-cost-calculator/#instructions

Geographic coverage: United States

Topics: climate-resilience drinking water infrastructure, lead service lines

Climate Adaptations in the Northeast’s Forest Products Supply Chain

This webpage links to two resources: Climate Adaptations in the Northeast’s Forest Products Supply Chain: A Vulnerability Assessment for the Primary Forest Products Sector, and a Northeastern Forest Products Supply Chain Climate Adaptation Toolkit. Both resources were published in 2019.

Access the tool: https://woodland-resources.com/home/climate-adaptations/

Geographic coverage: Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New England, New Hampshire, New York, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont

Topics: best management practices, forest pests and invasives, forest products, harvest scheduling, roads, timber harvesting, wood procurement

Adapting to Changes in Your Sugarbush

This sugarbush adaptation guide provides descriptions of current and future environmental challenges along with concrete actions you can take to address them.

Access the tool: https://maple.extension.wisc.edu/adaptation-menu/

Geographic coverage: Wisconsin

Topics: climate change, maple syrup production, sugarbush

Wisconsin Climate Resilience Toolkit

The Climate Resilience Toolkit was created by the Wisconsin Land and Water Conservation Association to translate broad climate information into a usable, Wisconsin-specific resource that supports local decision-making and helps conservation staff connect climate impacts to the landscapes they manage.

Access the tool: https://wisconsinlandwater.org/members-hub/conservation-resources/climate-resilience/climate-hub/climate-resilience-toolkit ​

Geographic coverage: Wisconsin

Topics: climate change, county government

Wisconsin Flood Resilience Scorecard

The Flood Resilience Scorecard (FRS) is a comprehensive flood planning checklist developed by the Wisconsin Climate and Health Program and UW Sea Grant. It aims to help local and regional governments assess past, current, and projected flooding impacts in their community and identify effective actions to protect communities.

Access the tool: https://www.dhs.wisconsin.gov/publications/p03396.pdf ​

Background and guidance for users: https://www.dhs.wisconsin.gov/flood/frs.htm

Geographic coverage: Wisconsin

Topics: flood planning, flood resilience

Recommended Trees for Climate-Ready Woodlands

These lists of climate-ready trees and plants can help landowners make informed planting decisions to help whole forest ecosystems adapt to climate change.

Access the tool: https://extension.umn.edu/creating-climate-ready-woodlands/recommended-trees ​

Geographic coverage: Minnesota

Topics: forest ecosystems, woodlands

Massachusetts Wildlife Climate Action Tool

The Massachusetts Wildlife Climate Action Tool is designed to inform and inspire local action to protect the Commonwealth’s natural resources in a changing climate. It was developed for local decision-makers, conservation practitioners, large landowners, and community leaders across the state.

Access the tool: https://climateactiontool.org/

Background and guidance for users: https://climateactiontool.org/content/user-guide

Geographic coverage: Massachusetts

Topics: conservation planning, fish and wildlife, forests and forestry practices, land protection, landscape connectivity