This program is the second of Kestrel’s 2022 Ecological Solutions for Climate Change Speaker Series.

The rallying cry “Think Global, Act Local” is just as relevant as ever, as the causes and challenges of climate change are “unequivocal” according to the 6th assessment report recently released by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC). We are feeling the effects of a changing climate here in the Valley. How does the way we use the land in our own communities impact the climate? How can land conservation and stewardship make a difference? Find out at this virtual presentation.

Join Scott Jackson, a University of Massachusetts Amherst professor of Environmental Conservation who studies the impact of climate change on wildlife and the land. He has developed landscape-based tools to assess the health of ecosystems and how they are connected to each other to help us make science-based land-use decisions. Scott is on the Executive Committee of Kestrel’s Board of Trustees.

You’ll learn about the fundamentals of global warming, updates on climate change according to the latest (2022) Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) report , as well as projections for the future in New England. Scott will discuss how climate change is likely to impact wildlife and ecosystems, and give examples of what can be done to protect and conserve vulnerable ecosystems through climate adaptation. You’ll also hear about past and future land conservation efforts.

On Thursday, March 31st at 6:30pm Eastern Daylight Time, Scott will give a 60-minute online presentation followed by a 30-minute Q&A. Bring your curiosity and questions!

Scott Jackson has been involved in conservation work for over 30 years at the local, state and national levels engaged in research, policy development and projects designed to protect and enhance natural resources. He has served on the Whately Conservation Commission since 1995 and the MA Association of Conservation Commissions Board of Directors since 2001. Previously he served as an associate member of the Massachusetts Natural Heritage and Endangered Species Advisory Committee.

Registration is required, and the event fee is $15 minimum.