USDA Seeks Input on Its Climate Change Strategic Plan
The U.S. Department of Agriculture has issued a notice announcing that it is requesting input from the public on its effort to prepare a Strategic Plan for Climate Change Research, Education, and Extension.
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(USDA is a member of the U.S. Climate Change Science Program (CCSP) and recently prepared a major scientific assessment of the effects of climate change on agriculture, land resources, water resources, and biodiversity in the U.S. for the CCSP.)
Comments must be received by September 19, 2008.
Highlights of the Four Draft Goals for USDA's Strategic Plan
USDA provides four draft goals for its Strategic Plan. Highlights are as follows:
Understand effects of climate change - Understand the effects of climate change on natural and managed ecosystems. USDA will promote an understanding of the impacts of climate change on ecosystems and managed lands, including forests, grazing lands and croplands, in order to enable continued production of goods and services and stewardship of natural resources.
Develop knowledge, tools to enable adaptation to climate change - Develop knowledge and tools to enable adaptation to climate change and improve the resilience of natural and managed ecosystems. Mechanisms for adaptation to climate changes are critical for continued agricultural production and stewardship of natural resources.
USDA activities under this goal will focus on the development of knowledge and technologies to address detrimental effects of climate change and to exploit elements of climate change that are potentially beneficial to agriculture and forestry. Risk management and adaptive management strategies are key elements of this goal.
Develop knowledge, tools to reduce GHGs - Develop knowledge and tools to reduce the contributions of agriculture, forestry, and other land management practices to the build up of greenhouse gases (GHGs) in the atmosphere.
USDA research will identify opportunities to apply resource conserving management practices to reverse past carbon losses and to reduce GHG emissions.
Deliver science and technology for improved decision making - Deliver climate change science and technology to USDA agencies, stakeholders and collaborators for improved decision making. USDA maintains research, education, and extension capabilities which can be drawn on to meet the challenges of climate change.
USDA seeks comments on how to best utilize resources to address questions relevant to stakeholders and decision makers at local, regional, national, and international scales.
Comments will be Considered During the Preparation of Strategic Plan
USDA notes that comments will be considered during the preparation of the Strategic Plan. The final version of the Strategic Plan will be published on USDA's Web site.
(See ITT's Online Archives or 07/23/08 news, 08072310, for BP summary of the EPA recently publishing an advance notice of proposed rulemaking on regulating GHG emissions under the Clean Air Act.)
USDA contact- Eleanor Rollings (202) 720-1542
USDA notice (FR Pub 08/06/08) available at http://edocket.access.gpo.gov/2008/pdf/E8-18112.pdf