Making K1 more robust, credible and useful: K2
The intent of K2 is to build on the adaptive actions recommended in K1 by utilizing process-based computer models to answer specific species, stand and landscape level questions that could not be answered in K1. While K1 used climate envelope mapping to facilitate dialogue on ecosystem and management vulnerabilities to climate change, K2 will step beyond this framework and use stand and landscape level models that can directly incorporate changes in climatic conditions along with the effect of management actions to simulate outcomes under different climate change scenarios. These outcomes can be used to test assumptions and explore potential management actions.
K2 has a team of specialists and a set of modeling tools to help the local clients create more robust, credible and useful recommendations for the TSA. The specialists include consulting foresters and experts originally involved in K1 as well as experts and modelers from UBC, UNBC, and the Saskatchewan Research Council. Their expertise spans climate science, economics, the impacts of climate change on stand dynamics, tree regeneration and ecosystem productivity, along with how to model these complex interactions and processes.
The figure below depicts how information flows in K2, the linkages between the various project components (K1, the models, research team, clients, workshops), and some key dates. Click on the image to enlarge.
The figure below depicts how information flows in K2, the linkages between the various project components (K1, the models, research team, clients, workshops), and some key dates. Click on the image to enlarge.
To begin this next step a workshop is planned to engage local clients in the project and ensure that the results will be most relevant to them.
K2 Timeline: November 2009 to December 2011
K2 Research Team & Potential Clients (in no particular order):
- Environment Canada
- University of British Columbia
- Symmetree Consulting Group, Ltd.
- Forsite Consulting
- Saskatchewan Research Council
- Pacific Climate Impacts Consortium
- University of Northern British Columbia
- BC Ministry of Forests & Range
- Tolko Industries, Ltd.
- Canfor Corporation
- BC Ministry of the Environment
- District of Clearwater
- BC Timber Sales
- Thompson Rivers University
- West Fraser Timber Co, Ltd.
- Kamloops & District Woodlot Association
- Clearwater Woodlot Association
- Kamloops Indian Band
- International Forest Products Ltd.
