Overview

Template for Assessing Climate Change Impacts and Management Options (TACCIMO) is a Web-based tool that provides land owners, managers, and planners with the most current climate change science available. Developed by EFETAC researchers in partnership with USDA Forest Service Southern Regional Planning, Land and Resource Management, and Cooperative Forestry, the TACCIMO tool:

• compiles climate change projections, literature-based impacts and management options, and Forest Service land and resource management plans in an online database;
• synthesizes these inputs based on user-defined criteria; and 
• generates customized reports to aid forest planning and management.

Description

The Template for Assessing Climate Change Impacts and Management Options (TACCIMO) in an online tool that connects users to relevant climate and management information and data to facilitate climate-informed management of natural resources. It has a variety of features that allow a customizable user experience, including a literature search and review function, a downscaled geospatial climate modeling and mapping function, and a report generation function. These features can be used in combination or separately to gain a better understanding of climate projections and potential climate impacts on natural resources, and/or to inform decision-making, generate technical reports, and integrate climate information into current plans and management strategies. TACCIMO has higher levels of functionality for U.S. Forest Service Employees, but is also useful for any land manager, researcher, or public individual interested in learning more about the implications of climate change for natural resources and exploring potential management options. In addition, the website houses case studies of successful TACCIMO applications, and provides links to other useful modeling tools and resources.

Example in use: EcoAdapt, in collaboration with the U.S. Forest Service, used TACCIMO to inform climate change vulnerability assessments and adaptation planning efforts on Forest Service lands across the western United States. Using climate-related studies and resources provided through TACCIMO, EcoAdapt helped Forest Service employees in California, Montana, Idaho, and Alaska better understand how climate change may impact habitats, species, and ecosystem services, and how to integrate climate change considerations into management protocols, operations, and planning efforts. This includes specific efforts related to aquatic habitats, species, and water-based recreation. This information has been used at project and planning levels, as well as to inform Forest Plan revisions, contributing to resilient resource management in the face of climate change.

Phase of Adaptation: Assessment, Planning

Audience

Federal, state, and private land managers with diverse information needs related to climate change. Certain content is developed specifically for USDA Forest Service planners to assist with climate change analysis for projects and forest plan revisions.