and Ecosystems Services. Notes from each of these priority areas are attached. The Climate PITs were tasked with developing a response to NIFA regarding Extension's role in a Climate Corps. This response was drafted and submitted to NIFA.. The ECOP Program Committee's Program Action Team on Climate led by Jason Henderson, Purdue University, has developed three Priority Areas to implement in the next 6-12 mo. ● New Partnership and Development Assistant Adi Brown has been hired at 0.50 FTE ● Climate Corps Concept Note submitted to NIFA. ● Key Concepts/Priorities further defined by Climate PAT ● Team participation in the January 18 - 20, 2022 Impact Collaborative Extension Directors and Administrators were asked to consider volunteering a faculty member or educator to participate on one of the following Priority Area Implementation Teams: ● Climate-Smart Agriculture – Cooperative Extension can support the adaptation, mitigation, and resilience of U.S. agriculture to climate change. Helping farmers, ranchers, and landowners develop and adopt climate-sensitive practices on working lands will improve the profitability and sustainability of plant and animal systems in rural and urban environments. These practices will maintain adequate and safe food systems as supply chains strain under shifting climate conditions. ● Climate-Resilient Communities – Cooperative Extension can work with rural and urban communities to develop climate-sensitive community plans to support the adaptation, mitigation, and resilience of communities to climate change. In addition, these plans would also focus on supporting communities as they develop risk management plans surrounding natural disasters – fires, floods, rising temperatures, and increased incidence of extreme weather events. ● Ecosystem Services – Cooperative Extension supports the protection and preservation of natural areas and resources amid changing climates. Translational research and Extension programs focused on adaptation, mitigation and resilience can help reduce atmospheric greenhouse gas emissions from agriculture and forest production. In addition, climate-sensitive management practices for our forests, waterways, and other natural habitats can reduce the negative impacts of climate change.
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