Apply for A "Climate Solutions University: Forest and Water Strategies" Scholarship!

A partnership initiative led by The Model Forest Policy Program (MFPP) has been awarded a major grant from the The Kresge Foundation to help six rural forested communities protect forest and water resources and address climate change issues through planning and community action. The Cumberland River Compact, a River Network Partner, and the Climate Project are collaborating with MFPP to create this unique educational opportunity to benefit six rural communities across the U.S.

According to the Model Forest Policy Program’s website:

The purpose of the Climate Solutions University (CSU) is to guide and empower local communities in resource rich areas to develop local forest and water climate action plans. The four steps of the community process are: 1) Community decides to take leadership action; 2) Local conditions are assessed for resource vulnerabilities and action opportunities for forest, water and land use planning and practices; 3) Strategies and recommendations are developed; and 4) Actions are implemented, monitored and evaluated for impacts and benefits. This ten month CSU project will guide selected communities through the first three steps and prepare them for action implementation in 2011.

In early 2010, we will select six communities across the U.S. to participate as a group through a ten-month training and coaching process, March through December. The CSU partnership team and guest presenters will provide 12 webinar presentations, 10 monthly coaching conference calls and individual coaching on community specific issues. Each community group will engage fully in the process, be guided through a multi-step education and planning process, develop in-depth analysis of local forest water climate conditions; and create a customized strategy for local implementation.

Support for the community group will include $10,000 in scholarship funding and access to the ten month education process worth an estimated value of $50,000. The community group will be expected to commit to the full process, provide a half-time staff person to the manage project, and contribute at least $10,000 of local matching funds to support the project staff time and other costs.

Specific outcomes are dependent upon local conditions and community values. However, in each community, the general environmental outcomes are greater protection of forest cover, stability of water resources, preserved natural habitat, sequestration of carbon, reduced risk of harm from avoidance disasters such as floods, droughts and fires, and enhanced community resilience against the impacts of climate change. The community outcomes are greater public participation in natural resource decisions, protective public policy, and strong institutions for influencing resource management.

The deadline for applications is Feb 8, 2010, so get yours in quick! Eligibility is limited to local or regional non-profit 501(c)(3) organizations, local county or municipal governments, or coalitions of the above types of groups. This is a great opportunity for River Network Partners interested in working on climate change. For more information download their press release (PDF), or check out the Model Forest Policy Program’s website: http://www.mfpp.org/Climate_Solutions_University/2010.html.