Welcome to theWelcome to the55thth Annual (now semi-annual) Annual (now semi-annual) Forestry and Agriculture GHG Forestry and Agriculture GHG

Modeling ForumModeling Forum

Meeting the Challenges of a Rapidly Changing Climate Policy Environment

April 6-9, 2009Shepherdstown, WV

Forum Background and PurposeForum Background and Purpose

• Founded in 2001 by USEPA, USDA, and Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada

• Participants include leading researchers, policy makers, and practitioners from academia, the private sector, and government

• Improving linkages among research and policy communities -- across disciplines, sectors and modeling approaches and scales

• Improving our understanding of the models and their results

• Identifying promising future analyses and collaboration to inform decision-making

Workshop ObjectivesWorkshop Objectives1) Identify the key agriculture, forestry, and land- use

change issues that that will dominate climate change policy discussions over the next two years;

2) Discuss the capabilities of existing models to inform the policy process through improved understanding of the benefits, costs, and mitigation potential of alternative GHG reduction strategies in the forestry and agriculture sectors;

3) Highlight the key scientific and economic uncertainties and risks that need to be addressed in modeling for policy design and implementation;

4) Explore existing frameworks and improve the modeling of climate change impacts to agriculture and forestry.

Forum SessionsForum Sessions

Tuesday AM:

Tuesday PM – Wednesday AM:

Wednesday Late AM – PM: Thursday AM: Impacts and Adaptation

Current Climate and Energy Policy Landscape

Modeling and Scientific Uncertainty

Modeling Competition for Land Use

Other Key InformationOther Key Information• Structure of each session will be explained by the

session chair• As with every Forum, we have tried to allow

adequate time for discussion– Keep those questions coming!

• All meals will be served in the Main Dining Room– Your nametag is your ticket in (no need to pay $)

• Tuesday and Wednesday evening, informal coffee and dessert in Roosevelt Room– Just in case you can not get enough!

• Still have logistical questions?– Contact me, Robert Beach, or Tony Lentz

A Special Thanks to the Forum A Special Thanks to the Forum Organizing Committee:Organizing Committee:

Jan LewandrowskiUS Dept. of Agriculture Office of Global Climate Change

Robert MacGregorAgriculture and Agri-Food Canada

Brian Murray and Lydia OlanderNicholas Institute for Environmental Policy Solutions, Duke University

Steven RoseElectric Power Research Institute

Adam Daigneault US Environmental Protection Agency Climate Change Division

Ralph AligUSDA Forest Service PNW Research Station Robert BeachRTI International

Carol Jones and Ron SandsUSDA Economic Research Service