Extended Abstract (292K)P2.26
From Climate Variability to Climate Change: Challenges and Opportunities to Agricultural Extension
Clyde William Fraisse, Univ. of Florida, Gainesville, FL; and N. E. Breuer, D. F. Zierden, and K. T. Ingram
The University of Florida is piloting a climate extension program under the Southeast Climate Consortium (SECC). The main goal of this extension program is to develop a climate information system in the SE USA in which climate forecasts and information, together with decision support tools for agriculture, forestry and water resource management are made available to improve management decisions and reduce risks associated with seasonal climate variability. Reducing climate-related risks involve the concepts of vulnerability, defined as the degree of sensitivity and ability to cope with this natural stress, and adaptation, defined as the long-term adjusting to environmental stresses. The question to be answered is how defining vulnerabilities and developing adaptation strategies to help farmers cope with seasonal climate variability can be adapted or extended to deal with longer-term climate change challenges. How to adapt seasonal risk analysis and risk management tools to climate change applications? Moreover, should a climate extension program also promote the use and dissemination of management practices that help the agricultural industry reduce the emission of green house gases in the atmosphere? Are there enough opportunities in agriculture to make a difference and would farmers be interested in such a program? This paper discusses the challenges involved and potential opportunities for the development and implementation of a climate change program, complementing the existing climate extension program under the SECC.
Poster Session 2, General Climate Studies: Poster Session
Monday, 21 January 2008, 2:30 PM-4:00 PM, Exhibit Hall B
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