Climate Adaptation Training for Communities

The Charlotte Harbor National Estuary Program (CHNEP) invites you to the Climate Adaptation for Coastal Communities Workshop on Feb. 23-25, 2016, at Lemon Bay Park (570 Bay Park Blvd, Englewood, 941/861-5000). We are delighted that NOAA Office for Coastal Management is offering this workshop to CHNEP, a partnership working to protect the natural environment from Venice to Bonita Springs to Winter Haven.

This three-day instructor-led workshop gives you a thorough grounding in the topic of adaptation -- and time in class to apply what you've learned to your own adaptation projects. The workshop covers these essentials: understanding climate science and impacts; determining community vulnerabilities; communicating effectively; identifying adaptation strategies; and finding mechanisms to implement those strategies. Opportunities for local collaboration and next steps for adaptation planning and implementation are emphasized through discussion, participant activities, and incorporation of local speakers and examples.

After completing this workshop, participants will be able to

• Recognize the changes and variability in climate and climate's influence on coastal communities
• Identify opportunities to leverage a range of governance mechanisms to integrate adaptation strategies into their existing efforts
• Examine methods for conducting hazard, vulnerability, and risk assessment as it relates to climate change
• Evaluate the strengths and weaknesses of adaptation strategies
• Apply climate communication research concepts and findings to enable effective communication with target audiences

Sponsors: This workshop is made possible because of the generosity of NOAA Office for Coastal Management, CHNEP, Sarasota County, Janet and Bruce Bunch, GE Foundation and the Friends of Charlotte Harbor Estuary, Inc. Any donation above the registration fee is appreciated. Any who donate $100 or more above the registration fee will be acknowledged as a sponsor.

Registration: This workshop is designed for program administrators, land use planners, public works staff members, floodplain managers, hazard mitigation planners, emergency managers, community groups, members of civic organizations, and coastal resource managers. Eighteen hours of certification maintenance credits for this course have been approved by the American Institute of Certified Planners.

There is a registration fee of $75 with refreshments and lunch provided. Please register by noon on Monday, Feb. 8 by completing the registration form on https://www.eventbrite.com/e/climate-adaptation-for-coastal-communities-nov-3-5-2015-registration-18335187038. (If this link doesn't work for you, go to www.EventBrite.com, change the location to Florida then search for CHNEP.) The registration fee includes refreshment breaks and lunches. Reservations are accepted as they are received. If the training is at capacity, please register to be placed on the wait list. We must have 25 people registered by Feb. 8 to offer the training. As many as 36 can attend. Please let Maran know if you register then are not able to attend. Refunds can only be issued if a cancellation is received prior to Feb. 8 or 90 days from registering, whichever is first. A reminder and additional information will be sent to you from Maran about a week before the training. (We don't recommend you leave for lunch and a refrigerator won't be available if you bring your own.)

Thanks to generous sponsors, a limited number of scholarships are available. If you wish to attend but are unable to pay the registration fee, please send a request to have the registration fee waived to Maran@CHNEP.org. The CHNEP will consider requests received from those who are helping to implement the CHNEP management plan.

Direction hint: Lemon Bay Park is approximately 20 miles from three exits on I-75.

They invite everyone with an interest in driving actions that protect the natural environment of southwest Florida to join us. Please invite others you think may have an interest in participating.

Thank you for helping to protect the natural environment of southwest Florida.