Natural Infrastructure for Resilient Communities

This interactive webinar highlights ecological approaches to address mounting risks from climate-related natural hazards. We will discuss emerging evidence of how well-managed ecosystems (e.g. floodplains, beaches & dunes, tidal marshes, etc.), native vegetation, ecosystem engineers, and nature-based features can help reduce disaster risks in ways that sustain people and nature.

Participants will learn basic concepts of natural infrastructure along with best practices and incentives for implementation, examine several case studies of natural infrastructure in practice, and become familiar with available resources and opportunities for deeper exploration of the topic.

The topic will be of interest to planners, engineers, landscape architects, municipal officials and others seeking environmentally sound ways to mitigate natural hazards with additional community benefits.

Learning Outcomes

Through active participation in this webinar, participants will:

Become familiar with current concepts of natural infrastructure
Articulate several ways in which intact ecosystems and nature-based features can buffer communities from natural hazards and climate change impacts
List several co-benefits of natural infrastructure, in addition to hazard risk reduction
Compare benefits and drawbacks of gray vs. green infrastructure
Examine several case studies from around the U.S. of natural infrastructure in practice
Discuss emerging best practices and design considerations for implementing various types of natural infrastructure
Explore emerging incentives for natural infrastructure implementation and propose new types of incentives
Note resources available for more in-depth exploration of the topic

Credits

EUCI is accredited by the International Accreditors for Continuing Education and Training (IACET) and offers IACET CEUs for its learning events that comply with the ANSI/IACET Continuing Education and Training Standard. IACET is recognized internationally as a standard development organization and accrediting body that promotes quality of continuing education and training.

EUCI is authorized by IACET to offer 0.2 CEUs for this event.

Requirements for Successful Completion of Program

Participant must remain signed in for the duration of the webinar and engage in interactive portions of the webinar.

Instructional Methods

Web-based PowerPoint with interactive skills checks and interactive Q & A session

Agenda

Overview: What Is Natural Infrastructure?
Mounting Risks from Climate-Driven Hazards
Best Practices and Considerations for Implementing Natural Infrastructure
U.S. Case Studies
Incentives for Natural Infrastructure Implementation
Key Resources
Learning Outcome Review and Q&A Session

NOTE: Assessment will be emailed at the adjournment of the webinar.

Instructor

Dr. Stacy Small-Lorenz

Dr. Stacy Small-Lorenz has 20+ years of professional conservation experience focused on large scale approaches to biodiversity conservation, climate change and natural hazards through strategies that benefit both people and wildlife. She has devoted her career to advancing biodiversity conservation in ways that provide nature-based hazard risk reduction through innovative restoration design, science-informed policy, and climate-smart land use and conservation planning. Dr. Small-Lorenz is the lead author of the recent National Wildlife Federation publications Building Ecological Solutions to Coastal Community Hazards: A Guide for New Jersey Coastal Communities and Natural Defenses in Action. She recently served as Climate Change Adaptation & Resilience Specialist and Senior Wildlife Ecologist at The National Wildlife Federation, collaborating with the State of New Jersey and numerous scientific, engineering, and land use planning partners to develop ecological approaches to hazard risk reduction for coastal communities. Previously, as Senior Scientist in the Ecosystems program at Environmental Defense Fund in Washington, DC, she worked on market-based approaches to habitat conservation on private lands and mitigating wildlife risks from energy development. As an ecologist at Point Blue (formerly PRBO) Conservation Science, she conducted her doctoral research on the response of songbird populations to floodplain restoration in California’s Sacramento Valley, in partnership with U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service and The Nature Conservancy. She holds a Ph.D. in Biological Sciences from the University of Missouri-Columbia Avian Ecology Lab. She went on to apply her doctoral research and technical advisory experience in habitat restoration design as a Restoration Ecologist with River Partners, designing habitat restoration projects in the northern San Joaquin Valley, before relocating to Washington, DC in 2008. Stacy is also a science writer, editor, and blogger whose work has appeared in peer-reviewed journals and online outlets, including EDF Voices, NWF Safeguards, and National Geographic Water Currents.

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