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The Forestry Workshop was held at the New England Center in Durham, NH, on March 30, 1999. This workshop was designed to address the concerns and issues of potential climate change impacts on the forests of New England and upstate New York. This workshop provided participants with an opportunity to contribute to the New England Regional Assessment, as well as the National Assessment, which are both focused on the potential consequences of global change for the United States, and sponsored by the US Global Change Research Office (USGCRP) in Washington, DC.

The Forestry Workshop was designed to:

· initiate a two-way dialogue on the evolving scientific understanding of how potential climate change may impact the region's forests in the future;

· solicit the perceptions and concerns of members of the forest industry, landowners and others with vested interests in forests regarding climate change issues; and

· identify specific gaps in information available to the general public, information needed in order to make more informed decisions regarding how best to deal with climate change impacts, if they occur.

Participants were asked to contribute their individual views and ideas, based on first-hand experience, regarding the current stresses influencing the forest industry, and how future changes in climate might affect the industry. Discussion of methods for coping with potential climate change impacts on the forest industry of the region were included.

The major findings and issues identified by the Forestry Workshop are being incorporated into the Regional Assessment report, due to be completed in spring, 2000.

The January, 1998, ice storm and the impact it had on forest stands across the region was on topic area focused on during the discussions of this workshop. Additionally, the role that changing regional air quality may have on stand productivity was also considered. These topics will represent a case study for potential climate impacts to the forestry sector.

Forestry Sector Agenda

March 30, 1999 The New England Center Durham, NH 03824

8:00 Registration/Continental Breakfast
8:30 Welcoming Remarks (L. Irland, B. Moore)
8:40 Introduction to New England Regional Assessment /National Assessment (B. Rock)
9:00 The Pre-Settlement Forests of the New England Region (C. Cogbill )
9:20 Climate Impacts on Regional Forests Panel

	Atmospheric Chemistry (B. Rock)
	Extreme Weather Events/Seasonal Dynamics (L. Irland)
	Costs of the 1998 Ice Storm (E. Lacomte)
	Other Stress Factors (A. Auclair)

10:00 Break
10:15 Climate Model Scenarios (B. Moore)
10:35 Modeling the Potential Effects of Climate Change on Forests (S. Winnett)
11:00 Open Discussion - Audience Response
11:30 Discussion Sessions by Climate Impact
11:45 Working Sessions by Climate Impact

	(Atmospheric Chemistry
	Extreme Weather/Seasonal Dynamics
	Other Stress Factors)

12:30 Working Lunch (by Topic/Interest)
1:30 Discussion Sessions Status Reports
2:30 Break
2:45 Forest Industry Perspectives Panel

	Maple Industry (D. Marvin)
	Pulp and Paper (L. Irland)
	Tourism/Foliage (G. Norris)

3:45 Open Discussion - Next Steps, Final Workshop Wrap-up
5:00 Adjourn