Fund for Climate Solutions marks five successful years

Sarah Ruiz, Science Writer

Over the last five years, the Fund for Climate Solutions (FCS) has developed from an experimental funding plan into the seed of some of Woodwell Climate Research Center’s most innovative and impactful research.

Formed in 2018, when government funding for science, especially climate science, was being cut back, the FCS offered a source of internal funding that would support new research projects focused on solutions. The fund has now raised over $10 million and launched projects that span the globe—from the Arctic tundra, to the Congo rainforest, to the rangelands of the American West.

Board member and co-chair of the FCS Capital Campaign, Connie Roosevelt, says one of the greatest successes of the program has been its ability to speed up the pursuit of new research. “Being involved with FCS from the very beginning has been a bit like watching a race horse released from the barn,” says Roosevelt. “I had not appreciated the wealth of productive time that an internal grant program would free up for our scientist grantees. They are now able to pursue the most promising research leads without stopping to find new funding sources or changing the direction of their work to fit the priorities of a potential funder.”

That freedom has allowed Woodwell scientists to pursue projects that are high-risk, but transformative. Just this year, the FCS awarded its largest cohort to date. The new projects will have unprecedented reach, covering issues of Indigenous stewardship of Amazonian forests, global security in a changing climate, tracking contaminants released from thawing permafrost, and more. The original fundraising goal for the FCS, 10 million dollars, has been surpassed, but board member and chair of the Development Committee, Joseph Mueller, says he intends the fund to continue far past this milestone. Mueller believes the FCS offers a powerful proof of concept for how the Center funds its projects.

“I think the lightbulb has gone on, and we’re really trying to brighten that lightbulb. This is the direction we need to go in the future and even though we hit $10 million, in my mind’s eye this is just the start,” says Mueller.

The projects highlighted on the following pages are just a subset of the many that have grown out of the FCS.

For more information on how you can support the Fund for Climate Change, please contact Leslie Kolterman at lkolterman@woodwellclimate.org.

Projet Équateur tests sustainable rice in the DRC

Agriculture, deforestation, and emissions are often linked, especially in areas where people are driven to clear land in order to feed their families. Developing agricultural practices that reduce this pressure could help save tropical forests.

Associate Scientist Dr. Glenn Bush and Projet Équateur Consultant Joseph Zambo have been testing “climate smart” rice production in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), with the hopes of increasing yields over the same area of land and reducing the emissions produced by the crop.

So far, results have shown that sustainable rice growing practices have the potential to increase yields from 46 sacks of rice per acre to roughly 60—the equivalent of expanding a farm’s area by 30%.

The project is now beginning to assess the feasibility of expanding this kind of production. Zambo is leading surveys of farmers in Équateur Province, DRC to better understand what barriers might exist to the adoption of new farming methods.

Informing policy around salmon, water and people in Alaska

Catching salmon to take measurements.

photo courtesy of Madeline Lee

The Arctic is warming nearly three times as fast as other parts of the globe, which presents a major challenge for cold-adapted species like the Chinook salmon. Salmon are a lynchpin of Alaskan culture and economics. Alaska Native tribes use annual salmon migrations as a subsistence food source, and sport and commercial fishing industries bring millions of dollars to the state. Heat stress can jeopardize their ability to spawn successfully.

Associate Scientist Dr. Anna Liljedahl’s project convened experts on fish biology, water chemistry, and social policy to better understand and address the challenges facing this keystone species as the climate changes. While researchers track rising water temperatures of streams and heat stress in fish, policy experts and community organizers are working with Alaskan tribes and local residents to develop policy proposals that are fair to, and supported by, the community.

The original FCS project proposal has been expanded and the group is now seeking additional funding from the National Science Foundation which would allow them to continue the long and important work of building relationships and collecting data in the region.

Developing a rangeland carbon monitoring tool

A field site visit during the rangeland carbon workshop held in Bozeman, MT in September 2021.

photo by Jonathan Sanderman

Thirty percent of U.S. lands are rangelands used to raise and graze cattle, sheep, or other livestock. Given their vast area, these grasslands have the potential to be valuable carbon sinks, provided they and the animals living on them are managed sustainably.

Senior Scientist Dr. Jonathan Sanderman and Assistant Scientist Dr. Jennifer Watts are working to create a geospatial model of carbon stored on rangelands across the U.S. This will provide baseline data that can be used to track changes in how much carbon they store over time. Their team is also constructing a brand new tool that will make carbon storage and other rangeland management data easily accessible to ranch managers. The goal is that, by seeing first-hand how changes in management techniques impact their land, ranchers will be motivated to employ sustainable practices and potentially be eligible to receive payments via voluntary carbon markets.

The project has completed several successful field seasons, installing equipment and taking measurements to help calibrate their model. Woodwell scientists, Montana State University, and Turner Ranches co-hosted a twoday workshop for ranch managers in Montana to discuss ranching for carbon and ecosystem benefits. The work has garnered interest across the region, attracting stakeholders that might not otherwise be engaged in climate conversations.