Climate Adaptation Integration Tool (CAIT)

View tool guide.

A new USGS report supported by the Northwest CASC presents a novel decision making framework to help resource managers use climate science and local knowledge to identify adaptation strategies appropriate for their specific situations. This Climate Adaptation Integration Tool (CAIT) consists of four steps:

1. Define a focal resource and assess its vulnerability to climate change.
2. Answer Critical Questions about the future climactic suitability, value, and current condition of these resources.
3. Select appropriate management approaches based on the answers to these questions.
4. Select adaptation strategies and actions most likely to address the management approaches identified.

Within the tool, managers can find resources to make decisions at each step, such as information on finding and choosing appropriate downscaled climate models and decision-making matrices to help link decisions across steps.