Dr. Aynslie Ogden

Project

Application of a structured decision making approach to the identification and evaluation of climate change adaptation options for forest management

Themes

climate change adaptation; sustainable forest management; structured decision-making; participatory research; decision-making and uncertainty

Interests

The southwest Yukon is currently experiencing the largest and most intense infestation of spruce bark beetle (Dendroctonus rufipennis) ever recorded to affect Canadian trees. The infestation is attributable to ten years of warmer-than-normal winters and warmer- and drier-than-normal summers plus suitable forest conditions – a contiguous monoculture of mature white spruce. The magnitude and intensity of this infestation is believed to be linked to changing climate conditions; specifically, warmer and drier summers, and warmer winters. Forest resource managers in this region are faced with an urgent task of determining socially, ecologically and economically appropriate ways to incorporate climate change into their forest management plans. In November 2004, the first community-directed strategic forest management plan was approved for the Champagne and Aishihik Traditional Territory of the southwest Yukon. Reduction of fire hazard, forest renewal, economic benefits and preservation of wildlife habitat are among the major local concerns about climate change in the southwest Yukon, and it is not clear how climate change will affect the ability to maintain desired ecosystem goods and services into the future. The study will use participatory research methods to conduct a regional-scale assessment of forest management adaptation options in response climate change.

Professional Experience

2005 to present Forest Scientist. Forest Management Branch, Department of Energy Mines and Resources, Government of Yukon. Whitehorse, Yukon.
2000 to 2005 Coordinator. Northern Climate ExChange, Northern Research Institute, Yukon College. Whitehorse, Yukon.
1996 to 2000 Ecologist. Environmental Planning Group, Pottinger Gaherty Environmental Consultants. Vancouver, BC.
1996 Forest Ecologist. Old Growth Site Index Project. Simons Reid Collins. Vancouver, BC.
1991-1992 Water Quality Technician. Clean-up Rural Beaches Program, Halton Region Conservation Authority. Burlington, Ontario.

Professional Affiliations

Association of BC Forest Professionals
BC Institute of Agrologists
College of Applied Biology, BC
Association of Professional Biologists of BC
Canadian Institute of Forestry

Teaching Experience

2003 and 2005 Curriculum Developer and Instructor. Climate change and the circumpolar North. Yukon College, Department of Arts and Science.
1993-1996 Teaching Assistant. Soil Science and Physical Geography, Department of Geography, Simon Fraser University. Burnaby, BC.
1992 Teaching Assistant. Problem Solving in Land Resource Science, Department of Land Resource Science, University of Guelph. Guelph, Ontario

Commitee Membership

2006-present Member, Forestry Implementation Working Group for the Champagne and Aishihik Traditional Territory
2006-present Member, Sustainable Forest Management Network Partner’s Committee
2005-present Co-Chair, Forestry Research and Monitoring Technical Working Group the Champagne and Aishihik Traditional Territory
2003-2005 Trustee, Canadian Foundation for Climate and Atmospheric Sciences 2002-2005 Member, Environment Canada EcoAction Public Advisory Committee
2002-2004 President, Yukon Science Institute
2001-2004 Canadian Climate Impacts and Adaptation Research Network Pan-Northern Advisory Group
2001-2004 Manager, Canadian Climate Impacts and Adaptation Research Network (Northern Offices)
2001-2004 Manager, Yukon Climate Change Public Education and Outreach Hub
2000-2004 Member, National Public Education and Outreach Hub Advisory Team on Climate Change
2001-2003 Director, University of Alberta Canadian Circumpolar Institute
2001-2003 Member, Canadian Council of Ministers of Environment Task Group on Climate Change Indicators
2001-2004 Advisor, Northern Ecosystem Initiative Climate Change Partner Issue Table
2001-2004 Advisor, Yukon State of the Environment Report
2000-2004 Member, Yukon Government Climate Change Coordinating Committee

Awards, Grants and Scholarships

2004 SSHRC Canada Graduate Scholarship ($35,000/year, 3 years)
2004 UBC Graduate Entrance Scholarship ($4,000)
2004 UBC PhD Tuition Award ($3,700)
2004 Yukon College President’s Award for Quality

Academic Qualifications

1998 University of British Columbia, Faculty of Forestry, Distance Education
1996 Simon Fraser University, Department of Geography, M.Sc. Forest Soils/Ecology
1993 University of Guelph, Department of Land Resource Science, B.Sc. (Agr.), Resource Management

Peer-Reviewed:

Ogden, A.E. and J.L. Innes. 2007. Incorporating climate change adaptation considerations into forest management and planning in the boreal forest. International Forestry Review 00(00):000-000.

Ogden, A.E. and J.L. Innes. 2007. Perspectives of forest practitioners on climate change adaptation in the Yukon and Northwest Territories of Canada. Forestry Chronicle 83(4):557-569.

Ogden, A.E. and J.L. Innes. In review. Climate change adaptation and regional forest planning in southern Yukon, Canada

Ogden, A.E. and J.L. Innes. In review. Application of a structured decision making approach to the identification and evaluation of climate change adaptation options for forest management in the southwest Yukon, Canada

Ogden, A.E. and J.L. Innes. In review. Forest renewal strategies for a boreal forest impacted by climate change: an evaluation of alternative management strategies

Ogden, A.E. and J.L. Innes. In review. Adapting to climate change in the boreal forest: locally identified research needs to support decision-making on sustainable forest management.

Newton, J., I. Burton, A. Ogden & C.D. J. Paci. 2005. Climate change and natural hazards in northern Canada: integrating indigenous perspectives with government policy. Mitigation and Adaptation Strategies for Global Change 10: 541–571

Ogden, A.E. 2001. Exchanging Ideas on Climate Change in the Yukon. The Northern Review 24:160-173.

Gill, M., A. Munier, A. Ogden, J. Eamer, F. Duerden, D. Hik, S. Fox, D. Reidlinger, N. Thorpe, I. Johnson and M. Jensen. 2001. Climate Change Impacts in Northern Canada: Assessing our Current Knowledge. The Northern Review 24:144-149.

M.G. Schmidt, A.E. Ogden and K.P. Lertzman. 1998. Seasonal Comparison of Soil Temperature and Moisture in Pits and Mounds under Vine Maple Gaps and Conifer Canopy in a Coastal Western Hemlock Forest. Canadian Journal of Soil Science (78)291-300.

Ogden, A.E. and M.G. Schmidt. 1997. Litterfall and Soil Characteristics in Canopy Gaps Occupied by Vine Maple in a Coastal Western Hemlock Forest. Canadian Journal of Soil Science (77)703-711.

Books:

Ogden, A.E. and A. Graham (Editors). 2001. Special Edition: Climate Change in the Circumpolar North. The Northern Review Volume 24. Yukon College, Whitehorse, Yukon.

Rosentrater, L., and A.E. Ogden. Building Resilience in Arctic Ecosystems. In Hansen, L.J., J. Biringer and J.R. Hoffman (eds). 2003. Buying Time: A User’s Manual for Building Resistance and Resilience to Climate Change in Natural Systems. World Wildlife Fund for Nature, Gland, Switzerland. Presented at the World Parks Congress, Durban, South Africa, September 2003.

Recent Conference and Professional Papers:

Ogden, A.E. 2006. Forest Management in a Changing Climate: Building the Environmental Information Base for the Southwest Yukon. Overview Report. Northern Climate ExChange, Whitehorse, YT. Available for download at http://www.yukon.taiga.net/swyukon/report

Johnson, P., Lipovsky, P., Zdanowicz, C., McKenna, K., Janowicz, R. Smith, S., Clague, J., and Ogden, A.E. 2006. The changing physical environment of the southwest Yukon. Forest management in a changing climate: building the environmental information base for the southwest Yukon. Background report. Northern Climate ExChange, Whitehorse, YT. Available for download at http://yukon.taiga.net/swyukon/backgrounders.cfm

Johnstone, J. Leung, M., Nixon, W., Ogden, A.E., O’Donoghue, M., Boutin, S., and Maraj, R. 2006. Climate change and ecosystem dynamics in southwest Yukon. Forest management in a changing climate: building the environmental information base for the southwest Yukon. Background report. Northern Climate ExChange, Whitehorse, YT Available for download at http://yukon.taiga.net/swyukon/backgrounders.cfm

Ogden, A.E. 2006. Climate, climate variability and climate change in the southwest Yukon. Forest management in a changing climate: building the environmental information base for the southwest Yukon. Background report. Northern Climate ExChange, Whitehorse, YT. Available for download at http://yukon.taiga.net/swyukon/backgrounders.cfm

Ogden, A.E. 2006. Climate change and major forest disturbance in southwest Yukon. Forest management in a changing climate: building the environmental information base for the southwest Yukon. Background report. Northern Climate ExChange, Whitehorse, YT. Available for download at http://yukon.taiga.net/swyukon/backgrounders.cfm

Ogden, A.E. and S.J. Cohen, 2004. Stakeholder Involvement in Climate Change Assessment: Experiences from Northern Canada. In Integrated Regional Impact Studies in the European North. University of Munster, Germany.

Ogden, A.E. and S.J. Cohen. 2004. Integration and Synthesis: Assessing Climate Change Impacts in Northern Canada. In Integrated Regional Impact Studies in the European North. University of Munster, Germany.

Graham, A. and A.E. Ogden. 2004. Human Dimensions of Polar Change: Discussion Paper on Canada’s Contribution to the 2007-2008 International Polar Year. Yukon College, Whitehorse, Yukon. Northern Climate ExChange Occasional Paper Series, Yukon College, Whitehorse Yukon

Ogden, A.E. and A. Graham. 2003. Emphasizing Climate Change: Planning for Advanced Study for the University of the Arctic. In Proceedings from the 2003 Circumpolar Universities Association Conference.

Eamer, C. and A.E. Ogden. 2003. Adapting to Climate Change in the Canadian North: the Role of the Northern Climate ExChange and the Canadian Climate Impacts and Adaptation Research Network – North. In Proceedings from the 2003 Circumpolar Universities Association Conference.

Ogden, A.E. 2003. The Northern Ecosystem Initiative: A Discussion Paper on Strategic Climate Change Investments for Phase II. Prepared for the Environment Canada’s Northern Ecosystem Initiative Climate Change Issue Team.

Ogden, A.E. 2002. Climate Change Impacts and Adaptations in Northern Canada: Briefing for the Senate Standing Committee on Forestry and Agriculture. Northern Climate ExChange Occasional Paper Series, Yukon College, Whitehorse Yukon

Northern Climate ExChange. 2002. Gap Analysis Project: An Assessment of the Current State of Knowledge about the Impacts of Climate Change in Northern Canada. Northern Climate ExChange, Northern Research Institute, Yukon College. Whitehorse, Yukon

Ogden, A.E. 2001. The Role of the Northern Climate ExChange in Addressing Climate Change Issues in Canada’s North: A Model for Regional Action on a Global Issue? In North Meets North, Proceedings for the First Northern Research Forum. Akureyri, Iceland.

Ogden, A.E. 2001. Climate Change in the Central Yukon: Workshop Proceedings. Northern Climate ExChange, Northern Research Institute, Yukon College. Whitehorse, Yukon.

Ogden, A.E. (editor). 2000. Taking Action on Climate Change in the Yukon: Workshop Proceedings. Northern Climate ExChange, Northern Research Institute, Yukon College. Whitehorse, Yukon.

Ogden, A.E. 1996. Soil characteristics of persistent canopy openings occupied by vine maple in a coastal western hemlock forest. M.Sc. Thesis. Department of Geography, Simon Fraser University, Burnaby, BC. 200 pp.