A searchable vulnerability assessment database Robin O’Malley and Laura Thompson USGS National Climate Change and Wildlife Science Center, Reston, VA

There is no way to know about VAs being conducted for different regions, species, or other ecological elements

New assessments are being undertaken without knowledge of the methods or results of relevant ongoing or completed assessments

Data and knowledge gathered by completed assessments are not being used by managers outside the entity conducting the assessment

Compiling VA efforts into one place would reduce costs and increase the value of existing assessment investments Database

Database scope Include VAs from: – Federal agencies – State agencies – Local agencies – Universities – Nongovernmental organizations A process has begun to ensure compliance with the Paperwork Reduction Act

Database scope Focus will be on domestic VAs, but the country boundaries will be “fuzzy” and allow assessments that encompass parts of Canada, Mexico, Caribbean, and insular Pacific, etc.

More of a “registry” than database Basic reporting elements – Contact information – Location – Assessment endpoint (target) – Vulnerability assessment methodology – Vulnerability assessment components – Method of climate projection – Partners or collaborators – Link to a specific decision – Abstract

Database hosting Federal self-hosting (USGS) Global Change Information System (GCIS) CAKEx – EcoAdapt

Project timeline Development of project concept Winter 2013 Spring 2013 Assembly of working group Development of database “content” (sub-working group effort) Spring/summer 2013 Initiation of PRA process Identification of potential hosts Spring 2013 Summer 2013 Database construction Fall 2013 Federal data collection Testing Non-federal data collection Winter/spring 2014 Summer 2013