NJ Forest Adapt
Data, Graphs, and Maps
Grades6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12Biology, Earth and Space Sciences, Geography
This resource has been reviewed by SubjectToClimate's climate scientists and verified for scientific accuracy and up-to-date information. Learn about our review process →
Provided by Rutgers University
What it is
- This map portal provides information about forests in New Jersey, climate conditions, climate-associated risks to forests, species distributions, and how conditions might change in the future using two different IPCC emissions scenarios.
- There are nine different map themes to choose from, with a description of each provided.
Teaching tips
Positives
- This resource offers a wide variety of data categories to explore.
- Students can select specific counties and municipalities to view local data.
- Students can save maps by clicking the green "Save This Map" button in the top right-hand corner.
Prerequisites
- Some of the maps use the term "RCP" which stands for Representative Concentration Pathway, or greenhouse gas concentration projections. The two scenarios are based on the IPCC estimates for a moderate effort to reduce emissions and a business-as-usual scenario.
- Some of the maps use the term "BA" which stands for basal area, a measure of a forest's tree volume and growth.
- Students will need to click on the "Legend" button located in the top right-hand corner of the screen to display the map legend.
- Because the map portal has so many functions and types of data, teachers should be familiar with the resource before using it in class.
Differentiation & Implementation
- For less advanced classes, teachers could present the maps on a smart board and walk students through the data.
- Biology classes could use the "Species Distribution & Future Projections" map to see how different tree species will be affected by climate change. Classes could discuss how the changes in tree species will cause other changes in the ecosystem.
- Other resources on this topic include this video from the World Resources Institute on how satellite data can be used to monitor the world's forests, this article that explains the value of forests as carbon sinks, and this video that shows the role of forests in protecting biodiversity.
From the scientist review
NJ Forest Adapt tool contains series of maps students can explore to see projections and changes in land use, forest cover, fuel and wildfire hazards, and pest and disease risk. The down-scaling method is appropriate and this resource is recommended for teaching.
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Hosted on njforestadapt.rutgers.edu
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