2024 SWAF

2024 Southwest Adaptation Forum

In 2024, the SW CASC co-convened the Southwest Adaptation Forum (SWAF), a regional forum of the National Adaptation Forum. The 2024 SWAF from meet February 27-29, 2024, at the Desert Diamond Hotel & Conference Center in Tucson, Arizona.

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Southwest Adaptation Forum logo

SWAF 2024

February 27-29, 2024

Tucson, Arizona

The Southwest Adaptation Forum (SWAF) is the biennial gathering of practitioners, professionals, researchers and community members working to accelerate effective climate adaptation and collectively reduce the impacts of climate change in communities and landscapes across the Southwest.

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Agenda

Tuesday, February 27

9:00am 

Arrivals, registration and coffee

Opening and Getting Grounded

9:30am

Welcome, Blessing, and Forum Overview

10:00am

Opening Session led by EcoTruths for Indigenous Youth

11:30am

Setting the stage: Climate challenges and solutions

National Climate Assessment 5 Southwest Key Messages and Art x Climate Emile Elias, SW Climate Hub and NCA5 Southwest Chapter Lead

12:00pm

Lunch

1:00pm

Southwest Adaptation Network Meet Yourself

Solutions Café 1: Working Landscapes, Urban Adaptation, and Water Solutions

1:45

Overview of the Themes

  • Agriculture and Working Landscapes
  • Urban Adaptation
  • Water Solutions 

 

Thematic Breakouts (participants choose one of three themes) 

  • Solutions sharing/presentations
  • Topic table discussions on key questions

3:45pm

Break

Adaptation Tools and Evening Program

4:00pm

Adaptation Tools

  • Climate toolbox - Steph Mcafee, SW Climate Adaptation Science Center
  • Conservation and Adaptation Resources Toolbox (CART) - Ariel Léger, University of Arizona
  • Water Adaptation Techniques AtlasNoah Silber-Coats, USDA Southwest Climate Hub

4:45pm

Day 1 Wrap Up

5:00pm

Adjourn and Networking Reception (cash bar)

6:00-

8:00pm

 

Indigenous Resilience Awards Dinner and Cultural Exchange 

hosted by the University of Arizona’s Indigenous Resilience Center

Wednesday, February 28

8:30am

Arrivals, coffee, light breakfast

9:00am

Welcome and Overview of Day 2

 

Navy Climate work - Deb Loomis, Senior Advisor for Climate Change to the Secretary of the Navy

 

Native Climate Project - Maureen McCarthy

Solutions Café 2:  Drought and Flood Resilience, Food Sovereignty, Fire

9:30am

Overview of the Themes

  • Drought and Flood Resilience
  • Food Sovereignty
  • Fire

10:00am

Break

10:15am

 

Thematic Breakouts (participants choose one)

  • Solutions sharing/presentations
  • Topic table discussions on key questions  

11:45am

TBA

12:00pm

Lunch

Field Trips

1:00pm

  1. San Xavier Co-op Farm 
  2. Rainwater Harvesting - Brad Lancaster, Rainwater Harvesting for Drylands and Beyond (link)
  3. Tohono O’Odham Community College Land Grant Office of Sustainability Farm
  4. Mission Garden and Flowers and Bullets

6:00pm

Dinner on your own 

Thursday, February 29

8:30am

Arrivals, coffee, light breakfast

9:00am

Overview of Day 3

9:15am

Nature-based Solutions

  • Solutions sharing/presentations
  • Topic table discussions on key questions 

10:15am

Break

10:30am

Cross-Boundary Collaboration

11:30am

Lunch

Moving Forward

12:30pm

Accelerating Adaptation Funding

  • Overview - Atty Phleger
  • Breakout discussions

1:45pm

Southwest Adaptation Network and Priorities Ahead

2:30pm

Case Clinics to support participants’ current work/challenges

3:30pm

Wrap-Up, Closing, and Blessing

4:00pm

Climate Careers Fair and Reception

  • Panel - Overview of climate adaptation careers
  • Fair - Mini-sessions with climate professionals  

5:30pm

Adjourn

Friday, March 1Optional meetings at the venue

  • DoD Southwest Innovation Landscape Network Workshop Wrap-Up