1. Home
  2. Scientists & Staff
  3. Stephen Handler

Scientists & Staff

Stephen Handler

Stephen Handler

Climate Change Specialist
Climate, Fire, and Carbon Cycle Sciences
410 MacInnes Dr.
Houghton, MI, 49931
Phone: 906-482-6303 x1321

Contact Stephen Handler


Current Research

 

As a Climate Change Specialist at the Northern Institute of Applied Climate Science, my primary project is to coordinate the Northwoods Climate Change Response Framework. Most of my work occurs in Minnesota, Wisconsin, and Michigan, building partnerships, coordinating vulnerability assessments, planning outreach and education events, and working with land managers on real-world adaptation demonstration projects. I work on topics such as silviculture and forestry, wildlife management, and indigenous perspectives on climate adaptation. In all aspects of my work, the focus is to help people put climate information into practice. I work with a wide array of partners, including National Forests, state agencies, tribes, conservation organizations, private landowners, and consulting foresters.

 

Why This Research is Important

Climate change is going to have profound impacts on the forests in the Great Lakes region in the coming decades. New data and modeling approaches are continually expanding our understanding of what these changes might be. Forest managers need to be informed of the threats that climate change will pose to forest ecosystems, as well as management strategies that can help forests adapt to a changed climate. The Climate Change Response Framework is a new model to connect climate science to forest management, which will hopefully serve as a model for climate change adaptation and mitigation both regionally and nationally.

Education

  • University of Montana, M.S. Resource Conservation (emphasis in International Conservation and Development),
  • Gustavus Adolphus College, B.A. Biology,

Professional Organizations

  • American Society of Adaptation Professionals (2013 - Current)
  • Society of American Foresters (SAF) (2012 - Current)
  • Society of Conservation Biology (2008 - 2013)
  • Society for Conservation Biology, Ecological Footprint Committee (2010 - 2012)

Featured Publications & Products

  • Handler, Stephen; Duveneck, Matthew J.; Iverson, Louis; Peters, Emily; Scheller, Robert M.; Wythers, Kirk R.; Brandt, Leslie; Butler, Patricia; Janowiak, Maria; Shannon, P. Danielle; Swanston, Chris; Eagle, Amy Clark; Cohen, Joshua G.; Corner, Rich; Reich, Peter B.; Baker, Tim; Chhin, Sophan; Clark, Eric; Fehringer, David; Fosgitt, Jon; Gries, James; Hall, Christine; Hall, Kimberly R.; Heyd, Robert; Hoving, Christopher L.; Ibáñez, Ines; Kuhr, Don; Matthews, Stephen; Muladore, Jennifer; Nadelhoffer, Knute; Neumann, David; Peters, Matthew; Prasad, Anantha; Sands, Matt; Swaty, Randy; Wonch, Leiloni; Daley, Jad; Davenport, Mae; Emery, Marla R.; Johnson, Gary; Johnson, Lucinda; Neitzel, David; Rissman, Adena; Rittenhouse, Chadwick; Ziel, Robert. 2014. Michigan forest ecosystem vulnerability assessment and synthesis: a report from the Northwoods Climate Change Response Framework project. Gen. Tech. Rep. NRS-129. Newtown Square, PA: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Northern Research Station. 229 p.
  • Handler, Stephen; Duveneck, Matthew J.; Iverson, Louis; Peters, Emily; Scheller, Robert M.; Wythers, Kirk R.; Brandt, Leslie; Butler, Patricia; Janowiak, Maria; Shannon, P. Danielle; Swanston, Chris; Barrett, Kelly; Kolka, Randy; McQuiston, Casey; Palik, Brian; Reich, Peter B.; Turner, Clarence; White, Mark; Adams, Cheryl; D'Amato, Anthony; Hagell, Suzanne; Johnson, Patricia; Johnson, Rosemary; Larson, Mike; Matthews, Stephen; Montgomery, Rebecca; Olson, Steve; Peters, Matthew; Prasad, Anantha; Rajala, Jack; Daley, Jad; Davenport, Mae; Emery, Marla R.; Fehringer, David; Hoving, Christopher L.; Johnson, Gary; Johnson, Lucinda; Neitzel, David; Rissman, Adena; Rittenhouse, Chadwick; Ziel, Robert. 2014. Minnesota forest ecosystem vulnerability assessment and synthesis: a report from the Northwoods Climate Change Response Framework project. Gen. Tech. Rep. NRS-133. Newtown Square, PA; U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Northern Research Station. 228 p.
  • Ziigwanikwe, (Bresette, Katy); Caldwell, Chris ; Chapman, Eric ; Opichi, (Clark, Robin); Croll, Rob ; Gauthier, Gregory J.; Grignon, Jeff ; Handler, Stephen ; Gidigaa bizhiw, (Jondreau, Jerry); Kaspar, Tyler ; Nisogaabo Ikwe, (Montano, Melonee); Moore, Tansey ; Moran, Patricia ; Minogiizhigookwe Nelis, Emily ; Panci, Hannah ; Schmitt, Kristen ; Smith, Sara ; Stone, Kim ; Swanston, Chris. 2019. Dibaginjigaadeg Anishinaabe Ezhitwaad: A Tribal Climate Adaptation Menu. Great Lakes Indian Fish and Wildlife Commission, Odanah, Wisconsin. 54 p.

Publications & Products

National Research Highlights

Forest Service researchers are helping tribes develop climate change adaptation plans.

Dibaginjigaadeg Anishinaabe Ezhitwaad: A Tribal Climate Adaptation Menu

Year: 2019

USDA Forest Service researchers helped to create a new resource that incorporates indigenous perspectives and traditional ecological knowledge into climate change adaptation planning. This resource is being used to help tribal natural resources professionals develop climate adaptation plans and to help nontribal organizations communicate with tribal communities.

The Adaptation Workbook online tool is a structured tool for land managers to use to integrate climate change into management plans. Users of the tool draw from ecosystem vulnerability assessments published by the Forest Service’s Northern Research Station. Danielle Shannon, Northern Institute of Applied Climate Science.

Resources Help Land Managers Adapt to a Changing Climate

Year: 2016

An adaptation planning tool developed by the Forest Service and its partners has helped generate more than 185 examples of climate change adaptation across the Northeast and Midwest.

Last modified: Monday, April 6, 2020