Principal Investigator(s):
- Gabriel Filippelli, Indiana University Environmental Resilience Institute
- Grace Affram, Indiana University
Cooperators/Collaborators
- Kim Novick, Indiana University
- Sarah Mincey, Indiana University
- Jeff Wilson, Indiana University
- Jessica Hellmann, University of Minnesota
- Dan Vimont, University of Wisconsin-Madison
- Asia Dowtin, Michigan State University
- Kimberly Hall, The Nature Conservancy
- Thomas Kenote, NDN Collective
The Midwest region is experiencing several key impacts of climate change, including extreme heat, periodic drought, and extreme precipitation and flooding events. Most of these are predicted to become more extreme in the future. Meanwhile, the Midwest exhibits a strong human footprint in its urbanization, industrialization and vast agricultural presence, and a combination of climate change and land-use poses challenges for climate adaptation and resilience of ecosystems. This project will investigate the role that urban green resources play in providing opportunities for, and barriers to, enhancing climate resilience for ecosystems in the Midwest.
This project will focus on two contrasting environments: the post-industrial city of Indianapolis and the mixed industrial/urban/“natural” portion of northwest Indiana called “The Region.” Using a well-tested resilience modeling framework, the project team will build a science-informed framework that will serve as a best practices guide and a roadmap to the role that urban green infrastructure can play in providing more climate resilience for the ecosystems of the Midwest.