2025: Individual Adaptation
Within Minnesota forestry and natural resources circles, it is hard to find a project where Stephen Handler has not had some influence. Stephen works for the Forest Service Northern Research Station in Houghton, MI. He’s currently in a short-term assignment as the Deputy Director of the USDA Northern Forests Climate Hub and the Northern Institute of Applied Climate Science. He provides direct support to a wide variety of forest managers and landowners. Among his contributions are the launch of the Climate Change Response Framework — a collaborative, cross-boundary approach among scientists, managers, and landowners to incorporate climate change considerations into natural resource management. He led the creation of a vulnerability assessment for Minnesota forests including a field guide, scorecard, and numerous other resources that provide critical science for state and regional plans. And he co-led the development of the Superior National Forest’s assisted migration plan.
