Caribbean Drought Learning Network – Caribbean Climate Hub

The Caribbean Drought Learning Network is a new peer-to-peer network that links climate service providers, climate researchers and resource managers to share knowledge and strengthen collaboration and communication in drought research and management in Puerto Rico and the US Virgin Islands.

The goal of the Caribbean Drought Learning Network (CDLN) is to produce and share information, lessons learned, and needs in preparing for, responding to, and recovering from drought on farms, forests, and rural communities; with long term aims to reduce the vulnerability and costs of drought and improve resistance and resilience in agricultural and forestry operations.

The Drought Learning Network concept has been implemented in other regions and serves as mechanism to strengthen collaboration and communication in drought research and management. A Drought Learning Network can serve as a resource for local, state, and federal land managers, researchers, and climate service providers to share recent science, retain lessons from past drought events, and inform future actions. To learn more about the origin of the Drought Learning Network concept, click here.

Potential initiatives for the Caribbean Drought Learning Network:

Engagement:
- Provide institutional memory, continuity
- Integrate drought work in Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands
- Connect with national and international efforts and islands
- Provide framework to convene drought interested professionals
Communication:
- Develop drought resource platform (centralized platform for drought information, research, directory, contact information)
- Develop collaborative communications and other products (eg: Drought Outlooks)
- Promote agency, university and NGO programs and events
Research:
- Identify research needs
- Share latest research
- Promote research activity including citizen science and drought monitoring (Eg: CoCoRaHS)

EVENTS: Drought in Puerto Rico and US Virgin Islands

Thursday, September 8 and Friday, September 9, 2022 from 1:00 – 3:00 pm AST (virtual)

Caribbean Drought Learning Network Annual Meeting

Description: In this meeting, drought leaders and resource managers will have the opportunity to 1) increase their awareness of drought-related initiatives in Puerto Rico and the US Virgin Islands, 2) engage in peer-to-peer learning about new Caribbean drought research and tools, and 3) interact with other drought leaders and resource managers to share knowledge and collaborate.

If you are interested in attending this meeting, please write to Eva Holupchinski at eva.holupchinski@usda.gov.

TEAMS

Teams were proposed in the exploratory meeting in June 2021. See the report at the bottom of the page for more information.

Team 1: Drought Impact Reporting / Citizen Science
Team 2: Drought Prediction, Monitoring and Research
Team 3: Drought Communication and Outreach
Team 4: Drought Resilience in Ag and Forestry

JOIN A TEAM!

Are you interesting in being a team member or team lead?

We are currently seeking 1 to 4 team leads for each of the four working groups of the Caribbean Drought Learning Network from 2021-2022:

Team lead role: The role of the lead is to hold ad hoc meetings with their group, provide regular updates to CDLN leadership, and present updates in quarterly network calls. The lead role will be active for one year, from October 2021 until October of 2022. If you are interested in joining a CDLN team, please write to Eva Holupchinski at eva.holupchinski@usda.gov.

I’m interested

KEY DROUGHT DATA

Drought.gov (National Integrated Drought Information System (NIDIS)): Puerto Rico | US Virgin Islands

US Drought Monitor (USDM): Caribbean | Puerto Rico | US Virgin Islands

USGS Caribbean-Florida Water Science Center: Caribbean

Weather Forecasting Office (WFO) NWS NOAA: Caribbean

Community Collaborative Rain, Hail and Snow Network (CoCoRaHS): Puerto Rico | US Virgin Islands

Puerto Rico Agricultural Water (PRAG Water): Puerto Rico

Reservoir levels: Puerto Rico

VI Water and Power Authority (WAPA): Virgin Islands

DROUGHT REPORTING & CITIZEN SCIENCE

Drought Condition Monitoring Observations and Reports 2021: English | Spanish

Community Collaborative Rain, Hail and Snow Network (CoCoRaHS): Puerto Rico | Virgin Islands

Report_Caribbean Drought Learning Network Exploratory Meeting_June 2021_USDA Caribbean Climate Hub

Download Caribbean Drought Learning Network Exploratory Meeting Report (3MB)

Exploratory Meeting Report

On June 10th, 2021, 40 climate service providers, government agency leaders, researchers, and extensionists gathered virtually with the USDA Caribbean Climate Hub, National Drought Mitigation Center (NDMC), NOAA’s National Integrated Drought Information System (NIDIS) and the National Weather Service (NWS) to explore the possibility of the creation of a Caribbean Drought Learning Network for Puerto Rico and the US Virgin Islands.

The Drought Learning Network (DLN) concept serves as mechanism to strengthen collaboration and communication in drought research and management. In the Southwest of the United States where drought conditions have been severe, a DLN was recently established by the USDA Southwest Climate Hub. The USDA Caribbean Climate Hub saw the potential benefits for a similar network in the Caribbean, and decided to propose the idea to locals agencies, researchers and organizations.

Date: June 10, 2021

Overview: Final report of workshop on the exploratory meeting for the Caribbean Drought Learning Network.

Partners: National Drought Mitigation Center (NDMC), NOAA’s National Integrated Drought Information System (NIDIS) and the National Weather Service (NWS).

Potential initiatives for the Caribbean Drought Learning Network:

TEAMS

Exploratory Meeting Report

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