The Center for Open Geographical Science (COGS) launched in 2022 as a hub for open and reproducible research and a home for all things spatial. COGS combines expertise from two collaborative research labs: the lab for Spatial Analysis in the Social Sciences (SASS) and the Vegetation and Landscape Ecology (VALE) lab. COGS supports CNNCTS' focus area of "Advance science-informed climate action" by contributing to the academic research on assessing the possible climate change impacts to culturally important plant species using climate change forecasts and biodiversity data.

This collaborative project works to promote Tribal resilience by developing knowledge and supporting actions that enhance persistence of cultural practices with a focus on preserving the ecosystems and plant species that are integral to Tribal communities. The Resilient Restoration project, funded by the California Strategic Growth Council's Climate Change Research Program, is a collaborative effort of the Climate Science Alliance's Tribal Working Group, University of California Riverside, and San Diego State University.

Leveraging SDSU's two largest ecological reserves managed by the Field Stations Program, SDSU provides ideal sites for research, education and community engagement for Southern California ecosystems and communities for the CNNCTS Living Labs component. The collaboration also draws on matching funds from the Alyce Cioch Wawrytko Endowed Scholarship for American Indian Studies, showcasing SDSU's commitment to climate resilience, Indigenous stewardship, and community engagement.