The
CPC's first Spring Meeting, "Views
of the elephant: lessons learned from personal experiences
in conservation", was held at Marble Canyon
Lodge near Lees Ferry, AZ from April 17-18, 2004. This
event had an auspicious start. A warm breeze rustled through
the trees and a few high clouds scudded across a bright blue
sky. Children and dogs romped through the grass. With the
Vermillion Cliffs as a backdrop, Marble Canyon Lodge was a
magnificent setting to discuss the state of conservation biology
on the Colorado Plateau.
As
we milled around on the lodge’s verandah, the mood was one
of excitement. Conservationists from NGOs and federal agencies,
environmental activists and communicators, and students, scientists,
and educators from NAU and Prescott College were among the
thirty-five people attending the first stand-alone meeting
of the CP-SCB. It was a great opportunity to get to know the
people who were practicing conservation biology on the Colorado
Plateau, discuss their challenges, and hear their perspectives.
Paul Beier, at left, takes a break during the one of the sessions.
CP-SCB President Tom Fleischner of Prescott College welcomed
the assemblage, and introduced the meeting. The format was
atypical of conservation biological gatherings. Instead of
the customary parade of biological papers, our colleagues
presented their experiences and ideas for the audience to
mull over and digest. Lively, thought-provoking discussion
followed each presentation. Allison Jones of The Wild Utah
Project related her agency’s experiences in creating a bold
“Heart of the West” conservation area design for the Wyoming
Basin Ecoregion. Taylor McKinnon of the Grand Canyon Trust
discussed the Healthy Forest Initiative and how it will affect
forest conservation on the Colorado Plateau.
In a twist that surprised many of those attending, much of
the meeting focused, not on the biology, but on the societal
context in which we practice conservation biology. How, we
asked, can we help to foster the socioeconomic attitudes that
make conservation a priority in this country? Ed Grumbine
of Prescott College, Tom Sisk of NAU, and Dave Mattson of
the USGS Colorado Plateau Research Station all proffered thoughts
and possible solutions to the dilemma that has become a pivotal
issue for successful conservation efforts on the ground. We
all agreed that building trust among all stakeholders in the
landscape was a critical first step; and to do this we would
need to forge a new social contract between conservation scientists
and society, and communicate conservation science effectively
to the public.
The
meeting concluded on Sunday with three stories from the front
lines by Stefan Sommer, Director of Education for the Merriam-Powell
Center for Environmental Research at NAU, Walt Fertig, formerly
of the BLM’s Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument and
John Grahame, environmental communicator and veteran activist.
All three urged us to tell compelling stories about conservation
that will connect with people’s core values, and move them
to support sustainable practices and the protection of our
natural environment.
The
weekend was a perfect combination of an inspiring and magnificent
setting, serious discussion, engaging conversation, musical
camaraderie, and delicious food. Some of us elected to sleep
under the stars, later retreating to the shelter of the verandah
when it began to rain. Some found time to enjoy Lees Ferry
and Marble Canyon, birding in the early morning or hiking
Cathedral Canyon on the way out. In the end, we all agreed
that the format of the meeting and the quality of the presentations
had stimulated thoughtful discussions and new ideas. We reflected
on the Colorado Plateau, how big it is, how isolated, how
magnificently beautiful. It’s no wonder that we love this
place.
We look forward to more fun together next spring, when the
chapter hosts its second major event. We’ll be putting on
a regional conference, based at the brand-new Crossroads Center
of Prescott College, from Friday afternoon, March 11th to
Sunday noon, March 13th, 2005.
As
we milled around on the lodge’s verandah, the mood was one
of excitement. Conservationists from NGOs and federal agencies,
environmental activists and communicators, and students, scientists,
and educators from NAU and Prescott College were among the
thirty-five people attending the first stand-alone meeting
of the CP-SCB. It was a great opportunity to get to know the
people who were practicing conservation biology on the Colorado
Plateau, discuss their challenges, and hear their perspectives.
Paul Beier, at left, takes a break during the one of the sessions.
The
meeting concluded on Sunday with three stories from the front
lines by Stefan Sommer, Director of Education for the Merriam-Powell
Center for Environmental Research at NAU, Walt Fertig, formerly
of the BLM’s Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument and
John Grahame, environmental communicator and veteran activist.
All three urged us to tell compelling stories about conservation
that will connect with people’s core values, and move them
to support sustainable practices and the protection of our
natural environment. 
The
weekend was a perfect combination of an inspiring and magnificent
setting, serious discussion, engaging conversation, musical
camaraderie, and delicious food. Some of us elected to sleep
under the stars, later retreating to the shelter of the verandah
when it began to rain. Some found time to enjoy Lees Ferry
and Marble Canyon, birding in the early morning or hiking
Cathedral Canyon on the way out. In the end, we all agreed
that the format of the meeting and the quality of the presentations
had stimulated thoughtful discussions and new ideas. We reflected
on the Colorado Plateau, how big it is, how isolated, how
magnificently beautiful. It’s no wonder that we love this
place.