The Future of Landscape Conservation: Pathways to a Just and Equitable Future

A VIRTUAL POLICY FORUM
Dear Network Friends,
We are pleased to announce that the Network for Landscape Conservation is convening a virtual policy forum on Wednesday, March 31st, to focus on the fundamental importance of justice, diversity, equity, and inclusion in collaborative landscape conservation.

This is the third in a series of virtual policy forums that we are hosting, and builds from the Weaving the Strands Together: Case Studies in Inclusive and Equitable Landscape Conservation report, which the Network released earlier this year in partnership with the Salazar Center for North American Conservation.

Pathways to a Just and Equitable Future: The modern conservation movement in the US has had many celebrated successes in terms of the National Park system and other public lands, private land acquisitions and easements, and more. But some of this has come at the considerable expense of underrepresented populations and benefited some populations far more than others. It is past time to correct a historic imbalance and recalibrate the land conservation movement as one for all people.

For the future of nature and society, we must move beyond the concept of nature as exclusive for a few to nature as essential for all. 

The purpose of this forum is to explore opportunities (and examples) for building a broad-based and enduring constituency for landscape conservation, and for the many essential services nature provides for all people, in all places. 


Wednesday, March 31, 2021 at 1:00 – 2:30 pm ET

Dr. Mamie Parker, Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources Commissioner and former Head of Fisheries at US Fish & Wildlife Service, will offer a keynote address and will moderate a panel discussion with the following panelists: 

  • Martha Williams – Principal Deputy Director of US Fish & Wildlife Service;
  • Patrick Gonzales Rogers – Executive Director of Bears Ears Inter-Tribal Coalition;
  • Curtis Bennett – Director of Equity & Community Engagement at National Aquarium, and founding member of Greater Baltimore Wilderness Coalition.
FORUM OBJECTIVES:
  • Provide a platform to discuss ways to accelerate progress towards a conservation movement that is more just, equitable, and inclusive of diverse communities that care for or are affected by landscape conservation decisions. 
  • Capitalize on the Biden Administration’s leadership to secure environmental justice and equitable economic opportunity – and translate that vison into actions that guide landscape conservation work at local, regional, and national scales. 
  • Discuss how landscape conservation policies, programs, and practices - from our most urban centers to our wildest places - can embrace justice, diversity, equity, and inclusion as a fundamental pillar of our collaborative conservation work.
On behalf of the Network's Policy Forum Committee, we look forward to having you join us for this critically important conversation. Thank you.
Julie Regan
Network Co-Chair
Tahoe Regional Planning Agency
Shawn Johnson
Network Co-Chair
Center for Natural Resources & Environmental Policy at The University of Montana

UPCOMING NEWS & EVENTS FROM THE NETWORK
The 2021 RFP for the Landscape Conservation Catalyst Fund will launch next week. Watch for an emailed announcement and keep tabs on the Catalyst Fund page of the Network's website for more information.
SPECIAL EVENT
Rescuing the Planet: Protecting Half the Land to Heal the Earth.

April 1, 2021–We are pleased to be hosting award-winning author and veteran New Yorker contributor Tony Hiss for a conversation about his latest and just-published book, “Rescuing the Planet: Protecting Half the Land to Heal the Earth.”
NETWORK WEBINAR
Does Advancing a Large Landscape Vision Lead to Measurable Conservation Advances? 25 Years into the Yellowstone to Yukon Conservation Vision.

April 7, 2021–Many have suggested that they are inspired by the ambitious Yellowstone-to-Yukon vision, but wondered whether the vision has had any real impact given that conservation advances are generally more localized. Jodi Hilty, President and Chief Scientist of Y2Y will explore this question in the inaugural webinar in a new webinar series from the Network on the practice of landscape conservation.

STAY CONNECTED
The Network for Landscape Conservation is the community of practice for practitioners advancing collaborative, cross-boundary conservation as an essential approach to protect nature, culture, and community.


Contact Ernest Cook , Interim Network Director, for more information. 


The Network for Landscape Conservation is a fiscally sponsored project of the Center for Large Landscape Conservation.
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