CO Wilderness Conference comes to BV: May 10-12
The Colorado Wilderness Conference is coming back to Buena Vista May 10-12, 2019 to discuss advocacy, stewardship and protection of the state’s most iconic landscapes. Staff, land managers, volunteers and public lands enthusiasts from across the state will convene on topics including: Sportsmen in Wilderness; Grassroots Activism; Citizen Science; and much more! The event will also include a film screening of Wild Hope, food by Kalamata Pit catering and field trips to Browns Canyon and Camp Hale. **
A detailed conference agenda and registration is available at www.cmc.org/wild. **
This year, the conference will highlight the Colorado Outdoor Recreation Economy (CORE) Act, which designates lands for hiking, mountain biking, skiing, climbing and paddling, and helps protect wildlife habitat, natural resources and water quality. Participants will review components of the legislation which includes landscapes in Summit & Eagle Counties, the San Juan Mountains and Thompson Divide Area. Then a series of power mapping exercises and breakout sessions will engage participants in planning and partnerships to help get this legislation passed.
Stewardship is also an important component of the conference to ensure our current Wilderness areas – like the Collegiate Peaks – are taken care of for future generations. Conversations on Gateway Communities, Bighorn Sheep Monitoring and Recreation Impact Monitoring will supplement a presentation from U.S. Forest Service Regional Wilderness Manager Ralph Swain on the biggest threats to Colorado’s existing Wilderness areas.
“We are excited to bring the Wilderness Conference back to Buena Vista so that local advocates can share ideas and strategies with leaders around the state,” said Julie Mach, Salida-based Conservation Director for the Colorado Mountain Club and co-host of the event. “We had about 100 people attend when we hosted in BV in 2016 and it’s a great opportunity to showcase our valley and bring some visitors to the area.”
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A detailed conference agenda and registration is available at www.cmc.org/wild. ** The event is hosted by Salida-based staff from the Colorado Mountain Club in partnership with: Conservation Colorado, The Wilderness Society, Sierra Club, Wild Connections, San Juan Citizens Alliance and Great Old Broads for Wilderness.