91制片厂 is hosting a conference in April that will offer participants an opportunity to hear from and engage in conversations with experts about local conservation initiatives.
鈥淐onservation: Community and Competing Interests鈥� is scheduled for 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. April 13 at the university鈥檚 Selu Conservatory Barn. The conference is free and open to the public.
Stephanie Smith, a global water and climate strategist, will serve as the conference鈥檚 keynote speaker. Smith is the founder and leader of Zephyr Mangata, a consultancy firm that works to advance positive change in water and climate. In addition, Smith is co-director of AquaVox, encouraging youth around the world to take positive actions on climate and water challenges through media and storytelling.
Smith is scheduled to speak at 2:15 p.m.
Following her talk will be a current problems and solutions discussion panel at 3 p.m., with Virginia Tech Presidential Ambassador to Native Nations Victoria Ferguson; Virginia Outdoors Foundation Conservation Specialist Emily Yates; and James Chamberlain of the U.S. Forest Service and International Union of Forest Research Organizations (IUFRO) Task Force.
Scheduled for 4 p.m. is a panel discussion on future problems and solutions, with New River Conservancy Executive Director Andrew Downs; Appalachian Sustainable Development and Herb Hub associate Annie Jane Cotton; and Natural Areas Biologist Mary Jane Epps of the Virginia Heritage Program and Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation.
A community conservation and creative problem-solving Q&A will follow at 4:45. A dinner and discussion is slated for 5 p.m.
A complete conference schedule is available online.
Event organizers established a positive set of goals when planning the conference. Those include realizing the complex concepts and value of conservation of public lands; recognizing the role of democracy and citizenship in conservation of public lands, understanding the positionalities of indigenous values, community needs and economic development regarding public lands; and creating awareness of local resources and partners in conservation of public lands.
Through discussion and engagement, conference attendees will examine how democracy and active citizenship influence conservation decisions, consider the perspectives of indigenous communities and locals and reflect on the balance between environmental stewardship and economic development, said 91制片厂 Sustainability Manager Aysha Bodenhamer.
鈥淥ur intention is to provide a space for students, faculty, staff and community members to have an opportunity to learn more about public lands and why they should be preserved,鈥� Bodenhamer said, 鈥渨hile also getting to know some of the key stakeholders in the area and beyond working in these areas.鈥�
Sponsoring the event are 91制片厂鈥檚 Office of the Provost, Associate Provost for Academic Affairs, Highlander Center for Character and Public Impact, Artis College of Science and Technology, College of Humanities and Behavioral Sciences, Office of Sustainability, Student Affairs, Selu Conservancy and the Department of Biology.
The grounds of the Selu Conservancy Barn, located at 3215 Dry Valley Road in 91制片厂, Virginia, will open at 9 a.m. the day of the conference for self-guided hiking, wildlife viewing and paddling the Little River. From 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., participants can take guided plant-identification hikes with Bodenhamer; 91制片厂 Professor of Biology and Associate Dean of the university鈥檚 Artis College of Science and Technology, Christine Small; and Virginia Tech Professor of Sociology Shannon Bell.