Urban sprawl and city centers can disrupt continuous landscapes in many areas when not planned with the greater connectivity goals in mind. How can cities positively contribute to landscape connectivity for plants and animals that need intact landscapes to survive? The final piece in the Salazar Center’s Urban Conservation Stories series will invite experts from the U.S., Canada, and Mexico to explore how cities can contribute to national conservation targets through policy, federal support, and NGO-led work.
This event is part of the Salazar Center’s Urban Conservation Stories webinar series. Each of the three events in the series is focused on a core theme: biodiversity, water in arid environments, and landscape connectivity. Experts from across North America will share their important work that can allow cities to contribute to national conservation targets, while creating thriving urban environments. Learn more about the other events.
Sarah Charlop-Powers, Executive Director and Co-founder, Natural Areas Conservancy
Sarah is the co-founder and executive director of the Natural Areas Conservancy (NAC), a nonprofit dedicated to managing New York City’s 20,000 acres of forests and wetlands. The NAC is a pioneer in the field of urban conservation, using data and science to develop new ways to manage urban natural areas so that they provide recreation opportunities for diverse users, protect biodiversity, and provide environmental benefits. Sarah has a MEM from the Yale School of the Environment.
Alejandro Callejas, General Director for Natural Resources, Guanajuato State
Alejandro, is a senior consultant for different international development agencies and the UN in the areas of sustainability, economy, biodiversity & climate change. He has work experience in politics, project development, and management. He is responsible for the Central West Mexico Biocultural Corridor, and General Director for Natural Resources in the Guanajuato State.
Laurel Carlton, Project Manager, Parks Canada
Laurel is involved in the development of the national program and National Urban Parks Policy. Laurel has a Master’s in Public Administration and joined Parks Canada in March 2020 after a decade spent working in the charitable sector on local and national-scale community development initiatives. Born and raised in Ottawa, Ontario, Laurel has had a lifelong passion for outdoor spaces and for connecting people with nature – and now enjoys sharing those passions with her husband and 2-year old daughter.
Moderated by: Tom Herrod, Senior Program Officer, ICLEI- Local Governments for Sustainability
Tom Herrod leads ICLEI USA’s Membership Team, aligning ICLEI USA’s tools, resources, and support with the needs of the broader ICLEI member network. Tom’s vision is to make ICLEI the first choice of Local Governments for Climate and Sustainability support – leveraging his experience working at local, state, and federal government to improve member benefits and membership experiences continuously.
Dates
| Date | Start Time | End Time |
|---|---|---|
| Jan. 18, 2023 | 12:00 pm | 1:00 pm |
Contact Information
If you have any questions about this webinar, please reach out to Shoshanna Dean at [email protected].
Key Themes
- Community-based conservation
- Connectivity
- Conservation policy
- Crossing boundaries
- Large landscapes
- Urban nature
Jeremiah oversees both the US- and Mexico-based organizations within Cuenca Los Ojos. Originally from San Antonio, his career began in in private law practice focused on water law, farm and ranch real estate law, and estate planning for agricultural families. Prior to joining CLO, he served as the conservation director for the California Rangeland Trust. 
Alan has spent his career in the Middle Rio Grande working to find interdisciplinary connections that bring new perspectives and possibilities to difficult situations. He has been writing and lecturing on the link between environmental degradation and cultural depression and the notion that mental health and environmental health are one and the same. 
A native of the San Luis Valley, Armando was raised on a farm and ranch near Capulin, Colorado. Most recently, Valdez worked as an Assistant Professor of Management and the Director of the Health Care Administration Program in the School of Business at Adams State University, and he currently serves as a member of the Colorado State University System Board of Governors. 
Barbara serves as a leader in the team designing the Laredo- Nuevo Laredo Binational Conservation Park, and for her, the power of architecture is expressed in its impact on the human experience. She believes that strategic and thoughtful design with the user’s experience as the priority can influence people’s decisions and connections to others and the environment. 
Dr. Tracy serves as Director of the Colorado Water Center and as professor in the department of Ecosystem Science and Sustainability at Colorado State University. Dr. Tracy has led research initiatives on understanding and developing sustainable water management practices in a wide range of hydro-climatological systems across the western United States. 
