Catie Boehmer

The whole is greater than the sum of the parts: Hopes for the first Peregrine cohort

April 20, 2023

The Salazar Center recently announced the inaugural cohort of project teams accepted into our Peregrine Accelerator for Conservation Impact. Each of these groups is working to realize innovative conservation solutions in the Rio Grande/Rio Bravo River basin—which spans our southern border, across Colorado, New Mexico, and Texas in the US, and into Chihuahua, Coahuila, Nuevo Leon, Tamaulipas, and Durango in Mexico.

Hope shines bright in Abiquiu

One of the strengths of this cohort that I’m most excited about is its diversity. The organizations represented by the nine teams range in size and scope; the individuals from each team in profession and career stage; and their proposed projects in stage, scale, and geography.

I’ve had the opportunity to get to know these groups quite well through the proposal review and selection process, and it’s clear that they all share two things in common: a commitment to bettering the ecological and community health of the basin, and some sort of barrier or challenge to implementing their ideas for change in the Rio. It is this common ground that forms the foundation of our first Peregrine Accelerator cohort, and it shone brightly through the literal rain and fog in our time together last month at Ghost Ranch, in Abiquiu, New Mexico—which itself sits along the banks of the Rio Chama, a tributary of the Rio Grande, in the middle stretch of the basin.

Poised for impact

Cohort participants collaborating at the Ghost Ranch in Abiquiu, New Mexico

One purpose of the Peregrine Accelerator program is to advance, with both funding and capacity-building resources, these groups’ ideas for better conservation outcomes in their region—but the program is also intended to cultivate and support a community of interest built on trust, mutual ambition, and peer learning. Gathering in-person was the first step this cohort took in creating that community.

For me, it was a privilege to see conversations spring up about potential partnerships, light bulbs go off as folks found ways to learn from and lean on one another, and new friendships form. Combined, this group represents hundreds of years of experience and expertise, and a wealth of deep knowledge and passion. With this shared asset mobilized behind nine distinct conservation solutions—from ecological restoration and increasing recreation access to urban water banking and binational water governance—both the cohort and its ultimate collective impact are greater than the sum of their parts.

Why this basin?

It is important to note that the Rio basin is especially ripe for this kind of program. It comprises cities, working lands, protected areas, and a variety of habitats and critical wildlife corridors. On both sides of the border, the population is booming; an estimated 12-13 million people—including residents of the eight pairs of sister cities in the basin and dozens of Indigenous and Tribal communities—are dependent on the river for water for irrigation, drinking and household consumption, environmental health, cultural activities, and recreation.

The basin contains some of the most biodiverse ecosystems in North America, and it supports diverse economic activities, from agriculture and natural resource extraction to recreation and tourism. The Rio Grande is one of the ten most endangered rivers in the world, and at the same time, one of the least invested in, in terms attention, resources, and philanthropic funding, especially when compared to the other large, transboundary basin in the region—the Colorado River. As such, the basin represents a unique set of challenges, but also opportunities for new and different approaches to conservation.

The whole is greater than the sum of the parts

Now that I’ve had the opportunity to meet with the cohort as a whole, I feel more confident than ever that we have the right combination of willpower, resources, and talent to not only help each group achieve their own proposed projects, each with their own unique and significant impact, but to also connect organizations and initiatives across the basin—and on both sides of the international border—that wouldn’t have otherwise crossed paths for, ultimately I hope, greater collective impact in the region. As one cohort member put it, “I don’t know if I had ever thought about being a part of the whole basin… and now I have this sense of being a part of something greater, that I’m working in harmony with many others toward common goals.”

The Rio Grande river — The Rio Grande River

Everyone is back in their respective locales after time well spent together, and the cohort is moving through several months of tailored mentorship and training, while building and leaning on the community that they started to build in New Mexico. It’s not possible to know all that they will be able to accomplish, but I do know that I’m quite proud, and excited, to be part of it.

You can follow the progress of the Peregrine Accelerator projects on our website.

Emily Barbo

Peregrine Accelerator: Evaluator Spotlight 3

December 9, 2022

The Peregrine Accelerator for Conservation Impact program wouldn’t be possible without the support of our partners who have graciously agreed to serve as mentors and proposal evaluators to our applicants.

While only a maximum of 12 teams will be accept into the program, The Center wants to make sure that all applicants walk away with something valuable from the experience since it takes time and resources to develop a proposal. Getting substantive feedback from regional and subject matter experts on the strengths and opportunities for improvement on proposals is one of the significant benefits of applying to this program.

These evaluators were selected for their experience, curiosity, and passion for watershed health, climate resilience, and social equity. They will provide a thorough review of each application submitted, and each applicant team will receive feedback from a minimum of five evaluators to help them strengthen their approach and solutions. Since they play such an important role in the program, take a moment to get to know a few of the evaluators who will be investing their time and energy in this work!

Be sure to check out the full list of evaluators and their bios.

Kate Trujillo, Honnold Foundation

Kate is the Deputy Director at the the Honnold Foundation, where she develops and oversees HF’s work supporting grassroots organizations that are using solar energy to improve peoples’ lives and reduce environmental impact. Throughout her career, Kate has worked with various nonprofits and foundations at the nexus of social justice, public health and environmental conservation. Her work has always focused on increasing access to basic needs for marginalized communities and spans from strengthening Tribal Court Systems on Native American reservations to developing sustainable agriculture programs in Ecuador. She believes strongly in the power of grassroots movements and in using community-designed solutions to foster sustainable change. Kate is a member of the Laguna Pueblo and received her master’s degree in Public Health from the University of Michigan. In her spare time, Kate can be found running through the forests of the Pacific Northwest, spending time with her friends and family or planning her next adventure.

Whether the Honnold Foundation’s grants are helping to fund solar-powered boats in the Ecuadorian Amazon, set up solar water pump systems in indigenous desert communities in Mexico, install micro solar home systems built from salvaged electronic waste in Indonesia, or improve energy resilience in the USA’s Navajo Nation tribal lands, the criteria is the same, says Trujillo.

“It has to be a community-driven project,” she says, which both fits the needs of locals and has a self-sustaining plan for the maintenance and upkeep of the solar equipment, which invariably means there are beneficial training, education, job-creation and other spin-offs.

“Community is such a huge part of what we do. What it boils down to is, ‘who owns and is accountable for this program’? And if the answer is not the community, then we’re not interested.”

Kate is a member of the Laguna Pueblo and received her Master’s of Public Health from the University of Michigan. In her spare time, Kate can be found running the streets of Salt Lake City with her dog or on an outdoor adventure with her fiancé.

Carlos Fernandez, The Nature Conservancy

Carlos leads a staff of 60 Colorado employees as the Nature Conservancy’s State Director for Colorado. Working with partner organizations, government agencies, elected officials, and other key decision-makers, Carlos and his team strive to build alliances that advance conservation outcomes both in Colorado and around the world. Since taking the helm in Colorado in 2015, Carlos and TNC have enjoyed many notable achievements—everything from protecting large swaths of native grasslands to helping to create Colorado’s newest state park. He previously served the Conservancy as the Southern Andes Conservation Strategies Manager and the Patagonia Program Manager. He joined the Conservancy in January 2003, working as the Foreign Legal Advisor for the South American Conservation Region.

Carlos believes in cultivating collaborations and investing in diversity when it comes to the development of conservation goals and initiatives. “Many people say that the environmental movement lacks diversity, and I always answer the same thing: yes, but only in the United States,” he shared in an interview with Colorado Water Trust. “The environmental movement is a wide movement. It may not be diverse in the United States, but the global environmental movement is very diverse, and that difference is very important.” He went on to share, “There is a lot of work to be done. We need to make sure our environmental outcomes have a match to their demography. I think we ought to be in a place where the work we are doing and putting out is not only relevant for the white demography of Colorado but to the entire demography of Colorado, including, of course, our large Hispanic population and everyone else.” He also spoke of the need to elevate Black and Native American voices in the conservation world, especially in the areas where they are most affected.

Earlier in his career, Carlos worked for large international law firms in both Washington, DC and Buenos Aires. He holds an LL.M. from Georgetown University Law Center and a J.D. from the University of Mendoza, School of Law from Mendoza, Argentina.

Emily Warren Armitano, Cynthia and George Mitchell Foundation

Emily is the director of land conservation and water programs for the Cynthia and George Mitchell Foundation in Austin, Texas. She is responsible for leading the design of the land conservation and water program strategies and managing a grants portfolio to achieve the foundation’s sustainability goals.

Emily joined the foundation in 2019, bringing with her deep experience in community engagement, movement-building, connecting research to action, and a commitment to equity and social justice.

Previously, she held leadership positions at the Meadows Center for Water and the Environment and Texas Parks and Wildlife Department, where her focus was on sustainable natural resources management. She also served as a member of the management team at United for Iran, working to improve human rights, support civil society, and increase civic engagement in Iran. In addition, Emily worked as part of the global management team for a United Nations Development Program aimed at reducing the volume and toxicity of health care waste in eight low-income countries across the globe.

She recently participated in the Center’s 4^th Annual Symposium for International Conservation Impact. You can watch her session in English and Spanish.

Emily is from Venezuela and comes from a family that spans four continents. She is fluent in Spanish. Emily holds a Ph.D. in Geography from Texas State University, a Master’s of Science in Environmental Science, and a Master’s of Public Affairs from Indiana University’s O’Neill School of Public and Environmental Affairs, and a dual B.S. in Ecology, Ethology, and Evolution and Pre-Medicine from the University of Illinois.

The Center is thrilled by the number of high-quality applications we received to join the Peregrine Accelerator program. Our evaluators will be reviewing applications and sharing feedback over the next several weeks. Be sure to keep an eye out for an announcement introducing our cohort in the new year!

Emily Barbo

Peregrine Accelerator: Evaluator Spotlight 2

November 18, 2022

Be sure to check out the full list of evaluators and their bios.

Teresa Martinez, Continental Divide Trail Coalition

For over 30 years, Teresa has worked professionally to increase awareness, engagement, access, and stewardship of the United States’ entire National Trails System. A graduate of Virginia Tech, Teresa holds a B.S. and M.S from the Department of Fisheries and Wildlife in the College of Natural Resources. Teresa is a lifelong outdoor recreationist and from 1987-2007 she worked for the Appalachian Trail Conservancy, from 2007 to 2012 she worked for the Continental Divide Trail Alliance, and since 2012, she has been the Executive Director (and co-founder) of the Continental Divide Trail Coalition. She serves on the Trail Leadership Council of the Partnership for the National Trails System and has served as the Chair of the Federal Advisory Committee to aid the USFS in the development of the Pacific Northwest National Scenic Trail.

Teresa is actively involved in the creation of equitable spaces for all people in the outdoors and currently serves as the acting chair of the Board for the Next100 Coalition. She believes that inclusion in the outdoors matters because it is the underlying foundation of the landscapes and communities within which we work and wish to expand. Inclusion means that every voice along the Continental Divide has a seat at the table and the opportunity to influence the future of this 3,100-mile-long corridor of land across the Rocky Mountains. In 2019, Teresa was honored by the Virginia Tech College of Natural Resources as the recipient of the Gerald Cross Alumni Leadership Award. When not working on behalf of one of our National Trails, Teresa may be found exploring trails in and around Santa Fe, New Mexico, by bike, horse, and foot.

Estrella Woods, Great Outdoors Colorado

awards competitive grants to local governments and land trusts across Colorado and makes investments through Colorado Parks and Wildlife. Created by voters, GOCO has committed more than $1.3 billion in Lottery proceeds to more than 5,500 projects in all 64 counties without a single dollar coming from taxpayers’ pockets. Estrella joined the GOCO team as the Southwest program officer in June 2021. She is driven by a deep desire to be of service in a way that directly supports health and wellness for local communities and the environment. When the opportunity arose with the creation of GOCO’s regional officers, she felt the position aligned perfectly with those values, working with partners to support outdoor recreation and conservation projects and programs for residents and visitors alike. Her position serves thirteen counties in the southwest region of Colorado in the development of projects seeking GOCO partnership and funding.

Estrella’s past work experience is rooted in the outdoor recreation and travel industries as well as fundraising for nonprofits focused on health and human services. Estrella studied Language Studies at the University of California Santa Cruz and completed an MBA with Colorado Mesa University in Grand Junction. Originally from Maine, Estrella has lived on the Western Slope of Colorado for over twenty years. Above all, she enjoys being outside in nature, sharing her passion for outdoor recreation, and being a steward of the land in southwest Colorado.

Jim Petterson, Trust for Public Land

Jim is the Trust for Public Land’s Mountain West Region vice president, overseeing the organization’s Northern Rockies (MT, ID, WY) and Texas Programs, and providing day-to-day management of its Colorado and Southwest Program (CO, UT, AZ, NM). Together, these teams are working with local communities in some of the fastest-growing urban, suburban, and rural areas to generate climate, health, and equity outcomes by creating parks, conserving priority lands, reimagining schoolyards, and building and enhancing trails and greenways. When describing his work, Jim said, “Community is at the heart of everything we do at The Trust for Public Land. We pride ourselves on being active listeners and good partners, working to connect people to the outdoors through land protection, trails, green schoolyards and parks and open space. We’ve been working in Colorado for over 35 years to ensure healthy, livable communities for generations to come.”

Prior to joining Trust for Public Land, Jim spent 17 years at The Nature Conservancy, including 12 years in a variety of senior marketing leadership roles, such as chief communications officer and communications director; and five years as senior advisor to the CEO. Prior to joining the Conservancy, Jim spent 10 years working in Washington, D.C. as a communications director and legislative assistant for a senior member of Congress and as a press secretary for the U.S. Secretary of Agriculture. Jim is an avid trail runner, bushwhacker, and peak bagger. When he’s not visiting his kids at their colleges in the Florida Keys and Berkeley, California, Jim lives in Denver, Colorado with his spouse, Jeanine.

Do you have an innovative idea for conservation solutions in the Rio Grande/Rio Bravo River Basin? Do you want to connect with a network of industry leaders and experts like those mentioned here? Then you should apply for the Peregrine Accelerator! Learn more about the proposal requirements and be sure to submit your application, in English or in Spanish, before the deadline on Monday, November 21 at 5:00 p.m. MT.

Learn More & Apply

Emily Barbo

Peregrine Accelerator: Evaluator Spotlight 1

November 7, 2022

Be sure to check out the full list of evaluators and their bios.

Joni Carswell, Texan by Nature

Joni Carswell is the CEO and President of Texan by Nature (TxN) where she is responsible for leading the mission to bring business and conservation together. In 2011, Mrs. Laura Bush founded Texan by Nature to unite conservation and business leaders who believe the state’s prosperity is dependent on the conservation of our natural resources. The organization amplifies projects and activates new investments in conservation which returns real benefits for people, prosperity, and natural resources.

Prior to Texan by Nature, Joni was the President and CEO of family engagement platform LivingTree, where she drove strategy, technology, and community involvement, helping over a million users at school districts across the country deepen family engagement. Under Carswell’s tenure, LivingTree more than tripled its user base each year, and was also recognized with the Stevie Women in Business Gold Award for Community Involvement Program of the Year and Silver Award for Mobile App of the Year. Previously, Carswell held leadership roles in planning and strategy at Polycom and Dell where she managed three-year planning for multi-billion-dollar product portfolios.

“As a fourth-generation Texan, it is an absolute honor to lead Texan by Nature in our effort to becoming a greater catalyst for natural resource conservation in Texas and the nation,” said Joni when she was named to the leadership position at Texas by Nature. “I am excited to take the helm at TxN and apply the growth strategy, data-based frameworks, and collaboration that have yielded success in business and technology. I look forward to working with all TxN partners, Texas communities, industries, and leadership in creating a true conservation economy in Texas – one that benefits our prosperity, people, and natural resources for generations to come.”

Joni is a graduate of the Kellogg School of Management (Masters, Business Administration) and Northwestern McCormick School of Engineering (Masters, Engineering Management), is a member of Beta Gamma Sigma, and served on the Advisory Board for the Kellogg Women’s Business Association. Joni holds a B.S. in Industrial Engineering from Texas A&M University and currently serves on the External Advisory Board for the Texas A&M Department of Rangeland, Wildlife, and Fisheries Management.

Rio de la Vista, Salazar Rio Grande Del Norte Center at Adams State University

Rio shares her experience with local, regional, and international nonprofit organizations, land and water issues, community groups, and landowners to help grow the next generation of conservation and water leaders.

She is the former director of the Salazar Rio Grande Del Norte Center at Adams State University, where she led the Center’s two main initiatives:

The Rio Grande Natural Area Initiative: Starting in 2018, the Salazar Rio Grande del Norte Center at Adams State University launched an initiative for the congressionally designated Rio Grande Natural Area (RGNA), encompassing the Rio Grande River corridor in Colorado from the Alamosa National Wildlife Refuge south to the New Mexico state line (see map). This effort is in conjunction with community, government, and organizational partners to implement the recommendations of the RGNA Commission and their Management Plan released in 2015.

The Water Education Initiative: This effort engages Adams State University in water issues and opportunities to enhance its relevance to the community and the changing economy, and to serve as an educational and project partner to increase water literacy, assist in projects, and grow the next generation of water leaders. A key element of this initiative is the integration of water educational content into academic courses across disciplines and to offer students and the community compelling activities that deepen their water knowledge.

Prior to joining the Salazar Rio Grande Center, Rio worked with the Rio Grande Headwaters Land Trust for nearly 20 years, helping to develop and implement the Rio Grande Initiative, which conserved over 25,000 acres of land and water along the Rio Grande and Conejos River. She is the environmental representative on the Rio Grande Basin Roundtable in addition to several other committee and board positions.

She was honored with the National Wetlands Award in 2011 for her work in the San Luis Valley. In 2020, she was recognized with a Distinguished Service Award by the Regents of the University of Colorado, for her years of work in conservation. In 2022, she was named a Conservation Hero for Advocacy by the Keep It Colorado coalition of land trusts. Rio is grateful to live on a family ranch at the headwaters of the Rio Grande in Colorado, and treasures time spent in the mountains and on rivers.

Nathan Fey, Mighty Arrow Family Foundation

Nathan is the Land & Water Program Director for the Mighty Arrow Family Foundation (MAFF), underscoring the foundation’s dedication to climate action, clean water and public lands.

“As we strive to create bold and transformational change, intentionally spending down our fund in the coming years, Nathan will be a vital part of executing that strategy in a way that brings the greatest benefit to our NGO partners and western landscapes,” said Jordana Barrack, Executive Director of the Mighty Arrow Family Foundation. “His expertise on land and water issues and experience engaging diverse partners will help ensure our grants have the greatest possible impact at a time when action is needed most.”

Previously, Nathan served the State of Colorado as the Director of the Outdoor Recreation Industry Division within the Governor’s Office of Economic Development and International Trade, where he oversaw the cultivation of Colorado’s $62.5 Billion Outdoor Recreation Economy. He partnered directly with the Governor’s office to create policies that promote business recovery and growth, the conservation and stewardship of Colorado’s public lands and waters, advance the state’s education and workforce development programs, and improve public health and wellness through outdoor participation.

Prior to working for the State, Nathan was active in the non-profit conservation community and has spent over 20 years working with federal and state agencies, national and statewide non-profits, and local community groups across the Southern Rockies and intermountain west.

Learn More & Apply