Wildlands Project/Earth First conference on its way - "Restoring the Whole - Predator Conservation Alliance's 4th Annual Conference"

from Predator Conservation Alliance website

Restoring the Whole: A Conservation Vision for the Northern Rockies and Northern Plains - Predator Conservation Alliance's Fourth Annual Conference

Mammoth Hot Springs Hotel
Yellowstone National Park

October 2-5, 2003

Restoring the whole - the idea of returning something to its former state,
bringing something back to health and full function. After decades of
impactful human activities, many of our native species and wild habitats are
in ecological disrepair. In some places the losses have been so dramatic
that it is no longer enough to simply protect and conserve remaining
wildlife and habitat. In such cases we need to take the additional step of
restoring, as much as possible, what has been lost.

Some of the best restoration opportunities Americans have today exist in
restoring predators and their habitats in the Northern Rockies and Northern
Plains. These regions hold the greatest potential for restoring, and
ultimately conserving, the full suite of forest and
prairie grassland carnivores.

Predator Conservation Alliance has chosen the theme of ecological
restoration for our 2003 annual conference because we believe it is
important to think beyond just recovering imperiled carnivores from the
brink of extinction. Rather, we need to restore them across a landscape
where there is adequate habitat and human tolerance. Our 2002 conference
focused on human coexistence with predators. This year, we will round out
the discussion by examining efforts to restore forest and prairie carnivore
species and habitats to a natural state.

We also chose this theme because it provides hope for the future. All too
often, wildlife and wildlands conservation seems like an endless, tiresome
series of battles. We at PCA have found that the idea of ecological
restoration, both in theory and practice, provides us with a positive and
hopeful vision of what can be. It is work that is not only restorative for
nature, but also for people.
We invite you to join us for three inspiring, educational and fun-filled
days in Yellowstone National Park to consider the need for, and benefits of,
restoring forest and prairie carnivores. We will also learn what is being
done to achieve this vision.

Schedule

THURSDAY, October 2

6:00-9:00p.m. Registration and Cash Bar Social

FRIDAY, October 3

8:00 a.m. Registration and Breakfast

9:00 a.m. Opening Keynote Address

Emerging Ideas and Important Questions in Ecological Restoration - Mike
Phillips, Executive Director of the Turner Endangered Species Fund

10:00 a.m. Break

10:15 a.m. Case Studies

Restoring Species: Wolves in the Northern Rockies - David Gaillard, Forest
Predator Program Associate for Predator Conservation Alliance

Restoring Habitat: Obliterating and Removing Forest Roads - Sungnome
Madrone, Director of the Natural Resources Division of the Redwood Community
Action Agency

Ecological Restoration and the Yellowstone to Yukon (Y2Y) Conservation
Initiative Vision - Wendy Francis, Chairperson of the Y2Y Conservation
Initiative's Coordinating Committee

1:00 p.m. Lunch Break

2:00 p.m. Field Trips

Grab extra clothes and let's get outside! Speakers, staff and conferees
venture into the field to talk about issues related to morning
presentations.

5:30 p.m. Dinner Break (list of area restaurants provided)

8:00 p.m. Special Evening Presentation

Restoring Wildlife, Landscapes and People - Rick Bass, noted Montana
conservationist and author (The Ninemile Wolves; The Lost Grizzlies; The
Roadless Yaak)

SATURDAY, October 4

8:00 a.m. Breakfast

9:00 a.m. Opening Keynote Address

Ecological Restoration's Influence on Economic and Community Stability - Dr.
Ray Rasker, Director of the Socio-Economics Program for the Sonoran
Institute

10:00 a.m. Break

10:15 a.m. Case Studies

Restoring Species: Returning Wild Bison Herds to the Northern Plains - Dan
Licht, Regional Wildlife Biologist for the National Park Service

Restoring Habitat: The Prairie Dog Ecosystem - Jonathan Proctor, Grassland
Predator Program Associate for Predator Conservation Alliance

Ecological Restoration and the Northern Plains Conservation Network (NPCN)
Vision - Curt Freese, Northern Great Plains Program Director, World Wildlife
Fund and steering committee member for NPCN

1:00 p.m. Lunch Break and PCA Annual Membership Meeting

2:00 p.m. Field Trips

More outdoor fun and discussion with speakers, staff and other conferees.

6:00 p.m. Banquet Dinner (conference hall)

7:00 p.m. Live Auction

8:00 p.m. Closing Keynote Address

Opportunities and Challenges for Ecological Restoration, A Political
Perspective - TBA

SUNDAY, October 5

6:00 a.m. Naturalist-led Wildlife Viewing Trip

Scout the Lamar Valley for wolves, bears and other wildlife; return around
noon

COSTS
$50 Early Registration (before August 31)
$60 Registration
$30 Friday and Saturday Breakfast and Lunch; Sunday Breakfast
$20 Saturday Night Banquet Dinner
*** Yellowstone National Park Entrance Fee not included in registration
cost.

LODGING
Room rates at Mammoth Hot Springs Hotel & Cabins range from $67 to $102 per
night. Please let them know you will be attending PCA's Annual Conference.
For reservations call 307-344-5437 or email ynpsa@xanterra.com by August 31,
2003. After August 31, all unreserved rooms will be made available to the
general public.
*** There is an 85-site campground at Mammoth. Sites are available on a
first come, first served basis. Campground fee is $12/night.

David Gaillard, Program Associate
Predator Conservation Alliance
P.O. Box 6733, Bozeman, MT 59771
(Street: 234 E. Mendenhall, Bozeman, 59715)
406-587-3389 (ph)
406-587-3178 (fax)
gaillard@predatorconservation.org OR gaillard@wildrockies.org (email)