2013 Quivira Conference: “Inspiring Adaptation”

ALBUQUERQUE, NM., September 26, 2013 /3BL Media/ – The Quivira Coalition presents its 2013 Quivira Conference: “Inspiring Adaptation” taking place Wednesday – Friday, November 13 - 15, 2013 in Albuquerque, New Mexico.

From prehistoric times to the present, human societies have successfully adapted to the challenges of a changing West, including periods of severe drought, limitations created by scarce resources and shifting cultural and economic pressures. Now, the American West is entering an era of unprecedented change brought on by new climate realities, which will test our capacity for adaptation as well as challenge the resilience of the region's native flora and fauna. It is therefore paramount that we find and share inspiring ideas and practical strategies that help all of the region's inhabitants adapt to a rapidly changing world. 

We will hear from scientists, ranchers, farmers, conservationists, urban planners and others who have bright ideas and important tools to share from their adaptation toolbox.

Jim Gerrish, a previous conference speaker said, “As a result of the three days we spent at the Quivira conference, Dawn and I got fully recharged and inspired to continue to run the good race and fight the good fight. I finally have reason to believe the future of American agriculture is a little brighter than I thought it might be.”

2013 speakers include (partial list):

• Gary Snyder, Winner of Pulitzer Prize for Poetry
• Jack Loeffler, Bioregional aural historian, producer, writer, sound collage artist and musician (Santa Fe, New Mexico)
• Dr. Jonathan Overpeck, Co-Director, Institute of the Environment, University of Arizona (Tucson, Arizona)
• Dr. Gary Paul Nabhan, Writer, lecturer, food and farming advocate, conservationist and professor as a Research Social Scientist at the Southwest Center of the University of Arizona (Tucson, Arizona)
• Dr. Deborah Finch, Program Manager and Supervisory Biologist with the Rocky Mountain Station of the U.S. Forest Service (Albuquerque, New Mexico)
• Darren Doherty, Managing Director of HeenanDoherty (Victoria, Australia)
• Bill Zeedyk, Consultant (Sapello, New Mexico)
• Nils Cristofferson, Executive Director, Wallowa Resources and Wallowa Resources Community Solutions, Inc. (Joseph, Oregon)
• Renata Brillinger, Co-founder and Executive Director of the California Climate and Agriculture Network (CalCAN) (Sebastopol, California)

Full list of speakers here: http://quiviracoalition.org/2013_Quivira_Conference_/2013_Speakers/index.html

Video presentations of speakers from previous years: youtube.com/quiviracoalition

ABOUT THE CONFERENCE: Each year the Quivira Coalition Conference attracts nearly 500 attendees from across the country to Albuquerque, New Mexico. This conference excels at the sharing of innovative ideas, the strengthening relationships and fuels the fire for attendees to put their newfound knowledge into action.

ABOUT THE QUIVIRA COALITION: The mission of the Quivira Coalition is to build resilience by fostering ecological, economic and social health on western landscapes through education, innovation, collaboration, and progressive public and private land stewardship. Our constituency of over 3,500 people is highly diverse, including ranchers, environmentalists, federal and state agency personnel, tribal members, academics, and the public at large, with 500 attending the conference annually.

For more information about the conference, visit QuiviraCoalition.org.

####