“Living with Wolves: Coexistence in Colorado” was a free, educational, artistic and entertaining evening about wolf reintroduction in the state and Roaring Fork Valley, including film, dance and music. It culminated with a panel discussion and Q&A session about the reality of living with wolves.
ACES invited a number of special guest speakers from around Colorado, each with a unique stakeholder perspective on this recently voted-upon ballot initiative.
This event supported ACES’ educational program Tomorrow’s Voices, a free, non-partisan college-level course open to all Roaring Fork Valley high school students. Tomorrow’s Voices provides students with the agency to be active community contributors and is deeply connected to ACES’ mission of educating for environmental responsibility.
Keynote Speaker:
Joanna E. Lambert, PhD, a Professor of Environmental Studies and Faculty of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology the University of Colorado – Boulder. Joanna Lambert has a deep passion for our wild and natural world, resulting in a career spent publishing and teaching about the evolution, ecology, and conservation of wild animals.
Special Panelists:
Matt Barnes, a Rangeland Scientist who founded both Shining Horizons Land Management, and his non-profit project Reintegrating Wildness, a part of the Northern Rockies Conservation Cooperative.
Gary Skiba, the Wildlife Program Manager at the San Juan Citizens Alliance and former Colorado Division of Wildlife employee; his work focused on threatened and endangered species management.
Karin Vardaman, Director and Co-Founder of Working Circle, an organization dedicated to ensuring wolves, livestock, and people can coexist and thrive long-term on shared lands.
Lenny Klinglesmith, LK Ranch has a combined 50 years of family/landowner experience with the state of Colorado’s Ranching for Wildlife program and they manage a 13,000+ acre property outside of Meeker, CO.
Matt Yamashita is the Area 8 Wildlife Manager at Colorado Parks and Wildlife. His area of management includes Pitkin, Eagle and Garfield Counties.
Moderated by:
John Calfa III, the host of the “Wolf Connection” podcast, is a staff member of the Wolf Connection organization based in California. The podcast explores the intricate bond between humans and wolves. John has interviewed wolf experts, scientists, ranchers, journalists and more about living with wolves.
Music and Movement at the event by Lost Walks
