RESTORING THE WEST CONFERENCE 2009
Peaks to Valleys: Innovative Land Management for the Great Basin

October 27 & 28, 2009, Utah State University, Logan, Utah

The theme of this year's Restoring the West Conference is sustainability of Great Basin landscapes from peaks to valleys, with an emphasis on forest, sagebrush steppe, and riparian ecosystems. Unifying themes include the causes and consequences of historic changes in community composition and structure, the effects of ongoing climate change, the importance of the water cycle or ecohydrology, and wildlife considerations.

This conference will explore innovative restoration and management approaches for Great Basin landscapes in the face of climate change, rapidly growing human population, limited water resources, increases in invasive species, and altered fire regimes. Maintaining these ecosystems and communities requires management approaches that use larger spatial scales and longer time scales than in the past, and that incorporate economic and social considerations.

The conference will take place on the USU campus in Logan, Utah over two full days (October 27-28, 2009), and will include numerous general session speakers focusing on science and management, a break-out workshop/feedback session, an opportunity to present/observe posters, and an evening social. Agenda details will be available soon, and registration will be open mid-summer.