Climate Smart and Culturally Sustaining Co-Stewardship of Quaking Aspen
A workshop held August 28 & 29, 2024, in Gothic, Colorado.
Motivation
The magnitude of the challenges facing aspen, a foundational species for western North American forest ecosystems and human communities, compels renewed scientific and management focus. There is extensive interest among a diverse group of people (federal/state land managers, tribes, private landowners, other non-governmental organizations) in understanding the changes this species is experiencing, as well as taking effective and ethical actions in response to these changes. There is also a growing awareness in land stewardship of the importance of accommodating and centering perspectives and values that come from outside the federal agency and academic umbrellas.
We therefore seek to bring together people from a diverse set of backgrounds in a space where listening, knowledge exchange, relationship building, and collaboration is possible. While prior aspen-centric workshops have been held regularly, their focus has been primarily on knowledge transfer, and they have had limited success in engaging a diverse set of participants. In particular, the conference will support developing trust and consent for future collaboration among tribal and non-tribal participants.
Focuses of this meeting:
Sustaining relationships between forests and people
Promoting forest resilience in an age of rapid climate change
Fire for aspen, aspen for fire
Heat + drought impacts and future forecasts
Aspen genetics to inform ecology & management
Through these discussions, we hope to:
Increase awareness of best practices and/or current research or management needs
Offer a unique opportunity to engage with other people to exchange knowledge or build effective teams
Build trust among people (e.g., between non-Indigenous individuals and tribes) and viable pathways to effectively build a shared vision of stewardship
Location and Logistics
The Rocky Mountain Biological Laboratory, located in Gothic, Colorado, on traditional lands of the Ute people. The field station is easily accessible by a 45 minute drive from the Gunnison regional airport or a 5 hour drive from Denver. Aspen is a common species in the area. This history and the environmental setting thus provide important foundations for the themes of the meeting. The venue provides a secluded location in which meeting participants can stay together for conference events, housing, and meals, promoting informal conversations. ADA-accessible buildings and housing are available.
All meals and housing on-site are provided at no cost to registrants. Van shuttles will provide free transit from Gunnison to the conference and to conference field trips. Some childcare funds are also available. A limited number of travel awards are available. Please complete the registration form to apply for travel/childcare funds.
Schedule and Format
This workshop will be held on Wednesday, August 28 & Thursday, August 29, with days before and after allotted for travel (and dinner on the evening of Tuesday, August 27).
More information and an agenda are below! Overnight accommodation provided in shared or private cabins; access to showers, internet, computer laboratory, and miles of hiking/biking trails in the Gunnison National Forest.
Travel support potentially available; please see registration form.
We encourage participants to consider staying in the area for an extra day or the weekend following the workshop. We will provide some additional information in the form of self-guided tour directions for folks who are interested in seeing other aspen sites farther afield, including a) some of the most extensive, aspen-dominated landscapes in Colorado just west of Keber pass, and b) influences of recent historical management on aspen on the Rainbow Lake road west of Gunnison (each of these ca. 2 hours from Gothic, with options for hiking, fishing, and other recreation as well as interesting aspen ecology/management).
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Please join Zoom discussions to meet attendees and organizers prior to the workshop, and to discuss key, recommended readings on aspen science and on co-stewardship.
Links to be sent to all registrants -- please contact organizers if you are awaiting a link/calendar invitation.
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Tuesday, August 27
Shuttles to conference venue throughout day; please be in contact with meeting organizers if necessary.
6pm - Dinner
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Wednesday, August 28
8am - Breakfast
9am - Opening Ceremony with Introductions from Conference Organizers
10am - Introduction to Workshop Themes: Co-Stewardship for Biodiversity, Fire, and Genetics
11am - Panel Discussion on Co-Stewardship
12pm - Lunch followed by Afternoon Break
2pm - Theme I: Co-Stewardship for Biodiversity
3pm - Theme II: Fire
4:30pm - Theme III: Genetics
5:00pm - Optional Hike around Gothic Townsite
6:00pm - Dinner
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Wednesday, August 28
8am - Breakfast
9am - Opening Ceremony with Introductions from Conference Organizers
10am - Introduction to Workshop Themes: Co-Stewardship for Biodiversity, Fire, and Genetics
11am - Panel Discussion on Co-Stewardship
12pm - Lunch followed by Afternoon Break
2pm - Theme I: Co-Stewardship for Biodiversity
3pm - Theme II: Fire
4:30pm - Theme III: Genetics
5:00pm - Optional Hike around Gothic Townsite
6:00pm - Dinner
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1) Potential collaborative development of white paper or synthesis publication
2) Sharing of presentations with the public and key stakeholder groups
3) Access to network of participants for future relationship-building
4) Optional participation in USFS-sponsored research on challenges/opportunities around co-stewardship
Participation
The meeting will be open to 60 people. We are anticipating ⅓ of the participants to be from state/federal agencies with some private land owners, ⅓ to be from tribes, and ⅓ to be researchers and their students. — with representation across the United States, Canada, and Mexico.
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A pre-conference remote event to familiarize participants with each other and to provide shared conceptual foundations for discussions at the conference.
A single-track conference in a secluded forest location at the Rocky Mountain Biological Laboratory, to enable participants to focus on the meeting topic without needing to negotiate travel/food logistics, and to support informal conversations in non-formal settings (e.g. morning walks, dinner conversations).
Professional facilitation of the overall meeting. This facilitation will ensure that all participants’ voices are heard and that none dominates, and that tribal participants will be treated respectfully.
Support for participants, including a $300 travel stipend, covered food/lodging at the conference itself, administrative support from Western Colorado University to handle travel bookings and reimbursements, and logistical support from Western Colorado University to handle van transport to and from conference events.
Provision of four $500 honoraria to select tribal leaders to ensure that their voices are represented and respected at the conference.
Provision of a ~$1000 childcare fund to support participants who may need to or want to bring their child to the conference.
A comprehensive recruitment plan, including outreach through the well-known Western Aspen Alliance (Rogers), as well as through long standing personal relationships with tribes via Trees Water & People (Calabaza).
A conference structure that de-centers the expert-audience dynamic in favor of breakout sessions, and listening sessions where sharing and questioning are encouraged.
A conference structure that includes a day of field visits to locally relevant aspen forests, enabling participants to engage more deeply with concepts:
Sustaining relationships between forests and people
Promoting forest resilience in an age of rapid climate change
Fire dynamics
Drought and heat impacts
Genetic perspectives
Development and early communication of a code of conduct and response policy in order to set high expectations, in order to set a positive tone for the meeting that makes prospective registrants feel safe (e.g. around respectful communication, harassment, etc.) .
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Can I attend remotely? No, we are prioritizing a fully in-person meeting to maximize the value of interpersonal interactions. Materials will be shared after the meeting; please feel free to register to receive workshop updates.
Can I attend for just a day? We are prioritizing attendees who are able to attend the entire meeting.
Can I bring my student/collaborator? Because of our goal of building new relationships, we are prioritizing inviting a single person from each organization/location. Materials will be shared after the meeting; please feel free to have them register to receive workshop updates.
Can I bring my partner/child? We will have a limited amount of childcare funding on hand. If your partner’s attendance would enable you to have childcare, please let us know. Otherwise, due to the limited space available on-site, we ask that any partners find alternate accommodation in Crested Butte (15-20 minute drive from the venue).
Can I bring my dog? Unfortunately no dogs are allowed at the Rocky Mountain Biological Laboratory.
Can I bring my mountain bike / fishing rod / etc.? Yes. There are extensive outdoor recreation opportunities within walking distance of the conference venue.
I need an accommodation to be able to attend. Please let us know what you need in the registration form.
What will the weather be like? Expect daytime high temperatures around 70-80°F (21 - 26 °C) and nighttime temperatures around 35-40 °F (2-4 °C). Thunderstorms may occur. The venue is at a high elevation (9500’ / 2900 m), with peaks 14000’ (4200 m) and higher nearby.
What will the accommodation be like? Rustic cabins with outhouses. There is a shower house on site. All meals will be freshly cooked and served at professional dining hall on-site.
What do I need to bring? Please bring a sleeping bag or other bedding, a towel, and toiletries. Cabins have mattresses only, and there is hot water in the shower house.
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Benjamin Wong Blonder, Assistant Professor of Environmental Science, University of California Berkeley
Jonathan Coop, Professor of Environment & Sustainability and Biology, Western Colorado University
Gloria Edwards, Director, Southern Rockies Fire Science Network
Paul Rogers, Utah State University
James Calabaza, Indigenous Lands Program Director, Trees Water & People
Michael Martinez, Indigenous Lands Field & Outreach Manager, Trees Water & People
Serra Hoagland, Pueblo of Laguna member and Acting National Program Lead Tribal Research, US Forest Service
Jeff Martin, Research Social Scientist, US Forest Service Pacific Southwest Research Station
Roxanne Cruz-de Hoyos (Roxy Cruz), National Science Foundation and Ford Foundation, Postdoctoral Research Fellow, University of California Berkeley
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Regina Lopez-Whiteskunk (Ute Mountain Ute Tribe and Montezuma Land Conservancy)
Briget Eastep (Director, Western Colorado University Center for Public Lands)
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Treat others with respect and care, recognizing cultural differences that may exist
Respect the rules of the host venue
Do not share materials presented by others without their consent
Be accountable to others by identifying when anyone in the meeting, including the organizers, do not meet these expectations, and then work collaboratively to find solutions
Understand that unacceptable conduct at the workshop includes harassment (including sexual harassment), bullying, discrimination, abuse, or disruption of others’ participation.
Understand that a potential consequence of such conduct is immediate removal from the meeting by the organizers.
