Resilience in the Face of Change: Fostering Collaborative Engagement for Sustainable Grassland Conservation

Rachel Belouin, Southern Plains Program Manager for the Bird Conservancy of the Rockies will present on community engagement, collaboration, and the work of co-learning to support rural communities to develop resilience as they endeavor to remain in the grasslands as centers for ranching and farming working lands. This presentation will share current efforts on the eastern plains of Colorado and speak to the perspectives, needs, and barriers facing landowners/producers and communities. The conversation will include the importance of stakeholder involvement, the compatible incorporation of wildlife conservation, and the possibilities that come with investing in long-term trust-based relationships.

Rachel Belouin received a bachelor’s degree in Natural Resources from the University of Massachusetts Amherst, a master’s degree in Non-Fiction Writing from Antioch University, Los Angeles, and a master’s in Natural Resource Stewardship with a concentration in grasslands and ecological restoration from Colorado State University. Rachel has experience working and living on a third-generation cattle ranch and enjoys riding her horse, hiking with her son, and a great book.

Contact Rachel Belouin at rachel.belouin@birdconservancy.org with any questions.
Registration will open mid-June.