The 94th Annual Meeting of the Pacific Division of the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) will be held at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas (June 16-19, 2013). In addition to a broad array of technical programs, paper and poster presentations, and field trips, 21 symposia have been organized. One of which is the International Protected Area Exchange (IPAX) symposium (June 18), organized by the UNLV Public Lands Institute.
Working with the National Park Service’s Wilderness Stewardship Office, IPAX is a new initiative at UNLV to explore how the university can support global efforts to reduce pressures exerted on the natural environment and heritage resources. Accordingly, IPAX intersects a variety of departments and disciplines within the university. Collectively around the globe, protected areas secure irreplaceable natural, ecological, and cultural treasure. Without healthy ecosystems, sustained human health and well-being is impossible. Fundamental to all sustainable protected area management is the adoption of more participatory, inclusive, and equitable models that balance science, people, and policy. These models consider a variety of benefits and values while utilizing effective partnerships, including with the local community within and adjacent to the area and the relevant governance and policymakers.
Designed to facilitate information transfer and foster new connections, the IPAX symposium provides a forum for exchange of insights and findings related to cooperative conservation of ecosystems and cultural resources. Symposium organizers are Dr. Margaret N. Rees, Ph.D. and Dr. Allison Brody D.A. The keynote speaker will be IPAX partner Garry Oye (Chief, Wilderness Stewardship Office) with the following additional presentations:
Lynn Davis, Nevada Program Manager
Nevada Field Office,
National Parks Conservation Association
Creating Support for Tule Springs Fossil Beds National Monument: Looking Ahead to Building a Model Urban National Park Unit.
Melissa Thaw, Graduate Student
Resources Management Program,
Department of Geoscience,
University of Nevada, Las Vegas
Harmony and Dissonance: Protecting Lake Tahoe from Aquatic Invasive Species versus Development
Karen G. Harry, Ph.D., Associate Professor
Department of Anthropology,
University of Nevada, Las Vegas
Recent Research at House 47: Evaluating the Impacts of Fluctuating Lake Levels on Southern Nevada’s Archaeological Sites
Kent Turner, Chief of Resource Division (ret.)
Lake Mead National Recreation Area,
National Park Service
Jennell M. Miller, Ph.D., Program Coordinator, Public Lands Institute,
University of Nevada, Las Vegas
Integrating Science and Research Activities for Southern Nevada Public Lands: Development and Status
Tricia Dutcher, Graduate Student
School of Environmental and Public Affairs, University of Nevada, Las Vegas
The Need for Stakeholder Cooperation over Competition to Adapt to Climate Change
Carol L. Blaney, Graduate Student
Arthur Temple College of Forestry and Agriculture, Stephen F. Austin State University
Theresa G. Coble, Ph.D., Associate Professor
Arthur Temple College of Forestry and Agriculture, Stephen F. Austin State University
Elizabeth Barrie, Ph.D., Project Manager
Public Lands Institute, University of Nevada, Las Vegas
Dynamically Engaging the Public through Facilitated Dialogue
Deborah Reardon, Planner
Rivers, Trails, and Conservation Assistance Program, National Park Service
Community-Led Resource Conservation
Mauricia M.M. Baca, Executive Director
Outside Las Vegas Foundation
Paths to the Future – Community, Collaboration, and Stewardship
More information about AAAS-Pacific Division and its upcoming 94th Annual Meeting can be found at http://associations.sou.edu/aaaspd/