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Climate and Energy

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https://hdl.handle.net/10217/100287
This digital collection includes presentations given at the 8th International Wildlife Ranching Symposium held in 2014 for the symposium theme: Climate and Energy.

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Browsing Climate and Energy by Author "Belinda, Steve, moderator"

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    Balancing energy development with fish and wildlife
    (Colorado State University. Libraries, 2014-09) Belinda, Steve, speaker; Belinda, Steve, moderator; International Wildlife Ranching Symposium, producer
    Increased energy development such as oil, gas, solar, wind and geothermal are threatening public-lands hunting and fishing opportunities across the country. In the past 15 years, more than 40 million acres of the West have been leased for development. Recently, demands for renewable energy production have drastically compounded the issue by creating a "land rush" on areas available for development. Unfortunately, many locations pressured for energy development also hold some of the nation's best hunting for mule deer, elk, pronghorn and sage grouse, in addition to blue-ribbon fishing for trout. Hastily developed energy projects can dramatically affect fish and game populations, as seen in the Atlantic Rim region of Wyoming. The Theodore Roosevelt Conservation Partnership (TRCP) supports responsible energy development and has worked to ensure development proceeds in a way that sustains and conserves fish and wildlife populations and sustainable opportunities for hunting and fishing for future generations. The TRCP and our conservation partners are actively engaged in policy debates, seeking solutions for domestic energy development by participating in all levels of policy development. Here, we present policy and management solutions to balance energy development with fish and wildlife. Notably, we highlight the need for better pre-development planning and landscape-scale approaches to mitigation. By working both the local and national levels, sportsmen are able to ensure fish and wildlife are adequately managed during energy development.
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    Colorado's prairie future: oil and gas forecasts, wildlife impacts, and solutions
    (Colorado State University. Libraries, 2014-09) Kram, Megan, speaker; Pague, Chris, speaker; Belinda, Steve, moderator; International Wildlife Ranching Symposium, producer
    This project is designed to inspire conversations among oil and gas companies and government agencies about how best to achieve goals for wildlife conservation and oil and gas development across eastern Colorado's vast prairie grasslands. The Nature Conservancy (TNC) developed this project based on its "Development by Design" methodology (http://www.nature.org/ourinitiatives/urgentissues/smart-development/) and with input from a variety of external partners. The project spans all of eastern Colorado (30 million acres) and includes three components: A forecast of oil and gas development, potential risk to wildlife, and an assessment of "Available Practices for Wildlife." Project results may be used to avoid, minimize, and mitigate potential impacts to wildlife through site-specific oil and gas drilling plans, the use of best management practices, etc. Those interested in this project may include oil and gas companies; landowners; and local, state, and federal government agencies within and outside of Colorado.
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    Opportunities and challenges to energy development on a ranch in western Colorado - developing a model for conservation and mixed use
    (Colorado State University. Libraries, 2014-09) Stewart, Scott, speaker; Belinda, Steve, moderator; International Wildlife Ranching Symposium, producer
    The High Lonesome Ranch (HLR) is a privately owned ranch of 38,000 deed acres and an additional 205,000 acres of leased public land in western Colorado. In 2011 the HLR and the Theodore Roosevelt Conservation Partnership (TRCP) entered into an agreement to work together towards a model approach to how energy development can be planned and implemented at landscape level to achieve a better balance between energy and other values. Though the implementation of the TRCP's 'FACTS for Fish and Wildlife' recommendations and working with stakeholders under a process that identifies and plans for current and future needs for everyone, we believe that the conflict that exists in many other areas can be reduced or eliminated. Plans are developed and implemented for landscapes not projects or individual wells and through mitigation (Avoidance, minimization and compensation) a 'net conservation benefit' can be achieved while producing energy resources. HLR is also employing the use of conservation tools through federal and state agencies for the management of focal species (sage grouse, mule deer) and be the first ranch in Colorado to have a Candidate Conservation Agreement with Assurances for greater sage grouse that addresses all threats to the species. HLR believes it is their responsibility to manage energy and wildlife to benefit all current and future needs with a proactive approach that prevents conflict on the entire 400 square mile landscape.
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    Private landowner involvement - making a difference in energy development outcomes
    (Colorado State University. Libraries, 2014-09) Taggart, Craig, speaker; Belinda, Steve, moderator; International Wildlife Ranching Symposium, producer
    This session will showcase two examples of success landowners have had in constructively addressing energy development on private and leased public lands. These project examples illustrate tools and models that can be employed to assist in protecting the wildlife and other natural values of your lands. The first example is a demonstration project that was developed and employed by members of the Chama Peak Land Alliance in southern Colorado when faced with impending energy development. This planning tool was successful in identifying sensitive wildlife and environmental conditions from the perspective of the private landowner community, providing leverage for protection. This tool is a straight-forward model that can be widely adapted to your local conditions. The second illustrates a range of best management practices (BMPs) employed by a landowner to protect the sensitive wildlife and natural resource values that he stewards on his land. These are a collection of techniques that focus on minimizing disturbance and visibility in this state-of-the-art development that has been widely acclaimed by private landowners, as well as government and industry representatives.