collaboration. We work together to preserve land, parks, trails, farms, ranches, forests, watersheds, and other open spaces. We have been around since 1990. This is our blog.
The Conservation Lands Network made local news because of a deal in the works in Solano County. The Solano Land Trust received a significant donation from the State Coastal Conservancy towards the purchase of Rockville Trails Estates property, which sits right next to the 800,000-acre Blue Ridge-Berryessa Natural Area. The Conservation Lands Network was used to identifiy the property's biodiversity values.
Thanks to all who brought their own water bottles and coffee mugs to the Open Space Conference on May 12! We don't know how much waste you prevented from going in the landfill, but we're sure it's a bunch.
These four mugs came home with us instead of their rightful owners. If you belong to one of these send Annie an email at annie [at] openspacecouncil [dot] org and we'll reconnect you two.
There is a lot being said about the pending closures of 70 State Parks on July 1, 2012, including the many here in the Bay Area. Ruth Colman, the Director of State Parks, was on KQED's Forum yesterday, a recording of which can be heard here:
An article ran in the SF Chronicle on May 19 which included a Q&A with State Parks Deputy Director Roy Stearns. Here is an editorial in the LA Times about how hard it is to actually close a park. Lastly here is an article in the LA Times, the comments perhaps being more interesting than the article itself.
The 330+ attendees of the Open Space Conference traveled to the Golden Gate Club in a variety of ways. About 25 people took advantage of Bike to Work Day and rode their two wheels through the Presidio. Just one part of creating a healthy Bay Area...
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The Open Space Conference was held on May 12. Learn more about it here, including photos, speakers' presentations and the very generous sponsors who lent their support.
One that we are particularly fond of here at the Open Space Council is collaboration. An example is how the thousands of people around the region who care deeply about this place and the plants and animals (bipedal and otherwise) that live here have worked together over the years in partnerships. These folks - including environmentalists, biologists, conservationalists, ranchers, farmers, restaurantuers, etc - work tirelessly to protect those green hills from concrete, save the butterflies, and build the trails.
Another example is the group of companies, organizations and agencies are partnering on a unique event on June 18: the second annual Triple Threat. It isn't your typical collaboration, but rather a group who believe in the value of interconnectedness and the many unique qualities of the Bay Area. They are contributing their expertise, their time, the goods and services, and much more. And for all of that we are very grateful.
Our heartfelt thanks goes to the current partners of the 2011 Triple Threat:
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What is the Triple Threat, you ask? It's 3 Bay Area peaks on 2 wheels in 1 day with trains and ferries carrying the riders between the peaks. Partnerships and sponsorship opportunities are still available. Contact Annie Burke at annie [at] openspacecouncil [dot] org for more information and to sign up.
We held the Open Space Conference last week as we have every spring for 12 years but for some reason it's feeling more like winter here in the Bay Area. Luckily the sun shone down on the 330+ people who filled the Golden Gate Club on May 12 to see friends, listen to experts in topics ranging from climate change to health care to young people, and get reenergized to do the work we do.
Did you attend? We want your decision to attend the Open Space Conference to be the best decision you've ever made (or something close to that). Tell us what you loved and how we can improve. Consider taking 5 minutes to complete our survey.
Do you want to see the speakers' presentations? Most of them are up on our website. Come by and check them out.
This conference is the work of many hands, hearts and brains and as such there are many people to thank. Thanks to the speakers for sharing their time and expertise. Thanks to the exhibitors for sharing their products, services, and creativity. Thanks to the volunteers, Back to Earth for the delicious food, The Presidio Trust for the gorgeous space, Craig Anderson and Duncan for the fun music, Rob Brodman for capturing the day, Ellen Toomey for her design talents, and Trumer Brauerei for their tasty beer.
And a huge, loud, and enthusiastic THANK YOU to this year's sponsors:
Ecosystem Sponsor
Watershed Sponsors
Park Sponsors
Thanks for their support of our work and the conference:
Yesterday was the 12th annual Open Space Conference. Today we are resting (and hopefully going outside).
Did you attend the conference? Will you take our survey? It's short and easy.
Thanks to local photographer Bob Gunderson we included a beautiful shot of a bobcat in our printed program. We hope that you enjoy his photographs and have a restful and healthy weekend.
The room is full, the speakers are speaking, and the sun is shining! Presentations from today's speakers are available on our website. Pictures are coming soon.