Calling all conservation innovators and risk-takers
On behalf of the Salazar Center for North American Conservation, CSU Author: Courtney Massey
In 2020, the planet is facing existential threats from human-induced climate change, species extinction, and rapid population growth – all of which contribute to increasing pressure on and fragmentation of rural and urban landscapes. At the same time, conservation efforts across North America that work to address these challenges are complicated and often inhibited by cultural, geographic, and political divides. In response, the Salazar Center for North American Conservation, based out of Colorado State University in Fort Collins, has created the Connectivity Challenge to support innovation in conservation and cross-boundary initiatives.
The Salazar Center is uniquely positioned to support and mobilize efforts working toward a healthier, more resilient future—and the Connectivity Challenge prize is just one of the ways it’s doing just that. With dozens of partners across research, practice, and policy – and the continued engagement and leadership of its founder, former Secretary Ken Salazar – the Center is poised to make big impacts in conservation.
Later this year, the Connectivity Challenge will award $100,000 to an interdisciplinary team working on an innovative approach to landscape conservation and connectivity in North America. The incentive prize encourages new, inventive approaches to solving big conservation challenges in North America and will support a team whose work removes barriers, catalyzes change, builds capacity, or scales impact. The Center especially encourages proposals that feature non-traditional applicants, ideas for projects that have legislative impacts, and/or teams that include policy makers. The application process for the prize has been designed to provide tangible benefits to all applicants (not just the winning team) by building a community of interest, providing expert feedback on all applications, and inviting finalists to participate in a pitch event at the Center’s annual symposium in Denver, CO in September 2020 that will provide the opportunity to present to peers and funding organizations.
Applications are open now for the Connectivity Challenge. The first step in the application process is for interested teams to register online by 5 p.m. MST March 19, 2020. For more information, and to register, visit ConnectivityChallenge.org. Additional questions can be directed to Dominique Gómez, Salazar Center Program Director, at dominique.gomez@colostate.edu.
About the Author
Courtney Massey is the Office & Administration Intern at the Salazar Center for North American Conservation and splits her time between the Center and her master’s program in Conservation Leadership at Colorado State University. The Salazar Center supports and advances the health and connectivity of natural systems and landscapes of the U.S., Canada, and Mexico — whether they be urban or rural; working or wildlands; public or private. Its efforts are rooted in the recognition that healthy natural systems bolster climate adaptation and resilience, protect biodiversity, and sustain long-term human health. Its team envisions a future where healthy, connected landscapes in North America promote a rich diversity of life; play a critical role in responding to climate change; ensure the production of clean air, water, and economic benefits for human communities; and are conserved and protected across political borders throughout the continent.