Highlighting the “Impacts of COVID-19 On The Rural West: Material Needs, Economic Recovery, Political Attitudes” Report from the Rural West Covid Project

Yale School of the Environment’s Professor Dr. Justin Farrell and his lab received National Science Foundation funding to research the impacts of Covid-19 on the rural West. The team worked rapidly and has published an initial report, “Impacts of COVID-19 On The Rural West: Material Needs, Economic Recovery, Political Attitudes”, which summarizes survey results from Read more about Highlighting the “Impacts of COVID-19 On The Rural West: Material Needs, Economic Recovery, Political Attitudes” Report from the Rural West Covid Project[…]

UHPSI Black Lives Matter Solidarity Statement and Reading List

The Ucross High Plains Stewardship Initiative stands in solidarity with the Black Lives Matter movement and all Black people and communities in the pursuit of justice and a world without police violence and all other forms of anti-Black racism. This movement is not a singular movement—it is part of a centuries-long history of Black resistance Read more about UHPSI Black Lives Matter Solidarity Statement and Reading List[…]

Op-Ed: Don’t just cheer wildland firefighters as heroes. Give them affordable healthcare — James F. Puerini and Gerald Torres

James F Puerini, masters of forestry candidate, and Professor Gerald Torres have recently published an excellent op-ed focused on wildland firefighter’s access to healthcare. Please visit the link below to read their op-ed published in the Los Angeles Times. Op-Ed: Don’t just cheer wildland firefighters as heroes. Give them affordable healthcare — James F. Puerini Read more about Op-Ed: Don’t just cheer wildland firefighters as heroes. Give them affordable healthcare — James F. Puerini and Gerald Torres[…]

Annual Report 2019 — Michelle Downey

Please find our 2019 annual report below. We are incredibly grateful for all the partnerships and collaborations that have allowed UHPSI to provide over 65 students with experiential learning opportunities during 2019. Thank you to our students, partners, and supporters! Full PDF 2019 Annual Report here.

Funding the Future of Conservation: A GreenLight Ideation Session with Colorado Parks and Wildlife — Franklin Eccher

Colorado, like many western states, faces a sticky problem: its outdoor spaces are being loved to death. The problem is multi-fold, a product of the transient recreational eco-tourism industry, but also of its influx of permanent residents. Colorado’s population is projected to double from five million to ten million people from 2010 to 2050. The Read more about Funding the Future of Conservation: A GreenLight Ideation Session with Colorado Parks and Wildlife — Franklin Eccher[…]

Western Research Fellows present at F&ES Research Day 2018

We were so excited to see several Western Research Fellows present their master’s thesis at the 34th Annual F&ES Research Day on April 20th, 2018. Research Day is an annual research conference for F&ES research Masters and Doctoral students to present original research to their peers and the public. To download the Research Day Program, Read more about Western Research Fellows present at F&ES Research Day 2018[…]

Further Reflections on RALLY! — Ben Williamson

“If you’re not at the table, you’re on the menu.” –Ethan Winter, New York Senior Program Manager for the Land Trust Alliance. Over the last weekend of October, I attended the annual Land Trust Alliance Rally in Denver. Besides soaking in the dry air I grew up in, I spent a whirlwind of a weekend, Read more about Further Reflections on RALLY! — Ben Williamson[…]

RALLY! — Jeff Conti

Anyone looking for injections of enthusiasm and creative ideas in the world of land conservation needs to head to the Land Trust Alliance annual Rally – better known as RALLY! The 2017 Rally convened at the Denver Convention Center from October 26th-28th for a weekend of workshops, presentations and connections. As someone relatively new to Read more about RALLY! — Jeff Conti[…]

Rethinking Greenhouse Construction

In our recent stakeholder meeting, a few participants spent time discussing the application of season extension practices to enhance crop production in the region. These practices enable crops to be grown for a longer period of time each year, increasing overall yields and spreading out income-generating periods. In these regions, light is often blamed for Read more about Rethinking Greenhouse Construction[…]

Farmers and Ranchers are Getting Older

UHPSI is concluding a short-term study looking at the changing demographics among farm and ranch operators across the state of Wyoming. Using agricultural records dating back to the 1920s, it has been possible to extract meaningful statistics on how these groups have changed over time. Here we show the change in the average age of Read more about Farmers and Ranchers are Getting Older[…]