Audubon California Asilomar Trip Comments

I went to an Audubon California State Assembly March 19-21, 2006 for a "vacation" with my husband. The focus was on saving the Endangered Species Act. I met, Brock Evans, the head guy of the Endangered Species Coalition. He is a very impressive person who has been in the front lines working hard in Washington for over 20 years on conservation efforts with an emphasis on the ESA.

"The American people love this law," said Brock Evans of the Endangered Species Coalition, dedicated to supporting the act. "By majorities of 75 or 80 percent, they want to protect species and don't want to consciously drive them to extinction.""The Union of Concerned Scientists released a letter signed by 5,738 biologists urging the Senate to stand by the scientific principles that are crucial to species conservation. The Noah Alliance, a multi-faith alliance of religious leaders that includes Evangelical Christians, Protestants and Jewish Organizations, ask? What Would Noah Do? Hunting and angling organizations sponsor an ad on behalf of sportsmen and women urging Congress to support a strong Endangered Species Act ."

Local Goleta biologist Cris Sandoval spoke at the conference describing her work with the Snowy Plover Program at Coal Oil Point Reserve in Goleta.

Here are two slideshows from the trip up there from March 19-21. I thought the conservation efforts at the Asilomar State Park were interesting. The mix of the Pebble Beach Golf Course, boardwalk and "Environmentally Sensitive Area" signs is something I found a bit surreal. The mix of conservation and recreation are of special interest to me. Dog walking, and golf are big around Asilomar.

Conference members were invited to a party hosted by the director of the Monterey Bay Aquarium executive director Julie Packard. She is also on the board of the David and Lucile Packard Foundation which funds NCEAS' Ecosystem Based Management project.

Addressing conservaion issues locally and nationally is part of what Audubon is about. I think it is still worth trying to find answers to problems and Audubon has some very good people trying to work together with all concerned.