10:00am - 3:00pm (PST)

The Living Desert Zoo and Gardens is excited to host its inaugural International Desert Conservation Summit on Saturday, November 14, 2020 from 10:00am – 3:00pm.  The virtual event will be a significant gathering of experts from around the world focused on saving deserts and the animals, plants and communities that call the desert home.

The Summit features 11 speakers from 7 countries representing 9 conservation organizations.  The expert panelists will share conservation stories from the field, along with success stories, key challenges, and closer look at their important work. The summit is open to the public with the goal of welcoming everyone into the vast and fascinating world of wildlife conservation. Attendees will have the unique opportunity to interact in a live question and answer session following each presentation.

Registration has closed. If you have any questions, please contact us at IDCS@LivingDesert.org

For 50 years, The Living Desert has been dedicated to preserving and conserving the wildlife and wild places that call the desert home. Currently, The Living Desert works with 57 global conservation partners on 35 conservation projects spanning 10 countries.  Projects include efforts to protect local species like the desert bighorn sheep and desert tortoise, as well as African species including rhino, giraffe, cheetah and African wild dogs.

*All times are Pacific Daylight Time. Following each speaker will be a special Q&A session, where you will have the opportunity to interact with the conservationists.

• 10:00 am - 10:05 am || Welcome and Introductions

  Dr. James Danoff-Burg
  
  Dr. James Danoff-Burg, Director of Conservation Engagement and Learning at The Living Desert Zoo and Gardens will welcome the day's attendees, speakers, and guests. 

   

• 10:05 am || Grevy's Zebra: The Women Leading the Recovery of this Endangered Species

  Sheila Funnell
  Program Manager
  Grevy’s Zebra Trust
  Kenya

• 10:40 am || Can Community Conservation Programs Help to Build Resilience For Protected Areas: The Black Mambas, A Case Study

  Craig Spencer
  Founder and Director
  Black Mamba Anti-Poaching Unit
  South Africa

  Lewyn Maefala
  Program Manager
  Bush Babies Educational Programme
  South Africa

• 11:20 am || What is Community Benefit? Lessons Learnt from Three Decades of Engaging Communities and Development of a New More Holistic Approach.

  Dr. Greg Rasmussen
  Founder and Executive Director
  Painted Dog Research Trust
  Zimbabwe

• 11:55 am || Supporting Communities with Coexistence through Cheetah Conservation in the Western Kalahari of Botswana

  Rebecca Klein
  Founder / Director
  Cheetah Conservation Botswana
  Botswana

  Jane Horgan
  Engagement and Awareness Coordinator
  Cheetah Conservation Botswana
  Botswana

• 12:35 pm || True Tall Tales from Tanzania: Giraffe Science and Reasons for Hope in the Biodiversity and Climate Crises

  Dr. Monica Bond
  Co-Founder and Co-Director
  Wild Nature Institute
  Tanzania

• 1:10 pm || Community Engagement in the Conservation of the Peninsular Pronghorn

  Victor Sánchez
  Director
  Peninsular Pronghorn Recovery Program
  Mexico

  Aidée Sánchez
  Assistant Director
  Peninsular Pronghorn Recovery Program
  Mexico

• 1:50 pm || The joys and challenges of conducting conservation in a fishing community that hosts the Vaquita

  Claudia Cecilia Olímon
  Executive Director of Pesca ABC,
  Working Towards Sustainable Fishing to Benefit the Vaquita Porpoise
  Mexico

  The joys and challenges of conducting conservation in a fishing community that hosts the Vaquita, the world's most endangered marine mammal.

• 2:25 pm || Mojave Desert Tortoise Recovery Efforts in southern California: A Community Effort

  Vincent James
  Fish & Wildlife Biologist, Desert Tortoise Specialist
  U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
  United States

• 2:55 pm - 3:00 pm || Closing Remarks

  Allen Monroe
  President/CEO
  The Living Desert Zoo and Gardens
  United States

REGISTER TODAY

Become a founding sponsor!

Call Amy Crabb at 760-340-4954 or email ACrabb@LivingDesert.org to learn more.

FAQs

Are TLD members eligible for a discounted Summit registration fee?

There is no discounted price for members for this event. However, there is an early bird discount available to all registrants before November 3rd.

What if I’m not available during the day or time of the Summit?

A recorded version of the Summit will be available for 60 days following the event for all registered participants. In other words, if you register for the event you can still enjoy the Summit in its entirety even after the live broadcast has ended.

Can I attend a portion of the Summit?

Yes! We encourage registrants who are available for only a portion of the live event to attend for the time they are able, so you can interact with our presenters. You can catch what you missed once the recording is posted following the live event.

How do I register for the event?

To register, visit this link. Attendees who register before November 3rd will benefit from early bird pricing at $25 per registrant. Beginning November 3rd, registration fees will be $50 per registrant.

What happens after I register?

Immediately after you register, you will receive an email confirming receipt of your registration information and fees. Then, a week before the Summit you will receive a separate email with the login information. You will also receive a final email with the login information on the morning of the Summit.

Will I receive a refund if I cancel my registration?

For cancellations initiated more than two weeks prior to the Summit, a 50% refund will be issued. There is NO refund for cancellations initiated less than two weeks before the event.

What is the format of the Summit?

To inspire innovation and success in desert conservation initiatives, this Summit will showcase a collection of leading-edge desert conservation projects, emphasizing the community-based conservation aspects in each. Leaders from each of the eight projects, working in desert ecosystems around the globe, will give 20-minute presentation followed by live question and answer sessions with the audience. You can find information on presenters and their topics in this webpage.

How can I ask questions during a presentation?

Summit attendees are encouraged to ask questions of presenters! You can submit your question during each of the presentations through the Q&A feature in Zoom. Simply click ‘Q&A’ in the lower panel of your screen, then type and submit your question. Each presenter will have 10 minutes to answer live questions from audience members.

Will a recording of the Summit be available after the live version concludes?

Yes! Following the event, recorded versions of the Summit will be available to registered attendees and presenters for 60 days. The recording will be released on Monday, November 16 and will be available until January 15, 2020.

We will email you a link to access the recorded event as soon as it is posted.

What are the system requirements to join the Summit?

This live event will be hosted on Zoom, so you will need your own Zoom account to participate as an attendee. Additionally, ensure you have functioning speakers and stable internet connection. If this will be your first time to use Zoom, we suggest that you that you test the program before the day of the Summit to confirm it functions correctly. Once you have created and logged into your account, visit this link to ‘Test Zoom’ . We recommend that you register with the same email used for your Zoom account.

How do I create a Zoom Account?

There is no cost to create a Zoom account. Simply visit this link to create yours. Ensure that you are logged in before joining the live Summit.

What if my computer does not have a video camera?

No problem! Your video and audio will be disabled during the Summit – you will just be able to see and hear our presenters.

What if I can’t hear the audio?

Check to see that your speaker volume is turned up and that it is not muted. Visit the Zoom website for more information on audio troubleshooting.

What do I do if I need more help?

For general questions you have prior to the event or if you are experiencing major technical difficulties during the event, please contact us at IDCS@LivingDesert.org