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Conference
Registration:
Conference
Registration Form (Fill in PDF Form)
Conference
Registration Form (Word Document)
Conference
Goal:
The goal of this conference is to bring together
biodiversity experts, state and local government officials, policy-makers,
business and industry representatives, educators, conservation
practitioners, sportsmen and women, land managers, and others
concerned with natural resources in Pennsylvania to continue dialogue
on the Pennsylvania Biodiversity Conservation Plan and to discuss
the draft issues and recommendations for the Plan.
Conference
Background:
The loss of biodiversity impacts all ecosystems
and habitats in Pennsylvania and thus affects all Pennsylvanians
regardless of economic level, race, gender, age, or where they
live. Despite the importance of biodiversity to the economic vigor
of the state and the quality of life of its citizens, Pennsylvania
lacks a comprehensive strategy for biodiversity conservation.
With support from federal, state, and private funding, the Pennsylvania
Biodiversity Partnership (PBP), a public-private coalition dedicated
to building a biodiversity conservation movement in the state,
embarked in 2002 on an ambitious project to address that critical
need with the development of a statewide plan for biodiversity
conservation.
The Pennsylvania Biodiversity Conservation Plan (BCP) is a multi-phase
project with a projected completion date of late 2005. The first
phase of the plan produced Biodiversity in Pennsylvania -
Snapshot 2002. This report is a concise literature-based summary
of the present status of Pennsylvania's biodiversity, including
wildlife and their habitats, threats, laws, policies, funding
mechanisms, and educational resources relevant to biodiversity.
Building on Biodiversity in Pennsylvania, Phase 2 produced the
Blueprint for the BCP, which pinpointed gaps in our knowledge,
identified ways to fill those gaps, and provided a blueprint for
how to achieve the final plan. These documents have served as
the focus of public outreach efforts, which have occurred throughout
the planning process.
To date, this project has involved stakeholder groups throughout
Pennsylvania, including state government agencies, conservation
groups, academic institutions, sportsmen and women, business and
industry, local government, and private landowners. Thousands
of citizens throughout the state have been involved in development
of the biodiversity plan through public comment forms at diverse
venues; focus groups to discuss the plan; PBP’s 2001 conference;
presentations by PBP staff; public input forms on the PBP website;
and visits to PBP’s exhibit at various conferences, meetings,
and other public events. Through these various avenues, comments
about the biodiversity plan have been received from residents
of all counties in the state!
The goal of the 2004 Conference is to bring together biodiversity
experts, state and local government officials, policy-makers,
business and industry representatives, educators, conservation
practitioners, sportsmen and women, land managers, and others
concerned with natural resources in Pennsylvania to continue dialogue
on the Pennsylvania Biodiversity Conservation Plan and to discuss
the draft issues and recommendations for the Plan.
Conference Refund Policy:
The registration fee will be refunded entirely if cancellation
is received prior to Friday, 29 October 2004.
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