In partnership with The Nature Conservancy (TNC) Colorado, our research team is working across ecological and recreational decision-making processes to help inform planning and management for Colorado’s new Fishers Peak State Park. The park is located in southern Colorado near the city of Trinidad and comprises 19,200 acres, rich with biodiversity and recreational potential. Our objective is to build an evidence base to link ecological conservation and recreational planning using the Open Standards for the Practice of Conservation (https://cmp-openstandards.org/) model as a baseline. We will conduct a literature review of the relationships among ecosystems, species, and recreation at the park which will provide scientific basis for key performance indicators that will be used to monitor long-term park management practices. This study will provide the management team of Fishers Peak State Park with tools to guide land use decisions using a scientific approach, as well as set an example for collaborative recreation and conservation planning.
The Nature Conservancy Colorado | Website
Tony Cisneros, Research Assistant|Tony Cisneros is a joint MBA and Master of Environmental Management candidate at the Yale School of Management and Yale School of the Environment. Born and raised in Colorado, Tony’s interests are focused on land conservation and management in the American West. Tony works on applied land management related to food systems and outdoor recreation. His experience includes work with the National Park Service, The Nature Conservancy Colorado, and on his own outdoor nutrition company, Mesa Foods. Tony earned a BA from Northwestern University with majors in Economics, Legal Studies, and German. See what Tony has been up to. | Blog
Grace Hilbert, Research Assistant |Grace Hilbert is a Master of Environmental Management candidate at the Yale School of the Environment. She is interested in water resources, land conservation, and community-based environmental management. Prior to Yale, Grace worked in environmental consulting, mainly on environmental remediation, corporate sustainability, and water risk assessment. She holds a BS in Earth and Environmental Sciences from the University of Michigan. In her free time, she loves to explore new places through hiking, climbing, and paddling. See what Grace has been up to. | Blog
Lauren Sadowski, Research Assistant|Lauren is a Master of Environmental Management candidate at the Yale School of the Environment specializing in Ecosystem Management & Conservation, and People, Equity & the Environment. Her past work and interests lie in human-wildlife conflict mitigation, anti-poaching, community development, and wildlife tracking and rehabilitation in southern Africa. She is interested in working at the interface of social science and ecology to develop equitable practices of community-based conservation and wildlife research in rural landscapes. Lauren holds a Bachelor of Science in Ecology, Conservation & Wildlife Biology from the University of Vermont. See what Lauren has been up to. | Blog