Alpine Ecology &Conservation - The Colorado Rockies Project
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At the heart of Southern Rockies stand the San Juan Mountains of southern Colorado – one of the wildest, highest, largest, and most diverse alpine ecosystems in North America. Join us for two weeks this summer to explore alpine ecology and conservation among their summits. In this high-elevation wilderness setting we have the opportunity to learn directly from the mountains, through field observations and ecological research projects on flora, fauna, biogeography, geology, climate, and landscape evolution – and the interrelationships that, together, give rise to the alpine ecosystem.
Through our field studies and discussions, as well as meetings with researchers and conservation practitioners, we will also come to understand historic and current human impacts that are being felt even in this remote setting, especially the effects of climate change. Already isolated on the rooftop of their world, alpine species like the Pika have nowhere left to go as the Earth warms. Finally, we will consider land management and conservation strategies, and how human communities might come to live sustainably with this mountain realm.
THE PROJECT
Our travels will begin and end in the historic mining town of Silverton, Colorado. Our orientation here will feature opportunities to learn from researchers and conservationists working in the area, and a look at the human footprint in the upper Animas valley. From here we will cross the Continental Divide as we backpack into the high country of Colorado’s largest wilderness area, the Weminuche, where we will carry out our field studies. In the backcountry, we will alternate between days on the trail and stays at base camps, from which we will conduct observations and hands-on research projects. Our focus will be on learning through direct observation, gaining familiarity with a variety of field sampling and survey techniques, becoming skilled with plant- and animal- identification, and tying it all together through personal reflection and group discussion.
Full information available on request.
PROJECT LEADER
JONATHAN COOP is a Colorado-based ecologist whose current research focuses on the ecology and conservation of bristlecone pine in the Southern Rockies. He has taught Wildlands Studies programs in Utah and Patagonia, Chile.