The Living Desert Zoo and Gardens Hosts International Desert Conservation Summit - AZA.org

From 2 to 4 February, The Living Desert Zoo and Gardens in Palm Desert, Calif., hosted the Third Annual International Desert Conservation Summit. The event gathered experts from around the world—including South Africa, Mongolia, Mexico, Botswana, Kenya, and the United States—who are dedicated to partnering with local communities to save the plants and animals that call the desert home.

Keynote speaker Jeff Corwin, renowned conservationist, environmental journalist, and former host of Disney Channel's 'Going Wild with Jeff Corwin' emphasized the summit's significance.

"For over half a century, The Living Desert has been a pioneer in desert conservation and environmental education, thus serving as the perfect host for this groundbreaking summit," said Corwin. "It was thrilling to share the stage with an international assembly of conservation heroes, all of us fiercely driven to salvage imperiled wildlife and habitats that are unique to our planet's deserts. From Africa to Asia, to the Americas and beyond, we all gathered as one, strategically brainstorming on the incredible opportunity to salvage our collective wild treasures for the next generation!"

Activities spanned three days, starting with a film festival on Friday night that introduced the weekend's stars, the Desert Conservation Heroes.  Saturday featured a series of four panels with short presentations by three speakers in each session, followed by expanded discussions and audience questions. During lunch, The Living Desert awarded the eight Conservation Heroes a total of more than $150,000 to further their impact in saving threatened and endangered species and ecosystems. The day ended with a stirring presentation by Jeff Corwin and an opportunity for the public to interact directly with the Heroes.

Meet the Conservation Heroes and speakers of the event:

• Toby Otieno, director of impact and operations at Ewaso Lions, Kenya
• Tim Shields, founder/president of Hardshell Labs, U.S.
• Jane Horgan, engagement and awareness coordinator at Cheetah Conservation Botswana, Botswana
• Gana Wingard, founder of Mongolian Conservation Initiative, Mongolia, and curator of conservation-Mongolia at The Living Desert Zoo and Gardens, U.S.
• Enrique Sanjurjo, executive director at Pesca ABC, Mexico
• Craig Spencer, founder of Black Mamba Anti-Poaching Unit, South Africa
• Lewyn Maefala, project manager of the Bush Babies Environmental Education Program, South Africa
• Joe Zebrowski, instructor at New Mexico Highlands University, U.S., and research affiliate, Mongolian Conservation Initiative

The Summit concluded on Sunday with tours of The Living Desert Zoo and Gardens, highlighting 80+ conservation projects in 12 countries worldwide and the top-quality animal care and habitat design that characterize the Zoo and Botanical Gardens.

The event's gathering of diverse conservationists fostered innovative ideas, motivating participants to make an even more significant difference for wildlife.

"For me, the most memorable experience of the weekend was the opportunity to have so many world-leading desert conservationists in one place, at one time, and all interacting with each other as we strive to address the problems that humans pose to wildlife and wild places," said Dr. James Danoff-Burg, vice president of conservation at The Living Desert Zoo and Gardens.

The Living Desert extends its gratitude to Susan Cooper, a long-time friend and supporter of the Zoo, for her generous sponsorship of this event.

Photos Credit: © The Living Desert Zoo

Edited by Sarah Gilsoul, a writer and communications coordinator at AZA.

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