His presentation will be entitled: “Wildflowers: Missing Link in Sage Land Conservation”.
Dr. Collins received his doctorate in ecology in 1993 from the University of California at Berkeley. He has an extensive background in research and teaching covering subjects from nearshore marine to alpine ecosystems throughout the West. ​Retiring to Bend in 2021, Dr. Collins began working with the East Cascade Audubon Society (ECAS) to help conserve the sage steppe ecosystem of Oregon and neighboring states, with a focus on the greater sage-grouse. He currently chairs the Sage Science Team of ECAS and represents environmental non-governmental organizations on the Coordinating Council of the SageCon Partnership.
People colonizing the high desert of central Oregon little more than a century ago would hardly recognize the same lands today. Among other changes, most of the high desert is missing its native wildflowers. New understanding of the ecological importance of wildflowers in the high desert mandates their restoration. Scientific knowledge is adequate to get started. More public awareness and political will is needed now.
We’ll be in our usual room at the Riverhouse – Deschutes South.
