Conservation on Tap Presentation Series 2022-2023

First Tuesday of Every Month, November – April, 7:00 p.m.

NOTE:  The April 4 presentation will be at Tangled Hickory in Viroqua

November 1, 2022, Jason Freund, “Climate Change, Flooding, and Stream Manipulation In the Driftless Area” – Jason will talk a bit about what we have seen from climate change in the Driftless Area and about flood events, particularly the damage from the August 2018 flood event. He’ll also discuss our native plant communities, the history of human disturbances, and how we can reconnect streams and their floodplains to minimize the effects of flooding.  Link to video

December 6, 2022, Peter Allen, “Becoming Keystone: Reintegrate to Regenerate” – Indigenous cultures worldwide have embraced their role as keystone species, creating healthy ecosystems as the basis for their sustenance and livelihoods. In our times, it is critical that we remember how to take responsibility for our role as keystone, reintegrating into Nature to restore biologically diverse, ecologically functional, and agriculturally productive ecosystems. Becoming keystone requires both engaging in specific activities that impact the land and an entire paradigm shift on how we think about and understand ourselves and our relations.

January 31, 2023, RESCHEDULED! Nancy Wedwick and Bob Micheel plan to offer background information on watershed councils, their work in particular and also that in collaboration with their sister watershed councils, within the context of the historical legacy of conservation leadership in the Coon Creek Watershed.  Link to video

February 7, 2023, Teri Allendorf, “Community Conservation:  From Wisconsin to the World” – Teri Allendorf will describe Community Conservation‘s projects around the world with local communities to protect biodiversity, including endangered species such as yellow-tailed woolly monkeys in Peru, orangutans in Malaysia, chimpanzees in Cameroon, and tigers in Nepal, among many others.  Link to video

March 7, 2023, David Bruce and Erik Hagen, “Agroforestry and Perennial Cropping Systems: Catalyzing widespread adoption through Demonstration, Research and Education” – Through research, demonstration, and education, we at the Savanna Institute work to create a community of practice and help farmers and landowners learn about and adopt the practices into their current farming practices. With the USDA’s new Climate Smart program, we have several exciting new projects in the works. And you’ll be especially interested to hear about what we are doing here in Vernon County, as well as at our cluster of demonstration farms in the Spring Green area. 

April 4, 2023, Craig Thompson, “From Catbirds to Cuckoos – The Importance of North America’s Driftless Area for Global Bird Conservation” – The Driftless Area harbors the largest expanse of forest between the Ozarks and Canada’s vast boreal biome. The region’s oak woodlands support an important population of migratory birds, many considered conservation priorities. The Driftless also provides critically important stopover habitat for millions of birds during spring and fall migration.  This presentation will examine features that contribute to the region’s importance for birds, provide a glimpse into ongoing bird conservation efforts, and highlight actions Driftless residents can take to lend our feathered friends a helping hand.

For additional information, please call Valley Stewardship Network at 608-637-3615 or email info@valleystewardshipnetwork.org.

Annual Meeting – January 17, 2023, 7:00 pm

To be held at The Historic Fortney, 100 N. Main St., Viroqua

This year we are returning to an in-person Annual Meeting but are including a Zoom portion as well so we can include people who may not want to make the trip.  As an enticement for those who do choose to join us in-person, we are offering tasty appetizers and drinks. Join us Tuesday, January 17, at 7:00 pm, at The Historic Fortney, 100 N. Main St., Viroqua.  We’ll share our successes from 2022 and talk about our plans for 2023!

The doors open for socializing at 6:30 pm.  The presentation starts at 7:30 pm.  

Please email us at info@valleystewardshipnetwork.org or call 608-637-3615 to register for event and/or ask for Zoom link.