Conservation Leadership through Learning Program

09/01/2026

🔥 Conservation leadership in action.

Last Friday, our new Master of Conservation Leadership cohort spent the day with the Big Thompson Watershed Coalition in Glen Haven, Colorado, learning firsthand what community-based conservation looks like.

Students worked alongside local partners to create wildfire defensible space for community members. Along the way, we learned about the history of flooding and wildfire in the Big Thompson watershed, how those disturbances have shaped the landscape and community, and the long-term work required to build resilience.

But some of the most important lessons weren’t just about fire or watersheds. They were about trust. Showing up, listening to community needs, building relationships, and understanding that effective conservation happens alongside the people who call a place home.

A huge thank you to the Big Thompson Watershed Coalition, the Glen Haven community, and the Glen Haven Area Volunteer Fire Department for welcoming our students, sharing your knowledge and experiences, and putting us to work!🌲🔥💧

08/31/2026

The CCC Fellows Program is now accepting applications for their 17th cohort!
---
Collaborative conservation is a practice deeply embedded in community and culture, relying on relationships, trust, and processes that lead to solutions shaped by all.

Do you have, or know of someone with, a collaborative conservation project ready to get off the ground? Cohort 17 of our CCC Fellows Program is accepting proposals through October 23, 2026.

The CCC Fellows Program provides funding, training, and a community of practice. Please consider applying if you are a student, a faculty member, or a practitioner. This is a competitive opportunity to join a community of change-makers in collaborative conservation, using our network as your support system.

For more information, including the Request for Proposals, a schedule of information sessions, a list of helpful resources, and examples of past Fellows projects, please visit their website or contact [email protected].
https://collaborativeconservation.org/join-our-fellows-program/

08/07/2026

Congratulations to CLTL alumna Talia Speaker on recently leading the first global horizon scan focused on technology for animal movement ecology!

The international collaboration brought together 38 experts from six continents to identify 28 innovations that could transform how we understand wildlife movement over the next 20 years. The research also demonstrates how these innovations can support biodiversity conservation, climate adaptation, natural disaster response, and global health priorities.

We're proud to see our alumni leading conservation innovation on the global stage. Congratulations, Talia, and to all of the collaborators, including Warner College faculty member Dr. Jennifer Solomon, on this exciting achievement!

Read more in the WILDLABS feature: https://wildlabs.net/en/article/out-today-emerging-innovations-movement-ecology-address-planetary-challenges

Our new horizon scan, published today in Proceedings of the Royal Society B, is the first of its kind for movement ecology. Working with 38 experts across six continents, we identified 28 priority innovations that could transform the field and how we understand our changing world.

07/31/2026

🦫🦫🦫Our colleagues over at Big Thompson Watershed Coalition are hosting "Living with Beavers: The Future of Our Rivers," a free pub talk and panel discussion focused on riverscape restoration, beavers, low-tech process-based restoration, and watershed resilience in Northern Colorado.

Event Details:
Date: Thursday, August 13
Time: 5:30–7:00 PM
Location: Verboten Brewing and Barrel Project, Loveland, CO
Cost: Free; RSVP encouraged
RSVP: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/1993964722160?aff=oddtdtcreator

Drought, limited water resources, wildfire, and a changing climate are putting more pressure on rivers across Colorado and the western US. As these challenges grow, restoring healthier, more resilient riverscapes is more important than ever.

Join Big Thompson Watershed Coalition for Living with Beavers: The Future of Our Rivers, a free pub talk and panel discussion at Verboten Brewing and Barrel Project in Loveland.

We’ll be joined by representatives from Big Thompson Watershed Coalition, Larimer Conservation District, the City of Loveland, and Colorado State University for a conversation about the role beavers play in healthy stream systems, how simple restoration techniques can support watershed health, and what it means to coexist with beavers in a changing landscape.

Thursday, August 13
5:30–7:00 PM
Verboten Brewing and Barrel Project | Loveland, CO

This event is free, and RSVP is encouraged.

A huge thank you to Breeze Thru Car Wash for sponsoring this event!

RSVP here: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/1993964722160?aff=oddtdtcreator

06/24/2026

🌵Congratulations to Jacob Mull on the publication of his op-ed in CalMatters, “Thousands of Joshua trees are dying as the Mojave region develops. They must be saved.”

In the piece, Jacob explores the growing threats facing one of the American West’s most iconic species. From large-scale development projects and habitat loss to worsening drought and climate change, Joshua trees are facing unprecedented challenges that could push them toward extinction within this century. As communities seek solutions for renewable energy and economic growth, Jacob makes a case for balancing development with the protection of the landscapes and species that define the Mojave Desert.

🔗 Read the full article and learn why the future of Joshua trees matters for conservation, communities, and the American Southwest.

Solar and rare earth projects are displacing Joshua trees, which bring millions of tourists and revenue to the region and support some rare species.

05/13/2026

🍄 Another student op-ed has been published, and this one shines a spotlight on an often overlooked part of our natural world.

Check out Jaida Spendelow’s article in Earth.org, “It Is Time We Give Fungi the Recognition They Deserve.” In the piece, Jaida explores the critical ecological role fungi play in sustaining ecosystems and makes the case for why fungi conservation deserves far more attention in environmental conversations and policy.

🔗 Read the full article: https://earth.org/it-is-time-we-give-fungi-the-recognition-they-deserve/

👏 Great work, Jaida!

You can support fungi conservation by joining a growing global initiative for fungi protection or adopting mycologically-inclusive language.

04/22/2026

This Earth Day, we’re excited to spotlight another student op-ed!

Check out Alanie “Ally” Rael’s op-ed in Source NM, “New Mexicans over nuclear: Demand a governor that stands for us.” In the piece, Ally calls for stronger accountability around nuclear facilities and urges that protecting communities and environments be a top priority for New Mexico’s next governor.

It’s a compelling reminder that environmental stewardship is deeply connected to public health, justice, and leadership, as well as that advocacy matters.

Read the full article: https://sourcenm.com/2026/04/22/new-mexicans-over-nuclear-demand-a-governor-that-stands-for-us/

Good work, Ally!

A native New Mexican and graduate student in conservation leadership says nuclear accountability should be top priority for next governor.

04/16/2026

Another CLTL op-ed was published! We’re excited to share Carrie Rossman’s recently published article in the Loveland Reporter-Herald, “A winning solution for kids and pollinators.”

In the piece, Carrie explores the intersection of youth mental health and the decline of pollinator habitats while offering a hopeful, community-driven solution. By engaging young people in creating pollinator gardens, she highlights how connection to nature can support both ecological health and personal well-being.

Great work, Carrie!
Article (subscription needed): https://www.reporterherald.com/2026/04/15/carrie-rossman-a-winning-solution-for-kids-and-pollinators-guest-opinion/

04/15/2026

It’s that time of year again - our current cohort is diving into timely conservation issues through op-eds, and we’re excited to see the first publication of the season!

Check out Natalya Swartz’s piece, “Michiganders need to demand transparency on data centers, AI”. It’s a call for accountability at the intersection of technology and environmental stewardship.

Read the full article:

The conversation around AI has always revolved around water which is exactly why residents of the Great Lakes State should be keeping an eye on AI.

12/11/2025

🌲 CLTL Reunion & 15 Years of Impact Celebration 🎉
**CLTL alumni, please fill out this survey!**

The CLTL faculty and staff are exploring the possibility of hosting a two-day CLTL Reunion and 15-Year Impact Celebration in the upcoming academic year, and we’d love your input. We’re reaching out to gauge alumni interest as we shape this event. Our current vision includes a first day dedicated exclusively to CLTL alumni, featuring a social gathering and a series of alumni-focused activities. Day two would expand to include program partners, a keynote speaker, conversations about the future of the program, and collaborative sessions to strengthen a community of practice in conservation leadership. The event will be free to attend, and family members are welcome.

The CLTL faculty and staff are exploring the possibility of hosting a two-day CLTL Reunion and 15-Year Impact Celebration in the upcoming academic year, and we’d love your input. We’re reaching out to gauge alumni interest as we shape this event. Our current vision includes a first day dedicated...