The Environmental Center

Climate Change and Public Lands: Impacts and Solutions
2019-04-06 | Deschutes Brewery Public House, 1044 NW Bond St, Bend, OR, 97701, United States
The effects of climate change are visible all around us, and we know that our wilderness areas are no exception. At this conference we will explore both how climate change is affecting public lands , and how public lands can mitigate climate change. We will examine these relationships through several lenses including our forests and deserts carbon-storing potential, wildlife habitat, and Central Oregon’s unique water cycle.
Brought to by the Central Oregon Bitterbrush Broads – Great Old Broads for Wilderness.

Central Oregon Conservation Summit
2019-09-28 - 2019-09-29 | Deschutes Brewery Public House, 1044 NW Bond St, Bend, OR, 97701, United States
The Surfrider Foundation and representatives from OSU-Cascades Natural Resources Department, COCC-Outdoor Leadership, Environmental Center and Latino Outdoors are organizing the first Central Oregon Conservation Summit.
The hope of this Summit is to connect everyday citizens, conservationists, recreationalists, researchers and volunteers in Central Oregon around the biggest challenges facing our region as population and climate change amplify. We hope to highlight leading researchers, scientists, activists, activities and organizations working to dwarf climate change and other environmental challenges and connect with potential concerned citizens, recreationalists and volunteers to look for ways to collaborate. We hope for this to be an avenue to catalyze involvement in conservation by connecting people to organizations and participate in a clean-up at Sparks Lake the headwaters of the Deschutes River.
All funds generated from this event, through sponsorship, ticket sales and donations, will help fund the event and research on algae blooms throughout the region in an effort to mitigate this problem which is critical to water conservation.
Hear from amazing experts across our region, participate in fun activities, meet local non-profits making a difference in our region, all attendees will receive a one year membership to Surfrider, conference t-shirt, Surfrider bag, morning and afternoon snack, lunch and great outdoor swag from local outdoor organizations.

Open Spaces and Open Houses? The Tradeoffs in Oregon’s Land Use System
2023-06-15 08:30 - 10:30 (America/Los_Angeles) | Unitarian Universalist Fellowship, 61980 Skyline Ranch Road, Bend, OR, United States
Oregon’s land use system is 50 years old. It is both celebrated for its prevention of urban sprawl and derided for driving up housing costs. Join City Club as they welcome nationally recognized land use expert Bill Fulton, as he explores what makes Oregon’s land use system unique, and its strengths and weaknesses compared to other systems in the U.S. Is it accomplishing its goals? Have there been unintended consequences? You will then move into a discussion with local representatives from the development and conservation community and Bill, focusing on what they find successful in this system, what is frustrating, and how it could be improved.
