The Environmental Center

How can we produce food and take action for climate and natural resources?
2021-02-11 | Deschutes Brewery Public House, 1044 NW Bond St, Bend, OR, 97701, United States
Nature-based Solutions in agriculture are a critical solution for positive change. Farmers, ranchers, and food producers are on the frontlines of climate change, and play an important role in developing and implementing solutions. Climate and biodiversity actors are increasingly seeing agriculture as a central solution set and they are engaging the agricultural community to solve our collective challenges.

When deployed properly, Nature-based Solutions can provide a triple benefit: improving the productivity and resilience of agriculture, mitigating and adapting to climate change, and enhancing nature and biodiversity.

FAO and The Nature Conservancy collaborated to explore the potential of Nature-based Solutions (NbS) in the much-needed transformation of our food systems, delivering nutrition for people while restoring nature and the climate. This collaboration has generated three reports addressing NbS in agricultural production systems: 1) A literature review on the state of the science, 2) a policy brief on the case and pathways for adoption, and 3) a finance guide for identifying and creating investable projects.

Webcast: A First Look at Oregon's River Democracy Act
2021-02-10
Senators Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley introduced the Oregon River Democracy Act of 2021 to better protect clean drinking water sources, recreational opportunities, and wildlife habitat. This historic bill proposes expanding Oregon’s network of Wild & Scenic Rivers by nearly 4,700 miles and would protect segments of numerous key rivers across the state, from the desert streams of Owyhee country to the roaring rivers of the Coast Range.

This legislation is the result of a groundbreaking grassroots nomination, multi-year vetting process, and the work of hundreds of activists and river enthusiasts cheerleading for their backyard rivers, drinking watersheds, fishing holes, hiking trails, kayak routes, and love of the wildlands and rivers of Oregon.
Join Oregon Wild and the Oregon Natural Desert Association give an overview of this incredible legislation and the historic opportunity it presents to protect our rivers as a legacy for future generations.

Ta-Nehisi Coates (with Mitchell S. Jackson): Author! Author!
2021-02-07
Ta-Nehisi Coates is a distinguished writer in residence at NYU’s Arthur L. Carter Journalism Institute. He is the author of the bestselling books The Beautiful Struggle, We Were Eight Years in Power, and Between the World and Me, which won the National Book Award in 2015. Coates is a recipient of a MacArthur Fellowship. He is also the current author of the Marvel comics The Black Panther and Captain America. MITCHELL S. JACKSON is the winner of a Whiting Award. His award-winning debut novel The Residue Years was followed by his nonfiction book Survival Math: Notes on an All-American Family.
Learn more!

Celebrating Black History Month with MOsley WOtta
2021-02-05
In recognition of Black History Month COCC is honored to welcome MOsley WOtta, Arielle Estoria, and Dr. Doug Luffborough to share stories of black triumph. Through poetry and storytelling we will celebrate the past and present triumphs of the black community while continuing our efforts to challenge oppressive systems and strive toward a more equitable future.
MOsley WOtta is a local spoken word artist and equal rights activist excited to share the power of words in advocating for the support and empowerment in black and brown lives in Central Oregon.

Green Drinks presents: “An Imperfect Advocate” Documentary Screening & Panel Discussion
2021-02-04
Alpinist Graham Zimmerman sees firsthand the effects of human-driven climate change on the world and decides that he must take action.

Join us for a screening of An Imperfect Advocate, a story about Graham Zimmerman about his path from being a singularly focused alpinist into the realm of climate advocacy. Followed with a panel discussion moderated by The Environmental Center and Graham Zimmerman.
RSVP IN ADVANCE TO RECEIVE THE LINK: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/an-imperfect-advocate-documentary-screening-panel-discussion-tickets-136892799047

Know Place - Habitat Restoration & Upper Deschutes Watershed Council
2021-02-04
Staff from the Upper Deschutes Watershed Council will give a presentation about the work done by a watershed council and the types of programs and services they provide to Central Oregon. Presenters will give a brief overview of their restoration, monitoring and education programs and also share some of the highlights and stories about specific projects completed in recent years along Whychus Creek that flows through the community of Sisters, Oregon.

Legislative Advocacy Kickoff
2021-02-04
With Zoom and virtual committees this session, making your voice heard in Salem can be easier than ever.
In this virtual Legislative Advocacy Kickoff Central Oregon Landwatch will discuss their role in state policy building, identify what to look out for this session, and outline what you can do to advocate for the protection of the region’s lands, water, wildlife, and vibrant urban communities.
RSVP online.

Bend COTA Work Events
2021-02-04, 2021-01-28, 2021-01-21
When: Thursday Aug 11, Tuesday Aug 16, Tuesday Aug 23 and Tuesday Aug 30, 5:15 to Dusk
Where: Meet at the old Ray’s parking lot, NE corner of Simpson Ave and Century Drive in Bend
Worksite: Varies
There’s only one thing better than mountain biking in Bend, OR and that’s riding in Bend, knowing that you helped build and maintain the trails you love.
Please bring a hydration pack with water and a snack.
Be sure to bring appropriate layers to accommodate whatever the weather may be.
Questions? contact@cotamtb.com
All COTA trail work events require the following safety measures:
All participants are required to have the following protective clothing and equipment:

Sturdy shoes or boots
Gloves
Eye protection with clear or light colored lens
Long pants

Due to COTA’s insurance requirements and the inherent dangers of trail work, we must implement the following policy regarding children at work events:

For anyone 14 years of age or younger, we require one parent, guardian, or responsible adult for supervision of every four kids attending any COTA trail work events.
All minors under the age of 18 must have a parent or guardian available to sign our waiver.

Anyone who arrives for a work event may be turned away if he/she cannot meet the above requirements.

Oregon Trails Funding Opportunities Webinar
2021-02-04
How do trail projects in Oregon get funded? Learn more about upcoming opportunities and recent success stories.

About this Event

Learn about grant programs and other funding opportunities for trails in Oregon as well as hear a case study for how the City of Portland and Friends of Gateway Green put a variety of funding sources together to develop a site in East Portland with a system of soft-surface and paved multi-use trails and pump track.

Tongass National Forest: Our Most Powerful Natural Climate Solution
2021-02-03
The Tongass National Forest is an incredible resource — it protects a multitude of fish and wildlife, supports the cultural heritage of Indigenous communities, and provides one of the most powerful carbon sinks in the world.
Join Sally Schlichting, Environmental Policy Analyst with the Southeast Alaska Conservation Council, on a virtual tour of this incredible landscape. This presentation will feature the fish, wildlife, and human communities that depend on the Tongass – and an exploration of how preserving it and other mature and old-growth forests is key to combating climate change.

Jelani Cobb -- The Half-Life of Freedom: Race & Justice in America Today
2021-02-02
In this virtual program, acclaimed historian and journalist Jelani Cobb will break down the complex dynamics of race and racism in America — relating the country’s history of inequality to today’s issues. Cobb will tell us why he believes the levers of justice are in our hands, and how we can move them in the direction we see fit.
About Jelani Cobb
A long-time staff writer at The New Yorker, Cobb wrote a series of articles about race, injustice, and the police; for which he received the Sidney Hillman Prize for Opinion & Analysis Journalism. He also teaches at the Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism. He is the author of Substance of Hope: Barack Obama and the Paradox of Progress and To the Break of Dawn: A Freestyle on the Hip Hop Aesthetic.
FREE and OPEN to the public, but registration is REQUIRED.(one registration per viewing device please)

The 3rd session of Building the Beloved Community
2021-01-30
All are welcome to the 3rd part of the INCO event Building the Beloved Community. A space where you can discuss Race and the issues surrounding Race in our Community with a focus on listening with your heart and love of each other.
CLICK on the link below to RSVP and receive the Zoom link

Two-Eyed Seeing: Navajo (Dine) Indigenous Astronomy & NASA Moon to Mars
2021-01-29
Live Show Webinar:
Join for an exciting session on Navajo (Dine) little known ancient astronomy! Learn how the Coyote created chaos as the Holy Beings were naming the stars. See how Navajo star knowledge is still used today, and what is the Navajo protocol for telling stories of the sky. With a focus on the skies of the Navajo winter months. Learn from Navajo traditional knowledge holders, and visit actual classrooms in the American Southwest.
Presented by: David Begay-Ph.D., Nancy Maryboy-Ph.D., Wilphina Becenti-M.Ed., Albert Brent Chase, Sarah Margoles-M.S.,M.Ed., Ashley Teren-M.Ed., Tom Tomas-M.Ed., Vikki Tomas-M.Ed., and Annette S. Lee-Ph.D.

Nature Night: A Closer Look at Microplastics
2021-01-27
The large majority of plastic pollution, which is found in oceans, rivers and streams, and on land, is comprised of tiny particles and fibers smaller than five millimeters in size. It breaks down from larger plastic debris and is even shed from our clothing. Many of these microplastics are so small that they cannot be seen without a microscope. Join Deschutes Land Trust and Dr. Susanne Brander of Oregon State University to explore the tiny world of microplastics, including how these miniscule particles are detected and their potential effects on the natural world. Dr. Brander will also offer ideas about what we can do to stem the plastic tide. This presentation is free, but you must get your ticket online.

Webcast: Canines for Conservation
2021-01-27
Join Oregon Wild and learn about the remarkable Rogue Detection Teams, rescued dogs and field researchers help scientists tackle important conservation concerns – like collecting data on endangered species through scat detection in remote locations.

How to Go Solar
2021-01-27, 2021-01-21
In these free webinars, Solar Oregon will answer your questions about how solar energy systems work, share information about incentives available, and help you take the first step to add solar to your home or business. In addition, at each workshop, you will discuss one of three special topics: solar + storage, community solar, and the Solar Within Reach incentive.

Oregon Climate Bills 2021
2021-01-27
Join for a free online presentation where you’ll get to learn about legislative opportunities in the upcoming Oregon legislative session and get a behind the scenes look at what to expect this year. Panelists will provide a broad overview of the climate related bills under consideration and details on the key bills that the environmental community is prioritizing:

100% Clean Energy for All (LC 1984)
The Oregon Energy Affordability Act (HB 2475)
Healthy Homes (HB 2842)

Overcoming water challenges in agriculture – Canadian Perspectives on #SOFA2020
2021-01-27
The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) and McGill University invite you to a special webinar on Overcoming water challenges in agriculture – Canadian Perspectives on #SOFA2020.
Intensifying water constraints threaten food security and nutrition. Thus, urgent action is needed to make water use in agriculture more sustainable and equitable. Irrigated agriculture remains by far the largest user of freshwater, but scarcity of freshwater is a growing problem owing to increasing demand and competition for freshwater resources. At the same time, rainfed agriculture is facing increasing precipitation variability driven by climate change. These trends will exacerbate disputes among water users and inequality in access to water.
Join to learn about global and Canadian approaches to overcome water challenges in agriculture!

Land and People: A Conversation with Dolores Huerta & Luis Valdez
2021-01-26
Join Peninsula Open Space Trust, Dolores Huerta Foundation, Puente and Latino Outdoors in welcoming American civil rights leader and United Farmworkers cofounder Dolores Huerta for a conversation with founder of El Teatro Campesino and renowned American playwright Luis Valdez.
In this special talk, Dolores and Luis will reflect on their long history in the Santa Clara Valley, their work in the struggles for social and environmental justice, and perspectives on relationships between history, land and people in California. The conversation will be moderated by Jose Gonzalez, Founder of Latino Outdoors.
This event is hosted as part of POST’s Wallace Stegner Lectures, featuring writers, thinkers and activists who explore important issues related to land, nature and conservation. While this talk will be provided as a free event to the community, please click here to subscribe to additional lectures.

Webinar: Why a Mega-Dairy Moratorium is Needed in Oregon
2021-01-26
Mega-dairies play a major role in driving dairy farmers off the land across the country, including in Oregon. They over-produce and flood the market with cheap milk, while externalizing their environmental and social costs, making it hard for small dairy farmers to compete. Forty years ago, Oregon was home to more than 4,000 dairies, mostly small, family-owned businesses. Now just over 200 remain.
A ‘timeout’ on new and expanding mega-dairies in Oregon is the place to start leveling the playing field.
This 2021 legislative session, alongside the Stand Up to Factory Farms coalition, Senator Michael Dembrow (D-23) and Representative Rob Nosse (D-42) are introducing legislation to enact a mega-dairy moratorium in Oregon and protect our air, water, climate, rural communities, small farmers, and animal welfare from the harms of this destructive industry.
Join FoFF for a conversation on how passing a mega-dairy moratorium in the 2021 legislative session can protect our communities from the harms of mega-dairies and learn what you can do to support this important legislation.

Equitable, Safe & Green Transportation Discussion
2021-01-26
350 Deschutes will be sending public comments to the Oregon Department of Transportation:
• Do you use public transportation but want to improve access?
• Would you like to use public transportation, bike, or carshare but don’t for whatever reason?
• How can health & safety actions improve transportation, or green mobility options like walking and biking?
Equitable, safe, and green mobility is a WIN for everyone., but how do we break down the barriers to get there? Join the discussion to have your voice heard!
Local transportation planners will share mobility options:
• Karen Swirsky: Karen Swirsky, AICP, is a Senior Planner for the City of Bend.
• Andrea Breault: Andrea Breault is the Transportation Director for Cascades East Transit.
Conversation facilitators will bring their unique knowledge, experience and perspectives to enhance our discussion:
• Greg Delgado: Advisory Board, 350Deschutes
• Jonathan Smith: Advisory Board, 350Deschutes
• Jasmine Wilder: Community Leader
Connect and find solutions to help us all get around central Oregon equitably, safely, and greenly!

Oregon's African American History
2021-01-25
Delve into the history of African Americans in Oregon, with a special emphasis on historic places, with Kim Moreland of Oregon Black Pioneers.
Kimberly Stowers Moreland, MBA, MURP, is currently owner of Moreland Resource Consulting, LLC. She has over 25 years of public sector community development, economic development, and urban planning experience. She has dedicated much of her time to volunteer service with community-based cultural and heritage nonprofit organizations. She is the vice-president of Oregon Black Pioneers (OBP) board of directors and a member of the Bosco-Milligan: Architectural Heritage Center. On behalf of the OBP, she authored Images of America: African Americans of Portland published by Arcadia Publisher.
For more information on Oregon Black Pioneers visit: https://oregonblackpioneers.org/
A link to view this program will be available beginning Monday, January 25th at 5:00 p.m.

COTA Movie Night @ HOME
2021-01-21
Over the course of six days, these women rode 132 miles of the Three Sisters Three Rivers bikepacking route in Central Oregon…
COTA Movie Night @ HOME presents Pedal Through.
Despite never having camped or ridden a bike off road, Analise Cleopatra set out on a week-long bikepacking journey of self healing and growth. Along with fellow beginner Dejuanae Toliver and professional mountain biker Brooklyn Bell, she discovered the joy of sleeping under the stars and the strength that comes with pedaling through.
Produced by Aly Nicklas and presented by REI.

Statewide Right to Repair Legislation Town Hall
2021-01-21
You buy stuff. It breaks or doesn’t work right. You could throw it away and buy new stuff, but you’d rather repair it. But then you find out you can’t do it yourself, you can’t even bring it to a third party repair shop. You have to bring it back to the original company, which can charge an arm and a leg because there’s no competition—and sometimes they just won’t fix it. And you decide to throw the thing away.

Join State Representative Janeen Sollman, State Senator Jeff Golden and others to hear about what Oregon lawmakers are doing to reduce e-waste, cut climate pollution, and close the digital divide by passing Right to Repair legislation and making it easier for Oregonians to fix their stuff. Right to Repair would give every consumer and small business access to the parts, tools and service information they need to repair products so we can keep things in use and reduce waste.

The event will also be live streamed on OSPIRG’s Facebook page.

RSVP for Zoom info: https://ospirg.webaction.org/p/salsa/event/common/public/?event_KEY=1025

Community conversation on goal setting
2021-01-21
With the new year upon us and anticipation swirling about the changes 2021 could bring, this is a great time to discuss goal-setting. How can you, your family and kids set SMART goals that will inspire confidence? How can taking on challenges and celebrating achievements benefit our young people?

Join Camp Fire Central Oregon for a community conversation about the practice of goal-setting and its power to shape youth.

Indigenous Stewardship & Environmental Justice: A Conversation with Winona LaDuke
2021-01-21
Come listen to activist and environmentalist Winona LaDuke (White Earth Ojibwe), who will discuss Indigenous cultures and activism, climate change, land rights, and our environmental future.

The event will host a book giveaway where anyone who registers has the chance to win a copy of one of Winona LaDuke’s books!

Environmental Justice Shared Learning Space
2021-01-20
Central Oregon Womxn in Conservation is offering a focused space to help people hold themselves accountable in what is intended to be a primarily self-led learning experience around justice and equity within conservation. COWC will be convening monthly, from 6:00-7:30pm on:
Call 1: Tuesday, October 20
Call 2: Tuesday, November 17
Call 3: Tuesday, December 15
Call 4: Tuesday, January 19
Call 5: Tuesday, February 16
