Western's Huxley College Speaker Series to Host Jim Davis May 4

Contact: Western Washington University’s Huxley College of the Environment at (360) 650-3520

BELLINGHAM – Jim Davis, president of the nonprofit environmental stewardship organization American Alps, will present "The American Alps Legacy Proposal" as part of the WWU Huxley College of the Environment Speaker Series at noon on Friday, May 4 in Room 304 of the Academic Instructional Center West building on the Western campus.

The presentation is free and open to the public.

The American Alps Legacy Proposal is an initiative to complete the conservation vision for North Cascades National Park. The American Alps are a truly spectacular area, comparable to the best national parks in the world. Unfortunately, lowland old growth forests, core wildlife habitats, wild rivers and streams, rugged peaks, and popular recreation areas remain unprotected by park status.

The American Alps organization (www.americanalps.org) and partner groups evaluated lands adjacent to the park and determined that 96,000 additional hectares should be included in the Park. This presentation will profile these lands and other components of the proposal.

During the past 25 years, Davis has developed and managed several NGOs to address conservation and public health issues, including parks, wilderness, water quality, endangered species, and others.

Davis has an master’s degree in Entomology from the University of Missouri and a doctorate in Entomology from the University of California at Berkley. From 2007-2011 he was executive director of the North Cascades Conservation Council, and from 2003-2006 he was co-director of the Grizzly Bear Outreach Project. Davis has conducted studies in Skagit and Whatcom Counties to assess the knowledge and attitudes of local residents toward grizzly bear recovery; he also coordinated research at Baker Lake to quantify forest-road use and to identify the conservation knowledge and attitudes of recreational visitors to the lake.

Anyone interested in this topic is encouraged to come and participate; the presentation will include a question-and-answer period. The speaker series is held by Western's Huxley College of the Environment to bring together the environmentally minded community and other interested members of the WWU and Bellingham communities. Speakers address topics of contemporary environmental concern in the region and the world.

For more information, please contact Western’s Huxley College of the Environment at (360) 650-3520.

Western’s Huxley College of the Environment is one of the oldest environmental colleges in the nation and a recognized national leader in producing the next generation of environmental stewards. The College’s academic programs reflect a broad view of the physical, biological, social and cultural world. This innovative and interdisciplinary approach makes Huxley unique. The College has earned international recognition for the quality of its programs.