Partners Present “Tails of Two Cities: Wildlife Connectivity from the Bay to LA”

Peninsula Open Space Trust, Land Trust of Santa Cruz County and National Wildlife Federation Present “Tails of Two Cities: Wildlife Connectivity from the Bay to LA” on January 19, 2023

Free webinar with California environmental leaders discussing mountain lions, bobcats and wildlife crossings

Palo Alto, Calif. – December 6, 2022 — Why did the cougar cross the road? It probably didn’t have a choice and was lucky to make it to the other side. On Thursday, January 19, at 7 p.m. Pacific Time, Peninsula Open Space Trust (POST), Land Trust of Santa Cruz County (LTSCC) and National Wildlife Federation (NWF) will host a free webinar with environmental leaders from Northern and Southern California to discuss wildlife linkages and land conservation: “Tails of Two Cities: Wildlife Connectivity from the Bay to LA.”

Panelists will discuss habitat conservation for wildlife, including mountain lions and bobcats, and wildlife linkages, including the Laurel Curve wildlife crossing under Highway 17 between San Jose and Santa Cruz and other projects to improve linkages in Coyote Valley and across the South Bay with a variety of local partners. The panel will also discuss the Wallis Annenberg Wildlife Crossing at Liberty Canyon on the 101 freeway in Central California, as well as broader efforts to support more connected wildlands across California.

Panelists for the event are:

• Beth Pratt – California Regional Executive Director, National Wildlife Federation: Beth Pratt has worked in environmental leadership roles for over 25 years in two of the country’s largest national parks, Yosemite and Yellowstone. She has given a TEDx talk about coexisting with wildlife called, “How a Lonely Cougar in Los Angeles Inspired the World,” and is featured in the new documentary, “The Cat that Changed America.”
• Marian Vernon – Wildlife Linkages Program Manager, POST: Marian works to protect and enhance connectivity for wildlife through land transactions, restoration and wildlife crossing infrastructure projects in partnerships with public agencies and other organizations.
• Sarah Newkirk – Executive Director, Land Trust of Santa Cruz County: An energetic conservation strategist with a passion for innovation, collaboration, and communication, Sarah Newkirk finds joy in bringing nature into communities by uncovering the myriad values that the land has for people. She was the first Schwartz Public Policy Fellow with the Natural Resources Defense Council and has worked as a litigator, policy advocate and researcher with a wide range of environmental NGOs in both New York and California.

Attendees must register and are encouraged to submit questions in advance at https://staging.openspacetrust.org/events/. A recording of the webinar will be available online after the event.
The event is also supported by Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District (Midpen), Santa Clara Valley Open Space Authority (SCVOSA) and Santa Clara Valley Habitat Agency (SCVHA).

Note to Media: For additional photos, please visit the event media kit. For interviews, please contact Andy Lowe at [email protected].

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About the Peninsula Open Space Trust
POST protects open space on the Peninsula and in the South Bay for the benefit of all. As a private nonprofit land trust, POST has been responsible for saving more than 80,000 acres since 1977. POST works with private landowners and public agencies to connect people and nature. Visit openspacetrust.org for more information.

About the National Wildlife Federation
National Wildlife Federation works across the country to unite Americans from all walks of life in giving wildlife a voice. We’ve been on the front lines for wildlife since 1936, fighting for the conservation values that are woven into the fabric of our nation’s collective heritage.

About Land Trust of Santa Cruz County
The mission of the Land Trust of Santa Cruz County is to protect, care for, and connect people to the extraordinary lands that make this area special. For more information, visit LandTrustSantaCruz.org.