VIDEOS & WEBINARS

PEER and other organizations, like PPAN, have expressed serious concerns about the failure of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to protect people and the environment from the dangers of pesticides. This webinar will provide insider perspectives on the ongoing failures of the EPA to “protect scientists from political interference and ensure they can think, research, and speak freely to provide valuable information and insights to the American people.” This webinar will also highlight why now is the time to push for immediate changes in the EPA's pesticide programs and why we must also seek protections at the state and local levels because federal protections are not adequate. Presenter Bio Tim Whitehouse, Executive Director, PEER Tim has more than 25 years of experience working on a wide range of environmental issues with governments, businesses, nonprofit organizations, and community groups. His interest is in the intersection of science, policy, and the civil service. He believes in protecting employees who raise concerns about their workplace and in exposing undue influence on government for private gain. Previously, Tim was a senior attorney at the EPA and was head of the Law and Policy Program at the North American Commission for Environmental Cooperation in Montreal, Canada. He has worked as a consultant for companies on environmental compliance issues, and with nonprofit organizations focusing on clean energy issues. Most recently, he was executive director of Chesapeake Physicians for Social Responsibility, a health advocacy group working to address climate change, toxics pollution, and nuclear disarmament issues. He holds a JD and BA from Emory University and an MA from New York University.

An engaging and informative look at garden care, maintenance, and ecosystem impacts for Fall and Winter seasons with an emphasis on cultivating healthy pollinator habitat in Colorado.

Past research demonstrates that social influence and other social-psychological perceptions motivate pro-environmental behavior. This is increasingly important as we observe the dramatic loss of native species and biodiversity. To help address this biodiversity crisis, conservation organizations can try to help motivated residents plant native habitat around their homes and encourage other people in their social networks to do the same. Individual conservation behaviors (like native plant gardening) may have different barriers and motivations from relational organizing behaviors (like encouraging others to garden), and it is important to understand both to increase the efficiency and effectiveness of environmental movements. A team of CSU researchers set out to understand the drivers of these two types of behaviors in a multi-year study in collaboration with the City of Fort Collins Nature in the City and Audubon Rockies. In this PPAN webinar series presentation, Veronica Champine synthesizes the lessons learned from this applied research to inform future pollinator conservation initiatives. (Thumbnail photo by Elizabeth Tamagni)

One of the best ways to support native pollinators is to provide a variety of pollinator-safe native plants and a succession of blooms throughout the growing season. During this webinar, a panel of experts will discuss the best sources for regionally appropriate plants and pesticide-free plants and seeds, ideas for plants that will enhance habitat, ways to expand habitat in your community, garden design ideas, and best practices, and gardening tips.

On May 27, 2022, Governor Jared Polis, signed the Native Pollinating Insects Study bill (SB22-199) into law —a vital step toward developing a coordinated statewide approach to pollinator conservation and establishing a framework to create healthier and more diverse habitat to support Colorado's essential native pollinating insects.

Conventional chemical pesticides have been widely used since the mid-1900s, and their full effects on the environment continue to come into greater focus. Birds are one of the hardest-hit taxa from the widespread overuse of chemical pesticides, —particularly from pesticide coatings on seeds—and their fate is closely tied to that of insects and people. Join us for a look back at past pesticide regulations, current effects of conventional pesticides on birds, and what we can do to secure a safer and less-toxic future for birds, insects, and humans. This webinar is in partnership with the American Bird Conservancy and Rocky Mountain Wild in recognition of Colorado Endangered Species Week—a week dedicated to providing educational events and advocacy opportunities to protect the plant and animal species that are at-risk here in Colorado. Speaker Bio Hardy Kern is the Director of Government Relations for American Bird Conservancy’s Pesticides and Bird Campaign. His portfolio includes a wide range of toxics issues, including agricultural pesticides, rodenticides, and lead. Hardy received a B.S. in Zoology from The Ohio State University and worked as a zookeeper for 10 years before receiving a Master of Public Administration degree from Kent State University. He began working at ABC in January of 2022.

Native bees are Colorado’s most vulnerable pollinators, given their exceptional diversity, complex natural histories, and a lack of data on their current and historic distributions. However, increasingly, scientists are engaging the public in efforts to expand our knowledge of wild bee distributions and those communities are searching for new ways to contribute to bee conservation. In this talk, we will introduce you to the fascinating diversity of our native bees, explore why they are our most vulnerable pollinators, and discuss factors threatening native bees and how all of us can help conserve them through individual and community-driven action. Register here for this webinar! Speaker: Dr. Adrian Carper Dr. Carper is a community ecologist and has studied pollinators, their natural history, and ecology for over a decade. His current research through the Museum of Natural History focuses on the impacts of human land-use on native bee community ecology, and how natural history knowledge can help inform their conservation. In CU's Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, he focuses on butterflies, and the impacts of exotic plants on the chemical ecology of multitrophic interactions. Both avenues for research underscore why improving our understanding of biological communities is crucial to mitigate the impacts of human-induced environmental change.

PPAN staff, board, and affiliates will lead this informative webinar to discuss the new Pollinator & Human Health bill, within the larger context of our collaborative and statewide toxics reduction strategy. We will discuss our approach and share insights about our policy work and we'll highlight best practices and tools that we can all use to be effective advocates for pollinator health. Want to know how to speak to your legislators? Interested in testifying but unsure of what to say? We'll address these questions and any others you may have. And, we hope to be joined by one or more of the bill's sponsors, Senators Jaquez-Lewis and Priola and Representatives Kipp and Froelich.

Permaculture is a design science that uses nature as a model for creating resilient human systems. Join this introductory class to learn how to apply permaculture design to support pollinators, people, and the planet—in suburbia and beyond. We will use the twelve principles of permaculture to dive into techniques like rainwater harvesting, building healthy soil, forest gardening, animal management, and more, all in the context of supporting our local ecology. Presenters: Amy Scanes-Wolfe is a teacher with Boulder Permaculture. After studying cultural anthropology at Middlebury College, Amy transitioned to organic farming for five years. She then served on the board of Ecovillage Charlottesville, worked at Harlequins Gardens Sustainable Nursery, worked and volunteered with Boulder County Parks and Open Space, and founded and ran an ecological landscaping company for two years. Currently, Amy is the Community Outreach and Research Coordinator for Drylands Agroecology Research and runs a permaculture homestead in Niwot. Rachae Scala is an up-cycling 3D artist, locavore chef, social permaculturalist, homesteader, and mountain athlete. Growing up in the high desert of Reno, NV, water sanctity, food security, and art as an empowerment modality were at the forefront of her community and family values. She cultivates her lifelong mission of fostering a deeper connection to nature and all of its creatures through food, expression, and true nourishment. Rachael sees permaculture as a highly creative and practical way of looking at the world. Drawing from a diverse collective of knowledge, it is a framework for humanity to coexist harmoniously and restore our role as stewards of nature.