JACKSON HOLE CONSERVATION ALLIANCE

P.O. Box 2728

Jackson, WY 83001

(307) 733-9417

www.jhalliance.org

3/3/08

Biologist to Explore History of Wyoming Wilderness on March 13

Biologist Erik M. Molvar will offer a photographic tour of Wyoming’s wild places on March 13 in Jackson. Molvar’s talk, “Don’t Fence Me Out: Wilderness and Public Lands in Wyoming,” traces the history of the wilderness movement in Wyoming as well as some contemporary public lands issues.

The program is presented by the Wyoming Humanities Council and sponsored by the Jackson Hole Conservation Alliance. Free and open to the public, the event will be held at 7 p.m. on March 13 at the Teton County Library Auditorium, 125 Virginian Lane. For more information, contact Heather Mathews or Louise Lasley at (307) 733-9417.

Since the creation of Yellowstone National Park in 1872, Wyoming has stayed at the forefront of debate on how to balance preservation and development on the West’s vast public lands.

Molvar, a professional photographer, will present his own images as he describes key moments in the evolution of Wyoming land management policies. His talk will highlight such wilderness pioneers as Olaus and Mardy Murie, and the Wind River tribes’ historic role in creating the first tribal wilderness area on reservation land.

The presentation will conclude with a discussion of some of the areas currently under consideration for wilderness status. Molvar will also review the types of activities, including grazing, allowed in wilderness areas.

Molvar directs the Laramie-based Biodiversity Conservation Alliance. He earned wildlife biology and wildlife management degrees from the University of Montana and the University of Alaska Fairbanks.

Molvar’s presentation is offered by the Wyoming Humanities Council through its 2008 Humanities Forum. Council programs explore the human experience -- our lives, our communities, our world -- in partnership with nonprofit organizations throughout Wyoming. Emphasis is placed on fostering forums for discussion among Wyoming residents.

To inquire about scheduling a Humanities Forum presenter, call (307) 721-9246. Major funding for this program comes from the We the People initiative of the National Endowment for the Humanities.

###

The Jackson Hole Conservation Alliance is a non-profit organization dedicated to responsible land stewardship to ensure that human activities are in harmony with the area’s irreplaceable wildlife, scenic and other natural resources.