27th Annual Natural Areas Conference

Managing the Mosaic:

Connecting People and Natural Diversity in the 21st Century

October 16-20, 2000 - St. Louis, Missouri

Pre-conference field trips: October 13-15, 2000

Board Meeting: October 16, 2000

Membership Meeting: October 17, 2000

The Natural Areas Association, the member agencies of the Missouri Natural Areas Committee, and the Missouri Department of Conservation invite you to attend the first Natural Areas conference of the New century. It will be held in St. Louis, Missouri.

Celebrating the bicentennial anniversary of the Lewis and Clark Expedition has begun in St. Louis, and our banquet speaker, Dr. Daniel Botkin, will discuss the historical and future implications of their trip. The plenary and concurrent sessions will address different aspects of biodiversity and how humans fit into the new century of management. On Tuesday, October 17, Dr. Jerry Franklin, Professor of Ecosystem Analysis at the University of Washington in Seattle, Washington, will speak about "Bridging Science and Management." Wednesday morning, Dr. Peter Raven, Director of the Missouri Botanical Garden, will address "Opportunities and Problems of Biodiversity." Following him, Dr. William Burch, Professor at Yale University, will speak about "Finding the natural synergy between human diversity and global biodiversity."

Excellent field trips will highlight the tremendous natural diversity found in Missouri. Pre-conference and Conference trips include opportunities to tour the Missouri Mines State Historic Site, hike the Sunklands Conservation Area, and visit the Missouri Ozark Forest Ecosystem Project research center. Participants will have their choice of viewing native flora and fauna on a trip to Danville Glades and Graham Cave State Park, spelunking in Fisher and Mushroom Caves, learning about geologic features at St. Francois Mountains Natural Area, floating the Mississippi River, or a number of other opportunities.

Donations

We are actively soliciting donations. In your conference planning please budget for $185 ; we will pass on any further savings to you if possible. This registration fee will likely include three coffee breaks, two buffet lunches, a boxed lunch, one conference field trip, the banquet, entertainment, the Monday night social, and all conference materials.

Exhibitors and Vendors

We have reserved space at the Henry VIII Hotel for exhibitors and vendors. The exhibit area will be the site for many daily breaks, the silent auction, poster session, and book signings. Non-profit organizations may reserve a space for
$125 and for-profit organizations may reserve a space for $250. If you are interested in registering for a space or for more information, please contact Kate Leary at learyk@mail.conservation.state.mo.us or 573-751-4115, ext. 3183.

For more information about the conference, please contact:

Phone: (573) 751-4115 ext. 3183

e-mail: learyk@mail.conservation.state.mo.us

Hosts: Missouri Department of Conservation, Natural Areas Association

Sponsors: The Nature Conservancy, Missouri Botanical Garden, National Park Service

In Association With: Missouri Department of Natural Resources, Illinois Department of Natural Resources

Information current as of September 21, 1999.