UCLA LA KRETZ CENTER FOR CALIFORNIA CONSERVATION SCIENCE
Created through a gift from UCLA alumnus and philanthropist Morton La Kretz, the Center aims to preserve California’s biodiversity and ecosystems through research, education and public outreach in a groundbreaking partnership with state and federal agencies. The La Kretz Center will work on research, educational and public outreach activities related to preserving California’s unique environments and biodiversity. We plan for it to serve as a model for integrated conservation for the world’s rapidly growing urban-wildland interfaces. It will be directed and managed as a Center of the UCLA Institute of the Environment and will work to bring a broad range of scholars and students from all divisions of UCLA together to assist in conservation science efforts in the Santa Monica Mountains and California in general, and to identify the research and educational opportunities available from outside the university. The Institute of the Environment will work closely with the Stunt Ranch UC NR and UCLA Life Sciences in planning Center activities. In an unique partnership with the National Park Service, California State Parks and Mountains Recreation and Conservation Authority, the La Kretz Center Director and staff will be housed initially in the National Park headquarters in Thousand Oaks with additional space and staff support at the UCLA Institute of the Environment facilities on campus.
The La Kretz Center represents a ground breaking initiative in meeting conservation needs in a rapid and synergistic manner. Meeting today’s environmental challenges requires real-time management and in partnership with National Parks, State Parks and the Mountains Recreation and Conservation Authority, UCLA scientists and students will be in the field, working directly with conservation managers. The La Kretz Center will offer real-time conservation science to managing resources in the Santa Monica Mountains and the adjacent region. Aside from conservation science goals, the La Kretz Center will develop undergraduate and graduate educational activities in conservation. The La Kretz Center will become a visible and important component in training the next generation of conservation leaders. In addition, the Center will produce a lively program of workshops, seminars and symposia – not just for the conservation professionals and scholars, but for the general public. A key component of conservation success is an informed and engaged public. The La Kretz Center is dedicated to getting its message out to not just a global audience of scholars and professionals, but to the people of California at large. For more information see.
MEDECOS XII
Hosted by the UCLA Institute of the Environment and Sustainability, UCLA La Kretz Center and UCLA Stunt Ranch Reserve.
MEDECOS conferences bring together ecologists and resource managers from all five Mediterranean-climate regions of the world. First held in 1971 in Valdivia, Chile, and then in 1977 at Stanford, California, MEDECOS conferences are now held every 3 to 4 years at locations rotating around these regions. The very successful MEDECOS XI conference was hosted by the University of Western Australia in Perth in September 2007. MEDECOS XII promises to be special since it marks the 40th anniversary of the MEDECOS conferences.
Please save this date and make plans to attend. The conference will include topical symposia, open sessions for contributions, and a poster session. More information and a conference website will be available soon, as well as details on available scholarships to encourage student attendance. Questions on planning can be addressed to Phil Rundel: rundel@biology.ucla.edu
SCHOLARSHIPS
Applications for scholarships to attend the MEDECOS conferences in Los Angeles, California will be available soon. Please check the website for more information.