A thundering herd of bison, the chatter of thousands of cranes, the wide open expanse of sky held up by rolling prairie: The Great Plains are filled with fascinating scenery and biodiversity alongside wonderful opportunities for exploration and adventure.
For the first time, three annual conferences are combining into one to explore the role of nature-based tourism on the Great Plains, digging into the issue of how people can promote both conservation and local business.
Taking place April 18-20 at the Younes Conference Center in Kearney, Plains Safaris: A Conference on Tourism and Conservation in the Great Plains combines the Nebraska Tourism Commission’s annual Agri/Ecotourism Workshop and the Heartland Scenic Byways Annual Conference with the Center for Great Plains Studies’ annual symposium.
The conference explores the idea of how people can preserve this ecological legacy for future generations while building thriving rural communities. Combining tourism and conservation creates allies of sometimes-opposing groups, including business owners, landowners and environmentalists. It’s already happening in the Great Plains, as events such as the Sandhill crane migration gain popularity and efforts such as the American Prairie Reserve expand.
The conference will feature sessions for business leaders, ranchers, conservationists, academics and community leaders. It will examine local and global models of conservation and tourism, and includes speakers from southern Africa, where tourism has had success in supporting conservation and jobs.
Participants will have the option to experience ecotourism through field trips such as biking, prairie walks, prairie-dog watching and a meal at three wineries/breweries. National Geographic photographer Joel Sartore will give the keynote address.
Among the list of more than 50 speakers are:
Martha Kauffman, managing director of World Wildlife Fund’s Northern Great Plains Program
Nils Odendaal, CEO of one of Africa’s largest privately owned nature reserves, NamibRand
Dan Flores, author of “American Serengeti: The Last Big Animals of the Great Plains”
Okwa Sarefno, founder of Wild Expeditions Safaris in Botswana
Michael Forsberg, conservation photographer and co-founder of the Platte Basin Timelapse
Dipra Jha, director of global engagement for hospitality, restaurant and tourism management at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln
Reed Robinson, Sicangu/Lakota, manager of tribal relations and Indian affairs for the National Park Service’s Midwest Regional Office
Dean Jacobs, traveler, author and photographer
Sarah Sortum, ecotourism manager and operator of Calamus Outfitters in Burwell
The event is open to the public. The registration deadline is April 1. Supporting organizations include the University of Nebraska at Kearney, the College of Arts and Sciences and the Institute of Agriculture and Natural Resources. Sponsors include Bass Pro Shop and the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission.
For the schedule, registration and more information, click here or call 402-472-0602.
