The Daily - February 20, 2020 - 10

The Pulse
H E A D L I N E S

National Parks in Peril
Climate change is threatening one of our country's most precious resources. By Emma Athena
SOME OF THE PLANET'S RAREST

and most fragile ecosystems are
contained in national parks. As
global warming continues to
irrevocably manipulate environments worldwide, these pockets
of conserved land are particularly
vulnerable. In the U.S., national
parks face a $12 billion deferred
maintenance backlog, according to
Estee Murdock, executive director
of the Rocky Mountain Conservancy. At the "National Parks in Peril"
panel held on Day 2 at The RANGER Station, Murdock moderated a
panel that mulled this backlog and
other issues like partisan politics,
which impact national parks as
climate change worsens.
"Parks have a unique role in both
telling the story of climate change
and also being the places that are experiencing change the fastest," said
Mark Wenzler, senior VP of conservation programs at the National
Parks Conservation Association. He
advocated for legislation. "We need
a bill," he said. "Adapting to climate
change is going to be the most ex-

pensive problem [national parks] are
going to have to face.... I don't see a
pathway now for the parks to even
begin to address these problems."
Gary Davis, a retired National
Parks Service marine biologist, argued the importance of maintaining healthy national parks for their
impact on visitors. "People have the

CGPR GOES BIGGER

Chris Goddard and her communications brand, CGPR, have been a
constant presence at the Show since 1993, when she shifted from
high-profile PR work in Washington, D.C., New York, and London
to the burgeoning outdoor space. CGPR oversees PR for brands
including Adidas Outdoor, Nite Ize, and LifeStraw. She has helped
major players like Gore and Filson grow and worked with Outdoor
Retailer through its move to Denver. Goddard announced at the
Show that one of the largest independently owned PR firms in the
U.S., French/West/Vaughan (FWV), would be acquiring CGPR.
"We are honored to be joining FWV, an agency with impeccable
credentials in our industry," said Goddard, who will continue to
lead CGPR. "Rick [French] has built a remarkable company that
shares many of the passions and commitments that we do. With
this union, we're now part of a full service agency that provides
multifaceted services that are defining the world of public relations today." -Doug Schnitzspahn

/ OUTDOOR + SNOW SHOW 2020

PREPPING THE
WORKFORCE

At the Show, Outdoor Industry Association announced a
partnership on a continuing
education initiative that will
help the industry continue to
assert its position as one of
the most important economic
forces in the U.S. by bringing
more bright minds into the
fold. From established entrepreneurs in other industries to
social media influencers looking to expand-anyone who
wants to move into the outdoor space can take part. The
new Outdoor Industry Business
Certificate (OIBC) program
(outdoorindustry.org/OIBC/)
is a self-paced, online program
offering certificates from the
University of Colorado at Boulder, Utah State University, and
Western Colorado University
that focus on unique and important issues: environmental
policy, sustainability in product
design and supply chain, and
responsible business.
"As the outdoor industry
continues to grow and career
paths in the industry continue
to gain visibility, there is an
increasing need for workforce
development and innovative
professional education opportunities tailored to this sector,"
said Kristen Freaney, director of the emerging leaders
program at OIA. These certificates are a great opportunity
to provide practical education
to people already working in
the industry, while increasing
the accessibility of outdoor
industry careers for those who
are looking to get their foot in
the door." -D.S.

F R O M L E F T: A N D R E W KO R N Y L A K , CO U R T E SY O I A

National parks
like Grand
Canyon are at
the mercy of
climate change.

opportunity to have transformative
experiences that make them want
to do more things that give us hope
for the future," he said.
The panelists agreed that captivating and scientifically sound storytelling is a key component in engaging
the public on climate solutions. "As
a culture, we're emotionally driven,"
said artist and conservationist Jenny
Nichols. In working with climate
change and national parks as a
subject matter, she uses photos and
films to "help translate concepts into
digestible form."
Aaron Mike, native lands coordinator for the Access Fund, spoke
to the success of the widespread,
interdisciplinary campaign to
protect Bears Ears. Between
2016 and 2018, tribes, scientists,
athletes, and creatives rallied together to share the land's meaning
and value through stories. Mike
advocated bringing more native
people into conversations about
climate change. "There are people
on the ground who see the effects
of climate change literally with
their [own] eyes," he said. "A lot of
these people tend to be the original
stewards of these lands."

http://www.outdoorindustry.org/OIBC/

The Daily - February 20, 2020

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