The 10th Biennial Natural History of the Gila Symposium artists, and in 2024 serves as a gathering for researchers, land managers, conservationists, educators to trade insights and ideas received from the Gila Region, encompassing the watersheds and adjacent areas in southwestern New Mexico, southeastern Arizona, and northern Mexico. This year's Symposium holds significance as it kicks off the opening of the Gila Centennial, commemorating 100 years of the wilderness idea in the United States. The Symposium will present previously undiscovered facets of the Gila's history, and make contributions to the comprehension of its legacy.
Scheduled to take place February 28 to March 1 at Western New Mexico University’s Global Resource Center, this free event is open to the public, either online through Zoom or in person. The symposium aims to enrich the ongoing scientific discourse of the Gila region by bringing together researchers, educators, community leaders, and natural history enthusiasts to engage in discourse and share information. The three-day event will feature a range of activities, including a photography exhibit, panel discussions, creative presentations, field trips, workshops, and potentially a cameo appearance from Aldo Leopold. Topics will include restoration, conservation, entomology, archaeology, herpetology, sustainable ecosystem management, indigenous perspectives, and more. Keynote speakers include Chiricahua Apache leader Joe Saenz and Executive Director, and co-founder of the Continental Divide Trail Coalition Teresa Ana Martinez.
Please visit the symposium website for real-time updates, speaker bios, and detailed schedule information.