Back in April President Obama held a White House Conference to launch a new conservation initiative called “America’s Great Outdoors,” which brought together leaders from communities across the country that are working to protect their outdoor spaces and developing innovative ideas for improving conservation and forging stronger links between city dwellers and the natural world.

The AGO process began with a nationwide series of “listening sessions” to allow top level administration officials to hear the voices of the public up close and in-person as we share our own priorities about how to build a 21st century conservation and recreation agenda.

At the behest of Congressman Mike Thompson, one of these forums was held on the UC Davis campus on July 7; besides Representative Thompson, the panel included White House Council on Environmental Quality Chair Nancy Sutley, Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Interior Will Shafroth, and representatives of the federal Department of Agriculture and Environmental Protection Agency.

Despite unusually short notice for an event of this sort, the Mondavi Center was fully occupied by a diverse and enthusiastic crowd. After a series of brief presentations about several ongoing conservation projects in California, the microphones were opened to the public.

Subjects of conversation included the

• importance of conservation easements in protecting private lands and working landscapes;

• need to ensure full and dedicated funding of the Land and Water Conservation Fund and to strengthen the National Landscape Conservation System;

• multiple ecological and economic hazards posed by invasive species, with particular emphasis on the threats to California waterways posed by Eurasian quagga and zebra mussels.

Many speakers expressed support for the proposed Berryessa Snow Mountain National Conservation Area, a 100-mile swath of public land stretching from Lake Berryessa to Snow Mountain, which has the potential to provide a powerful model for ways to better manage our public lands in an era of climate change.

Another subject of great importance to Lake County – the ecological havoc caused by illegal marijuana cultivation on both public and private lands – didn't come up in the brief open session, but was discussed in detail at a preliminary breakfast meeting with Secretary Shafroth – who took notes.

“America’s Great Outdoors” is about better connecting people both to nature and to each other, acknowledging that the best conservation outcomes occur when people work in parrtnership to protect and restore private lands, working lands and public lands.

The Davis session was brief, but the conversation is ongoing, and we are all invited to participate. To learn more about the AGO initiative, and to submit your own ideas for consideration, visit www.doi.gov/americasgreatoutdoors/.

Victoria Brandon lives in Lower Lake.