The Spine of the Continent

The Spine of the Continent introduces us to one of the single most ambitious conservation efforts ever undertaken:  to create linked protected areas extending from the Yukon to Mexico, the entire length of North America.  This movement is the brainchild of Michael Soule, the founder of conservation biology and the peer of E.O. Wilson and Paul Ehrlich, who endorse his effort as necessary to protecting the continued existence of nature on our continent.  With blue-ribbon scientific foundations, the Spine is yet a grassroots, cooperative effort among conservation activists – NGOs large and small -- and regular people across the country.  The Spine of the Continent is not only about making physical connections so that nature will persist; it is about making connections between people and the land we call home.  In this fascinating presentation, Mary Ellen Hannibal takes us on a tour of her travels down the length of the Spine, sharing stories and anecdotes about the passionate, idiosyncratic people she met along the way – and the species they love.

Speaker: Mary ellen Hannibal