Speaker Series: Yellowstone, Grand Teton & Everglades

Thursday, March 31

5:00 p.m. Reception

5:30 p.m. Program

Yellowstone, Grand Teton and the Everglades are three of the most extraordinary national parks in the world—and they make America’s ecosystems so incredible. What is it that makes our connection to these wild places so strong and enduring? And how are they connected to one another?

National parks support a stunningly diverse abundance of fish and wildlife, and they provide legendary scenery for visitors to explore. Yellowstone’s mountainous landscape serves as refuge for the nation’s only continuously wild herd of bison. Nearby, hundreds of pronghorn antelope participate in a rare long-distance migration from their summer range in Grand Teton. And on the east coast, Florida panthers and American alligators patrol the woodlands and coastal lowlands of the Everglades. Yet to remain healthy, wildlife need access to forests, streams, and other lands that lie outside protected park boundaries— areas that are increasingly under stress from urbanization, resource development, climate change and other harms.

Join Alan Spears for a discussion with John Adornato and Bart Melton about the remarkable wildlife, landscapes, and partnerships that it takes to connect these wild places to one another and to new visitors. Together they will share with you how NPCA is working to protect and preserve these iconic places for generations to come.

Alan Spears, Cultural Resources Director

Alan Spears uses real-life stories and a conversational style to connect with his audiences. A longtime NPCA legislative representative and resident historian, he has helped ensure that important national stories are preserved for posterity. Recent victories include the addition of five national monuments to the park system: Fort Monroe, Harriet Tubman Underground Railroad, Colonel Charles Young Buffalo Soldiers, Delaware First State, and Pullman National Monument.

Bart Melton, Northern Rockies Regional Director

Bart Melton lives among the majestic views of the Northern Rockies. Since 2006, Bart has served many roles for NPCA. He’s worked on policy issues specific to mountaintop coal mining and coal-fired power plant proposals in the Southeast. In Washington, D.C., he coordinated NPCA’s Landscape Conservation Program and managed the oil and gas campaign. Today, Bart leads NPCA’s work in the four state Northern Rockies Region including Yellowstone and Grand Teton National Parks.

John Adornato, Sun Coast Senior Regional Director

John Adornato has been a leading voice in the largest ecosystem restoration project in the world – America’s Everglades. He successfully advocated to bridge the Tamiami Trail, which for many years served as a road barrier, blocking critical freshwater flows south into Everglades National Park. John and his team in the Sun Coast Region are dedicated to advancing the south Florida and Gulf of Mexico national parks through the restoration of the Everglades, Gulf Restoration, and the protection of marine resources, coral reefs, and fisheries particularly of Florida and Biscayne Bays.

For questions or to RSVP, contact Katie Stores: 202.454.3370 kstores@npca.org