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National Conservation Area Symposium fosters collaboration

Conservation experts connecting at the Morley Nelson Snake River Birds of Prey National Conservation Area Symposium

The Morley Nelson Snake River Birds of Prey National Conservation Area Symposium drew 148 visitors from Boise State and the regional research community on Nov. 7-8. Attendees heard talks from conservation experts from Boise State, the Idaho Conservation Corps, the United States Geological Survey, the Idaho Army National Guard, and other land managers and environmental researchers.

The symposium was a collaboration between Boise State’s Raptor Research Center, the Idaho National Guard, the U.S. Department of the Interior Bureau of Land Management, Birds of Prey NCA Partnership and the Idaho Association of Environmental Professionals. 

“The symposium is an opportunity for researchers, natural resource managers, faculty and students to share their work and create lasting professional bonds that lead to new opportunities and collaborations,” said Julie Heath, interim director for the Raptor Research Center.

Steve Alsup, president of the Birds of Prey National Conservation Area partnership, added: “One of the goals of the symposium is to create multi-disciplinary networking and communication opportunities which can help streamline conservation efforts implemented in the National Conservation Area. The symposium provides a mechanism to identify current data gaps and facilitate collaborations across research and conservation organizations.”

Boise State students had an opportunity to show off their research both during verbal presentations and during an after-hours poster session on Nov. 7. Student researchers presented their work to local and state experts while forging important connections that will help them launch conservation careers after graduation.

The Morley Nelson Snake River Birds of Prey National Conservation Area Symposium happens once every two years. The next symposium will be in the fall of 2026. The Raptor Research Center and College of Arts and Sciences will share more information as this event draws near.

About the Raptor Research Center

The Raptor Research Center operates in the College of Arts and Sciences to support the unique Master of Science in Raptor Biology – a one-of-its-kind degree offered at Boise State. The center regularly partners with the Morley Nelson Snake River Birds of Prey National Conservation Area to conduct research on birds of prey and their habitats in Idaho.

Learn more about the Raptor Research Center and how it enables student success and innovative research on the center’s website.