Dam It: Partnering with Beavers to Heal the Planet
Tuesday, January 16 | 6:30 – 8 pm | FREE | VIRTUAL
Part of the Naturalist Journeys 2024 Winter Presentation Series
No registration required.

JOIN THE WEBINAR HERE (https://us02web.zoom.us/j/89045735802)

In his book Eager: The Surprising, Secret Life of Beavers and Why They Matter, environmental journalist Ben Goldfarb reveals that our modern conception of a healthy ecosystem is wrong, distorted by the fur trade that once eliminated millions of beavers from North America’s waterways. The consequences of losing beavers were profound: ponds drained, wetlands dried up, and species from salmon to swans lost vital habitat. Today, a growing coalition of “Beaver Believers”—including scientists, farmers, and passionate citizens—recognizes that ecosystems with beavers are far healthier than those without them. From the Nevada deserts to the Scottish highlands, Believers are hard at work restoring these industrious rodents to their former haunts. In his talk, Ben will discuss the history of this world-changing species; how beavers can help us fight drought, flooding, wildfire, and climate change; and how we can coexist with this challenging but vital rodent.

About Ben Goldfarb: Ben Goldfarb is the author of Eager: The Surprising, Secret Life of Beavers and Why They Matter, winner of the PEN/E.O. Wilson Literary Science Writing Award. His work has appeared in publications including the Atlantic, Science, the New York Times, and the Washington Post. His latest book, Crossings: How Road Ecology Is Shaping the Future of Our Planet, was published by W.W. Norton & Company in September 2023. He lives in Colorado with his wife, Elise, and his dog, Kit — which is, of course, what you call a baby beaver.

About Naturalist Journeys 2024: This year’s series focuses on climate change — but not in the ways you might expect. From beavers to sheep, forestry to fires, and music to mental health, we’ll explore unconventional approaches to safeguarding our planet, our landscapes, and ourselves in this climate crisis. The series runs January through March, with a mix of virtual and in-person presentations.

In-person presentations require free tickets. In-person events will also be livestreamed on our YouTube page. No registration required for virtual events. All online events will be held via Zoom.

Naturalist Journeys is made possible by our sponsors:

Hunger Mountain Coop
802 Coffee
Onion River Outdoors
Washington Electric Co-op
GreenVest
Waite-Heindel Environmental
The Manghis’ Bread