The Current Plight of the Northern Spotted Owl

with Eric Harlow, conservation scientist and former Seattle Audubon board member

Fifteen years after one of the most comprehensive and controversial conservation efforts in the history of the Endangered Species Act, the Northern Spotted Owl continues to be a lightning rod for litigation and a conservation conundrum of the highest order.

Populations of Northern Spotted Owls are still declining across their range. Despite millions of acres of forest habitat protected from logging, habitat losses continue. Other threats, such as the invasive Barred Owl, also pose significant new challenges. What happened? What is going on? What can be done? Find out at this fascinating discussion of Spotted (and now Barred) Owl science and policy--past, present, and future.

D. Eric Harlow has been working with Seattle Audubon, and the non-profit Washington Forest Law Center, on Spotted Owl conservation issues for the past six years. Although a hydrologist by training, the Spotted Owl issue has lured Eric to the field, endless policy and science meetings, the courtroom, settlement negotiations, and the recovery planning process.

Class: Wednesday, May 20, 2009, 7 - 9PM
Location: CUH*, Douglas Classroom
Cost: $20 members, $35 nonmembers
Limit: 40

Call Seattle Audubon @ 206-523-4483 to register