BLM CA Biologists Make Impact at Natural Communities Conference

By Philip Oviatt, Central California Public Affairs Officer 

BLM CA biologists from the Bakersfield Field Office and the Central Coast Field Office made impactful presentations on March 30 at this year’s Natural Communities Conference put on by the San Joaquin Chapter of The Wildlife Society. The conference is an annual venue for both industry biologists, contractors and agency biologists to exchange information and keep up to date on cutting-edge research in the San Joaquin Valley.  

Participants exchanged information, shared ideas, results and the progress of their work in research, management, regulation, and conservation activities for natural communities and biota in the San Joaquin Valley Chapter area.  

During the conference, presentations focused on various wildlife species studies and recovery efforts. This year’s conference had twenty-six oral presentations and five posters were presented to the attendees.  

BLM Bakersfield Field Office Supervisory Wildlife Biologist Sarah Bullock presented a poster titled, "Importance of Bureau of Land Management for Temblor Legless Lizard and Other Special Status Species Studies." The poster’s content focused on the importance of cooperative working relationships on BLM-managed lands to conserve special-status species. It spotlighted the Temblor Legless Lizard studies across their theorized range. 

"Attending the Natural Communities Conference is a great opportunity to learn about what the research community is working on,” Bullock said. "The exposure to new methods for conservation and opportunities to meet and discuss projects with partners enables valuable collaboration on management strategies." 

Acting BLM California State Ecologist and Central Coast Wildlife Biologist Michael Westphal also gave a presentation titled, "The San Joaquin Restoration and Resilience Project." The presentation focused on working in partnerships to conduct habitat restoration on up to 100,000 acres, reinstatement of giant kangaroo rats and blunt-nosed leopard lizards to restoration sites and research into species decline factors. 

"I have attended the Natural Communities Conference to present talks on BLM restoration and research projects revolving around the San Joaquin Desert and San Joaquin Valley threatened and endangered species since 2010,” Westphal said. “The conference has provided a valuable outlet for reporting the results of BLM-funded research and for promoting BLM's conservation priorities, including land acquisition, restoration, research and public outreach." 

In addition to Bullock and Westphal, several BLM Biologists and Natural Resource Specialists attended the conference to engage with participants and promote BLM’s multiple use mission and other conservation efforts occurring on public lands. Those attending were Bakersfield Field Office biologists Megan Means and Danielle Thomas as well as Bakersfield Field Office Natural Resource Specialists Dave Faires and Matt Thomas.