Panel with PERC, Yellowstone National Park superintendent, notes collaboration needed for conservation solutions
By Jen Clancey STAFF WRITER
Editor’s note: Outlaw Partners produces Wildlands and is the publisher of Explore Big Sky.
In front of a large crowd at the Wildlands charity auction, under the Big Sky Events Arena tent, Brian Yablonski, CEO of Property and Environment Research Center, and Cam Sholly, Yellowstone National Park superintendent, described the sometimes unglamorous, but essential work that fundraising does for the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem.
“We’re the headwaters for some of the most amazing habitats and fisheries in America. If the wastewater systems fail in Yellowstone, they’re going to fail outside the park as well, and we’re going to fail our habitat,” Yablonski said. The duo have partnered on projects for eight years and reflected on what research and implementation can do for national parks and wild lands, in particular a recent decision to raise prices to 11 national parks for international visitors. “So our job is to connect some of these things that might seem like arcane infrastructure to the conservation story.”
The work extends beyond America’s popular national parks. Joined by Eric Ladd, CEO of Outlaw Partners, and Joe Borden, co-host of the Outlaw Beat podcast, the panel discussed where else Wildlands’ beneficiary PERC works in the region, such as on local ranches, in legislation, farms and park upkeep.
“I think PERC kind of sits in the intersection of conservation, economics and innovation, and they do a terrific job,” Sholly said. He cited how PERC has facilitated conversations with property owners around Yellowstone to manage bison migration when they leave the park.
“Everything we do in Yellowstone can affect outside of Yellowstone, and everything that happens outside of Yellowstone can, can affect what happens inside,” Sholly said. “So it’s critical we have good relationships with all three states, all five counties.”
In an interview with EBS, Katie Doyle, PERC’s conservation associate, described the relationships their innovation lab builds with landowners. Conversations with ranchers and farmers are the foundation for future virtual fencing and ways to keep wildlife habitats connected.
“It’s a lot of people that are excited about things that we’re excited about,” Doyle said. “It’s not trying to convince people by any means. It’s more, we both want the same goal, so how do we get this done?”
According to Yablonski, PERC’s research shows that there is about 625,000 miles of barbed wire posted across the West. He wondered aloud what a de-fenced West could look like.
“Think about migration, think about the movement of animals, think about avian species … this would all benefit them,” he said. It would take tremendous coordination to accomplish that vision.
“I think collaboration is the name of the game,” Doyle said. Lately Doyle and the ‘on-the-ground team’ have been meeting with stakeholders for a project to reward nearby landowners for good stewardship of their land. Meeting with the Madison Valley Ranchlands Group, the innovation lab is installing game cameras on properties and when a grizzly bear appears on camera, it triggers a payment for the landowner.
“So we are setting up a couple of those right now, and we would love to scale that up in the future if it is something that is beneficial for ranchers, producers and also the conservation world,” Doyle said.
“Something that I want to emphasize is just our collaboration. It’s so massively important in conservation and it’s also just something we really enjoy,” Doyle said.
Money raised from the charity auction dinner totaled just under $300,000 as of press time, a number that is still growing as the auction is ongoing. Funds will go toward PERC’s various departments.
Sholly, who’s served as the Yellowstone superintendent since 2018, noted toward the end of the panel that he may be stepping away from the role soon. In his eight years, the pandemic and multiple government shutdowns as well as Yellowstone’s non-human features like flooding and hydrothermal explosions are among the crazy events that Sholly managed.
“ You can have good confidence no matter what happens with me moving on, the park’s in good hands,” Sholly said. “ … It’s been, like I said, a privilege of a lifetime.”
