Fostering science-based land stewardship and conservation in the Western United States
About
The Ucross High Plains Stewardship Initiative (UHPSI) is focused on land stewardship and conservation in the American West. At its core, UHPSI seeks to engage in teaching, research and outreach on land stewardship, primarily through mentoring students on applied research and management projects with partners. UHPSI is housed at the Yale School of Forestry & Environmental Studies in New Haven, CT.
OUR TEAM
Indy Burke, PhD
Michelle Downey, MS
Sabrina Szeto, MF
Current Students
Latest news
Engaging Youth and Underserved communities in Land Management and Project Review Processes for the Bridger-Teton National Forest
We are working with the Bridger-Teton National Forest to map community networks that will facilitate the forest in engaging local Latino and youth communities in future Forest Plan Revision and project-specific efforts. The Bridger-Teton intention is to ensure that these communities’ concerns and aspirations are used to inform the decisions made by the National Forest Read more about Engaging Youth and Underserved communities in Land Management and Project Review Processes for the Bridger-Teton National Forest[…]
Communicating Vegetation Response after Fire in the Bridger-Teton National Forest
Our student research assistants partnered with Bridger-Teton National Forest (BTNF) in Wyoming to create a report and an Esri StoryMap on the stand dynamics of postfire vegetative regeneration and management implications. Wildfire serves an important ecological role in maintaining species composition and forest structure in the Bridger-Teton National Forest. Previous management practices have employed prescribed Read more about Communicating Vegetation Response after Fire in the Bridger-Teton National Forest[…]
Coordinating Online Communications for Ucross High Plains Stewardship Initiative
As the Ucross Communications Coordinator, Meghanlata has completed a number of improvement projects for the website and other Ucross communications, including updating the “current students” page and creating posts for 2019 projects. Additionally, she also writes for the Ucross blog and works with the symposium committee. Collaborator Ucross | Website Project Deliverable Final project deliverables Read more about Coordinating Online Communications for Ucross High Plains Stewardship Initiative[…]
Reconciling Landownership and Sage-Grouse Management Designation Data
This is an inter-agency project led by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the U.S. Geological Survey. Federal and State agencies frequently respond to requests for analyses of land status within the sagebrush biome, such as acres of land ownership or management designation. However, across agencies the results are inconsistent. The goal for this Read more about Reconciling Landownership and Sage-Grouse Management Designation Data[…]
Organizing and Implementing the Western Speaker Series
The Symposium Student Coordinators organize the Western Speaker Series, which connects knowledgeable conservation professionals with Yale students to learn about and discuss issues facing the American West. The coordinators work with the UHPSI staff to plan presentations and panel discussions on campus with speakers who bring valuable insight and perspectives on the past and future Read more about Organizing and Implementing the Western Speaker Series[…]
Increasing Adoption of Grasslands Avoided Conversion Carbon Projects
Climate and Forest Capital (CFC) has partnered with the Environmental Defense Fund on an NRCS Conservation Innovation Grant to research economic incentives that could increase the adoption of conservation practices on US working lands. One of the primary strategies being investigated utilizes a Climate Action Reserve protocol that measures greenhouse gas reductions resulting from the Read more about Increasing Adoption of Grasslands Avoided Conversion Carbon Projects[…]
Understanding Socio-economic Change and Implications for the Future of the Bridger-Teton National Forest
Our student research team has been working with the Bridger-Teton National Forest to help lay the framework of a new Forest Management Plan. The team has been compiling and socioeconomic data related to the shifting demographics of three very different counties in western Wyoming as well as researching academic literature in the fields of geography, Read more about Understanding Socio-economic Change and Implications for the Future of the Bridger-Teton National Forest[…]
Estimating Utah Prairie Dog Survival Using Camera-trap Data
One of our research assistants is working with the Utah Bureau of Land Management to analyze trends in plague-induced prairie dog mortality. The Utah prairie dog (Cynomys parvidens) is currently listed as threatened under the Endangered Species Act. Alongside habitat destruction, sylvatic plague is a major cause of their population decline. By monitoring various colonies Read more about Estimating Utah Prairie Dog Survival Using Camera-trap Data[…]
Conservation Planning for Sheridan County, WY
Our research assistant team worked in partnership with the Sheridan Community Land Trust to develop a conservation planning mapping tool to guide future private land conservation efforts. They incorporated a variety of spatial data from public sources to help SCLT prioritize and direct its funding and outreach in cooperation with its organization’s goals to protect Read more about Conservation Planning for Sheridan County, WY[…]
How to Find Spatial Data Online — Michael Storace
GIS can feel overwhelming sometimes to the casual user, and it can even intimidate those proficient with the program. However, do not fall into despair, there are ways to make spatial data work for everyone! Despite its complexity, GIS remains an incredible tool that can portray the world in a spatially specific way. You can Read more about How to Find Spatial Data Online — Michael Storace[…]
Summer 2019 Opportunities
Western Resources Fellowship (Formerly “Western Research Fellowship”) Our Western Resources Fellowship provides fellows with a financial award, logistical assistance, and mentorship to aid with research, an internship, or applied project that will have a high impact on conservation, stewardship, or management of natural resources in the Rocky Mountain or High Plains regions. This program fosters Read more about Summer 2019 Opportunities[…]
Methods for Non-Native Trout Removal in Rocky Mountain Streams — Brendan Boepple, Franklin Eccher, Laurel Low
The reintroduction of native trout in the Mountain West is a valuable conservation tool for fisheries managers with an interest in maintaining healthy populations of threatened trout species. At the same time, the choice to reintroduce native trout involves a complex decision-making process with numerous biological, ecological, and social considerations. This process is complex, namely, Read more about Methods for Non-Native Trout Removal in Rocky Mountain Streams — Brendan Boepple, Franklin Eccher, Laurel Low[…]
Another Kind of Map – Joshua Morse
Western Resource Fellow alum Joshua Morse has published an article in Western Confluence featuring his UHPSI-funded masters thesis research. Click on the image below to read his article!
Funding the Future of Conservation: A GreenLight Ideation Session with Colorado Parks and Wildlife — Franklin Eccher
Colorado, like many western states, faces a sticky problem: its outdoor spaces are being loved to death. The problem is multi-fold, a product of the transient recreational eco-tourism industry, but also of its influx of permanent residents. Colorado’s population is projected to double from five million to ten million people from 2010 to 2050. The Read more about Funding the Future of Conservation: A GreenLight Ideation Session with Colorado Parks and Wildlife — Franklin Eccher[…]
Final Soil Dryer Prototype — Natalie Irwin
Now that my project partner, Seila De Leon, and I have finished our ten week fellowship at the Yale Center for Engineering, Innovation, and Design, I will reflect on the progress we have made and the work that still exists for us. At the end of the fellowship, we had created what is, at least Read more about Final Soil Dryer Prototype — Natalie Irwin[…]