Electric Avenues: Environmental Impacts of Renewable Energy Development on Desert Ecosystems

Is renewable energy sustainable? Through the lens of desert tortoise research, we will explore the role of current utility-scale energy development practices in the desert on: 

• Habitat loss, fragmentation, and degradation 

• Connectivity, dispersal, and population decline 

• Proliferation of threats to native species and habitat including invasives, wildfire, and subsidized predators 

• Restoration and climate change 

REGISTER TODAY!

Date: Thursday, March 13, 2025 

Time: 6:00 p.m.-7:30 p.m. 

Location: Instructions to access the Zoom webinar will be provided upon registration and in a reminder email the week of the event. 

Cost: 

ABF Member: $7
Non-Member: $10
Student: $5 

*Please note that as the Anza-Borrego Foundation is a non-profit organization, all program costs are used to support current and future education programs, including subsidized programs that seek to increase access to the outdoors.    

Scholarships: A limited number of scholarships are available for those with financial need. If you’d like to request a scholarship, please email [email protected] with a two–three paragraph description about why you’d like to attend this program and your need for a scholarship.   

About the Presenters:  

Kirsten Dutcher directs and implements research, education, and public outreach for the Steele/Burnand Anza-Borrego Desert Research Center and Burns Piñon Ridge Reserve. Kirsten is a biologist who has lived and worked extensively in desert communities, especially those associated with the Mojave desert tortoise (Gopherus agassizii). Her research involves identifying the spatial distribution of genetic patterns to uncover the influence of landscape on population connectivity. The primary aim of her work is to answer questions related to the risk of population decline and extinction associated with habitat disturbance in an effort to better inform management decisions. Kirsten is passionate about desert conservation. She also believes strongly in environmental and social commitment, fostering connection to the natural world, increased access to science and scientific tools, and quantitative approaches. She received her bachelor’s degree in Zoology from Oregon State University, her Master’s in Biology from California State University-Long Beach, and her doctorate in Geography from the University of Nevada-Reno. 

Cancellation Policy: 

Cancellation requests must be received at least seven days before the event if you wish to receive a credit or refund. Please note that ABF may cancel a program due to low attendance. If ABF cancels a program, we will issue a full credit or refund.