Photo by NWF's Judith Kohler

Like all Coloradans, staffers in the National Wildlife Federation’s Rocky Mountain Regional Center in Boulder have anxiously watched as wildfires have erupted north and south of us. It feels like being under siege and not knowing where the next attack will spring up. The High Park fire in the foothills northwest of Fort Collins has burned more than 87,000 acres, destroyed nearly 260 homes and killed one person. A new, quick-moving fire to the south in Colorado Springs has scorched 6,200 acres and forced tens of thousands out of their homes in the city and at the Air Force Academy.

Smoky Skies

We learned of the latest threat looking out the windows of our third-floor Boulder office Tuesday afternoon. Smoke was surging from behind the Flatirons, a line of craggy mountains on Boulder’s western edge. The plume of smoke quickly swelled to fill the sky over southwestern Boulder. The one-acre blaze, likely ignited by lightning, exploded to more than 200 acres.

A coworker had taken off earlier to check on her family, dogs and house after hearing about the fire. We learned later that her home was in a big chunk of southwest Boulder that remained on pre-evacuation notice Wednesday. The blaze is one ridge away from sweeping down into a heavily populated area.

We could smell the burning trees and grass from miles away. I started feeling it in my throat. Several of us started getting headaches. The National Center for Atmospheric Research that’s tucked in below the Flatirons was evacuated. NCAR’s work includes studying climate.

Climate Change Adding Fuel to Wildfires

As NWF’s Dr. Amanda Staudt blogged recently, climate is a big part of the story. The same day the Boulder fire started, 30 miles down the road Denver tied an all-time record by hitting 100-plus degrees five days in a row. It was 105 in Denver, only the fourth time in recorded history the city has reached that mark. The other times were just the day before; in 2005; and way back in 1878.

The record-breaking heat follows one of the area’s warmest, driest springs on record. Denver had its driest March in 124 years. The Natural Resources Conservation Service says this year’s Colorado’s snowpack is the lowest since 2002, when drought-driven wildfires included the Hayman fire, still the state’s largest. In some river basins, the report says ”this year became the new minimum on record.”

Lives Changed

Those are the numbers. They don’t begin to tell the biggest part of the story – the sorrow for the people displaced, their losses, those who’ve died. In March, a wildfire in the foothills southwest of Denver killed three people. The wildfires are also posing major threats to our region’s wildlife, as NWF’s Doug Inkley detailed last week. Photos of a deer hurtling through a fence to flee the flames and wildlife officers carrying a tranquilized moose that had run into town are wrenching.

There’s concern about the lingering effects of the slurry used to stop the flames. The chemicals have been blamed for fish kills. And understanding that fire is a natural part of the environment in the West doesn’t make it easier to see forested hillsides morph into barren, charred slopes or lose access to your favorite hiking trails.

After three decades in Colorado, this doesn’t feel normal to me. But then, the weather really hasn’t been “normal” for a while. As climate change and its effects keep playing out, the scary part is that this might be the new normal.

Take Action

We can avoid the worst impacts of global warming – but only if we start cutting our carbon pollution now. Tell the Environmental Protection Agency you support limits on carbon pollution from coal-fired power plants >>

Related Links

• More about Global Warming, Wildfires and Wildlife
• 5 Ways Wildfires Threaten Western Wildlife
• Connecting the Dots: How Climate Change is Fueling Western Wildfires
• Whitewater-Baldy, Extreme Fire and Wildlife in the West

In each location, delegates will brainstorm project ideas that address regional issues and ultimately engage more young people in the outdoors by removing barriers to participation. They will vote on the top ideas in each region and receive funding and training from the Outdoor Foundation to carry out these projects.

Outdoor Nation launched in June 2010 in New York’s Central Park when 500 young adults representing all 50 states gathered in what became the largest and most diverse summit to connect youth to the outdoors. The event sparked a youth-led movement that is empowering the Millennial generation to reconnect, redefine and rediscover America as an Outdoor Nation.

“After reading Richard Louv’s book, Nature Deficit Disorder, lots of people became concerned about how America’s youth was losing its connection to nature, but most of the focus was put on creating programs for toddlers, tikes and teeny-boppers—naturally leading us to think, “Hey, what about us!?”, said Stefanie Michaelson, an Outdoor Nation Youth Ambassador from Salt Lake City, Utah. “When we got together in New York and saw the commitment and passion of so many of our peers from across the country, we agreed that we wanted to lead this revolution on our own terms, for ourselves and the generations to follow.”

The delegates also resolved to take Outdoor Nation into the community by laying the groundwork for Outdoor Nation to host 1,300 youth leaders through the 2011 Outdoor Nation Summer Summits. There is an open selection process with a brief online application that can be accessed through OutdoorNation.org. Delegates must be between 18 and 28 years of age and must provide their own transportation to and from the Summit. Outdoor Nation will make arrangements for and cover the costs of food and lodging during the event.

Outdoor Nation named America’s State Parks its national partner and top cause for 2011. Faced with deep budget cuts and unprecedented park closures, America’s state parks have been identified by the Outdoor Nation community of ‘Outsiders’ as its top advocacy issue because of their unmatched importance in America’s outdoor recreation. America’s State Parks, with more than 7,000 sites and a record 740 Million visits in 2010, were founded more than a century ago to provide close-to-home access to nature for all citizens. In addition to record visitation, America’s State Parks hit significant milestones in 2010 related to both number of protected acres and economic contribution, which topped $23 billion.

“This summer we will bring Outdoor Nation into the states and communities to address the real issues that are keeping people inside, “ said Lindsay Bourgoine, Lead Outdoor Nation Ambassador. “Our community of Outsiders will actively champion important causes like America’s State Parks – engaging new communities and inspiring new leadership across all 50 states.”

Outdoor Nation wouldn’t have the appeal that it does with the Millennial generation if it was all work and no play. Tied to every Summit is a Summer Fun Day celebration held in a nearby park to highlight the incredible range of outdoor recreation opportunities—from kayaking to rock climbing to a family fun area—that are available to us close to home. These events are open to the community and are expected to attract thousands of local residents.

Click here to view the embedded video.

Outdoor Nation is an initiative of The Outdoor Foundation and was founded with initial support from The North Face, Recreational Boating and Fishing Foundation, REI Foundation, The Conservation Fund and the National Park Service.

The Outdoor Foundation is a not-for-profit organization dedicated to inspiring and growing future generations of outdoor enthusiasts. Through groundbreaking research, action oriented convening and outreach and education programs, the Foundation works with partners to mobilize a major cultural shift that leads all Americans to the great outdoors. In 2010, the Foundation launched Outdoor Nation, a pioneering initiative that aims to empower youth to champion the outdoors on campuses and in communities across the United States.

For more information visit: http://www.outdoorfoundation.org and http://www.outdoornation.org.

I believe that we have little time to act to protect the nature of tomorrow. In the book I have attempted to cover the latest science behind the fast-approaching threats and to make the case for wildlife, to offer practical solutions, and to suggest actions we can all follow.

To help get the essential message of the book out to an even wider audience, I will be speaking in the cities below. I hope you will come to a presentation and share your views on the important steps we must take together to preserve life on earth and safeguard wildlife for future generations.

In order to help protect our natural resources further I’m donating all author proceeds to National Wildlife Federation, which is inspiring Americans to protect wildlife for our children’s future.

I look forward to seeing you soon.

Book Tour Schedule

COPENHAGEN, DENMARK

Saturday, December 12 2009 @ 5 pm
UNITED NATIONS CLIMATE CHANGE CONFERENCE
Bella Centre
http://en.cop15.dk/

YELLOWSTONE NATIONAL PARK

Sunday, January 7, 2010
Mammoth Hot Springs, Wyoming
Grand Opening of Climate Change Interpretive Facility: “For Future Generations: Yellowstone Gifts”
http://www.yellowstonenationalparklodges.com/press-releases-217_2883.html

DENVER, CO

Wednesday, February 3, 2010 @ 7:30 pm
TATTERED COVER COLFAX AVENUE
2526 East Colfax Avenue
http://www.tatteredcover.com/

Thursday, February 4, 2010
DENVER MUSEUM OF NATURE AND SCIENCE
http://www.dmns.org/main/en/

ST. LOUIS, MO

Monday, February 8, 2010
MISSOURI BOTANICAL GARDEN
http://www.mobot.org/

WASHINGTON, DC

Tuesday, February 23 2010
GARDEN CLUB OF AMERICA
http://www.gcamerica.org/