Community Corner
First-Ever International Desert Conservation Summit: Tickets
The virtual gathering organized by the Living Desert Zoo and Gardens in Palm Desert is scheduled to run from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday.
PALM DESERT, CA — Tickets are still available for Saturday's first-ever International Desert Conservation Summit, with nearly a dozen conservation experts from around the world set to take part, organizers said Tuesday.
The virtual gathering organized by the Living Desert Zoo and Gardens in Palm Desert is scheduled to run from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. A ticket costs $50, and the event is open to the public.
Eleven speakers representing 10 conservation organizations focused on deserts in seven countries are set to share their stories from the field, along with what's working, and what's not, within the global conservation scene.
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"As a leader in desert conservation efforts, The Living Desert is excited to host this inaugural event to bring some of the brightest conservation minds together," said Allen Monroe, the zoo's president and CEO. "Although we had originally planned to host this event on-grounds at The Living Desert, we are thrilled to welcome even more attendees from all over the world with its new virtual format."
Experts from the United States, Mexico, Kenya, South Africa and several other countries will discuss not just the conservation of animal populations, but plants and other crucial aspects of global desert environments.
Find out what's happening in Palm Desertfor free with the latest updates from Patch.
Tickets can be purchased until midnight on Friday.
Conservation efforts underway at the Living Desert were recently featured in the Netflix docuseries "Connected: The Hidden Science of Everything," in which host Latif Nasser travels the world to discover how everyone is connected through science and nature.
The Living Desert is part of a global conservation network that uses the Zoological Information Management System, or ZIMS, which is maintained by the nonprofit Species360, and includes more than 1,200 wildlife institutions in 100-plus countries.
Nasser and his crew filmed the spot over 2 1/2 days in the summer of 2019, featuring the zoo's breeding programs for the Mexican Gray Wolf, Arabian Oryx and Slender Horned Gazelles.
After being shuttered for nearly three months due to COVID-19, the zoo reopened in June with safety protocols aimed at reducing the spread of the coronavirus, which include mandatory face coverings, a cap on guest capacity and timed ticketing.
