New partnership brings UT students into Southern Utah’s unique ecosystem
By d00439719
The Andrew H. Barnum Museum of Natural History at Utah Tech recently partnered with the Washington County Habitat Conservation Plan (HCP), advancing conservation efforts in Southern Utah and helping educate our students further.
What is the HCP?
Established in 1996, the HCP created the Red Cliffs Desert Reserve to protect habitat for the threatened Mojave Desert tortoise and other sensitive species while providing a framework for responsible growth and development in Washington County. They offer a free visitor center for the community to learn about the tortoises, their habitat, and the other wildlife and plants that live there.
Utah Tech students will receive influential learning opportunities.
This collaboration follows our University’s tagline “active learning. active life.” by offering hands-on learning experiences for students. The new partnership makes it possible for students to participate in field projects, collect data, conduct research, and work with HCP staff. Through these opportunities, students can learn more about Southern Utah’s environment and participate in conservation efforts.
Dr. Geoffrey Smith, a biology professor here at Utah Tech, has been heavily involved with this collaboration since the beginning. He is very excited for students to learn about the reserve and the habitat it protects. “Getting students out into this amazing place that’s right in our backyard will be an impactful experience for them,” he shared. “As they learn, help take care of it, and work directly with the managers, they will gain valuable experience and knowledge. This is very exciting for our students!”
As students step outside of the classroom and into the desert, they have the chance to collect data and research for Washington County. This mutually beneficial relationship is what makes this such an awesome partnership! Students gain experience, and Washington County HCP gets habitat data and conservation help. Together, with this data, they can learn more about our desert environment and increase efforts to preserve it.
The partnership also creates opportunities to develop educational exhibits, public programming, and other collaborative initiatives to connect the community with the unique biodiversity and conservation efforts of the Red Cliffs Desert Reserve and Washington County.
We live in a unique environment, and it is important to conserve the beautiful plants and animals surrounding us. This cannot be done without community involvement. Community members can learn more about Southern Utah’s biodiversity and conservation efforts by visiting the Barnum Museum and the Red Cliffs Desert Reserve Discovery Center.
Utah Tech Biology and the Barnum Museum are grateful for the Washington County Habitat Conservation Plan and look forward to working together, fostering student learning, and preserving Southern Utah’s biodiversity.
Photos are from the partnership event at the Andrew H. Barnum Museum of Natural History celebrating this new collaboration.
To learn more about this partnership, visit: