Scientific Conference on Greater Yellowstone Comes to Big Sky

The 16th Biennial Scientific Conference on the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem is coming to Big Sky, Montana, from September 3-5. This year’s gathering, according to host Yellowstone Forever, Yellowstone National Park’s official nonprofit, is looking to advance the field of conservation and spotlight recent research on Yellowstone and Grand Teton national parks, and the collaborative efforts of the Greater Yellowstone Coordinating Committee.

Since its inception in 1991, the conference has been a critical forum for interdisciplinary dialogue and sharing of science between researchers, land resource managers, conservation groups, Tribal communities, and public stakeholders. This year, it will also mark the 60th anniversary of the coordinating committee.

In 1964, this complex partnership of agencies with differing and sometimes inconsistent objectives took charge of managing Greater Yellowstone’s 15 million acres of federal lands. The U.S. Forest Service, the Bureau of Land Management, the National Park Service, and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, signed a memorandum of understanding and formed the GYCC to foster cooperation and coordination of management across the region.

The committee now includes managers from two national parks, five national forests, two national wildlife refuges, and three BLM districts and state wildlife departments across Idaho, Montana and Wyoming.

In 2022, Mountain Journal explored the committee's success and shortcomings in "Is the GYCC Part of the Solution or the Problem?"

Charissa Reid, science communications specialist for Yellowstone National Park told Mountain Journal that the main goal of this year’s conference is to focus on the collaboration between all the different agencies managing the GYE's landmass and hold discussions around sometimes difficult and complex topics.

“People are always surprised by the amount of in-depth science taking place in Yellowstone,” Reid said. “I’m expecting a lot of important conversations and sharing of worthwhile information.”

This year’s conference will include keynote speakers and multiple panel presentations on topics including growth and recreation management, improving the conservation of wildlife corridors and habitats, and wildlife movement and migration. 

In its announcement of this year’s event, YNP said “Conference participants will convey scientific findings, discuss management needs, share perspectives and propose solutions to improve future landscape-scale coordination and ensure the GYE continues to thrive over the next 60 years.”

The public is encouraged to register and attend the event. Registration closes August 31. Following the event, panel discussions will be available for viewing on YNP’s YouTube channel.

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