Ecotourism Conference Keynote Speaker Rick Ridgeway to Address Climate Change and Wildlife

Rick Ridgeway of Patagonia and Freedom to Roam Coalition will Present a Non-Profit Initiative to Protect North America’s Wildlife at This Year’s Ecotourism and Sustainable Tourism Conference in Portland, Oregon, July 28, 2010.

Rick Ridgeway, Board Chairman of Freedom to Roam

Coalition, and Vice President of Environmental Initiatives and Special Media Projects for

Patagonia, Inc., will be presenting a keynote address at this year’s Ecotourism and

Sustainable Tourism Conference (ESTC), to be held in Portland, Oregon, USA, from

September 8-10, 2010.

Mr. Ridgeway’s presentation will follow an opening speech by Mayor Sam Adamis of

Portland, Oregon, during the General Session on Thursday, September 9th, 2010 (8:00-

9:30am, Hilton Portland, Grand Ballroom I).

Mr. Ridgeway will be presenting the Freedom to Roam initiative, a broad coalition of

businesses, government agencies and environmental groups committed to the protection of

wildlife corridors and connected landscapes. Corridors are the single solution that will ensure

wildlife can move, migrate, and adapt despite the challenges of habitat fragmentation and a

changing climate. Permanent protection of wildlife corridors can only happen if there is broad

awareness and support for landscape connectivity, and the tourism industry can play a key

role in ensuring that our wildlife has the freedom to roam through this century and beyond.

From fish to high-altitude predators to migrating birds, different animals are affected in

different ways by climate change and the threats it presents to natural wildlife habitats.

According to Freedom to Roam, “for many wild animals, to roam means to survive.” This is

because hundreds of species migrate between habitats seasonally, following patterns that

have been passed from generation to generation, and for them to locate a new place to

survive and breed, freedom to roam often determines whether or not wild creatures can

adapt to change.

Rick Ridgeway, as Vice President of Environmental Initiatives and Special Media Projects,

oversees Patagonia’s environmental grant-making, internal and external environmental

education, and special multi-year environmental projects. Rick is one of the world’s foremost

mountaineers and adventurers. Along with three companions, he became the first American

to summit K2, considered the hardest mountain in the world to climb, and he has done many

other significant climbs and explorations on all of the world’s continents. Rick is well-known

for his books and essays, photographs and Emmy award-winning films. He has produced

and directed over 30 adventure shows for television. His articles have appeared in Outside,

National Geographic and many other magazines. He is the author of six books, including the

highly acclaimed Seven Summits, The Shadow of Kilimanjaro and Below Another Sky.

Organized by The International Ecotourism Society (TIES), the ESTC is North America’s

largest and only conference focusing on sustainability in the tourism industry. Registration for

the ESTC 2010 is available at: www.ecotourismconference.org/register

About the ESTC

The Ecotourism and Sustainable Tourism Conference (ESTC) is North America’s largest and

only conference focusing on sustainability in travel and tourism. A leading international

meeting place, the ESTC brings together innovative minds from across the industry to

discuss practical ideas and solutions that inspire positive changes. Hosted by Travel Portland

and Travel Oregon, the ESTC 2010 (Portland, Oregon, USA, September 8-10, 2010) will

bring together 500+ business leaders, tourism professionals and community stakeholders.

http://www.ecotourismconference.org

July 29, 2010   Posted in: EcoTourism