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Thanks to Recharge America, Minnesota State University, Mankato, the many presenters and participants for an interesting and informative event, highlighting an equitable path to transportation electrification.

Day 3, UN Committee on Human Rights highlights: the special rapporteur addressed the human rights of women and children as both victims and survivors of terrorism. Toured the UN grounds, attached a few favorite sculptures.

A favorite day, celebrating with University of Minnesota Olseth scholars. 150 amazing students since 2014. Each one is leaving a positive mark on the University, the state and their local communities.

Pic #1 Event emcee, junior Rachel Hencke.
Photo 2 Freshman - Senior scholars.
Pic #3 Graduating seniors.

Honored to have spent Saturday with Arctic explorer Will Steger at the zero carbon Steger Center which is near completion.

The center has taken 30 years to build, utilizing master trades persons who train younger generations in a skill/ craft, whether it be electricians, glass artisans, stone masons, or carpenters.

The mission of the center is to sustain Will Steger’s legacy in an innovative wilderness setting for leadership, education and training to boldly address our climate crisis.

Should you have interest in learning more, please email me at Cheryl@OlsethFamilyFoundation.org

Audua and Michael Pugh have created a healing, safe space for North Minneapolis residents who have experienced a wide variety of trauma often resulting from decades of systemic racism. They use mediation, healing sound energy, talking circle, chess and even bingo.

Calming the mind, becoming a part of a caring community aides in healing the heart and mind.

Proud to support their efforts at #offthebluecouch #rustyandthecrew

This year's WWF / Fuller Symposium explored OECMs. What is an OECM? It is an “other effective area based conservation measures” which offers an alternative to traditional protected areas.

OCEM's are a more equitable form of conservation, that can work for groups previously disenfranchised or sometimes at odds with traditional conservation, such as some Indigenous groups and local communities as well as sustainable agriculture, fisheries and forestry sectors.

The primary feature of the OECM is it must effectively contribute toward biodiversity, something currently not required of a traditional protected area such as a National Park.

OECMs will be imperative to reach the target goal of preserving 30% of the landmass and oceans by 2030.

The panel on slide two, included biologists from as far away as Fiji and Indonesia and as near as Montana.

#wwffuller

Visit to Thunder Valley, a project providing Healing, Hope and Liberation for the Oglala Sioux Tribe.

Bison soon to be restored to Badlands South Unit, thanks to the Stronghold Working Group and WWF.

Back in the field for WWF Northern Great Plains committee meeting.

Spent the day with staff of Sicangu Corporation, a Lakota Sioux venture which is changing the lives of the citizens of the Rosebud reservation.

The Hyacinth Macaw Project embodies the foundations species conservation initiative.

The project founded 30 years ago in Brazil's Pantanal has increased the birds numbers from fewer than 1500 to more than 6000. This increase was due to decades of data collection, analysis and building awareness within Brazil of the birds dire situation.
Successes include:
1. Decrease in illegal trade
2. Moved from threatened to vulnerable status
3. Knowledge of the biology of the macaws dramatically increased.
4. Knowledge of interdependent species increased.

Huge thank you to the Macaw Project scientists who climb an average of 1800 trees per year to check the breeding survival rates.

Data shows for every 100 eggs, 37 chicks will make it to the flight stage. Adults can live 30-40 years in the wild and much longer in captivity.

Thank you to WWF Brazil for supporting this effective program.

Photos taken by Cheryl Olseth, OFF Director while visiting the Brazilian Pantanal, an area larger than Belgium, Netherlands,Portugal and Switzerland combined.

WWF success story. In 1990s fewer than 1500 Hyacinth macaws lived in the wild. Implementation of specialized breeding boxes have increased the population to 6000 birds.

Hyacinth macaws are the largest parrot species, averaging over 3 feet.