We journey into the backcountry this week, with Bri Fordem, the Executive Director of The Anza Borrego Foundation. Bri talks about the park’s remarkable conservation efforts, its ecological significance, and its role as a regional asset. From acquiring diverse properties to running educational programs and supporting groundbreaking research projects, Bri sheds light on the park’s multifaceted contributions to the community. Explore the magical wonders of Anza-Borrego Desert State Park and gain insights into the challenges involved with protecting this pristine natural sanctuary. At the end of the episode, Bri talks about how you can get involved in more of the program’s ongoing education, research, and conservation efforts.   Timestamps: [1:53] Bri’s path to becoming Executive Director of the Anza-Borrego Foundation. [3:49] The Anza-Borrego committee started in 1967. [5:31] How they expanded the mission from just buying land to also running retail locations on behalf of the parks and by running youth and adult educational programs. [5:36] How the Anza-Borrego Desert serves as an asset to the region. [8:02] Symmetry between the park and the town in creating a world-class destination. [11:08] What types of properties do they acquire? [12:37] What makes the Anza-Borrego magical to Bree? [15:09] Youth programs at Anza-Borrego State Park. [18:14] The park is a living laboratory. Bri discusses some of the research support work they are doing. [19:47] The Anza-Borrego In Focus program takes local researchers to the park and gives them a platform to offer a lecture and a field tour. [21:29] How the park serves to advance the policies and the practices of landscape-level conservation. [22:42] Working with the park to create wildlife corridors. [23:19] The role of George Marston in the establishment of the Anza-Borrego Desert State Park. [25:17] What are the biggest threats to the Anza-Borrego Desert? [27:19] Bri’s excitement about bringing more programs to the park, which will in turn show people the beauty of the desert. [28:48] How people can get involved, and great news — it involves shopping!   About C-3 In its 60 years of existence, Citizens Coordinate for Century 3 (C-3) has brought together local thought leaders from planning, design, policy, academia, community development, and more to address our region’s distinctive and pressing land use challenges. In founding C-3 almost 60 years ago, architect Lloyd Ruocco’s vision was to bring together our region’s most creative minds from the arts, sciences, academia, and government to share ideas, learn new perspectives, and build fellowship around the idea of creating livable communities.   Opportunities for Advocacy and Engagement: C3sandiego.org The Anza-Borrego Foundation   Quotes: “For the last 55 years that has been one of our flagship pieces, buying up the land and transferring it to the park.” — Bri [5:06] “We’re able to live, work, and play in this county — to have the ability to recreate in its wilderness but also find spaces to live comfortably in urban environments.” — Bri [7:33] “To me, the desert is the ultimate representation of resilience and adaptation.” — Bri [13:02] “This place has been transformed into an epicenter of regional research. And we play a role in that with the park as the public arm of that work.” — Bri [19:03] “The staff of the park has been given this incredible resource, and they’re working to ensure that it continues to thrive and be a place of research for everyone.” — Bri [22:19] “The forefathers of our country had a vision of wild spaces and people and I think that as we continue to develop San Diego, I really want people to understand the foresight and the deep value of what’s been established here and that we value this place.” — Bri [24:50] “I just think everyone needs the opportunity to visit and be struck by what Anza-Borrego has to offer.” — Bri [28:05]