PODCAST · sports
Connecting with Conservation
by jgassett
Do you enjoy angling, boating, hunting, recreational shooting or just getting outdoors and into the backcountry? Connecting with Conservation is the only podcast that delves into the business of conservation. We talk with state wildlife agency and industry experts about how conservation is achieved in the United States along with the tremendous impacts to local economies that driven by the recreational user. Join our hosts as they explore this often unknown or misunderstood aspect of how fish and wildlife conservation works in the U.S.
Episodes
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Season 3: Episode 22: Youth Engagement and R3 Programs with Ducks Unlimited
In this episode of Connecting with Conservation, hosts Jon Gassett and Jim Curcuruto welcome Mark Horobetz, Manager of National R3 Programs for Ducks Unlimited. Mark traces the origins of DU's youth engagement strategy from the moment research revealed a critical gap between the Greenwing program...
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Season 3: Episode 21: Teaching Hunting Across America with Eric Morris
What does it take to bring a new generation of hunters and anglers into the outdoors, especially from communities that have historically been shut out, left out, or simply never invited in? In Season 3, Episode 21 of Connecting with Conservation, co-hosts Jon Gassett of the Wildlife Management...
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Season 3: Episode 20: Managing Wildlife Across Two Thirds of a Continent
If you've ever wondered what it takes to manage wildlife and fish across two thirds of a continent, this episode has your answer. In Season 3, Episode 20 of Connecting with Conservation, co-hosts Jon Gassett of the Wildlife Management Institute and Jim Curcuruto of the Outdoor Stewards of...
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Season 3: Episode 19: Wildlife Habitat in the Intermountain West.
Water, fire, sagebrush, and the vast open landscapes of the American West are at the heart of this week's conversation. In Season 3, Episode 19 of Connecting with Conservation, co-hosts Jon Gassett of the Wildlife Management Institute and Jim Curcuruto of the Outdoor Stewards of Conservation...
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Season 3: Episode 18: A Declining Icon: Mule Deer, Public Lands & the Fight to Turn the Tide
What's happening to mule deer, and why should anyone west of the Mississippi care? In this episode of Connecting with Conservation, hosts Jon Gassett of the Wildlife Management Institute and Jim Curcuruto of Outdoor Stewards of Conservation sit down with Greg Sheehan, President and CEO of both…
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Season 3: Episode 17: Firearms, Conservation & the Excise Tax: How Firearm Importers Fund Wildlife
What does a firearm importer have to do with healthy deer herds, turkey populations, and public shooting ranges? More than most people realize. In this episode of Connecting with Conservation, hosts Jon Gassett of the Wildlife Management Institute and Jim Curcuruto of Outdoor Stewards of...
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Season 3, Episode 16: Working Forests as Conservation Assets with Jimmy Bullock from RMS
On this episode of Connecting with Conservation, co-hosts Jon Gassett and Jim Curcuruto sit down with Jimmy Bullock, Senior Vice President of Forest Sustainability at Resource Management Service (RMS). A self-described "recovering deer biologist," Jimmy earned his stripes in the private forestry...
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Season 3: Episode 15: Pittman-Robertson & the Firearms Legacy with Luke Thorkildsen from Weatherby
What does it actually cost to keep wildlife on the landscape and who's paying for it? In this episode of Connecting with Conservation, hosts Jon Gassett and Jim Curcuruto sit down with Luke Thorkildsen, Chief Operating Officer of Weatherby, one of America's most iconic and longest-standing…
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Season 3: Episode 14: Forests, Wildlife, and Private Lands: Conservation Beyond Public Ground.
What does the timber industry have to do with hunting, fishing, and wildlife conservation? More than most people realize. In this episode of Connecting with Conservation, hosts Jon Gassett and Jim Curcuruto sit down with Darren Miller, Vice President of Forestry Programs at the National Council…
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Season 3: Episode 13: Bringing Back the Bobwhite: Quail Conservation Across the Landscape
The northern bobwhite was once a fixture of the American countryside — heard on nearly every farm, fence row, and field edge from Texas to New England. Today, populations have collapsed across most of that range, and bringing them back requires more than good intentions. It takes habitat, scale,...
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Season 3: Episode 12: The Truth About Regulated Hunting in Africa, Conservation & the Cecil Effect
In this episode of Connecting with Conservation, hosts Jon Gassett of the Wildlife Management Institute and Jim Curcuruto of the Outdoor Stewards of Conservation Foundation welcome Sue Tidwell, award-winning author of Cries of the Savanna. Sue came to Africa not as a hunter but as a skeptic — a...
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Season 3: Episode 11: Mobilizing Hunters, Fighting Eradication & the Killing Catalina Documentary
In this episode of Connecting with Conservation, hosts Jon Gassett of the Wildlife Management Institute and Jim Curcuruto of the Outdoor Stewards of Conservation Foundation sit down with Charles Whitwam, Founder and President of Howl for Wildlife. Charles traces the origin of Howl to a grassroots...
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Season 3: Episode 10: Firearms Innovation, Conservation Funding & the Future of the Hunting Industry
In this episode of Connecting with Conservation, hosts Jon Gassett of the Wildlife Management Institute and Jim Curcuruto of the Outdoor Stewards of Conservation Foundation sit down with Shane Meisel, President of Christensen Arms — the Utah-based company that pioneered carbon fiber rifle barrels...
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Season 3: Episode 9: Outdoor Media, Conservation Storytelling & the Hunting Industry Job Market
In this episode of Connecting with Conservation, hosts Jon Gassett of the Wildlife Management Institute and Jim Curcuruto of the Outdoor Stewards of Conservation Foundation sit down with Kevin Paulson — founder of HuntingLife.com, creator of the Outdoor Hive newsletter, and Executive Director of...
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Season 3: Episode 8: Bird Dogs, Upland Hunting, and the Conservation Economy with Scott Linden
Scott Linden, creator of Wingshooting USA and host of the Upland Nation podcast, joins Jon and Jim to explore the cultural, economic, and conservation impact of upland bird hunting. With decades of experience across radio, television, and outdoor media, Scott shares stories about his start in...
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Season 3: Episode 7: The Future of Deer Hunting, Recruitment, and Conservation Marketing.
In this episode of Connecting with Conservation, Jon and Jim welcome Jenifer Wisniewski, Chief Marketing Officer at the National Deer Association and long-time leader in conservation communications. Jen shares her unique background in state agency marketing and R3 efforts—recruitment, retention,...
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Season 3: Episode 6: Sporting clays for sick kids with Zac Lemmon, Exec. Director for Kids and Clays
Kids & Clays Executive Director Zac Lemmon joins Connecting with Conservation to share how charity sporting clays events across the country are raising millions for Ronald McDonald Houses while introducing thousands of new shooters to the outdoors. He traces the program’s growth from a single...
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Season 3: Episode 5: Managing the Business of Conservation and Indiana's First Bobcat Season.
In this episode of Connecting with Conservation, hosts Jon Gassett and Jim Curcuruto sit down with Amanda Wuestefeld, the Director of the Indiana DNR Division of Fish, Wildlife, and Nature Preserves. The discussion highlights the success of wildlife restoration projects for species like elk,...
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Season 3: Episode 4: Trapping Myths, BMPs, and Conservation with Bryant White of AFWA.
Bryant White of the Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies joins Connecting with Conservation to unpack modern trapping, Best Management Practices (BMPs), and why regulated trapping remains a critical wildlife management tool. From river otter and beaver restoration to managing human–wildlife...
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Season 3: Episode 3: Wild Sheep Conservation and the Path Forward with Corey Mason.
In this episode of Connecting with Conservation, hosts Jon Gassett and Jim Curcuruto sit down with Corey Mason, Chief Operating Officer and Executive Vice President of Conservation at the Wild Sheep Foundation. Corey shares his extensive background—from his time at Texas Parks and Wildlife to...
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Season 3: Episode 2: Elevating Indigenous Voices in Wildlife Conservation with Dr Julie Thorstenson.
In this episode of Connecting with Conservation, hosts Jon Gassett and Jim Curcuruto sit down with Dr. Julie Thorstenson, Executive Director of the Native American Fish and Wildlife Society. Julie shares her remarkable journey from wildlife habitat restoration on the Cheyenne River Sioux...
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Season 3: Episode 1: Range USA supports wildlife conservation from the urban landscape.
Dive into the business of conservation with Tom Willingham of Range USA, discussing the recent opening of their 50th indoor range, welcoming 350,000+ new shooters yearly, and how the excise tax from firearms and ammo sales helps to support wildlife conservation. Hosts Jon Gassett and Jim…
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Season 2: Episode 53: Wildlife Corridors, Migration, and Big Game Conservation with Casey Stemler.
Wildlife migration is one of the most fascinating, and urgent, challenges in modern conservation. Today we’re joined by Casey Stemler, former U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service leader and architect of the national Wildlife Corridor & Big Game Migration Initiative (Secretarial Order 3362). Casey’s...
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Season 2: Episode 52: ATA’s Fight for Fair Conservation Funding with V.P. & Chief Conservation Officer Dan Forster
Hosts Jon Gassett and Jim Curcuruto interview Dan Forster, VP and Chief Conservation Officer of the Archery Trade Association (ATA), on the podcast Connecting with Conservation. They explore ATA’s evolution from a business trade show to a key player in policy and funding for wildlife efforts....
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Season 2: Episode 51: Restoring Elk in the East—Science, Funding, and the RMEF Mission.
Elk once roamed much of the eastern United States but restoring them has taken decades of science, funding, and collaboration. In this episode, Steven Dobey, Mission Lead for the Eastern Region of the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation (RMEF), joins us to explore how elk restoration has succeeded…
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Season 2: Episode 50: Maine’s Wildlife Conservation Story—from Moose to Arctic Char with Commissioner Judy Camuso
Commissioner Judy Camuso of the Maine Department of Inland Fisheries & Wildlife joins us to explore one of the most wildlife-rich states in the U.S. We dive into the science, management, and on-the-ground conservation work that keeps Maine’s natural heritage thriving. From world-class target...
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Season 2: Episode 49: Inside Modern Trapping with Jake DeBow of New England Naturals.
Discover the essential role that regulated trapping plays in North American wildlife conservation. In this episode, Jon and Jim sit down with Jake DeBow of New England Naturals to explore how modern trapping works, why it matters, and how fur, meat, and other resources can be utilized in...
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Season 2: Episode 48: West Virginia Elk Restoration, Wildlife Funding, and Conservation Leadership
Go behind the scenes of West Virginia’s wildlife management with Paul Johansen, Director of the West Virginia Division of Natural Resources and President of the Association of Fish & Wildlife Agencies. In this episode of Connecting with Conservation, we explore how elk restoration, big-game...
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Season 2: Episode 47: Inside Smith & Wesson – Conservation, Innovation, and Shooting Sports.
In this episode of Connecting with Conservation, hosts Jon Gassett and Jim Curcuruto sit down with Kyle Tengwall, Vice President of Marketing and Corporate Strategy at Smith & Wesson. Kyle shares insights from more than 25 years in the shooting sports and outdoor industry, including his early…
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Season 2: Episode 46: Wild Turkey Conservation and the Changing Landscape with Jason Lupardus.
This episode of “Connecting with Conservation” features an in-depth conversation with Jason Lupardus, CEO of Turkeys for Tomorrow, alongside Jon Gassett of the Wildlife Management Institute and Jim Curcuruto from Outdoor Stewards of Conservation Foundation. The hosts and guest discuss the...
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Season 2: Episode 45 – Building the Next Generation of Shooters with John Nelson.
In this episode of Connecting with Conservation, hosts Jon Gassett of the Wildlife Management Institute and Jim Curcuruto of the Outdoor Stewards of Conservation Foundation sit down with John Nelson, President of the USA Clay Target League, to explore one of America’s fastest-growing high school...
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Season 2: Episode 44: Understanding Hemorrhagic Disease in Deer with Dr. Mark Ruder
In this episode of Connecting with Conservation, hosts Jon Gassett of the Wildlife Management Institute and Jim Curcuruto from Outdoor Stewards of Conservation sit down with Dr. Mark Ruder, Director of the Southeastern Cooperative Wildlife Disease Study (SCWDS) at the University of Georgia. They...
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Season 2: Episode 43: Conservation in the Caribbean: Protecting Wildlife in the U.S. Virgin Islands
In this episode of Connecting with Conservation, Dr. Jon Gassett of the Wildlife Management Institute and co-host Jim Curcuruto of Outdoor Stewards of Conservation travel (virtually) to the U.S. Virgin Islands to talk with Dr. Nicole Angeli, Director of the U.S. Virgin Islands Division of Fish…
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Season 2: Episode 42: Boyd Duckett on Major League Fishing, Conservation & the Future of Angling.
In this episode of Connecting with Conservation, hosts Jon Gassett and Jim Curcuruto sit down with legendary angler Boyd Duckett, co-founder and CEO of Major League Fishing (MLF). Boyd shares how MLF is reshaping tournament fishing through innovation, conservation, and youth engagement — from...
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Season 2: Episode 41: Guns, Game, & Giving Back: How Benelli USA Powers Wildlife Conservation.
In this episode of Connecting with Conservation, hosts Jon Gassett and Jim Curcuruto sit down with Jeff Sterner, a lifelong outdoorsman and the Channel Sales Manager for Benelli USA, to talk about how one of the most trusted names in firearms fuels conservation across America. From the legendary...
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Season 2: Episode 40: Bass conservation - Gene Gilliland, National Conservation Director for B.A.S.S
In this episode of Connecting with Conservation, hosts Jon Gassett and Jim Curcuruto sit down with Gene Gilliland, National Conservation Director for B.A.S.S. Gene shares his journey from fisheries biologist to leading national bass conservation efforts and explains how Bassmaster balances the...
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Season 2: Episode 39: From Confusion to Clarity: How Hunt Regs App is Changing the Game for Hunters
In this episode of Connecting with Conservation, co-hosts Jon Gassett and Jim Curcuruto sit down with Ben Martin, founder of the Hunt Regs app. Ben shares his journey from a self-taught angler in Indiana and Florida to discovering the world of public-land hunting in college—and the challenges…
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Season 2: Episode 38: Blood Tracking Dogs: How Hunters and Canines Recover Game with Rachel Crume
In this episode of Connecting with Conservation, hosts Jon Gassett and Jim Curcuruto sit down with Rachel Crume of Kentucky Fish and Wildlife to explore the world of blood tracking with dogs. Rachel shares her personal journey into hunting and how she became a passionate advocate for game…
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Season 2: Episode 37: Conservation Funding – Tom Decker on USFWS Office of Conservation Investment
In this episode of Connecting with Conservation, hosts Jon Gassett and Jim Curcuruto talk with Tom Decker, Branch Manager at the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service Office of Conservation Investment about how excise taxes on firearms, ammunition, archery equipment, fishing gear, and motorboat fuels...
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Season 2: Episode 36: Dan Cabela on Hard Truths of Conservation and the Future of Wildlife.
In this episode of Connecting with Conservation, hosts Jon Gassett and Jim Curcuruto sit down with Dan Cabela, Executive Director of the Cabela Family Foundation and host of Hard Truths of Conservation. Dan shares his journey growing up in the legendary Cabela family, the founding of the Cabela...
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Season 2: Episode 35: Ammo, Advocacy and Access: Dan Wolgin Talks Ammo, Legislation and Conservation
In this episode of Connecting with Conservation, co-hosts Jon Gassett and Jim Curcuruto welcome Dan Wolgin, CEO of Ammunition Depot, for an eye-opening discussion on how legislation can directly impact conservation, the outdoor sporting community, and Second Amendment rights. Dan shares the…
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Season 2: Episode 34: Brandon Maddox: CEO of Silencer Central on silencers, myths, and conservation.
In this episode of Connecting with Conservation, hosts Jon Gassett and Jim Curcuruto sit down with Brandon Maddox, founder and CEO of Silencer Central—the largest silencer dealer in the United States. Brandon shares his unique journey from pharmacist to leading the suppressor industry, making the...
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Season 2: Episode 33: Selling the Outdoors: Matt Whitman Conservation and Connecting with Consumers
In this episode of Connecting with Conservation, we sit down with Matt Whitman, Vice President of Marketing for American Outdoor Products, to explore how outdoor brands connect with today’s consumers—and what that means for the future of conservation. Matt shares insight from years of experience...
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Season 2: Episode 32: Rethinking Conservation: Tony Wasley on Wildlife Policy and the Public Trust
In this episode of Connecting with Conservation, hosts Jon Gassett and Jim Cucaruto sit down with Tony Wasley—former Director of the Nevada Department of Wildlife and current President and CEO of the Wildlife Management Institute (WMI). The conversation dives deep into the roots and evolution of...
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Season 2: Episode 31: How Hunters Are Fighting Hunger in America with Josh Wilson of FHFH.
In this episode of Connecting with Conservation, hosts Jon Gassett and Jim Cucaruto welcome Josh Wilson, Executive Director of Farmers and Hunters Feeding the Hungry (FHFH). Josh shares the powerful story behind this national ministry—founded by his father in 1997—and its mission to connect…
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Season 2: Episode 30: Fair Chase & Fighting Poaching: Inside Boone & Crockett with Tony Schoonen.
In this episode of Connecting with Conservation, hosts Jon Gassett and Jim Cucaruto sit down with Tony Schoonen, CEO of the Boone and Crockett Club, America’s oldest wildlife conservation organization founded by Theodore Roosevelt. Tony takes us on a journey through the club’s storied history —...
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Season 2: Episode 29: Ruger: How America’s Largest Firearms Manufacturer Supports Conservation
Join us for this episode of Connecting with Conservation as we sit down with Todd Seyfert, President & CEO of Ruger and Marlin, to discuss how the largest firearms manufacturer in the U.S. contributes to state-based fish and wildlife conservation through excise taxes. Todd shares his personal...
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Season 2: Episode 28: How Social Media is Changing Conservation with Chuck R. of Open Source Defense
In this episode of Connecting with Conservation, we sit down with Chuck R, founder of Open Source Defense and a longtime tech industry leader from Google and Facebook. We explore how technology and cultural perspectives around firearms shape modern wildlife conservation funding. Chuck shares...
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Season 2: Special Alert: Public Lands Sell Off!
Your public lands under management of the U.S. Forest Service and Bureau of Land Management are in the crosshairs of congress. Give a listen to what several conservation community leaders think about this misguided approach.
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Season 2: Episode 27: Dustin Wallace talks about Faxon's contribution to conservation.
In this episode of Connecting with Conservation, hosts Jon Gassett and Jim Curcuruto sit down with Dustin Wallace, Director of Sales & Marketing at Faxon to explore the fascinating intersection between American manufacturing, innovation, and wildlife conservation funding. Dustin shares Faxon’s...
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ABOUT THIS SHOW
Do you enjoy angling, boating, hunting, recreational shooting or just getting outdoors and into the backcountry? Connecting with Conservation is the only podcast that delves into the business of conservation. We talk with state wildlife agency and industry experts about how conservation is achieved in the United States along with the tremendous impacts to local economies that driven by the recreational user. Join our hosts as they explore this often unknown or misunderstood aspect of how fish and wildlife conservation works in the U.S.
HOSTED BY
jgassett
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Frequently Asked Questions
How many episodes does Connecting with Conservation have?
Connecting with Conservation currently has 88 episodes available on PodParley. New episodes are automatically indexed when they're published to the podcast feed.
What is Connecting with Conservation about?
Do you enjoy angling, boating, hunting, recreational shooting or just getting outdoors and into the backcountry? Connecting with Conservation is the only podcast that delves into the business of conservation. We talk with state wildlife agency and industry experts about how conservation is achieved...
How often does Connecting with Conservation release new episodes?
Connecting with Conservation has 88 episodes. Check the episode list to see recent publication dates and frequency.
Where can I listen to Connecting with Conservation?
You can listen to Connecting with Conservation on PodParley by clicking any episode. We provide an embedded audio player for direct listening, and you can also subscribe via your preferred podcast app using the RSS feed.
Who hosts Connecting with Conservation?
Connecting with Conservation is created and hosted by jgassett.
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