SHANE MACFARLAN

University of Utah

On behalf of the iAlumbra Collective, I am pleased to share our 2025 intention to establish the Institute for Applied Dryland Water Studies (“Drylands Institute”) at Rancho Cacachilas, La Paz, BCS. By serving our community and the region, the Drylands Institute aims to help motivate arid land water users to apply more economically viable and environmentally sustainable land and water use practices: ● Offering a real-world “laboratory” for research and best practice testing/adoption; ● Stimulating and sharing insight, solutions and actions through Research, Demonstration, Green Finance, and Education Working Groups - highlighting proven traditional and leading water conservation/restoration and land management solutions that improve biodiversity, climate-adaptive food production and livelihoods in our region and beyond. Working with expert, multi-sector partners such as yourself, we also hope to inspire learners and leaders, ranchers and farmers, landowners and developers, as well as help inform public policies. It is with this in mind that I write to you today to invite you to help co-found the Drylands Institute as a member of the RESEARCH Working Group that I am Chairing. The objective of this Research Working Group is to: Generate, exchange, and promote applied research on best practice dryland groundwater recharge, surface water management, and restorative agriculture/ranching solutions.

Office for Undergraduate Research, University of Utah

University of Utah

College of Social & Behavioral Sciences, University of Utah

University of Utah

University of Utah

I gave several presentations at the eco-resort, Rancho Cacachillas, for their annual Eco-Tourism Guide Training Workshop

Office of Undergraduate Research

College of Social & Behavioral Sciences, University of Utah

University of Utah

CSBS

College of Social & Behavioral Sciences