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Environmental Center Chief Helps Maintain Way of Life
BY CARI MERRILL
Behind the expansive development of Centerra, tucked behind Medical Center of the Rockies, is a parcel of nature with a clear view of Rocky Mountain snowcaps in the brisk November morning sun. The hum of traffic can be heard in the distance, but cover your ears and the scenery makes you feel like you're miles from the hustle and bustle of the world.
This is the 275-acre environment in which Jim Tolstrup spends his days.
As executive director of the High Plains Environmental Center, Tolstrup has made it his life's mission to protect that way of life, working with developers to help maintain rather than destroy nature's beauty.
"It's not the Alaskan wilderness but I feel with all the urban sprawl, we need to protect biodiversity," the self-proclaimed environmentalist said.
Tolstrup works with companies such as mega-developer McWhinney to preserve natural habitats and promote biodiversity amid development. Almost 20 percent of the Centerra area is managed as wildlife habitat.
The beginning of HPEC came from an unusual relationship - partnering a nonprofit with a developer.
Tom Hoyt, president of McStain Enterprises - a green builder of residential homes - was the vision behind the organization.
"(McStain and McWhinney) really did that project ... in the beginning because we believe there is a model to integrate development and conservation, and we've struggled since our inception trying to figure out exactly what that meant," Hoyt said. "How do you go, 'We're conserving over here and we're developing over here,' when we really need to be thinking about them in the same sentence."
Tolstrup will play an instrumental role in achieving that goal and has an impressive résumé to do so. His past accomplishments include director of the Shambhala Botanic Gardens and Preserve at Shambhala Mountain Center in Red Feather Lakes and a certificate in gardening arts from Harvard University. Recently named the executive director of HPEC, he wants to reintroduce native plants and animals to the region, such as Colorado's state bird, the lark bunting.
According to a U.S. Geological Survey and Colorado State University Fishery and Wildlife Biology study, grassland bird species have experienced the largest population decline of any bird group in the past 40 years in North America, and the lark bunting population has declined 2.5 percent per year in the state.
Tolstrup spends his days out in the field, planting new plants and re-introducing wildlife.
"Jim has really brought some real vision to us in the process since he's come on board," Hoyt said.
To really make a change, though, Tolstrup challenges individuals to be creative and proactive.
"Nobody wakes up and says, 'How am I going to destroy the environment today,'" he said. "These days it seems like everyone wants to be sustainable, but what does that really mean?"
For Tolstrup, it means using the trend of green building to make sustainable landscaping choices, such as choosing native grasses rather than traditional Kentucky bluegrass.
"We have really torn the environment apart. We have to put it back together again," he said. "It's not a question: A sustainable future is possible and it's worth working for."
