Western Voices: Pilot, conservationist Gordon strives to give `the land a voice’

By Judith Kohler, kohlerj@nwf.org

RIFLE, Colo. – No one has to convince Bruce Gordon to look at the big picture on conservation issues. The view is sweeping from the seat of his Cessna 210 Centurion as he flies politicians, reporters and environmentalists over Alaska’s Bristol Bay or New Mexico’s Otero Mesa.

Gordon founded Aspen-based EcoFlight in 2002 to, as he says on his website, ``provide the unique aerial perspective to conservation work.’’ On recent flights organized by the Colorado Environmental Coalition, Gordon gave people a fresh look at natural gas development and sites targeted for oil shale extraction in western Colorado’s Piceance Basin.

``There’s been a dramatic change on the landscape,’’ Gordon said. ``I don’t think that people really understand the breadth and scope of what’s going on right next door to them.’’

The goal, Gordon said, is to show people what’s happening across the landscape so they can form their own opinions on large-scale renewable energy projects, mining, transmission corridors and the effects of climate change.

``If people feel (a site) is a good use for oil and gas and that helps the community, so be it, but I want them to be educated and understand the real ramifications.’’

                                                                       Photo: Judith Kohler

Gordon has seen many changes in his 40 years in Colorado. After getting out of the service and a brief stint on Wall Street, he headed West to hang out for a while, wound up in Aspen and never left. He taught in schools, was a climbing instructor and eventually joined another person to merge several of his passions – education, aviation, the environment – to start what he calls ``conservation flying.’’

Working with Jane Pargiter, EcoFlight vice president, Gordon provides a different vantage point on environmental and energy issues from Alaska to Belize. The topics the staff tackles are nearly as expansive – wildlife, coal-fired power plants, watersheds, nuclear power, national parks, off-road vehicle use, wilderness, oil and gas drilling.

Gordon has met former President Bill Clinton, Vice President Al Gore and ferried members of Congress, officials of foreign countries and students in education programs. He has accumulated more than 9,500 hours of flying in more than 10 countries and worked with nearly 70 different conservation groups.

``People really become engaged in what they see and they’re enthusiastic about what they see,’’ Gordon said. ``The issues are no longer just words or lines on a map. I like to say it gives the land a voice.’’