2022 Summit Summary

Category Archive: Summit

  1. 2022 Summit Summary

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    The Texan by Nature Conservation Summit is an annual opportunity for leaders in business and conservation to convene and catalyze conservation in the state of Texas. Through panel presentations and Q&A sessions with the audience, the summit drives dialogue and highlights emerging sustainability solutions.

    The 2022 summit took place on November 2 in Dallas. Following two years of limited in-person attendance due to the Covid-19 pandemic, the Texan by Nature team was happy to welcome 286 in-person attendees at the George W. Bush Presidential Center in Dallas. To engage with partners far and wide, a virtual attendance option was available, and 665 leaders and advocates joined us virtually through video stream. In the post-summit attendee survey, an impressive 100% of respondents reported learning something new, up from 93% learning something new in 2021. 

    The overarching theme of the day was ‘The Future of Conservation.” The future of conservation, just like Texas’s beautiful landscape and leadership role in industry, is ever-evolving. The Summit explored human dimensions, ecosystem-level thinking, and best-in-class collaborations with the goal of inspiring new partnerships and driving conservation innovation and impact. 

    Texan by Nature CEO Joni Carswell’s opening remarks called on the audience to take an active role in shaping Texas’ conservation future: “The best way to predict the future is to create it.” Watch the opening remarks, full panel presentation recordings, and closing remarks from former First Lady and TxN founder Mrs. Laura Bush below.

    The Human Dimension

    As our population grows, the broad impact of human interaction with natural resources becomes clearly visible. From stewarding our resources to realizing the full health and economic benefits of working with and engaging with nature, new models and opportunities are emerging. The human aspect of conservation is multidimensional including coalition building, community engagement, urban planning, workforce development, health & healing, entrepreneurship, personal stewardship, and more. 

    Panelists included:

     

    Ecosystem Thinking

    Conservation and industry leaders often think and speak of ecosystems in similar yet very different ways. Conservationists most often refer to natural systems while industry leaders may refer to their supply chain or internal processes. Few entities look at the entire ecosystem and the interaction between industry and nature. With the rise in circularity discussion and goals, the need to view the entire ecosystem inclusive of industry and nature, creates a significant opportunity for impact, engagement, and economic growth. 

    Panelists included: 

     

    Models of Success

    The future of conservation relies on sound science, collaboration, metrics, prioritization, and reporting. There are projects and initiatives across Texas modeling these characteristics. From supporting our natural world and generating tourism, to feeding our population, to managing our waste, to collectively solving challenges, these projects and initiatives can be replicated in Texas and around the globe creating a thriving future for people and natural resources alike. 

    Panelists included: 

     

    If you’re interested in sponsoring our 2023 Summit – learn more here!

    Contact info@texanbynature.org for questions.

     

  2. 2021 Conservation Summit Summary

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    The Conservation Summit is a unique annual gathering hosted by Texan by Nature that focuses on bringing conservation and business leaders together for rich, impact-focused dialogue and networking.

    Following our rescheduled 2020 Summit in April of 2021 that was primarily virtual, the Texan by Nature team and our partners were thrilled to gather for the 2021 Summit both in-person and virtually in November 2021. 190 leaders in business and conservation attended this year’s Summit in person, and an additional 403 leaders joined the conversation virtually. Survey results from attendees showed that 100% of respondents reported learning something new at the Summit and for 93%, the Summit exceeded their expectations. Read the full 2021 Conservation Summit Results Report.

    The overarching theme of the day was “In It Together – The Future of Conservation.” The future of conservation, just like Texas’s beautiful landscape and leadership role in industry, is ever-evolving. The Summit explored new models, return on conservation metrics, and best-in-class collaborations with the goal of inspiring new partnerships and driving conservation innovation and impact. 

    Texan by Nature CEO, Joni Carswell, opened the Summit with remarks expressing gratitude for the persistence that has been required over the last 18 months to continue making progress on conservation goals, and a reminder of the social and economic value of conservation for today and tomorrow. You can watch the full-length recording of the Summit below, which includes our video series on the Conservation Wranglers program and 2020 Conservation Wranglers Respect Big Bend and the Paso del Norte Trail.

    Individual recordings of the Summit panels are available below. Click the speaker name to be taken directly to their presentation.

    Panel 1: Collaborative Conservation

    Collaboration produces better results — more innovative solutions, deeply engaged team members, and higher loyalty and morale. Research shows that teams working collaboratively stick to the task 64 percent longer than those in solitary endeavors; report higher engagement levels; cite lower fatigue levels, and have a higher success rate. Collaborative conservation initiatives that span business, landowners, communities, and conservation organizations yield similar positive results and accelerate the pace of conservation action.

    In this panel, you’ll hear from:

    Panel 2: Business of Conservation

    Texas has the world’s 10th largest GDP, 29 million citizens, 10 diverse ecoregions, and incredibly diverse resources. Combining our conservation knowledge with our business acumen and leadership provides an opportunity to increase profitability while advancing sustainable usage of our natural resources. Aligning goals, metrics, and reporting across industry and conservation enables us to better understand and report the total Return on Conservation. From financial recognition to new methods of impact measurement, the business of conservation is progressing.

    In this panel, you’ll hear from:

    Panel 3: Emerging Models in Conservation 

    As a perennial top state for business start-ups, Texas is no stranger to new models and innovation. This independent, entrepreneurial mindset is on display in conservation as well. New methods and models are driving collaborative, systemic approaches that benefit not only our natural resources but economic development and our health as well. From market-based models to facilitated collectives, emerging models are already impacting the future of conservation.

    In this panel, you’ll hear from:

     

    Joni Carswell, TxN CEO & President ended the Summit portion of the day with her closing remarks where she reflected on what panelists had to share and inspired the audience to take action after the Summit.

    The future is collaboration. The future is metrics focused – there’s a business case here. The future will be new models and methodologies. The future is intentional. We have an opportunity to realize progress that we haven’t yet imagined. Make today an inflection point. Make sure that every Texan is engaged in conservation impact.

    – Joni Carswell, Texan by Nature CEO & President

    If you’re interested in sponsoring our 2022 Summit – learn more here!

    Contact info@texanbynature.org for questions.

  3. Conservation Wrangler Virtual Series

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    Our Virtual Series that kicked off in November of 2020 brought together business and conservation leaders from across Texas to discuss topics such as collaboration and innovation in conservation. Conservation Wranglers from 2017-2019 also discussed their projects, lessons learned, and progress as a starting point for the panels. We’re happy to share all of four of these engaging conversations below.

    In It Together – The Future of Conservation

    The future of conservation is collaboration — collaboration between business and conservation communities such that conservation is not a separate project, group, or conversation but part of our DNA. Conservation must be part of who we are — as citizens, family members, leaders, entrepreneurs, humans. It is collaboration that yields innovation and returns that positively shape our resources, health, and economy.

    Panelists:

    View the Q&A Summary

    Collaborative Conservation

    Collaboration produces better results — more innovative solutions, deeply engaged team members, higher loyalty and morale. Research shows that teams working collaboratively stick to the task 64 percent longer than those in solitary endeavors, report higher engagement levels, cite lower fatigue levels, and have a higher success rate. Collaborative conservation spanning business, landowners, communities, and natural resource organizations yield similar positive results.

    Panelists:

    View the Q&A Summary

    Developing Future Returns

    Home to seven of the 15 fastest growing cities in the U.S., Texas’ population has increased over 48% in the last decade alone. With this mass urbanization, less than 1% of Texans are landowners and there’s a diminished connection to nature and our natural resources. As Texas develops, it’s critical that conservation and business work together to create innovative spaces, practices, and leaders to care for our natural resources, prosperity, and health for generations to come.

    Panelists:

    View the Q&A Summary

    Reimagining Resources

    Texas is bountiful – enjoying the world’s 10th largest GDP, 29 million citizens, and 10 diverse ecoregions. Reimagining how we bring our plentiful resources together to deliver innovative places, resilient landscapes and natural resources, equitable access, and economic opportunities is a future that will benefit every Texan at work, at play, and at home.

    Panelists:

     

     

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