2022 Summit Summary
Leave a CommentThe 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:
- Steve Jimenez, Hives for Heroes
- Shaun Clinton, Texas Health Resources
- Sarah Schlessinger, Texas Water Foundation
- Carla Ibarra, NRG Energy
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:
- Hughes Simpson, Texas A&M Forest Service
- Devin Hetzel, Enbridge
- Meghna Tare, University of Texas, Arlington
- Robert Horton, DFW Airport
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:
- Abraham Tueme, Coca-Cola Southwest Beverages
- Dr. Michael Wetz, Harte Research Institute
- Philip Walker, 7 Oaks Ranch I Ozona Chamber of Commerce
- Edan Dionne, IBM
If you’re interested in sponsoring our 2023 Summit – learn more here!
Contact info@texanbynature.org for questions.