Grow Conservation

I am happy to share that I am now a Certified SynergyStack™ Facilitator through Let's Grow Leaders. The SynergyStack™ Team Development System was designed by Karin Hurt and David Dye. David did a tremendous job navigating my cohort of trainees through the certification program. Certified SynergyStack™ Facilitators are trained to lead engaging activities and interactive workshops using the SynergyStack™ System. The system is based on Four Dimensions of Collaboration: Connection, Clarity, Curiosity, and Commitment. This system is a valuable tool for Grow Conservation to help teams identify and commit to the key behaviors and actions needed to improve collaboration, alignment, and performance. If you or your team would like to discuss how Grow Conservation and the SynergyStack™ Team Development System can improve your teamwork, please reach out to me!

I had a meeting with North Branch Land Trust earlier this week, and I visited its Forest Echo Bird Sanctuary before heading home. Though it is a small sanctuary, at 17 acres, this natural space is providing important wildlife habitat and water quality benefits in this suburban area. North Branch Land Trust staff are taking a very active management role at this sanctuary, treating invasive plants and doing riparian buffer restoration. I believe that active management is critical even for preserved (I prefer "conserved") lands. The fact is that no place on Earth is pristine anymore; there is no place that is not being affected by climate change, and there are many pathways for invasive species to infest even the most remote natural lands. Most of the forestlands of Pennsylvania were clearcut about 100 years ago and therefore could need help with forest growth, diversity, and regeneration. In most cases, a "hands-off" approach is not the best way to ensure healthy and highly-functioning ecosystems, even on preserves. If you want to consider active management on conserved lands, please reach out to Grow Conservation or collaborate with an agency, nonprofit, trust, or conservancy that is doing it well, like North Branch Land Trust. #conservation #riparianbuffer #watershed #climatechange #invasives

Please check out Grow Conservation's July newsletter on my blog. The big news is that Grow Conservation has been awarded a contract to serve as Administrator of the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources – Conservation and Natural Resources Advisory Council (CNRAC). CNRAC draws upon the diversity of experiences and perspectives of its appointed citizen members to provide DCNR, Governor Shapiro, the General Assembly, and the public advice regarding the conservation and stewardship of the Commonwealth’s natural resources. You can learn more about CNRAC members and meetings here: https://lnkd.in/ey49KGDm If you have a stakeholder group or advisory committee in need of administration or strategic direction, please reach out to Grow Conservation to discuss how I might be able to help! July 2024 Newsletter Contents: -       Grow Conservation Awarded Contract for Advisory Council Administration -       New Jersey Agriculture and Climate Summit -       AI-Powered Map of Global Tree Canopy Height -       Pennsylvania Recreation & Park Society – Call for Abstracts -       Grow Conservation Blog -       From the Home Garden https://lnkd.in/e-kCWDVu

WeConservePA released its report, "Local Municipal Open Space Referendums in Pennsylvania - 2023 Status Report." A key finding of the report is that since 1996, 90% of the referendums occurred in the Delaware River Basin and 59% of them occurred in two counties - Bucks and Chester. Alongside partners, Grow Conservation is prepared to assist conservancies and county or municipal leaders to help spread opportunities for dedicated local open space funds more so across the state. Please check out my blog on the topic, and if interested, please reach out to me! #conservation #openspace #localgovernment https://lnkd.in/evC_65sN

The June 2024 Grow Conservation Newsletter is posted on my website. It features notes on the following opportunities and developments in the conservation world: - a public comment period on the USDA Greenhouse Gas Technical Assistance Provider and Third-Party Verifier Program - an extended RFP deadline for the 2024 Eastern PA Greenways and Trails Summit - release of The Nature Conservancy's version 2.0 of its Resilient Lands Mapping Tool - a recap of my May blog post on avoiding conflict - a new project summary on the blog from my work on a conservation workforce survey for Chesapeake Conservancy - and "From the Home Garden" section on what's blooming now in the yard https://lnkd.in/eNwd_tZk You can sign up for future newsletters on my homepage. #climatechange #conservation #trails

I recently had the pleasure of meeting Karin Hurt and David Dye, as they conduct presentations on their new book, Powerful Phrases for Dealing with Workplace Conflict. I believe that one of the most destructive kinds of conflict is the conflict avoided. When an act or behavior is bothering you or you disagree with a course of action, keeping that to yourself can often cause as much damage, or often even more, than addressing it with the person or people involved. Karin and David offer some powerful questions for you to consider regarding the need to initiate hard conversations. Please check out my blog post on avoiding conflict and their page for the new book. Avoiding Conflict Blog Post https://lnkd.in/ehaUX3nX Let's Grow Leaders - Conflict Phrases Book page https://lnkd.in/gh_NM947

I hope you will check out my May 2024 Grow Conservation Newsletter post on my website. It features notes on the following opportunities and developments in the conservation world: - a survey opportunity to provide input to the PA Statewide Comprehensive Outdoor Recreation Plan by May 22; - Federal developments on wetlands and freshwater habitats, including a White House factsheet and blog post by Marc Seelinger of The Swamp School; - note on the release of a new Federal conservation website that includes great information on financial assistance; - a recap of my own April blog posts; - and "From the Garden" about what is exciting in my yard right now! https://lnkd.in/eV_RpSzX

Earth Day is a significant event for a lot of people and organizations in the conservation community, and I feel like it has grown in prominence over recent years with the broader public as well. As I think about what to write in an Earth Day blog post though, my mind is not focused on the people that get excited about Earth Day, but rather on those that might not have even noticed it passing by. Just as political parties are ever trying to “broaden the tent” of who actively participates, so too does the conservation community need to broaden our tent. After all, most of the people that would read my blog or follow me on LinkedIn are already on board with taking personal and professional actions to help the environment – but the friends and family that we all have for whom the environment is not a top concern – those are the masses of people we really need to incrementally shift in the right direction on environmental issues.  Read the full blog post on my website: #earthday https://lnkd.in/eiZAZVMH