Conservation Conversations

Due to the covid-19 pandemic, TLC has started a virtual webinar series, Conservation Conversations! Each webinar will be posted to this page the next day. Sign up for the next Conservation Conversations on our events page.

Conservation Conversations: Conservation and Regenerative Agriculture
TLC Farm Manager Eliza Lawdley and Executive Director Sandy Sweitzer talked about conservation, regenerative agriculture, and the future Bailey and Sarah Williamson Preserve in our first Conservation Conversations on March 25.

Conservation Conversations: Conservation from Start to Stewardship
TLC Conservation Manager Margaret Sands shared TLC’s process for conserving land in her presentation Conservation from Start to Stewardship. She covered the tools we use to protect wild and working lands and how we prioritize projects to make the Triangle a healthier and more vibrant place to live.

Conservation Conversations: Steering the StewardShip
Our third Conservation Conversations: Steering the StewardShip, hosted on April 8, featured Associate Director of Stewardship Matt Rutledge and Stewardship Associate Caroline Durham talking about how TLC cares for its protected properties throughout the Triangle!

Conservation Conversations: Meet Your Watershed
Joining TLC’s Senior Associate Director of Conservation Leigh Ann Hammerbacher are Matthew Starr, the Upper Neuse Riverkeeper with Sound Rivers, and Ed Buchan, Environmental Coordinator for the City of Raleigh. They discuss how land conservation protects your water and share some favorite and safe spots to dip your toes in this summer in this edition of Conservation Conversations.

Conservation Conversations: Learning in Nature!
TLC was thrilled to partner with Marty Jorgensen, program director at Schoolhouse of Wonder, and Wendy Banning, co-founder and executive director of Learning Outside, for our fourth Conservation Conversations on April 15. TLC AmeriCorps member Elicia Senff also presented on ways to engage children outside, introducing a new program called Triangle Explorer. These inspiring environmental educators talked about the importance of taking in the outdoors and of children learning to explore, even during this unusual time.

Conservation Conversations: TLC Board Happy Hour
During these special Conservation Conversations, TLC Executive Director Sandy Sweitzer spoke with board members Jack Blackmer, Marlena Byrne, Toni Wyche Jones, and Will Morgan about conservation in the Triangle; how TLC can continue to improve its diversity, equity, and inclusion work; and their favorite nature preserves. Our board members all have fascinating backgrounds, and they offer unique perspectives and insight on how TLC does our conservation work.

Conservation Conversations: National Trails Day
National Trails Day, which is the first Saturday in June, celebrates our public lands and trails! In this edition of Conservation Conversations, Executive Director Sandy Sweitzer starts off the webinar with a statement about TLC’s work to make the outdoors inclusive and welcoming for all people. Recent events have demonstrated that because of racism, there still is no “outdoors for all,” and TLC is working toward a future where everyone has an opportunity to foster a love for the outdoors. On this webinar, we also talk about “petiquette” with TLC Development Manager Casey Therrien and the East Coast Greenway with East Coast Greenway Alliance NC & VA Coordinator Sarah Sanford.

Legacy of Lead in the Soils of Durham
“Legacy of Lead in the Soils of Durham” focuses on how cities are beginning to map soil lead levels to help ensure that residents in urban areas have greater access to healthy and vibrant environments. Presenter Anna Wade is a Ph.D. candidate at the Duke University Nicholas School of the Environment, where she studies the impact of land-use legacies on soils.

Conservation Conversations: Adventures on the MST
Adventures await on the Mountains-to-Sea Trail, a 1,175-mile trail that stretches from the Great Smoky Mountains to the Outer Banks! Friends of the MST Outreach Manager Betsy Brown shares resources on how to make the most out of your trip. TLC Director of Advancement and her family have been section-hiking the trail, and they share tips and tricks on gear, planning, and more.

Conservation Conversations: The Importance of Conservation Lands to Our Feathered Friends
What kinds of birds can you find at TLC preserves? TLC Director of Conservation and Stewardship Bo Howes shares his passion for protecting open space for birds in this Conservation Conversations! His presentation includes information on how we conserve land to benefit many different species of birds (as well as some gorgeous photos)! Thank you to everyone who joined us!

Conservation Conversations: Nature Needs TLC
TLC celebrated Earth Day (and a very successful TLC Giving Day!) with board members Mavis Gragg, Sam Cook, Marlena Byrne, and Sean Lilly Wilson! They joined Executive Director Sandy Sweitzer on April 22 for a community conversation about conservation in the Triangle region. Learn what inspires them to volunteer for TLC and shape the future of conservation in our area. Thank you to our amazing board members for hosting such a fun evening!

Fire in North Carolina: A Human and Natural History
Laurel Kays is an Extension Assistant with NC State University Extension Forestry, where she specializes in wildland fire. Laurel works with landowners, professionals, and other partners across the Southeast to improve wildland fire management and increase the use of safe and effective prescribed fire. Presented on March 18. This presentation was supposed to be part of a series at the future Bailey and Sarah Williamson Preserve.

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