In May, Kelly Holdbrooks attended the Center for Plant Conservation annual meeting held in Austin, Texas and hosted by the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center The multi-day event consisted of lectures, field trips, and guided tours behind the scenes facilities of the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center. Participants gathered to learn from one another and connected about common goals in conservation such as seed banking, restoration techniques, and critical communications for the public. Although ecoregions varied drastically from the Mojave Desert with an annual rainfall of 3-4″ to the Southern Appalachian Mountains temperate rainforests with an average rainfall of 55-100″, the core principes of conservation were interwoven into all presentations and conversations. The greatest takeaway, other than education and new partnerships, was the overarching theme with all participants- conservation work is a process and involves many partners to be successful.
