(Ankeny, Iowa – July 24, 2019) Over 400 conservation professionals from around the world will convene in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, July 28-31, 2019, for the Soil and Water Conservation Society (SWCS) 74th International Annual Conference. (For the conference agenda and other information, visit www.swcs.org/19AC. Onsite registration is available.)
The theme of this year’s conference is “Bridging the Divide: Uniting Rural and Urban Landscapes for Conservation.” The conference is designed to provide a forum for conservation professionals to come together to discuss successes and challenges, combat shared obstacles, and accelerate conservation efforts.
“The conference program melds urban, rural, and the spaces in between into a holistic conservation framework,” says Deanna Osmond, a professor in crop and soil sciences at North Carolina State University and the 2019 Conference Program Planning Committee Chair. The agenda features presentations from leading speakers whose work emphasizes the importance of engaging stakeholders from all communities in efforts to protect natural resources. This year’s special topics of focus include unique partnerships in watershed planning and implementation, engagement of the private sector in conservation, and the challenges of adapting landscapes to climate change.
“The Soil and Water Conservation Society is looking forward to convening hundreds of conservation professionals researching and practicing conservation in urban and rural landscapes to learn from one another, forge new and stronger connections, and increase our ability to protect our soil and water resources,” says Clare Lindahl, CEO of SWCS.
In addition to hearing from leaders in conservation, conference attendees will have the opportunity to learn about the newest conservation research, projects, policies, technologies, partnerships, and programs. An exhibit hall, poster session, professional development tracks, and local conservation tours round out the conference. Continuing education units will be available for certified crop advisors, professional agronomists, professionals in erosion and sediment control, and others.
The presenting sponsor of the 2019 conference is Syngenta.
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About SWCS
With more than 3000 members around the world, the Soil and Water Conservation Society (SWCS) is a nonprofit scientific and educational organization that serves as an advocate for conservation professionals and for science-based conservation practice, programs, and policy.
The SWCS mission is to foster the science and art of natural resource conservation. We work to discover, develop, implement and constantly improve conservation practices and systems that sustain the productive capacity of the land while protecting environmental quality.
We pursue our mission through a combination of research, education and advocacy aimed at promoting state-of-the-art conservation practices and science-based conservation policy.
For More Information:
Clare Lindahl, CEO
Soil and Water Conservation Society
swcs@swcs.org
515-289-2331 ext. 118