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Welcome to the 2022 Summer Conservation Forum and Tour & Southeast Region Meeting of the National Association of Conservation Districts! 

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Friday, July 15
 

1:00pm EDT

Registration
Stop by the registration desk to check-in, get your name badge, or ask any questions you have about the agenda or meeting! 

Friday July 15, 2022 1:00pm - 5:00pm EDT
San Geronimo Foyer

5:00pm EDT

Welcome Reception
Friday July 15, 2022 5:00pm - 7:00pm EDT
Las Olas Terrace
 
Saturday, July 16
 

8:00am EDT

Registration
Stop by the registration desk to check-in, get your name badge, or ask any questions you have about the agenda or meeting! 

Saturday July 16, 2022 8:00am - 5:00pm EDT
San Geronimo Foyer

9:00am EDT

Board of Directors Meeting
Saturday July 16, 2022 9:00am - 12:00pm EDT
San Geronimo ABC

9:00am EDT

NGLI Meeting
Saturday July 16, 2022 9:00am - 5:00pm EDT
Executive Board Room

2:00pm EDT

2:00pm EDT

2:00pm EDT

2:00pm EDT

2:00pm EDT

4:00pm EDT

 
Sunday, July 17
 

8:00am EDT

Registration
Stop by the registration desk to check-in, get your name badge, or ask any questions you have about the agenda or meeting! 

Sunday July 17, 2022 8:00am - 5:00pm EDT
San Geronimo Foyer

9:00am EDT

North Central Region Meeting
Sunday July 17, 2022 9:00am - 11:00am EDT
Conference 8-9-10

9:00am EDT

Northeast Region Meeting
Sunday July 17, 2022 9:00am - 11:00am EDT
Conference 6-7

9:00am EDT

Northern Plains Region Meeting
Sunday July 17, 2022 9:00am - 11:00am EDT
Flamboyan

9:00am EDT

Pacific Region Meeting
Sunday July 17, 2022 9:00am - 11:00am EDT
Flamingo C/D

9:00am EDT

South Central Region Meeting
Sunday July 17, 2022 9:00am - 11:00am EDT
Conference 3-4-5

9:00am EDT

Southeast Region Meeting
Sunday July 17, 2022 9:00am - 11:00am EDT
Flamingo AB

9:00am EDT

Southwest Region Meeting
Sunday July 17, 2022 9:00am - 11:00am EDT
Ceiba (Wave Wing)

9:00am EDT

NGLI Meeting
Sunday July 17, 2022 9:00am - 5:00pm EDT
Executive Board Room

1:00pm EDT

3:00pm EDT

Partnership Roundtables
Sunday July 17, 2022 3:00pm - 4:00pm EDT
San Geronimo ABC

6:30pm EDT

Southeast Dinner
Dinner hosted by the Southeast Region, but open to all! Will include live music from the Plenati Manati 00674 Band. 

Speakers
avatar for Michael Crowder

Michael Crowder

President, NACD
KE

Kayleigh Evans

President, Southeast Conservation District Employees Association
SM

Steven Meeks

Southeast Region Chair, NACD
JV

Joel Vega

Puerto Rico Representative, NACD Board of Directors


Sunday July 17, 2022 6:30pm - 8:30pm EDT
San Geronimo ABC
 
Monday, July 18
 

7:00am EDT

Registration
Stop by the registration desk to check-in, get your name badge, or ask any questions you have about the agenda or meeting! 

Monday July 18, 2022 7:00am - 5:00pm EDT
San Geronimo Foyer

7:30am EDT

Conservation Breakfast
Speakers
avatar for Fernando Lloveras San Miguel

Fernando Lloveras San Miguel

President, Para la Naturaleza
Fernando Lloveras San Miguel, Esq. is President of Para la Naturaleza and Executive Director of the Puerto Rico Conservation Trust. Attorney Lloveras, highly committed to nature conservation, historic preservation, and reforestation is determined to further develop the values of education... Read More →
avatar for Michael Crowder

Michael Crowder

President, NACD


Monday July 18, 2022 7:30am - 8:30am EDT
San Geronimo ABC

8:30am EDT

Conservation Forum
Moderators
avatar for Luis A. Cruz-Arroyo

Luis A. Cruz-Arroyo

Caribbean Director, USDA-NRCS
Luis A. Cruz-Arroyo is from Mayagüez, PR and graduated from the University of Puerto Rico with a bachelor’s degree in Animal Science. Luis has work in conservation for over a decade covering different field, technical and management position in Alabama and Iowa and more recently... Read More →

Speakers
avatar for Chief Terry Cosby

Chief Terry Cosby

Chief, NRCS
Terry Cosby was appointed to serve as chief of the United States Department of Agriculture’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) in May of 2021. In this role, Chief oversees the 3,000 NRCS field offices and their employees across the nation.Cosby began his career with... Read More →
avatar for Bradley Doorn, Ph.D.

Bradley Doorn, Ph.D.

Program Manager for Water Resources and Agriculture, NASA Applied Science Program of the Earth Science Division
avatar for Positive T.A. Nelson

Positive T.A. Nelson

Commissioner of Agriculture, Virgin Islands Department of Agriculture
Commissioner Nelson has a B.S. Degree in Accounting from St. Augustine’s University; leadership training certificates from the Henry Toll Fellowship & Eastern Leadership Academy respectively; a certificate in “Driving Government Performance” from the John F. Kennedy School of... Read More →
avatar for Raúl E. Macchiavelli

Raúl E. Macchiavelli

Dean and Director, College of Agricultural Sciences at the University of Puerto Rico
Raúl E. Macchiavelli is a Professor and the Dean and Director of the College of Agricultural Sciences at the University of Puerto Rico, Mayagüez, the land grant university in Puerto Rico. Dr. Macchiavelli has more than 40 years of experience teaching and doing research in applied... Read More →
avatar for Tim Palmer

Tim Palmer

Immediate Past President, NACD
avatar for Ramón González Beiró

Ramón González Beiró

Secretary of Agriculture, Puerto Rico Department of Agriculture
The Secretary of Agriculture of Puerto Rico was born in the town of Arroyo, Puerto Rico on October 6, 1965. He studied Accounting at the Regional College of Ponce, Puerto Rico and Agricultural Administration at Santa Fe Community College in Gainesville, Florida. He carries agriculture... Read More →
avatar for Stafford Crossman

Stafford Crossman

Associate Director and Extension Assistant Professor, University of the Virgin Islands School of Agriculture, Cooperative Extension Service
Stafford Crossman is an Extension Assistant Professor and Associate Director of the Cooperative Extension Service at the University of the Virgin Islands School of Agriculture. He began his career at the University of the Virgin Islands as a Research Specialist at the Agricultural... Read More →


Monday July 18, 2022 8:30am - 10:15am EDT
San Geronimo ABC

10:30am EDT

Climate-Smart Conservation
Learn from federal agencies about priorities and action in conservation in the face of climate change, drought, and natural disasters.

Moderators
avatar for Tim Palmer

Tim Palmer

Immediate Past President, NACD

Speakers
NR

Nick Reinke

Chief Executive Officer, HabiTerre
LP

Lorette Picciano

Executive Director, Rural Coalition
avatar for Nora Alvarez-Berríos

Nora Alvarez-Berríos

Research Associate, Caribbean Climate Hub
Nora Alvarez-Berríos is a Research Associate with the Caribbean Climate Hub. Nora joined the Caribbean Climate Hub team as a Climate Fellow in Jun 2016 and since then has investigated agricultural and forestry land areas vulnerable to climate change and adaptability scenarios for... Read More →
JJ

Jack Jeworski

Business Development Director, Ecosystem Service Market Consortium


Monday July 18, 2022 10:30am - 11:45am EDT
San Cristobal BCD

10:30am EDT

Equity: The Importance of Data and Targeted Outreach
Learn from a diverse group of organizations about the data on underserved producers they have collected and analyzed, and how that data and analysis can inform strategies to strengthen outreach to more farmers, ranchers, and forest landowners.

Moderators
KR

Kenesha Reynolds, Ph.D.

Technical Assistance Specialist, Rural Coalition

Speakers
avatar for José L. Sánchez

José L. Sánchez

Executive Director, Victus Puerto Rico's Prosperity Farmers Project
José L. Sánchez is a board-certified lawyer with experience in civil law and administrative government processes.  He has a bachelor’s degree in Business Administration, with a major in Marketing at the University of Puerto Rico, Mayagüez Campus.  He also has a Juris Doctor... Read More →
avatar for Dr. H. Nolo Martinez

Dr. H. Nolo Martinez

Co-President, Mano-Y-ola
Dr. Martínez is an Agronomist and Agricultural Economist. Dr. Martínez has over 30 years of experience working with farmers, farmworkers, and disabled farmers in the Southeast Region of the US. Dr. Martínez founded the NC AgrAbility Project in 1994 and served as the first Hispanic... Read More →
avatar for Gladys M. González-Martínez, Ph.D.

Gladys M. González-Martínez, Ph.D.

Ad Honorem Professor, University of Puerto Rico (UPR) at Mayagüez
Dr. Gladys González-Martínez is an Ad Honorem professor at the University of Puerto Rico (UPR) at Mayagüez from where she recently retired as full professor of Agricultural Economics. She obtained a Ph.D. in Agricultural Economics from the University of Missouri-Columbia, following... Read More →


Monday July 18, 2022 10:30am - 11:45am EDT
San Cristobal A

10:30am EDT

Joint Chiefs' Landscape Restoration Partnerships Initiative (JCI) in Puerto Rico
Under the Joint Chief’s Initiative (JCI), USDA-NRCS, the U.S. Forest Service, and other partners in Puerto Rico leverage resources to work collaboratively at a landscape-scale level to increase conservation actions on private lands to improve ecosystem function and health and economic and ecological services for local communities impacted by the 2017 hurricane season. Learn more in this session about JCI projects to conserve and protect targeted species through biological corridor establishment, wildlife habitat improvement, and the establishment of new populations of threatened and endangered plant species.

Moderators
avatar for Ricardo J. Colon

Ricardo J. Colon

Caribbean Area Biologist, NRCS
Ricardo J. Colon completed a Bachelor’s Degree in Animal Science and a Master’s Degree in Biology at the University of Puerto Rico.  With more than 10 years of experience in the federal government, he began his career in the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service as a Wildlife Biologist... Read More →

Speakers
avatar for Magaly Figueroa

Magaly Figueroa

AD for State and Private Forestry Programs, International Institute of Tropical Forestry, USDA-USFS
Magaly Figueroa is in charge of the State and Private Forestry Programs in Puerto Rico and the US Virgin Islands since 2017. She has worked for the US Forest Service at the International Institute of Tropical Forestry since 2002. Until 2002, she worked for the Forest Service Bureau... Read More →
avatar for Iván Llerandi-Román

Iván Llerandi-Román

Supervisory Fish & Wildlife Biologist, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) Caribbean Ecological Services Field Office
Iván Llerandi-Román is a Supervisory Fish & Wildlife biologist in the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) Caribbean Ecological Services Field Office. He holds a Master’s degree in Fish and Wildlife Management from the Mississippi State University and B.S. degree in Biology... Read More →
IO

Isela Ortiz

Administrator, Southwest Soil Conservation District


Monday July 18, 2022 10:30am - 11:45am EDT
San Cristobal EFG

10:30am EDT

Sustainable Tourism and Community Engagement Initiatives in Puerto Rico
In this session, federal, territory, and nonprofit organizations share how they’ve launched successful sustainable tourism and community engagement programs in Puerto Rico, and the importance of these programs on agriculture, agroforestry, and economic development.

Moderators
KE

Kayleigh Evans

President, Southeast Conservation District Employees Association

Speakers
avatar for Gabriela Morales Nieves

Gabriela Morales Nieves

Land Management Planner in El Yunque National Forest, USDA-USFS
Gabriela Morales Nieves is a forester currently working as a Land Management Planner in El Yunque National Forest with the U.S. Forest Service. She has a bachelor’s degree in Biology and Environmental Science from UPR Río Piedras and a Master of Forestry from Yale School of the... Read More →
avatar for Fernando Lloveras San Miguel

Fernando Lloveras San Miguel

President, Para la Naturaleza
Fernando Lloveras San Miguel, Esq. is President of Para la Naturaleza and Executive Director of the Puerto Rico Conservation Trust. Attorney Lloveras, highly committed to nature conservation, historic preservation, and reforestation is determined to further develop the values of education... Read More →


Monday July 18, 2022 10:30am - 11:45am EDT
Conference 3-7

12:00pm EDT

Southeast Region Hall of Fame Luncheon
Speakers
avatar for Gary Blair

Gary Blair

First Vice President, NACD
Secretary-Treasurer Gary Blair retired from Southern AgCredit, ACA, formally known as Federal Land Bank, in 2016 after 36 years of service to agriculture in Mississippi, Alabama, Louisiana and Texas. Currently he has a private consulting business, Legacy Land & Financial Consulting... Read More →
SM

Steven Meeks

Southeast Region Chair, NACD
JV

Joel Vega

Puerto Rico Representative, NACD Board of Directors


Monday July 18, 2022 12:00pm - 2:00pm EDT
San Geronimo ABC

2:15pm EDT

Coastal and Urban Conservation
Our nation’s coasts are home to almost 40% of the U.S. population and many of our urban communities. Continued population growth along the coasts, and urbanization pose challenges and opportunities for coastal and urban conservation. Learn in this session how the San Juan Bay Estuary Program works to conserve coastal natural resources in an urban area, and how the University of Puerto Rico and the nonprofit organization, Protectores de Cuencas are restoring and conserving coastal ecosystems for resilient communities in Puerto Rico while helping the next generation gain valuable skills and certification in ecological restoration. Also hear from Florida’s Duval SWCD, which serves coastal Duval County and the city of Jacksonville, about their urban conservation initiatives and partnerships to help protect watersheds and the St. Johns River as it flows into the Atlantic Ocean.

Moderators
JL

Joe Lomax

Chair, NACD Coastal RPG

Speakers
avatar for Robert J. Mayer, Ph.D. , CERP

Robert J. Mayer, Ph.D. , CERP

Professor, Dept. of Natural Sciences, University of Puerto Rico at Aguadilla
Dr. Mayer is a full professor at the University of Puerto Rico at Aguadilla and a Certified Ecological Restoration Practitioner. His research and ecological restoration work focuses on the ecological restoration of mangroves and coastal dunes on the north coast of Puerto Rico. This... Read More →
avatar for Yasiel A. Figueroa Sánchez

Yasiel A. Figueroa Sánchez

Environmental Consultant & GIS Specialist, Protectores de Cuencas, Inc.
Yasiel A. Figueroa Sánchez is an Environmental Scientist (M.Sc.) and Geographer from Isabela, Puerto Rico with over 8 years of experience in environmental conservation. He currently works as an environmental consultant and GIS specialist for the NGO Protectores de Cuencas focusing... Read More →
avatar for Jennifer Casey

Jennifer Casey

Chair, Duval Soil and Water Conservation District
Jennifer Casey is the Chair of the Duval Soil and Water Conservation District in Florida and a member of the 2022 cohort of the Next Generation Leadership Institute sponsored by the National Conservation Foundation. Jennifer is a partner with agencies and organizations meeting local... Read More →
avatar for Brenda Torres Barreto

Brenda Torres Barreto

Executive Director, San Juan Bay Estuary Program
Brenda Torres Barreto is a professional in the field of sustainability with vast experience in environmental management, corporate social responsibility and public policy development through empowerment and multisector alliances. She has excelled in leadership positions in Puerto... Read More →


Monday July 18, 2022 2:15pm - 4:30pm EDT
San Cristobal BCD

2:15pm EDT

Technology in Conservation and Agriculture
Explore technologies that could assist farmers of different sizes and conservation practitioners

Moderators
NR

Nick Reinke

Chief Executive Officer, HabiTerre

Speakers
avatar for Bradley Doorn, Ph.D.

Bradley Doorn, Ph.D.

Program Manager for Water Resources and Agriculture, NASA Applied Science Program of the Earth Science Division
MS

Marcos Saliceti

Agronomist, Caribe Soil Conservation District, Puerto Rico


Monday July 18, 2022 2:15pm - 4:30pm EDT
Conference 3-7

2:15pm EDT

The National Conservation Foundation (NCF)-Envirothon and Conservation Stewardship and Education
Education is key to ensuring the sustainability of our environment and natural resources, and conservation districts play a vital role in cultivating the next generation of conservation leaders. Join us for an engaging discussion on conservation education, featuring NACD’s Stewardship and Education initiatives and the NCF-Envirothon program. NACD and the NCF-Envirothon provide conservation districts with initiatives and resources for outreach to students, K–12 grades. This hands-on session will provide an overview of NACD’s Stewardship and Education program which develops conservation education tools for districts and the public, and NCF-Envirothon, an international environmental and conservation academic competition that builds leadership experience for high school students. Hear from a panel of speakers during a roundtable discussion on their work with conservation education outreach initiatives and Envirothon programming and participate with questions, discussion, and interaction.

Moderators
avatar for Jennifer Brooks

Jennifer Brooks

NCF-Envirothon Program Manager, National Conservation Foundation

Speakers
CC

Courtney Curenton-Baker

Operations and Outreach Manager, Alabama Association of Conservation Districts
LM

Lisa Marochak

Senior Administrative Officer & Education Coordinator, Durham County SWCD, North Carolina
avatar for Rachel Edwards

Rachel Edwards

Stewardship and Education Coordinator, National Association of Conservation Districts


Monday July 18, 2022 2:15pm - 4:30pm EDT
San Cristobal A

2:15pm EDT

Watershed and Habitat Protection Opportunities and Southeast Region Experiences
Learn more about NRCS’ Watershed Protection and Flood Prevention Program and USFWS’ Partners for Fish and Wildlife Program, and funding opportunities through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. Hear from Puerto Rico and North Carolina about their experiences with the Emergency Watershed Protection Program (EWPP) following recent devastating hurricanes.

Moderators
avatar for Lisa Knauf Owen

Lisa Knauf Owen

Assistant Executive Director, Oklahoma Conservation Commission
Lisa Knauf Owen is the Assistant Executive Director of the Oklahoma Conservation Commission and has worked for the agency and conservation districts for the past 30 years. She currently serves as Chair of the National Watershed Coalition (NWC). NWC is a nonprofit 501 (c) (3) Coalition... Read More →

Speakers
avatar for John A. Huffman

John A. Huffman

Chief, Branch of Habitat Restoration, National Wildlife Refuge System, Division of Natural Resources and Conservation Planning
John Huffman leads the Branch of Habitat Restoration, part of the National Wildlife Refuge System, for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service in Falls Church, Virginia. The Branch oversees the national policy, budget and implementation of voluntary habitat conservation programs including... Read More →
YB

Yilia Baucage-Bou

Caribbean Lead Engineer, USDA-NRCS
DW

David Williams

Deputy Director, Division of Soil and Water Conservation, NC Department of Agriculture
BE

Bryan Evans

North Carolina Association of SWCD
PV

Peter Vivoni

Secretary, East Soil Conservation District, Puerto Rico


Monday July 18, 2022 2:15pm - 4:30pm EDT
San Cristobal EFG

2:15pm EDT

NCF Board of Trustees Meeting
Monday July 18, 2022 2:15pm - 5:00pm EDT
Flamingo AB
 
Tuesday, July 19
 

7:00am EDT

Registration
Stop by the registration desk to check-in, get your name badge, or ask any questions you have about the agenda or meeting! 

Tuesday July 19, 2022 7:00am - 9:00am EDT
San Geronimo Foyer

7:30am EDT

Grab-and-Go Breakfast
Tuesday July 19, 2022 7:30am - 8:30am EDT
San Geronimo ABC

8:30am EDT

Conservation from the Coast to the Mountains Tour
*Must be signed up in advance to attend

Tour to the center of the island. After driving a short distance on the highway from San Juan to Coamo, you will start to see drastic changes in topograhy and ecologic communities. From Coamo, the group will begin traveling up through the mountains on Puerto Rico’s scenic Ruta Panoramica (“panoramic route”). It takes approximately 1 hour and 10 minutes to get to Caribe Soil Conservation District board member Milly González’s farm, where attendees will take in a breathtaking view, experience an 18-acre forest under conservation bursting with fruit trees and wildlife, and learn about a well-planned apiary with 8 beehives. Staff will conduct trips to the beehives, as well as among pathways within the forests to learn about soil conservation and protecting pollinators. For those who wish to hike, very deep in the woods, lives Elena, a 300-year-old Ceiba tree that it is well worth the walk to take a picture among her roots.

In the afternoon, after lunch on the farm, travel with Distrito Caribe’s staff to several farms on the coast in Santa Isabel, where Distrito Caribe has been sponsoring an irrigation project to enhance water supply for the south aquifer. This important project supplies water for local vegetable farmers, who have been resilient in the face of catastrophic events such as climate change, historic hurricanes, earthquakes, pandemic, and lack of water.

Lunch is included. Wear comfortable shoes, clothing, and sun protection for walking outside.

Tuesday July 19, 2022 8:30am - 5:00pm EDT
Tour

9:00am EDT

El Yunque National Forest Tour
*Must be signed up in advance to attend

Visit the only tropical rainforest in the U.S. National Forest Service! With an average rainfall of 120 inches a year, El Yunque has a very diverse ecosystem, hosting hundreds of unique plant and animal species, including Puerto Rico’s famous coquí frog. On this tour, travel about 45 minutes east of San Juan to El Yunque’s El Portal Visitor Center to learn more about this unique ecosystem, then explore El Yunque and the plants and animals that call it home on a guided walk. Tour includes two one-hour enjoyable walks in El Portal and Palo Colorado as well as the chance to rest and take in the views of El Yunque. The El Portal walk includes a gradual incline walk and the opportunity to see examples of Puerto Rico’s flora + fauna and biodiversity. The Palo Colorado walk is at a higher elevation guided by Para La Naturaleza and this walk will include different forest types and historic sites. This tour will also include 3D terrain maps, Live Puerto Rican Parrots, the main forest gift shop, The El Yunque movie, various art exhibit installation, cultural and historic exhibits, and an entire pavilion of biodiversity + forest-specific exhibits.  El Yunque awaits you!

Lunch is included. Wear comfortable shoes, clothing, and sun protection for walking outside. Daily showers occur in El Yunque, so rain gear is also advised.

Tuesday July 19, 2022 9:00am - 5:00pm EDT
Tour

9:00am EDT

Hacienda la Esperanza
Join Para La Naturaleza for a guided trip to the Hacienda la Esperanza, located in Manatí, about a 50 minute drive west of San Juan on the northern shore of Puerto Rico. Hacienda la Esperanza is a 19th century sugar cane hacienda with the only sugar mill steam engine of its kind in existence completely restored to operating condition. The Hacienda is located in the karst region of Puerto Rico and includes a diverse environment that incorporates farming while safeguarding wetlands, grasslands, mangroves, and a crystal-clear estuary.

Tour attendees will be treated to a welcome presentation upon arrival, a tour, lunch, and an environmental project before departing back to San Juan.

Lunch included. Wear comfortable shoes, clothing, and sun protection for walking outside.

Tuesday July 19, 2022 9:00am - 5:00pm EDT
Tour
 
Wednesday, July 20
 

8:00am EDT

NCPP Meeting
Wednesday July 20, 2022 8:00am - 4:00pm EDT
Las Olas
 
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