Rights-of-Way as Habitat Working Group

2024 ROWHWG Monarchs and More Network Meeting
2024-03-05 - 2024-03-07 | Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center, 4801 La Crosse Ave, Austin, TX, 78739, United States
Monarchs and More Network Meeting
Tuesday, March 5-Thursday, March 7, 2024
Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center, Austin, TX
Early bird registration ends January 12, so register now!
Join us for the annual Monarchs and More Network Meeting, a premier gathering of experts, advocates, and stakeholders dedicated to the conservation of monarch butterflies and other pollinators. The theme of the meeting is cross-sector collaboration in monarch and pollinator conservation. This year’s event promises to be a truly informative and collaborative experience as we come together to share knowledge, insights, and strategies for the future of pollinator conservation.
This meeting is jointly hosted by the Monarch Joint Venture, Rights-of-Way as Habitat Working Group, and Farmers for Monarchs. A big thank you to the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center for being the Hosting Sponsor of the 2024 Monarchs and More Network Meeting. We can’t wait to see you all in beautiful Austin, TX, March 5-7!
Click on the website link to learn more about lodging and off-site field trips, view the draft agenda, or to register for the event.

2024 National Pheasant Fest and Quail Classic
2024-03-01 - 2024-03-03 | Denny Sandford Premier Center, 1201 N West Avenue, Sioux Falls, SD, 57104, United States
2024 National Pheasant Fest and Quail Classic
March 1-3, 2024
Denny Sanford Premier Center, Sioux Falls, SD
Tickets now available for purchase!

48th Annual National Wild Turkey Federation Convention & Sport Show
2024-02-14 - 2024-02-18 | Gaylord Opryland Resort and Convention Center, 2800 Opryland Dr., Nashville, TN, 37214, United States
48th Annual National Wild Turkey Federation Convention & Sport Show
February 14-18, 2024
Gaylord Opryland Resort and Convention Center, Nashville, TN
Registration now open!

2024 Southern Gas Association Technical Environmental Conference
2024-02-06 08:00 - 2024-02-08 18:00 (America/Chicago) | The Florida Hotel & Conference Center, 1500 Sand Lake Rd, Orlando, FL, 32809, United States
2024 Southern Gas Association Technical Environmental Conference
February 6-8, 2024
The Florida Hotel & Conference Center, Orlando, FL
Register here!
Join industry peers at the 2024 Technical Environmental Conference to hear from operators and industry partners alike on an array of environmental topics ranging from sustainability to new technologies, to our changing regulatory and cultural environment. Featuring sessions covering Environmental Permitting, Construction, and new for 2023: Air Quality Compliance & Permitting, this conference offers insights for newcomers, industry veterans, and everyone in between. Merging the perspectives of gas operators and associate industry partners, the Technica Environmental Conference presents an opportunity to learn from the best-in-class in the natural gas industry and grow your network with engaging networking events.
The renowned Technical Environmental Conference serves as a valuable platform for gaining consensus, sharing expertise and vision, raising the voice of natural gas, and providing solutions to the industry’s major challenges. Southern Gas Association hosts this in-demand event where environmental, energy and sustainability executives from natural gas operating, supplier, engineering, and environmental companies, as well as universities and government agencies will gather. All will learn how large organizations are meeting the challenges of complying with environmental regulations, reaching enterprise-wide sustainability goals, and reaching energy management targets. The Environmental Permitting, Construction and Air Quality Compliance & Permitting learning tracks provide a forum for strategic planning on the industry’s immediate priorities that are shaped in close consultation with industry experts serving on the conference planning committee.
Who should attend:

Environmental SMEs
Engineers
Attorneys
Operations Managers
Regulatory
Government Agencies (PHMSA, FERC, etc)

84th Midwest Fish and Wildlife Conference
2024-01-28 - 2024-01-31 | Sheraton Sioux Falls & Convention Center, 1211 N West Avenue, Sioux Falls, SD, 57104, United States
84th Midwest Fish and Wildlife Conference
January 28-31, 2024
Sheraton Sioux Falls Hotel & Convention Center, Sioux Falls, SD
Register now! Registration rates will increase after December 31.
This annual event brings together more than 800 professionals and students from state, federal, and tribal natural resources agencies from the Midwest, Great Plains, and Canadian provinces. As the longest running regional conference for fish and wildlife professionals in the U.S., this event serves as a forum to discuss issues, and present technical information related to management of natural resources in the Midwest.
Conference Announcements:

Attention Students! Applications are now being accepted for the Janice Lee Fenske Memorial Award from fisheries and wildlife undergraduate and graduate students. Deadline to apply: December 15.
Sponsor and Exhibitor Registration is open! Join us!
​Attendee Registration is open! Sign up early to save.
​Call for Related Meetings is open! Deadline to submit is January 1.
Special Symposia Announced!
Workshops Announced!
Call for Presentations and Posters is closed; the schedule of presentations will be announced in November.

Future Harvest 25th Annual Conference
2024-01-18 - 2024-01-20
Future Harvest 25th Annual Conference
January 18-20, 2024
College Park, MD
Register here!
Save the date for our 25th annual conference January 18th – 20th, 2024 in College Park, Maryland.
The 2024 event theme will be “Nourish & Flourish: From the Ground Up.” We’ll have one day of pre-conference sessions and two main conference days.

Events & Special Sessions:

Locally sourced lunches
Farmer-to-farmer seed, book, and gear swaps
Membership meeting

Optional Monarch CCAA Annual Reporting Help Desk
2024-01-11 10:00 - 11:00
Optional Monarch CCAA Annual Reporting Help Desk
Thursday, January 11, 2024
10:00 AM – 11:00 AM CST
Join the meeting at the above time/date.
We will use this time to review the Monarch CCAA annual reporting requirements and answer questions related to annual report preparation. This is an optional meeting open to any CCAA Partner.
Please feel free to reach out to Megan (mpetrait@uic.edu) or Catherine (coreil4@uic.edu) with any questions.

103rd Transportation Research Board Annual Meeting
2024-01-07 - 2024-01-11 | Walter E. Washington Convention Center, 801 Mt Vernon Pl NW, Washington D.C., DC, 20001, United States
103rd Transportation Research Board (TRB) Annual Meeting
January 7-11, 2024
Walter E. Washington Convention Center, Washington, D.C.
Registration is now open!
We look forward to seeing you in Washington, DC, for the 103rd Transportation Research Board (TRB) Annual Meeting, January 7–11, 2024.

TRB’s Annual Meeting attracts thousands of transportation professionals from around the world. The program covers all transportation modes, with sessions and workshops addressing topics of interest to policy makers, administrators, practitioners, researchers, and representatives of government, industry, and academic institutions.
The full meeting program will be posted online in November. In the meantime, view the Online Program Archive to get an idea of the wide range of topics covered at previous TRB Annual Meetings.
Paper submission for the 2024 TRB Annual Meeting is now open!
We accept submissions on all topics covered by TRB Standing Committees. To see which committees have issued a specific call for papers, click here. Note that you do not need to select a call to submit a paper. Please be sure to read the Instructions for Authors prior to submission.
Become an Exhibitor: Don’t miss this opportunity to get your organization’s brand in front of leading industry decision makers. Exhibiting at the Annual Meeting is an excellent way for organizations in the transportation sector to showcase their products and services, connect with potential clients and partners, and stay up to date on the latest trends and research in the industry. Reserve your exhibit booth today!

Support TRB by becoming an Annual Meeting Patron. TRB is a leading organization in transportation research and provides valuable resources and expertise to transportation professionals and policymakers worldwide. By becoming a Patron, your organization will be supporting transportation research, policy, and practice; all of which help advance the transportation industry and promote sustainable, efficient, and safe transportation solutions.
More detailed information will be added to this website in the coming months. Please continue to check back to get the latest updates.

2023 Monarch Conservation Webinar Series - Monarch Conservation: Past, Present, and Future
2023-12-19 13:00 - 14:00
2023 Monarch Conservation Webinar Series – Monarch Conservation: Past, Present, and Future
December 19, 2023
1:00PM-2:00PM CST
Register for all webinars in the series here!
Join us for a monarch conservation webinar monthly throughout the 2023 calendar year! Every 4th Tuesday (3rd Tues Nov, Dec) at 1PM Central Time.

Stay connected with the latest monarch conservation topics by attending our free monthly webinars. This series is a unique opportunity to hear from experts across various interdisciplinary fields related to monarchs, other pollinators, their habitats, and the threats and pressures that make conservation urgent. Bring your questions and get ready to discover how you can get involved to protect monarchs.
All webinars are one hour long and occur at 1:00 PM Central Time. Please note that scheduled webinars are subject to change.
All past webinars are available to view; visit our webinar archive on the MJV website.
This series is co-hosted by the Monarch Joint Venture and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s National Conservation Training Center.
2023 Webinars:
– February 28: Western Monarch Mystery Challenge
– March 28: Planning Your Pollinator Habitat
– April 25: Monarch Research Review
– May 23: Lower Phalen Creek Project
– June 27: Implications of Movement Ecology in Conservation Planning for
Monarch Butterflies (Danaus plexippus)
– July 25: Solar Energy and Pollinator Habitat
– August 22: Monarch Sanctuaries
– September 26: Central Coast State Parks Association (CCSPA) and the Western Monarch Trail
– October 24: Parasite dynamics in North American monarchs predicted by host density and seasonal migratory culling
– November 14: Reforestation Project in Mexico
– December 19: Monarch Conservation: Past, Present, and Future

WEBINAR: Bee And Butterfly Fund - Solar Synergy
2023-12-12 10:00 - 11:00
Solar Synergy Webinar
Tuesday, December 12, 2023
10:00 AM – 11:00 AM CST
Register now!
Learn how this new program works with utility-scale solar projects across the country to strategically design, deliver and document pollinator health & habitat benefits, carbon sequestration gains and produce great vegetative cover outcomes.

WEBINAR: Xerces - In the Life of Monarchs East of the Rockies: Biology and the Great Migration
2023-12-07 12:00 - 13:00
In the Life of Monarchs East of the Rockies: Biology and the Great Migration
Thursday, December 7, 2023
12:00 PM – 1:00 PM CST
Register here!
Dr. Ray Moranz will begin by presenting on the basic aspects of monarch biology, including the life cycle, the use for milkweeds as host plant, the incorporation of cardiac glycosides as a chemical defense, and the vulnerability of this species to various predators, parasites, parasitoids and diseases. However, the heart of the talk will be on monarch migration, and how monarch biology changes in fascinating ways from month to month as they move from one region of North America to another. He will do his best to provide information relevant to people from Saskatchewan to Mexico City, and from Nova Scotia to Cuba, and everywhere in between. He will conclude by talking about some things you can do to help monarchs where you live.
This webinar will be recorded and available on our YouTube channel. Closed Captioning will be available during this webinar.

WEBINAR: Xerces - In the Life of Western Monarchs: A Community Science Approach to Conservation
2023-11-16 12:00 - 13:00
In the Life of Western Monarchs: A Community Science Approach to Conservation
Thursday, November 16, 2023
12:00 PM – 1:00 PM CST
Register here!
Join Isis Howard, Endangered Species Conservation Biologist with the Xerces Society for Invertebrate Conservation, to talk about the powerful ways community science is shaping the conservation of western monarch butterflies. From surveying monarchs and their milkweed host plants in the summer to counting butterflies clustering along the west coast in the winter, learn how everyday individuals are collecting important data to protect an iconic species.
This webinar will be recorded and available on our YouTube channel. Closed Captioning will be available during this webinar.

WEBINAR: Bee & Butterfly Habitat Fund - Seed a Legacy (SAL) Program Expansion
2023-11-14 19:00 - 20:00
Seed a Legacy Expansion
Tuesday, November 14, 2023
7:00 PM – 8:00 PM CST
Register now!
✅ Are you a landowner with 2+ acres? (We also work with managers of private, public and corporate lands.)
✅ Do you live in one of the following states?
IL, IN, IA, KS, MI, MN, MO, NE, ND, OH, PA, SD, or WI.
✅ Are you interested in FREE seed and technical guidance to plant a high-quality pollinator habitat on your land?
If so, join us for a free webinar where our Habitat Director will take a deep dive into our Seed a Legacy program: what we do, why we do it, how you can become involved, and the process we follow with applicants.
*For those who attend live, we will have a Q&A session at the end!
**A recording will also be sent out for those who can’t make it live.

2023 Monarch Conservation Webinar Series - Reforestation Project in Mexico
2023-11-14 13:00 - 14:00
2023 Monarch Conservation Webinar Series – Restoration Project in Mexico
November 14, 2023
1:00-2:00pm CST
Register for all webinars in the series here!
Join us for a monarch conservation webinar monthly throughout the 2023 calendar year! Every 4th Tuesday (3rd Tues Nov, Dec) at 1PM Central Time.

Stay connected with the latest monarch conservation topics by attending our free monthly webinars. This series is a unique opportunity to hear from experts across various interdisciplinary fields related to monarchs, other pollinators, their habitats, and the threats and pressures that make conservation urgent. Bring your questions and get ready to discover how you can get involved to protect monarchs.
All webinars are one hour long and occur at 1:00 PM Central Time. Please note that scheduled webinars are subject to change.
All past webinars are available to view; visit our webinar archive on the MJV website.
This series is co-hosted by the Monarch Joint Venture and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s National Conservation Training Center.
2023 Webinars:
– February 28: Western Monarch Mystery Challenge
– March 28: Planning Your Pollinator Habitat
– April 25: Monarch Research Review
– May 23: Lower Phalen Creek Project
– June 27: Implications of Movement Ecology in Conservation Planning for
Monarch Butterflies (Danaus plexippus)
– July 25: Solar Energy and Pollinator Habitat
– August 22: Monarch Sanctuaries
– September 26: Central Coast State Parks Association (CCSPA) and the Western Monarch Trail
– October 24: Parasite dynamics in North American monarchs predicted by host density and seasonal migratory culling
– November 14: Reforestation Project in Mexico
– December 19: Monarch Conservation: Past, Present, and Future

2023 Solar Power and Wildlife/Natural Resources Symposium
2023-11-14 - 2023-11-16
2023 Solar Power and Wildlife/Natural Resources Symposium
November 14-16, 2023
Norfolk, VA (Virtual attendance option available)
Registration is now open!
It’s estimated that solar power will grow up to five-fold in the next decade. Solar developers and others working to advance renewable energy recognize that along with successful commercialization, sustainable development requires investment into understanding and minimizing risk from the interactions between solar energy facilities, wildlife, and natural resources.
The Solar Symposium convenes stakeholders from academia, industry, the conservation sector, and public agencies to review the state of the science and identify research gaps and priority questions.
Meeting Topics
The Symposium identifies key concepts around balancing conservation and a rapidly growing solar market, and highlight what we know and emerging topics/questions related to:
Evaluating and Mitigating Impacts on Wildlife and Their Habitats
Land Management and Wildlife Compatibility
Water Resource Management
Solar Life-Cycle and Natural Resource Considerations
This meeting is organized and presented by REWI in consultation with a Planning Committee comprising representatives from the solar industry, environmental and conservation non-governmental organizations, state and federal agencies, and subject matter experts. To learn more about the inaugural Symposium, held in 2021, see the Proceedings.
The 2023 Symposium will be a hybrid event, with registrants able to attend in-person or virtually. All meeting sessions will be live broadcast for virtual attendees, and on-demand presentations and posters will be available to view on the online meeting platform.

CEATI Transmission & Distribution Conference 2023
2023-11-14 - 2023-11-15 | Omni Fort Worth Hotel, 1300 Houston Street, Fort Worth, TX, 76102, United States
CEATI Transmission & Distribution Conference 2023
November 14-November 15, 2023
Omni Forth Worth Hotel, Fort Worth, TX
Register now!
Join us this November when we bring our transmission and distribution events back together – reunited to form the CEATI T&D Conference! This event will take place in Fort Worth, TX on Nov 14-15, 2023 and will cover all T&D assets including transmission and distribution lines, as well as substations, grounding & lightning, and vegetation management. With focus on utility best practices, tools, and technologies to improve grid resiliency and reliability, attendees will gain a better understanding of opportunities and tools available to aid in the adaptation to regulatory requirements and climate change.
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Specific sessions will focus on the following themes:

aging infrastructure and reliability
preparation for and response to extreme events
wildfire prevention and mitigation
clean energy and emerging technology
safety and security

25th Railroad Environmental Conference
2023-11-14 - 2023-11-15
25th Railroad Environmental Conference
November 14-15, 2023
University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, Urbana-Champaign, IL
Register here!
RREC features presentations by railroaders, consulting engineers, academics and others involved in all aspects of railroad environmental topics. The annual railroad environmental conference enables you to meet with your peers throughout the railroad environmental community to exchange views, learn about new techniques and technologies, and generally stay in touch with the direction of the railroad industry’s environmental programs.
Additionally, AREMA Committee 13 and the AAR Environmental and Climate Committee are anticipated to hold their fall meetings in conjunction with the conference.

WEBINAR: UC Davis Wild Energy Center - Impacts of Floating Photovoltaic Solar Energy on Water Bodies
2023-11-10 17:00 - 18:30 | UC Davis Plant and Environmental Sciences Building, 387 N Quad, Davis, CA, 95616, United States
Impacts of Floating Photovoltaic Solar Energy on Water Bodies
Friday, November 10, 2023
5:00PM – 6:30PM CST
Register now!
You can also attend this talk in-person in Room 3001 in UC Davis’s Plant and Environmental Sciences Building (PES).
Alex Cagle is a Ph.D. Candidate in the Energy Graduate Group at UC Davis and the Wild Energy Center.
During this talk, Alex will discuss his empirical research on the impacts of floating solar PV installations (FPV) on host water bodies’ thermal dynamics and water quality parameters. Over the course of his Ph.D. research, Alex spent hundreds of hours on FPVs across the United States to better understand how this renewable energy technology impacts the local environment.
The first portion of the talk describes impacts of FPVs on host water body temperature and dissolved oxygen. Specifically, this work evaluates how shading conferred by FPVs alters diel and seasonal heating of host water bodies and how this shading may impact biological processes. The second portion of this talk will discuss in-situ impacts of FPVs on major water quality parameters and algae indicators. This body of research explains how FPVs alter algae growth beneath the array versus in open areas of the same water body. These two projects, comprising the last two chapters of his Ph.D., provide insight into how this unique form of solar energy may benefit local environments while advancing the transition to a zero- emission electric sector.
Alex Cagle has been published in Frontiers in Sustainability, Sustainability, and Environmental Science & Technology, among other journals, and was selected for the American Geophysical Union’s Voices for Science Program.

WEBINAR: ROWHWG - Invasive Plant Management on Rights-of-Way
2023-11-09 13:00 - 14:00
Knowledge + Understanding Series: Invasive Plant Management on Rights-of-Way
Thursday, November 9, 2023
1:00 PM – 2:00 PM CST
Register now!
Join us for the first in a series of webinars and roundtables on invasive plant management on rights-of-way. This introductory session will highlight the importance of controlling invasive plants in these areas and offer an overview of available resources for rights-of-way land managers in relation to invasive plant management.
Following this, we plan to host specialized roundtables that delve into specific topics and geographies driven by your interest and feedback. This webinar serves as a foundational introduction to our series, paving the way for more focused discussions.

The Wildlife Society's 30th Annual Conference
2023-11-05 - 2023-11-09 | The Galt House Hotel, 140 N. Fourth St., Louisville, KY, 40202, United States
The Wildlife Society’s 30th Annual Conference
November 5-9, 2023
The Galt House, Louisville, KY
Register now!
The Wildlife Society’s Annual Conference is one of the largest gatherings of wildlife professionals and supporters in North America. For now 30 years, TWS has hosted this unique and informative event that provides dozens of networking opportunities through working groups, meetings and receptions as well as nearly 1,000 educational opportunities that encourage discussion and collaboration.
At our conference, wildlife professionals make new connections with colleagues in wildlife science, research, management, business and education. Students meet professionals who can serve as mentors or provide insights on careers, job opportunities, current research and best practices.
Over the past three decades, TWS has hosted our annual conference within an impressive 25 different cities across 21 states and two provinces. We hope you join us in Louisville, as TWS once again prepares for a memorable event filled with engaging speakers, immersive workshops, and numerous networking opportunities.

Entomology 2023
2023-11-05 - 2023-11-08 | Gaylord National Resort & Convention Center, 201 Waterfront Street, National Harbor, MD, 20745, United States
Entomology 2023
November 5-8, 2023
Gaylord National Hotel & Convention Center, National Harbor, MD
Register here!
Reserve your room here!
Learn more about the conference here!

Entomology 2023 will bring together experts from around the world to discuss the latest advances in entomology and the rapidly changing world of insects. Attendees will have the chance to learn from leading scientists and experts, explore innovative technologies, and discover new trends and evidence-based strategies.
Entomology 2023 will take place November 5-8, 2023 in National Harbor, MD (just miles from Washington, DC) at the Gaylord National Resort & Convention Center. The theme for Entomology 2023 is Insects and Influence: Advancing Entomology’s Impact on People and Policy.
Attend talks, workshops, view the latest scientific posters and exhibits, participate in discussions on current topics related to entomology, network with experts in the field, and discover new and exciting career opportunities.
We are excited to announce that we have extended an invitation to Senator Dick Durbin. Senator Durbin, a Democrat from Springfield, is the 47th U.S. Senator from the State of Illinois, the state’s senior senator, and the convener of Illinois’ bipartisan congressional delegation. View more here.

2023 Natural Areas Conference (VIRTUAL)
2023-11-02 10:00
2023 Natural Areas Conference: The Power of Long-Term Ecological Research (LTER): Informing Natural Areas Management
November 2, 2023, 10:00AM-3:30PM CDT
Register here!
The National Science Foundation (NSF) Long Term Ecological Research Program (LTER) was established in 1980 to address ecological questions that cannot be resolved with short-term observations or experiments, emphasizing the study of ecological phenomena over long periods of time.
Long-term studies are essential to achieve an integrated understanding of how populations, natural communities and other components of ecosystems interact and are affected by management techniques and climate change. Getting this valuable science and research findings into the hands of those that can positively affect the conservation of critically important landscapes with an eye towards climate resilience are mutual goals of the National Science Foundation and the Natural Areas Association.
NAA, in partnership with the LTER Network, will highlight the important research being done within the LTER network that informs the practices of our land management audience from around North America. LTER researchers will convey the findings of their studies that inform on-the-ground management decisions that affect biodiversity conservation and ecological health in the systems in which natural areas practitioners work.
The conference will feature LTER representatives from the following ecosystems:

Prairies & Grasslands
Forests
Coastal Regions
Lacustrine/Riverine, and
Drylands

(REWI Webinar Series) Compensatory Migration: Thinking Outside the Box
2023-11-01 14:00 - 15:00
Compensatory Mitigation: Thinking Outside the Box
Wednesday, November 1st, 2023
2:00-3:00PM CDT
Register here!
Note: This is the final webinar in a four-part series co-hosted by the Renewable Wildlife Energy Institute (REWI) and the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL). Click the above link to learn more.
n some cases, alternatives to traditional compensation measures may provide significant conservation value. Examples include conservation actions that occur outside the region of the potential impact and funding research as a means of compensation. This webinar will explore outside-the-box ideas, examples of successful compensation alternatives, and situations in which innovative conservation actions may be necessary. Expert stakeholders will discuss the tradeoffs of implementing alternative compensation measures and when these may or may not be appropriate.
Moderator: Shilo Felton, REWI
Speakers:

Matt Palombo (New York Department of Environmental Conservation)
Goni Iskali (Apex Clean Energy)
Jérôme Lemaître (Government of Quebec, Ministère des Forêts, de la Faune et des Parcs)
Taber Allison (Renewable Energy Wildlife Institute)

gROWing Chicago Habitat 2023 Spring Meeting
2023-10-31 08:30 - 13:30 | Illinois Tollway Headquarters, 2700 Ogden Avenue, Downers Grove, IL, 60515, United States
gROWing Chicago Habitat 2023 Spring Meeting
Tuesday, October 31, 2023 from 8:30 AM – 1:30 PM CDT
Illinois Tollway Headquarters, Downers Grove, IL
Register now!
Get ready to roll up your sleeves for our working session! Join us for our fall meeting, focusing on habitat funding for green infrastructure. Gain insights from case studies, funders, and recipients. Preview our new prioritization tool and guidelines. Don’t miss out!

WEBINAR: WHC - Picturing a Better World for Bats: Stories from a Conservation Photographer
2023-10-24 13:00 - 14:00
Picturing a Better World for Bats: Stories from a Conservation Photographer
Tuesday, October 24, 2023
1:00 PM – 2:00 PM CDT
Register now!
If you’ve never traversed the depths of the deepest cave in the western hemisphere or found yourself surrounded by thousands of bats, it can be hard to imagine what that experience is like. Fortunately, conservation photographer Josh Hydeman has — and he’s deployed his skills to capture breathtaking photos of bats in places few people have set foot.
Josh’s work has been published in outlets like National Geographic and has been awarded Best in Show at the National Speleological Society’s Photo Salon. Josh’s years of freelance photography focusing on cave exploration led him to begin photographing the bats that populate these caves. Capturing images of cave habitats and bat species is only one part of Josh’s conservation work — sharing his pieces and the stories that accompany them is the other key element to educating the public about the importance of protecting bats.
In honor of Bat Week October 24-31, join us for this free webinar where Josh will display examples of his bat and cave photography and share the stories behind these incredible photos.
What you’ll learn:
• The importance of wildlife photography to inspire conservation of species like bats
• Stories from Josh’s cave explorations and interactions with bats
Who should take this webinar:
• Conservation professionals interested in learning more about conservation photography
• Wildlife teams working to restore habitats for bats
• Bat enthusiasts who want a behind-the-scenes look at some of Josh’s photos
Presenter:
• Josh Hydeman, photographer and subterranean specialist, Bat Conservation International

2023 Monarch Conservation Webinar Series - Parasite Dynamics in North American Monarchs Predicted by Host Density and Seasonal Migratory Culling
2023-10-24 13:00 - 14:00
2023 Monarch Conservation Webinar Series – Parasite Dynamics in North American Monarchs Predicted by Host Density and Seasonal Migratory Culling
October 24, 2023
1:00PM-2:00PM CDT
Register for all webinars in the series here!
Join us for a monarch conservation webinar monthly throughout the 2023 calendar year! Every 4th Tuesday (3rd Tues Nov, Dec) at 1PM Central Time.

Stay connected with the latest monarch conservation topics by attending our free monthly webinars. This series is a unique opportunity to hear from experts across various interdisciplinary fields related to monarchs, other pollinators, their habitats, and the threats and pressures that make conservation urgent. Bring your questions and get ready to discover how you can get involved to protect monarchs.
All webinars are one hour long and occur at 1:00 PM Central Time. Please note that scheduled webinars are subject to change.
All past webinars are available to view; visit our webinar archive on the MJV website.
This series is co-hosted by the Monarch Joint Venture and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s National Conservation Training Center.
2023 Webinars:
– February 28: Western Monarch Mystery Challenge
– March 28: Planning Your Pollinator Habitat
– April 25: Monarch Research Review
– May 23: Lower Phalen Creek Project
– June 27: Implications of Movement Ecology in Conservation Planning for
Monarch Butterflies (Danaus plexippus)
– July 25: Solar Energy and Pollinator Habitat
– August 22: Monarch Sanctuaries
– September 26: Central Coast State Parks Association (CCSPA) and the Western Monarch Trail
– October 24: Parasite dynamics in North American monarchs predicted by host density and seasonal migratory culling
– November 14: Reforestation Project in Mexico
– December 19: Monarch Conservation: Past, Present, and Future

2023 Bat Week
2023-10-24 - 2023-10-31
2023 Bat Week
October 24-31, 2023
Bat Week is an international, annual celebration designed to raise awareness about the need for bat conservation. Bats are amazing creatures that are vital to the health of our natural world and economy. Although we may not always see them, bats are hard at work all around the world each night – eating tons of insects, pollinating flowers, and spreading seeds that grow new plants and trees.
Learn more here!

Bloom 23
2023-10-24 - 2023-10-25 | San Jose Convention Center, 150 W San Carlos St, San Jose, CA, 95113, United States
Bloom 23
October 24-25, 2023
San Jose Convention Center, San Jose, CA
Register here!
Bloom 23 is the leading event for professionals advancing strategies to protect and regenerate nature. Over the course of two interactive days, it creates essential connections between companies, innovators and experts from leading organizations and indigenous groups. By participating, you’ll get to explore the markets, technologies and partnerships key to addressing the climate and biodiversity crises hand-in-hand.
While climate change has been front and center for today’s business world, an equally existential crisis is confronting the global economy: the accelerating loss of biodiversity and ecosystems. Increasingly, business leaders and policymakers are recognizing that the two crises are inextricably linked — that solving each requires solving both — and they are moving to take decisive action.
At Bloom 23, more than 500 professionals will convene for two days of inspiring sessions and networking to advance strategies to protect and regenerate nature.

(REWI Webinar Series) Compensatory Mitigation: Grouse Management and Conservation
2023-10-20 13:00 - 14:00
Compensatory Mitigation: Grouse Management and Conservation
Friday, October 20th, 2023
1:00-2:00PM CDT
Register here!
Note: This is the third webinar in a four-part series co-hosted by the Renewable Wildlife Energy Institute (REWI) and the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL). Click the above link to learn more.
Grouse are considered an umbrella species because of their close connection to the surrounding habitat. The prairies and sage-brush where grouse reside are disappearing as a result of many stressors, including invasive species, climate change, and human development. Thus, any new disturbance or loss of habitat can significantly impact the species. Proper siting of wind energy facilities can avoid potential impacts to the species or their habitat, but it is likely that compensation measures will be needed to ensure there is no net loss. This webinar will bring together representatives from regulatory agencies, industry, conservation organizations, and researchers to discuss the regulatory landscape that guides decision-making around wind energy development and prairie grouse, and hear about the various mechanisms available to improve the availability of quality habitat.
Moderator: Cris Hein, NREL
Speakers:

David Wolfe (Independent Consultant)
Karen Tyrell (WEST, Inc.)
Matt Preston (Bureau of Land Management)
Kathleen Petter (Nevada Department of Conservation and Natural Resources)

WEBINAR: Bee City USA - In the Life of Bees: Nesting in Darkness
2023-10-19 12:00 - 13:00
In the Life of Bees: Nesting in Darkness
Thursday, October 19
12:00 PM – 1:00 PM CDT
Register here!
When you think of bees, you probably imagine the things they do on sunny days, like flying around and pollinating flowers. But this is only half of the story, as most of the 20,000 species of bees found around the world nest belowground and spend the majority of their lives in darkness. What are they doing underground? How do they navigate their burrows and communicate with other bees? What happens when it rains? There are many interesting questions surrounding this lifestyle, and also plenty of uncertainties remaining to be resolved about subterranean living. In this webinar, we will learn about the diversity of ways that bees live and reproduce belowground, and we’ll ponder some of those unsolved mysteries. We’ll also talk about how the belowground lifestyle affects threats to bees, such as exposure to pesticides and pathogens. This webinar will cover some bees you may be familiar with, such as bumble bees, but we’ll be focusing our time on soil-nesters who we generally know less about, including the many solitary bees that do not live in colonies.
This webinar will be recorded and available on our YouTube channel. Closed Captioning will be available during this webinar.
Learn more and register here today!
