Fifth annual conference hosted by  Coastal Prairie Partnership and Native Prairies Association of Texas. This year's conference will focus on challenges to conserving, restoring and educating about prairies.

Audience: Resource professionals, private landowners, volunteers (including Texas Master Naturalists), educators, landscape architects. 

Cost: Field experiences (May 29) - $30 each; Indoor Presentations (May 30 & 31) $150; $75 for students. Free post-conference field experience also available.

Topics: Prairie restoration, prairies and water/energy production, prairies and climate change, managing for biodiversity, prairie bird conservation, social media and conservation, conservation agreement for landowners, teaching about prairies, creating grassroots campaigns, and more.

Field Experiences (May 29 and June 1): This year's conference will include a varied mixture of free and paid field experiences throughout the DFW area.

Indoor Presentations (MAY 30 AND 31) at Fort Worth Botanic Gardens:

Topics include - Prairie restoration, prairies and water/energy production, prairies and climate change, managing for biodiversity, prairie bird conservation, social media and conservation, conservation agreement for landowners, teaching about prairies, creating grassroots campaigns, and more.

Confirmed Speakers:

Kyle Brazil, Program Director and Certified Biologist, Wildlife Habitat Federation {Catspring, TX}

Tony Burgess, PhD, Professor (retired), Texas Christian University

Rob Denkhaus, Natural Resource Manager, Fort Worth Nature Center & Refuge and Adjunct Professor, Texas Christian University {Forth Worth, TX}

Ed Fair, Commons Ford {Austin, TX}

Sam Fuhlendorf, Professor, Oklahoma State University

Kenneth Gee, Conservation Delivery Specialist at Oaks and Prairies Joint Venture and American Bird Conservancy {Ardmore, OK}

Jim Giocomo, PhD, Oaks and Prairies Joint Venture Coordinator and American Bird Conservancy {Temple, TX}

Aviva Glaser, Agriculture Policy Coordinator, National Wildlife Federation

Jaime González, Conservation Education Director, Katy Prairie Conservancy {Houston, TX}

Dan Jones, Wildlife Biologist, Texas Parks & Wildlife Department {Huntsville, TX}

John Lloyd-Reilly, Plant Materials Center Manager, NRCS {Kingsville, TX}

Anne Mayo, PhD Candidate, University of Texas - Arlington

Quintin McGowan, JD, Tarrant County Judge and local historian

Gene Miller, Regional Biologist, National Wild Turkey Federation

Pat Merkord, Executive Director, Native Prairies Association of Texas {Austin, TX}

Bill Neiman, Founder, Native American Seed Company {Junction, TX}

Chris Reid, Botanist, Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries

Jason Singhurst, Botanist, Texas Parks and Wildlife Department

Russell Stevens, Wildlife and Fisheries Consultant, Samuel Roberts Noble Foundation {Ardmore, Oklahoma}

Forrest Smith, Dan L Duncan Endowed Director, South Texas Natives {Kingsville, TX}

RJ Taylor, Conservation Director, Connemara Conservancy

Matt Wagner, PhD, Deputy Director, Texas Parks and Wildlife Department

Michael Warriner, Invertebrate Biologist, Texas Parks and Wildlife Department

Matt White, College Instructor and Author

Fields Experiences: Fort Worth Nature Center & Refuge, Tandy Hills Natural Area & Blackland Preserve, Hillmont Ranch & McFarland Ranch, Dallas and Lake Lewisville Environmental Learning Center and the Fort Worth Prairie Park.