Conserving the Natural State Forum
Conserving the Natural State Forum
September 6-8, 2024
Registration Opens Soon
Location: Winthrop Rockefeller Institute | Morrilton, AR
Hosted by: U of A Fayetteville Environmental Dynamics Program and the U of A Monticello College of Forestry, Agriculture and Natural Resources
Jump to: About the Forum / Sponsorship / Location / Speakers / Schedule
About The Forum:
Hosted in Partnership
This forum is organized through a partnership between the Environmental Dynamics Program at the University of Arkansas in Fayetteville and the Waterfowl Habitat and Recreation Management Program at the University of Arkansas in Monticello. Our goal is to help establish a network of Arkansas researchers and educators in ecosystem studies and management to collaborate and leverage resources for the benefit of the state and its stakeholders.
Purpose
The purpose of this forum is to bring together researchers, university-level educators, state and local government agencies, non-governmental organizations, and other stakeholders from within Arkansas to address challenges facing natural habitats in the natural state. Our state abounds with natural beauty that attracts residents and visitors alike — beautiful mountains for hiking, clean rivers for kayaking and fishing, bountiful wetlands for birding and hunting. Conserving our forests, waterways, and wetlands assures recreation and a healthy environment for future generations of Arkansans. Read more...
In the face of a changing land use and climate patterns, we must work collectively to recognize the challenges that threaten the resiliency of our natural resources to ensure the future of clean water, fertile soils, and productive forested and wetland ecosystems. This forum has three principal goals: 1) to build bridges among faculty and students that stimulate collaborative research and education across universities and colleges in the State of Arkansas; 2) to align priorities among stakeholders in state and local government and the private sector to identify challenges to conservation of natural resources that require research and education to solve; and 3) to showcase how the talents and expertise of in-state researchers, students, and other residents can help meet those challenges.
Registration
Early Bird: Student: $50, Professional: $100
Regular Admission (After Early Bird Prices): $300
*Forum registration opens soon.
Sponsorship Opportunities
A variety of sponsorship opportunities are available throughout the conference program:
- Speaking privileges during event-specific Sponsorships
- Advanced conference registration list with attendee contact information
- Named recognition in pre-conference emails and conference website
- Company brochure or other item included in the conference goody bag
- Conference registration and meals may be included for representatives
For more information and to reserve your sponsorship, contact Ms. Mathilda Hatfield at the University of Arkansas by email or by phone, (479) 575-3007.
Location and Lodging
Winthrop Rockefeller Institute | Morrilton, AR
Reservations for lodging will open soon.
Keynote Speakers
Dale Hall
Linkedin ProfileVice President and Board Member, FOAgREC; Retired CEO, Ducks Unlimited; Retired Director, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
Dale Hall is the Vice President and board member for Five Oaks Ag Research and Education Center, Retired CEO of Ducks Unlimited, 2010 - 2019, and was director of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service from 2005 to 2009.
During Hall’s 31-year career with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service he served in numerous roles local, regional and national levels. As director, he was responsible for approximately 7,500 USFWS employees working out of the national headquarters and nine regional offices. Before joining the USFWS in 1978, Hall spent four years in the U.S. Air Force, where overseas assignments took him to Italy and the Philippines, and a year managing a commercial aquaculture operation in Mississippi.
Hall holds a master’s degree in fisheries science and is the author of numerous published papers on wetlands, fisheries and ecology. He has also taught courses on wetlands identification and delineation. A native of Kentucky, Hall is a lifelong outdoors enthusiast who enjoys hunting and fishing.
Michael "Mike" Sullivan
Linkedin ProfileAState Conservationist – Arkansas Natural Resources Conservation Service
Mike was named Arkansas State Conservationist of the USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) on December 7, 2009. He began his 43 year career with NRCS as a student trainee in Lincoln, Nebraska. Subsequently, he has served the agency in Arkansas, Mississippi, and Arizona. Mike has a Bachelor of Science degree in Civil Engineering from the University of Arkansas (1982) and a Master of Business Administration degree from Arizona State University (1993). He is a registered Professional Engineer and is married with three children and 12 grandchildren. Mike is a native from North Little Rock, Ark.
Program & Schedule
6:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m.
- Meet and Greet
- Posters
8:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
- Papers
5:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m.
- Happy Hour followed by dinner
- Papers
- Breakout sessions
- Lunch
- Wrap-up with action items
