TRACK DESCRIPTIONS

CONNECT+ 2026 will focus on five (5) tracks:

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1. Communications and Community Engagement

2. Conservation in Uplands

3. Organizational Administration & Fund Development 

4. Waterway and Riparian Protection Management

5. Working Lands Conservation

 

Each track includes relevant concepts identified by the conference planning committee with the recognition that they are not comprehensive and not intended to be exclusive. Abstracts should explicitly address the conference theme and its relevance to conservation and the relevant tracks.

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• Each Track may have up to eight (8) presentations.

• Each presentation should be no more than 50 minutes long and should include a Q&A.

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Communications and Community Engagement

Effective education and outreach are essential to the success of conservation. This track focuses on practical tools and shared learning to help organizations engage their communities, communicate science clearly, and adapt to change. Sessions will explore a range of outreach approaches, communication tools, and engagement strategies, and will also address professional resilience and the evolving landscape in which conservation work takes place.

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Conservation in Uplands

The Uplands track will highlight innovative and successful methods of managing, restoring, and monitoring uplands. This includes improving rangeland vegetation and soils, forest fuel management and habitats, invasive weed and grass management, livestock water, development, recreation and permanent land protection and management.  

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Organizational Administration & Fund Development 

Effective leadership and robust administrative practices are critical to an organization’s success, providing the structure and vision that drive boards, teams, and initiatives forward. This track is designed for team leaders, managers, and anyone interested in enhancing their leadership or fundraising skills. Sessions will cover a range of management- and leadership-focused topics, including building strong board relationships, leading through change, developing and implementing impactful organizational policies, professional resilience, and advancing fairness, representation, and respect in the workplace. Fund development sessions will cover topics including building a funding pipeline, managing funding timelines, and ensuring fiscal compliance.

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Waterway and Riparian Protection Management

The Water & Riparian Conservation Track invites presentations focused on the conservation, restoration, and adaptive management of water and riparian resources. Key topics include water availability, aquatic and riparian habitats restoration and management, monitoring project success/failure, and research shaping project approaches

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Working Lands Conservation

The Working Lands track seeks abstracts which highlight practical and/or innovative approaches to resilience and conservation in production agriculture as well as successes and failures in tried practices. More specifically, we are interested in practices/actions that target livestock, crop management, soil health, and wildlife habitat enhancement on and together with working lands. 

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