2015 TRB Meeting Highlights
2015 - Aquatic Biodiversity Conservation Celebration
Planning & Coordinating Team:
- TVA – Evan Crews, Shannon O'Quinn
- Group Solutions - Vern Herr and Brent Boston
- Tennessee Aquarium - Anna George
Major Outcome:
Participants at the 2015 workshop agreed on a variety of next steps to better coordinate and deliver conservation to ensure protection of critical resources:
- There was strong support for continuing and expanding this dialogue. More than 75 percent of the participants indicated their willingness to contribute time, talent or resources to building a more formal Tennessee River Basin Network and coordinate conservation efforts.
- Workshop participants agreed to broaden and diversify the network by including nontraditional partners such as private landowners, Chambers of Commerce, mayors, and agriculture interests.
- They also identified a need to develop new thinking on marketing and messaging targeted to the general public, legislators, and key stakeholders to raise awareness of and support for regional conservation efforts.
- Finally, there was consensus to increase data sharing, access to tools, information and training, and the ability to share and learn from one another to significantly expand the network’s collective impact.