2016 TRB Meeting Highlights
2016 TRBN Meeting – Aug 30-31st – TN Aquarium, Chattanooga TN
Communities and Conservation: Networking the Strength of Partnership to Forge a Sustainable Conservation Landscape across the TRB
The 2016 meeting for the Tennessee River Basin Network (TRBN) occurred August 30-31st at the Tennessee Aquarium in Chattanooga. The meeting was a great success with over thirty organizations represented by meeting participants. This unique gathering allowed members of the Network to celebrate successes, share current conservation efforts, and discuss how the Network can maximize efficacy of conserving and improving aquatic biodiversity in the Tennessee River Basin.
Planning & Coordinating Team:
- TVA – Evan Crews, Shannon O'Quinn
- Tennessee Aquarium - Anna George
- Appalachian LCC - Jean Brennan, Mary Davis, Matt Cimitile
- Southeast Watershed Forum - Leah Bray
Major Outcome:
Participants at the 2016 workshop engaged in facilitated discussions and exercises to address actions required to move the Network forward:
- Meeting participants identified and mapped current conservation efforts within the TRB to better identify the Who, What and Where of conservation action.
- A work-group was formed to focus efforts in the coming year on strategic marketing and messaging to raise awareness and support of conserving biodiversity within the TRB.
- It was evident the value of the Network is it's ability to connect people across the landscape, hence the need to focus this next year on collective action that will strengthen the networking capabilities of the Network.
- Lastly, meeting participants continued to see the value in participating in the Network and the need to contribute their time and talents to this unique effort.