BOARD OF TRUSTEES Nancy Ylvisaker, St. Louis Beth Alm, Kansas City Michele M. Risdal-Barnes, Springfield Rick Boeshaar, Shawnee Mission John Brands, St. Louis Claire Carstensen, St. Louis Debra Filla, Kansas City Carl Freiling, Ashland Ruth Grant, MD, Springfield Jeanette Hartshorn, Kansas City Diane Herndon, St. Louis Steve Mahfood, Wildwood Steve McMillan, St. Louis Carolyn Polk, St. Louis Robbie Price, Columbia Joel Pugh, St. Louis Fritz Riesmeyer, Kansas City Jon M. Risdal, Springfield
We have a saying around our (virtual) watercooler in Missouri…hope is not a strategy. As a leader of a science-based organization, I get it— I do. We base our conservation strategies and goals on data, research and facts. We have metrics that tell us the percentage of pollutants we need to reduce from our waterways and how many tons of carbon need we need to offset. Data. Research. Facts. However, I challenge you to read through these pages and not find hope. This year we created a map—filled with data—that will help drive resources to communities who have been underserved for decades when it comes to
environmental and socioeconomic opportunities. This map is hope. We’re working on a playbook to help guide communities who have been ravaged by repetitive floods to seek new solutions—solutions that are backed by science and demonstrated as a new levee in northwest Missouri. That playbook is hope. In southwest Missouri, we’re working with partners to replace low-water crossings that can be hazardous to the rural communities who rely on them for medical and emergency services. Those crossings are also impeding fish migration and spawning. To those rural communities and fish populations, the new crossings are hope. My list could go on. So, I get it. We do not and cannot rely on hope as a strategy because hope by itself won’t work on the urgent issues our environment is facing, but paired with strategic action, hope can be a beautiful partner and motivator. I’ve been with The Nature Conservancy for 13 years, many of you have been with us longer. On behalf of our staff and trustees, I thank you for your dedicated support of our work in Missouri. Your partnership and trust that we use the right combination of science and hope continues to push us forward and inspires us to think globally and locally.
Sharon Shahid, Washington, D.C.
Turbo Sjogren, St. Louis Jean Wagner, Kansas City Wallis W. Warren, Beaufort
TRUSTEES EMERITI Patricia DuBose Duncan, Rockport, Maine Susan Lammert, St. Louis
With gratitude,
Adam McLane, Missouri State Director
The Nature Conservancy is a private, nonprofit 501(c)(3) international membership organization. Its mission is to conserve the lands and waters on which all life depends. The Nature Conservancy meets all of the Standards for Charity Accountability established by the BBB Wise Giving Alliance. The BBB Wise Giving Alliance is a national charity watchdog affiliated with the Better Business Bureau. Printed on 100% PCW recycled, process chlorine-free paper, creating the following benefits: 40.4 trees preserved for the future 3,018.9 gallons of water not used 5,859.3 CO 2 prevented
THIS PAGE Adam McLane © Kristy Stoyer/TNC COVER Curious burrowing owlet © Megan Lorenz/TNC Photo Contest 2021
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