| Association of Natural Resource Extension Professionals
Monthly Digest February 2025 |
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In this edition - President's Corner
- ANREP Awards Nomination Deadline Approaching
- Awards Judges Needed!
- How to donate to the Natural Resource Extension Education Foundation
- ANREP Biennial Conference Update
- Learn About Data Centers and Climate Change
- New Maryland Native Plant Guide
- 2025 Tax Tips for Forest Landowners
- Ecological Landscape Design for Coastal South Carolina
- Climate-ready woodlands: A resilience toolbox
- The Water Ambassador Program-Connecting Communities to Water
- ANREP Jobs Board Postings
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President's Corner... Leslie Boby ANREP President 2026 |
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What are you excited about this month? January seemed to last longer than 31 days, I think, so happy to be solidly in February. I’m excited about the upcoming biennial conference- registration is open! Coastal North Carolina is waiting to welcome you and the conference planning team have done an amazing job. Wilmington, NC was founded in the 1730’s- so there is quite a bit of history there, and the conference team is taking advantage of that. They are even hosting a special ghost walk one night- because an old town like this definitely has some mysterious happenings. Other field tours include Fire in urban landscapes, stormwater control (only ANREP members can truly be excited about this tour- said without irony), agriculture innovation tour, silvopasture, battleship tour, a unique cypress ecosystem & paddling, and more! Of course, there will be some dynamite presentations- since your peers can really throw down!
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Besides the conference- many of our committees are doing some great work! Check out our list of committees and opportunities to connect- we are updating our list of ways to become involved in ANREP. Besides committees and initiatives-ANREP awards are coming up soon! Don’t forget to apply to have your program/resource/tool/podcast, etc. recognized!
Lastly, I’m still looking for folks who want to discuss ANREP’s fresh look: An ad-hoc branding committee is forming to refresh our logo and branding. It’s the perfect time for a modern look that reflects how much we’ve evolved since we were formed in the early 90s! If you’re interested in joining a committee or just want to share your thoughts on the logo, website, etc. please drop me a line or click here.
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| Deadline Approaching! Don't Delay!
2026 ANREP Awards Nominations Open
Nominate yourself or colleagues for an ANREP award and be recognized for outstanding educational materials or achievement. Added bonus: 2026 winners will be recognized at the Awards Luncheon during the ANREP Biennial Conference in North Carolina, May 12-15.
The nomination deadline is Sunday, February, 22, 2026. Late nominations will not be accepted.
Questions? Please contact Catelyn Turner, 2026 ANREP Awards Committee Chair. |
Awards Program Judges Needed
Help judge the 2026 ANREP Awards. We need about 30 judges (and have just 10 to-date) to evaluate this year's award nominations! Please help us with this. Your task will consist of reviewing 1-2 awards categories, and 4-8 award nominations generally over two-three weeks in March. This is a great opportunity to see what your colleagues around the country are up to while helping out your professional organization. If you are new to ANREP it is also a great way to see how to write up a nomination if you plan to nominate yourself or a colleague in the future. But wait there is more! You can put this as a service position on your CV. The more judges that sign up, the fewer awards each of us have to review.
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| How to donate to the Natural Resource Extension Education Foundation |
By Sanford "Sandy" Smith, President
Natural Resource Extension Education Foundation
The Natural Resources Extension Education Foundation (NREEF) is our very own charitable foundation designed to support and strengthen everything we do. By supporting NREEF, you support us all! |
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Upcoming professional development opportunities |
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ANREP 15th Biennial Conference Update
Get ready to immerse yourself in the natural resource extension world in Wilmington, North Carolina! |
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Charting Our Future in Wilmington!
Get ready to gather where the river meets the sea! We are officially counting down to the 15th Biennial ANREP Conference, taking place May 12–15, 2026, in beautiful Wilmington, North Carolina.
This year’s theme, “Confluence of Knowledge: Charting the Future of Natural Resource Extension,” is coming to life with a robust program designed to spark innovation and strengthen our professional networks. Program Sneak Peek The preliminary schedule is now set, featuring a powerful blend of keynote perspectives and peer-to-peer learning. Featured Sessions -
Opening Plenary: We kick things off with a dual-lens exploration of our work:
- A Sense of Place: The Landscape Perspective
- A Sense of Community: The People Perspective
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Thursday Special Panel: Join us for a timely and critical discussion on Extension’s Vital Role in Disaster Resilience, featuring experts navigating the frontlines of climate and natural disasters.
Concurrent Sessions & Networking -
45 Oral Presentations covering the latest in natural resource research and outreach.
- 45 Ignite Presentations for fast-paced, high-energy insights.
- 5 Organized Sessions diving deep into critical extension challenges.
- 42 Poster Presentations showcasing innovative projects from across the country.
Registration Details Don't miss out on the best rates! Early Bird registration ends March 13. Final registration for the conference will close on April 24, 2026. |
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| Registration Category | Early Bird (By March 13) | Regular (March 14 - April 24) |
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| ANREP Member | $495 | $595 | | ANREP Student Member | $395 | $395 | | Non-Member | $590 | $690 | | Student Non-Member | $455 | $455 |
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Pro Tip: Not a member yet? Renew or join today to take advantage of the discounted member rates and stay connected with our national community year-round. Next Steps -
Register Now: Secure your spot.
- Book Your Stay: Hotel blocks in historic downtown Wilmington are filling up.
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Plan Your Tours: The conference field excursions and optional conference add-ons have a separate registration link once you are on the registration site.
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Learn About Data Centers and Climate Change By David Kay, Chair National Extension Climate Initiative Data centers seem to be a new hot topic in many parts of the country, including right here in my own backyard of upstate New York. If you’re like me, you’d like to know more about them. There are TWO extension events coming up in February that can help orient you to this topic.
First, join us at the National Extension Climate Initiative (NECI) on February 17th at 1:00 PM (ET) for a webinar featuring Erik Nordman. Erik will be presenting especially for our NECI audience on “Data Centers and Climate Change: Drivers and Impacts.” Erik directs the Institute of Public Utilities at Michigan State University. The Institute was established in 1965 but was only recently integrated into the MSU Extension system.
So-called "hyperscale" data centers are being proposed and constructed across the country. These facilities use large amounts of electricity and water to cool the powerful computers that answer AI prompts. This webinar will explore why data centers require so much energy and water, how data centers may affect local water supplies and regional electricity grids, and the potential for data centers to reduce or eliminate their climate impacts.
Click here to register.
Second and only a week later, as tailored for those of you in the Northeast, Jim Ladlee and Tom Beresnyak (Penn State Extension) will offer a non-technical introduction to data centers, focusing on the issues communities are most often asked to evaluate, including land use, water demand and discharge, energy needs, and potential jobs and economic impacts. The presentation is being offered through the Northeast Regional Center for Rural Development.
For more information and to register, click here. |
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| Resource Exchange
New Maryland Native Plant Guide - Piedmont Region |
By Lisa Kuder
University of Maryland Extension
The Maryland Native Plant Guide Piedmont Region offers a comprehensive resource for identifying and utilizing native plants specific to the Piedmont area. It's the first in a series of three ecoregion books that supports sustainable landscaping practices covering the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Level II ecoregions in Maryland: Mountain, Piedmont and Coastal Plain. We are confident that once you learn about the region's charismatic native plants, along with their inextricable links to local wildlife, you will see outdoor spaces in a different light and be ready to add natives to your landscaping. We hope this guide will inform, inspire, and move you to go native!
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| 2025 Tax Tips for Forest Landowners |
By Greg Fry
USDA Forest Service
It's that time of year again - federal income tax season! Family forest owners may be thinking about how to report income or deductions associated with their forest land in 2025. Whatever the case, the newly updated Tax Tips for Forest Landowners: 2025 Tax Year, published by the USDA Forest Service in partnership with authors from the Universities of Georgia and Florida, is a great place to start. Also, interested in joining a dialogue about the role of taxation in natural resource conservation? Attend the Forest and Rangeland Taxation Meeting at Duke University this August.
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ANREP Award Winners
2025 Innovative Programs Three nominations tied for the Innovative Programs award. Read about these outstanding programs. |
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| Ecological Landscape Design for Coastal South Carolina |
The North Inlet - Winyah Bay NERR, ACE Basin NERR, and the S.C. Sea Grant Consortium worked together to create a training series called "Ecological Landscape Design for Coastal South Carolina". This was an innovative take on a hybrid program utilizing pre-recorded online training videos and field based experiences to teach methods and benefits to incorporating native plants and green infrastructure into professional landscape design. This program was a success as we were able to engage a target audience that we are not normally able to reach and proved that this alternative style programming could work in the right circumstances.
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Climate-ready woodlands: A resilience toolbox |
The University of Minnesota Extension Forestry team responded to demand for climate-resilient tree and plant recommendations with 33 region-specific lists, statewide workshops, and participatory science projects, benefiting Minnesota’s woodland stewards and forest ecosystems across the state. By providing a toolbox of resilience-focused stewardship options, the Climate-Ready Woodlands program empowers woodland stewards to manage their woodlands for long-term health and resilience under a changing climate.
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The Water Ambassador Program-Connecting Communities to Water |
The Water Ambassador Program, led by Lorna Bravo of UF/IFAS Broward County, addresses water conservation challenges in Florida's urban areas. This initiative combines Master Gardener Volunteer training with advanced water conservation education, featuring a 'Connected to Water' scale and 6-week courses. Since 2020, it has trained 35 Water Ambassadors, conducted 50 landscape inspections, and awarded 33 Florida-Friendly Landscape recognitions. The program has saved an estimated 11 million gallons of water annually, enough to supply 125 households. Recognized with the Outstanding Collaboration State Award in 2021, the Water Ambassador Program is expanding its reach through new workshops for urban residents, demonstrating an effective approach to sustainable landscaping and water conservation in Florida's growing urban areas.
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New postings on the ANREP jobs board | |
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