Bridging the Divide: Uniting Rural and Urban Landscapes for Conservation

74th SWCS International Annual Conference
July 28 - 31, 2019
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

Download the conference program.

Download the abstract book.

Download the presentation slides.

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In the northeastern United States, food production has taken different forms over time, and management of soil and water has been accelerated by agricultural and urban dynamics. This rich and varied land use history makes the region a prime location to unite conservation experts to preserve our natural resources. 

The 74th SWCS International Annual Conference location is the Wyndham Grand in downtown Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, just feet from the point where the Allegheny and Monongahela rivers meet to form the Ohio. The hotel sits at the pinnacle of the Golden Triangle, the city’s revitalized urban center. Whether you’re exploring Point Park, a 36 acre state park that pays homage to the many generations of communities that have occupied the site; seeing one of the nation’s first green buildings; or learning about partnerships to scale up conservation on the local level and beyond, the city of Pittsburgh is a perfect setting for new conservation connections and perspectives. 

Home to three rivers and 446 bridges, Pittsburgh is known as “The City of Bridges.” These bridges play an important role in connecting the valleys, hillsides, river plains, and communities. This city of linkages sets the stage for connections around eight general conservation research and practice topics. Specialty tracks will foster dialogue surrounding unique partnerships in watershed planning and implementation, engagement of the private sector in conservation, and the challenges of adapting the landscape to a changing climate. 

Paths to meet current soil and water conservation needs look very different from the solutions that galvanized action after the Dust Bowl, and they will continue to evolve. Come to Pittsburgh and be part of that shared conservation future

2019 Annual Conference Presenting Sponsor