(Ankeny, Iowa – April 9, 2019) On April 1, 2019, the Soil and Water Conservation Society (SWCS) signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with the Green Infrastructure Foundation (GIF) and Green Roofs for Healthy Cities (GRHC) in anticipation of the 74th SWCS International Annual Conference, to be held July 28-31, 2019, in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The theme of this year’s conference is Bridging the Divide: Uniting Rural and Urban Landscapes for Conservation.
The MOU represents a formal partnership between GIF, GRHC, and SWCS to collaboratively promote the use of green infrastructure throughout North America and explore the many rural/urban connections associated with its use. The three organizations share the mission of enhancing landscape sustainability and resilience, and advance their goals by providing programs and resources, improving technical knowledge, and raising public awareness. Planned cooperative efforts include a green infrastructure workshop at the SWCS Annual Conference; participation in the GRHC Biophilia Symposium on July 29, 2019; and development of a series of rural-focused green infrastructure activities to be held in the Midwest region.
“We are excited that the crossover of our upcoming events provides a platform for SWCS and GIF to kick off a partnership that will enhance opportunities for rural and urban connections and sustainability resources for agriculture and communities," said Clare Lindahl, CEO of the Soil and Water Conservation Society. "We look forward to expanding our like missions with this newly formed relationship.”
“We look forward to working with the Soil and Water Conservation Society to advance the use of green infrastructure to support the health and well-being of all our communities, large and small,” said Steven W. Peck, GRP, Honorary ASLA, Founder and President, Green Roofs for Healthy Cities.
To learn more about activities at the SWCS Annual Conference and the connections between rural and urban conservation, visit http://www.swcs.org/19AC. Information about the GRHC Pittsburgh Biophilia Symposium is available at http://www.cvent.com/d/v6q961.
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About GIF
The Green Infrastructure Foundation partners with communities to shape healthy, resilient and sustainable places through living green infrastructure.
GIF’s programs and activities are designed to promote the positive contributions green infrastructure can make in communities while addressing barriers to green infrastructure, including out-dated regulations, the lack of awareness among policymakers and their constituencies, and the lack of technical knowledge about green infrastructure among contractors and consultants. https://greeninfrastructurefoundation.org
About GRHC
Green Roofs for Healthy Cities' mission is to develop and protect the market by increasing the awareness of the economic, social, and environmental benefits of green roofs, green walls, and other forms of living architecture through education, advocacy, professional development, and celebrations of excellence.
We strive to facilitate changes that will bring technologies to the forefront of high-performance restorative green building design, implementation, and maintenance. https://greenroofs.org
About SWCS
With more than 3000 members around the world, the Soil and Water Conservation Society (SWCS) is a nonprofit scientific and educational organization that serves as an advocate for conservation professionals and for science-based conservation practice, programs, and policy.
The SWCS mission is to foster the science and art of natural resource conservation. We work to discover, develop, implement and constantly improve conservation practices and systems that sustain the productive capacity of the land while protecting environmental quality.
We pursue our mission through a combination of research, education and advocacy aimed at promoting state-of-the-art conservation practices and science-based conservation policy.
For More Information:
Clare Lindahl, CEO
Soil and Water Conservation Society
clare.lindahl@swcs.org
515-289-2331, ext.113