Audubon Texas Announces 2026 Texas Women in Conservation Honorees

Audubon Texas is happy to announce the 2026 Texas Ladies in Conservation Honorees: Pamela Reese, Lydia Saldaña, and Shelly Plante. These outstanding leaders are acknowledged for his or her excellent contributions to defending Texas’s pure assets and advancing conservation throughout the state.

Now in its eleventh 12 months, the Texas Ladies in Conservation Program honors girls whose work has left a long-lasting mark on the Texas panorama. Honorees are chosen by an open nomination course of and reviewed by a distinguished steering committee of conservation leaders from throughout the state. Every honoree receives the Terry Hershey Award, named after the late conservationist who devoted a lot of her life to ecological conservation efforts in Houston and all through Texas. Terry Hershey was often known as a trailblazer within the discipline for her fierce advocacy, devoted volunteerism, and steadfast work to enhance the Texas surroundings for the good thing about wildlife and folks.

The 2026 honorees embody the spirit of Audubon’s mission by defending working lands, restoring resilient coastal ecosystems, advancing local weather options, and creating bird-friendly communities, work that strengthens Texas’s connection to broader conservation efforts throughout the Americas.

“We’re so thrilled to honor these unimaginable girls who’ve devoted themselves to conservation and environmental stewardship,” stated Audubon Texas Vice President and Government Director Lisa Gonzalez. “True management in conservation is measured not simply by the habitats restored or insurance policies formed, however by the generations impressed. These honorees embody the braveness, dedication, and imaginative and prescient wanted to guard Texas’s pure legacy—and to gentle the best way for individuals who will observe.”

By way of neighborhood collaboration and a shared objective, the 2026 Texas Ladies in Conservation mirror Audubon’s imaginative and prescient: to create a more healthy, extra resilient future for birds, individuals, and the locations we share. 

Extra info on present and former honorees could be discovered here.

Nominations are actually open for the 2027 Texas Ladies in Conservation Terry Hershey Award. Are you aware somebody who’s making a big impression in defending and restoring our pure world? Submit an utility, accessible here earlier than January 18, 2027.

Temporary Biographies of the 2026 Texas Ladies in Conservation Honorees

Pamela Reese is a distinguished conservation chief, philanthropist, and advocate whose many years of service have helped form the conservation motion throughout Texas. Because the founding president of the Hill Nation Alliance Board of Administrators, she established considered one of Texas’ most influential voices for shielding the Hill Nation’s land, water, wildlife, darkish skies, and rural heritage. By way of each her private philanthropy and management of the Reese Basis, she has championed a broad community of conservation organizations, together with The Nature Conservancy, Texas Land Conservancy, Westcave Protect, the Colorado River Alliance, Shoal Creek Conservancy, the Wimberley Valley Watershed Affiliation, the Trinity Edwards Springs Safety Affiliation, the Nationwide Wildlife Federation, Austin Parks Basis, Austin Path Basis, and the Cibolo Nature Middle, amongst others working to safeguard Texas’ pure assets and join communities to the outside. Collectively together with her husband, Mike, she positioned their Hill Nation ranch underneath a conservation easement with The Nature Conservancy, guaranteeing the everlasting safety of ecologically important land from future improvement.

Lydia Saldaña is a distinguished chief in conservation communications, having formed public engagement for Texas wildlife, habitats, and public lands by her roles as Communications Director for each the Texas Parks and Wildlife Division and the Texas Parks and Wildlife Basis. Lydia has led impactful statewide campaigns that raised consciousness of habitat safety and land stewardship, directed multimedia and
fundraising initiatives, and constructed strategic partnerships to assist conservation. Her experience in storytelling and outreach has strengthened public understanding and philanthropic assist for conservation efforts. Moreover, Lydia has consulted for organizations such because the Borderlands Analysis Institute, and produced quite a few movies celebrating Texas Ladies in Conservation, additional amplifying the attain and impression of conservation initiatives statewide.

Shelly Plante is a devoted conservation chief and advocate for nature-based tourism, serving because the Nature Tourism Supervisor for the Texas Parks and Wildlife Division, the place she is devoted to connecting individuals with nature and advancing community-based conservation. By way of her management, Shelly has managed key packages such because the Nice Texas Wildlife Trails, the Nice Texas Birding Basic—which has raised over $1.34 million for conservation grants—Texas Paddling Trails, and the Texas Pollinator BioBlitz. She is acknowledged for her dedication to schooling, partnerships, and outreach, working carefully with landowners, native communities, and college students as an adjunct professor at Texas State College. Shelly’s collaborative method and advocacy, together with her position in supporting the Recovering America’s Wildlife Act, have made her a driving drive in nature tourism and conservation throughout Texas.