Picturing a Better World for Bats: Stories from a Conservation Photographer

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If you’ve never traversed the depths of the deepest cave in the western hemisphere or found yourself surrounded by thousands of bats, it can be hard to imagine what that experience is like. Fortunately, conservation photographer Josh Hydeman has — and he’s deployed his skills to capture breathtaking photos of bats in places few people have set foot.

Josh’s work has been published in outlets like National Geographic and has been awarded Best in Show at the National Speleological Society’s Photo Salon. Josh’s years of freelance photography focusing on cave exploration led him to begin photographing the bats that populate these caves. Capturing images of cave habitats and bat species is only one part of Josh’s conservation work — sharing his pieces and the stories that accompany them is the other key element to educating the public about the importance of protecting bats.

In honor of Bat Week October 24-31, join us for this free webinar where Josh will display examples of his bat and cave photography and share the stories behind these incredible photos.

See Josh’s work on Instagram @josh_hydeman

What you’ll learn:

  • The importance of wildlife photography to inspire conservation of species like bats
  • Stories from Josh’s cave explorations and interactions with bats

Who should take this webinar:

  • Conservation professionals interested in learning more about conservation photography
  • Wildlife teams working to restore habitats for bats
  • Bat enthusiasts who want a behind-the-scenes look at some of Josh’s photos

Presenter:

  • Josh Hydeman, Photographer and Subterranean Specialist, Bat Conservation International

Books, Bats and Breaking Stigmas: Inspiring Bat Conservation Through Literature

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Creative arts like literature can inspire a sense of wonder about wildlife, and telling accessible stories about species like bats can help children and adults alike let go of the stereotypes and fears often associated with bats. At the same time, it is vital that bat lovers respect these species by giving them their space and supporting conservation efforts.  

Learn how arts and literature can inspire a lifelong appreciation for bats — and get ready for Bat Week on October 24-31 — by joining us for this free webinar. First, listen as Caldecott Honor-winning author and illustrator Brian Lies reads one of his children’s books about bats and shares his own personal history with these amazing creatures. Then, hear from bat rehabilitation expert and founding member of Bat Week Leslie Sturges about how an awareness of bats generated by the arts can lead to opportunities for bat rehabilitation and conservation. 

Don’t forget to submit your bat-related artwork and stories on social media using #BatWeekStories to celebrate Bat Week! 

What you’ll learn: 

  • How using stories can demystify bats and inspire people to become interested in them 
  • Tips on developing outreach and education opportunities that encourage bat conservation 
  • How increased awareness about bats can support bat rescue and preservation efforts 

Who should take this webinar: 

  • Corporate conservation programs that want to develop a bat education project incorporating creative arts 
  • Educators and parents looking to inspire an appreciation of and respect for bats in their students 
  • Anyone interested in arts and literature activities that encourage conservation   

Presenters: 

  • Brian Lies, Author and Illustrator 
  • Leslie Sturges, President, Bat Conservation & Rescue of Virginia 

Healthy Watersheds Benefit Us All: Best Practices for Watershed Restoration

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A healthy watershed is integral to a healthy environment. Watersheds provide important ecosystem services such as water filtering and carbon storage, and wildlife species of all kinds depend on clean watersheds for habitat, food and water. Human communities also rely on watersheds, from drinking water to climate change resilience to recreation opportunities.  

These benefits make it clear that protecting and restoring local watersheds is of the utmost importance — but what are the best ways to ensure a healthy watershed? In this free webinar, you’ll learn best practices in restoration techniques like conducting trash clean-ups, effectively managing stormwater, planting native plants and more. Several recipients of the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation (NFWF) Five Star and Urban Waters Restoration Grant Program will also share their lessons learned from developing, funding and implementing watershed restoration plans. 

What you’ll learn: 

  • Best management practices for restoring a watershed area 
  • Advice for developing and funding a watershed restoration plan 
  • How to incorporate community involvement and education into watershed restoration projects 

Who should take this webinar: 

  • Corporate conservation teams that want to work with local partners to restore a watershed 
  • Community organizations interested in applying for watershed restoration funding through NFWF’s Five Star and Urban Waters Restoration Grant Program 
  • Anyone who wants to learn more about the recommended best practices for protecting and restoring watersheds 

Presenters: 

  • Tim Duggan, Principal Landscape Architect, Phronesis 
  • Damon Mullis, Ogeechee Riverkeeper/Executive Director 
  • Jeffrey Popp, Director of Restoration, Anne Arundel Watershed Stewards Academy 

Nature-based Solutions to Prevent Pollution and Support Biodiversity

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Opportunities for the automotive industry
Sponsored by General Motors

Nature-based solutions (NbS) are actions that utilize elements of nature to protect and restore ecosystems. In addition to preserving biodiversity of wildlife and plant species, NbS also deliver environmental co-benefits such as climate change resilience and improved air, water and soil quality, as well as community benefits like recreation, aesthetics and environmental education.

This white paper explores how the automotive industry can implement nature-based solutions to prevent pollution, with case studies illustrating how auto manufacturers and suppliers around the world are utilizing nature-based solutions to reduce pollution and offer co-benefits for biodiversity and communities.

To download this white paper, please fill out the form below.

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From Pest to Pesto: Four Invasive Species You Can Eat!

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Invasive plant and animal species can have a devastating effect on ecosystems, as they outcompete native species for resources and proliferate without any natural predators or controls. Not only do invasive species pose a threat to biodiversity — with 42% of threatened or endangered species at risk because of invasives — but they can also create safety issues for employees and community members. 

Removing invasive species allows native species to thrive and restores the balance of the ecosystem – but once you’ve hand-pulled those invasive weeds or netted that invasive fish, did you know you can eat some of them? In this webinar, WHC staff will share several simple recipes incorporating invasive species found in various parts of the U.S. Learn how to reuse invasive plant and animal species in a way that is good for the environment — and your stomach! 

What you’ll learn: 

  • The importance of removing invasive species 
  • Tips for identifying potential invasives 
  • A few recipe ideas that utilize invasive plants and animals 

Who should take this webinar: 

  • Corporate conservation programs focused on removing invasive species 
  • People interested in foraging for invasive flora and fauna 
  • Anyone who wants to try an interesting new recipe 

Presenters: 

  • Erin Allegro, Senior Manager, Business Development, WHC 
  • Abigail McBride, Consultant, WHC 
  • Melissa Scheiber, Senior Manager, Events, WHC 
  • Megan Thomas, Manager, Content, WHC 

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Nature-Based Pollution Prevention – Tactics for Implementation, Reporting and Partnerships

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From strategic tree plantings to wetland restoration projects, nature-based solutions (NbS) are quickly becoming a key part of many pollution prevention strategies. These solutions are accessible, scalable and offer many co-benefits, like increased biodiversity and climate resilience.  

In this webinar, experts and advocates from a federal agency, the private sector and a nonprofit will explore how NbS can advance pollution prevention goals on corporate lands while enhancing ecosystem services and contributing to local, regional and large-scale restoration efforts. The panelists will explain how their respective organizations approach pollution prevention, provide insights on implementation and share success stories from their work.

What you’ll learn:  

  • Best practices for nature-based pollution prevention 
  • How pollution prevention tactics can translate into key metrics 
  • The benefits of forming inter-sector partnerships for pollution prevention initiatives 

Who should take this webinar: 

  • Corporate teams looking to implement site-based pollution prevention work 
  • Representatives from nonprofits and government agencies who want to learn how corporations are utilizing NbS for pollution prevention  

Presenters:  

  • EPA Region 4
  • Primary Energy
  • Restore the Earth Foundation  

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Ensuring a Successful Conservation Program Through Turnover

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Taking on a new role as the manager of a corporate conservation program means quickly familiarizing oneself with the tasks required to maintain a successful program. All industries experience turnover, so the best way to ensure success for your corporate conservation program is to develop a plan that makes this transition as streamlined as possible. 

Join us for a webinar where representatives at both the program and corporate level will share the top five things they’ve learned about taking on a new program manager role and preparing a conservation program for eventual turnover. You’ll also learn about WHC’s New Conservation Program Managers Toolkit, developed in partnership with Covia, that supports both new and outgoing program managers in priming a conservation program for success. 

What you’ll learn: 

  • Tips and pointers for starting a new role as a corporate conservation program manager 
  • How to prepare a conservation program for a transition in program leadership 
  • Ways to sustain and support the maintenance and longevity of a conservation program 

Who should take this webinar: 

  • Incoming program managers looking to start their new role strong 
  • Existing program managers who are planning to transition into another role 
  • Anyone who wants to ensure that their program is prepared for potential turnover 

Presenters: 

  • Emily Burke, Wildlife Site Manager and Permits and Inventory Specialist, The Shelly Company 
  • Michele Oxlade, Senior Environmental Specialist, Covia 

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Monitoring 101: Building the Foundation for a Strong Conservation Project

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Monitoring is one of the most important elements of a successful habitat or species conservation project, as it helps conservation teams assess the success of the project and determine how to improve it.  

In this webinar, WHC staff will define adequate monitoring, show why monitoring is key for documenting the progress of conservation projects and explain how to integrate monitoring into the management of a project. The webinar will also demonstrate how monitoring fits into a WHC Conservation Certification® application. Lastly, the presenters will discuss the basic strategies for monitoring conservation projects, including how to use baseline data and designing a monitoring protocol that fits your project. The webinar will feature example templates for monitoring both habitats and species that teams can utilize for various projects. 

What you’ll learn:  

  • The value of monitoring conservation projects  
  • Tips for collecting clear and concise monitoring data 
  • How to develop a comprehensive monitoring protocol that is also easy to use  
  • Methods for effectively organizing project data 
  • How to use monitoring data to evaluate and improve a project over time 

 Who should take this webinar: 

  • Anyone who is new to managing conservation projects 
  • Existing site teams that want to refresh or improve their monitoring skills 

 Presenters: 

  • Delainey Williams, Manager, Conservation Certification, WHC 
  • Sophie Maass, Conservation Coordinator, WHC 

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Restoring Ecosystems Through Invasive Species Control

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Sponsored by Ontario Power Generation

Invasive species are among the top five threats to biodiversity worldwide. As privately owned lands make up a vast amount of the earth’s land surface, it is imperative that the corporate sector become an active player in invasive species management efforts.

This white paper details the key methods corporations can use to control invasive species, restore native habitats and educate the surrounding community.

To download this white paper, please fill out the form below.

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Preparing for Pollinators: A Guide for Attracting Pollinators All Season

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With the spring planting season approaching, it’s time to start thinking about which plant species to include in your corporate habitat or garden. There are many factors to consider, including location, size, sunlight and water needs — and whether your garden attracts key pollinators. Pollinators like bees, butterflies and birds play an essential role in healthy ecosystems, but due to habitat loss and climate change, pollinator populations across the globe are in decline. One way to support these important species is by designing pollinator-friendly habitats.  

In this webinar, you’ll hear from pollinator and plant experts on how to start a successful pollinator garden that will provide benefits throughout the season. From selecting native plants to providing nesting habitat needs, this webinar will cover the basics of making your site a haven for pollinators. 

What you’ll learn: 

  • Different pollinator habitat needs across species 
  • Tips on providing for pollinators throughout the whole season 
  • How to select pollinator-friendly plants that are regionally appropriate 

Who should take this webinar: 

  • Corporate conservation teams that want to start a pollinator garden for the first time 
  • Existing pollinator project teams interested in leveling up their habitats 
  • Anyone who wants to learn more about supporting pollinators 

Presenters: 

  • Celia Vuocolo, Working Lands for Wildlife Pollinator Coordinator-East, Pheasants Forever, Inc. and Quail Forever 
  • Carrie Wiles, Marketing Manager, North Creek Nurseries 

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