Planning for the Summit is being underwritten with a grant from the Amy P. Goldman Foundation
Iowa's Natural Resources are under growing pressure...
Soil erosion, water pollution, habitat loss, urban development, agricultural practices, emerging technologies, and a changing climate are affecting the land, water, wildlife, and communities that make Iowa home. These challenges are complex and interconnected, shaped not only by individual choices but also by economic forces, public policies, and decisions about how we use and care for our shared natural resources. But Iowa’s story is not defined by threats alone.
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Across the state, people are restoring prairies and wildlife habitat, developing more sustainable approaches to agriculture, improving access to natural spaces, protecting water resources, using technology in innovative ways, and building partnerships that create meaningful change. These efforts offer valuable lessons—and important reasons for hope. The 2026 Iowa Nature Summit will explore both the threats facing our natural world and the opportunities we have to respond. Over two days, speakers and attendees will examine the connections between nature and public health, water quality, agriculture, technology, land use, wildlife, community development, public policy, and communication. We will hear about new conservation projects, successful restoration efforts, regenerative farming practices, and ideas for creating a more bird-friendly and nature-rich Iowa. We will also consider difficult questions about pesticides, data centers, development, environmental policy, and the long-term health of Iowa’s land and water.
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Just as importantly, the Summit will look toward the future. Young nature leaders, environmental journalists, advocates, scientists, farmers, policymakers, and community partners will share their experiences and help identify new ways to communicate, collaborate, and act.
The challenges are significant, but so are the opportunities. By bringing together Iowans who care deeply about nature and believe it belongs at the heart of our social, economic, and civic life, we can move beyond simply describing the problems. We can learn from what is working, build stronger partnerships, inspire action, and develop a hopeful vision for the future of Iowa’s natural heritage.
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We invite you to join the conversation, discover new ideas, connect with fellow nature advocates—and have some fun along the way.
2026 Agenda
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Day 1: Wednesday Nov. 18th - Summit Opening Day – Olmsted Center
8:00am – 8:45am: Registration and Breakfast
8:45am – 9:00am: Welcome and Summit Overview - Prof. Neil Hamilton, Emeritus Professor of Law, Drake University
9:00am – 9:20am: First the Good News – New Nature Projects for Iowans to Enjoy – Joe McGovern, president, Iowa Natural Heritage Foundation
9:20am – 9:50am: Nature and Public Health: Cancer, Pesticides, and Questions – Prof. Audrey Tran Lam UNI; Sarah Green, Iowa Environmental Council; and Dr. Richard Deming, Mercy
9:50am – 10:20am: Water Quality and Iowa’s Future – Progress and Obstacles – John Norris and Jodi Reese, Nishnabotna Water Defenders
10:20am - 10:40am: Questions for the morning panels
10:40am – 11:00am: Networking Break
11:00am – 11:40am: University of Iowa INSIGHT Project - Dr. Larry Weber, IIHR and Dr. David Cwiertny, CHEEC
11:40am – 12:00pm: The Niman Ranch Story: Helping Nature and the Next Generation of Farmers– Elle Gadient, Niman Ranch Pork Company
12:00pm – 1:15pm: Lunch, featuring Niman Ranch meats – How the Lobe Rangers are Helping Build a Better Iowa Agriculture from the Ground Up – speakers: Zack Smith, Matt Bormann, and James Hepp
1:15pm – 1:45pm: Do Data Centers Threaten Iowa’s Water, Land, and Communities? – speakers Jen Terry, dir. Hubbell Environmental Law Institute, U of Iowa College of Law; and Keith Schilling, State Geologist, dir. Iowa Geological Survey; moderator, Prof. Jennifer Zwagermnan
1:45pm – 2:15pm: From Geo-tracking to MOTUS Towers – Is Technology a Tool or a Replacement? – Elizabeth Owens, Project manager, TNC, virtual fencing at Land of the White Swamp Oaks Preserve; Anna Buckardt Thomas, avian specialist at DNR
2:15pm – 2:50pm: Creating a Bird Friendly Iowa – Promises and Pitfalls - speakers - Doug Haar, Iowa Audubon; Lisa Hein, INHF; moderator Ryan Smith, Iowa Wildlife Federation
2:50pm – 3:10pm: Questions for the afternoon panels
3:10pm– 3:30pm: - Networking Break
3:30pm – 4:15pm: News from Iowa’s Western Slope – The LoHi Trail, Prairies, and More – speakers - Scott Moats, Iowa TNC; Brenda Mainwaring, Iowa West; and Lance Brisbois, executive director, Golden Hills RC&D; moderator, Graham McGaffin, director, Iowa TNC
4:15pm – 5:00pm: Restoring and Re-wilding Iowa: from Landscapes to Backyards – the DeCook story–speakers - Mike DeCook and Pete Ehryalde, William Penn College, moderator Joe McGovern, INHF
5:15pm – 6:45pm: Reception – honoring the Iowa Natural Heritage Foundation
Day Two - Thursday November 19th – Olmsted Center
7:15am - 8:00am: Breakfast
8:00am – 9:00am: Policy Opportunities for Iowa Nature in the 2027 - panel of four Iowa politicians TBA, moderated Anna Gray, policy director INHF
9:00am – 10:30am: A Vision for Nature: Hopes and Proposals from the Next Generation of Nature Leaders – a roundtable conversation with Young Nature Advocates and Professionals, members: Morgan Georgeff (INHF), Tatum Watkins, (Grinnell), Katie Das (SILT), Casey Greufe (Prairie Rivers RC&D); Betsy Penisten (IWF); Kaycie Waters-Broka (IWF), Sam Bryson, Drake Law student, and Emily Kavanagh (Iowa TNC); moderated by Prof. Jennifer Zwagerman
10:30am – 10:50am: Networking Break
10:50am – 11:30am: Doing a Better Job Communicating for Nature in Iowa: Suggestions from Environmental Journalists- Cami Koons, Iowa Capital Dispatch; Todd Dorman, Cedar Rapids Gazette; Rachel Cramer, IPR Harvest Public Media; and Anika Jane Beamer, Inside Climate News; moderated by Pat Boddy
11:30am – 12:00pm: Regenerative Agriculture and Nature: Providing Healthier Land and Food for Iowa - Tommie Hexter, Iowa Food System Coalition director and Volgenau Climate Initiative team leader; and Clare Lindahl, executive director, Soil and Water Conservation Society
12:00pm – 1:45pm: Lunch, The 2026 Iowa’s Nature Champion Awards - Seven Iowans will be recognized for their outstanding work protecting and enhancing nature in our state.
1:45pm: Summit Concludes – Closing Words - Prof. Neil Hamilton