2026 Conservation Series
Environmental change and conservation issues increasingly affect daily life in Northeast Florida, raising important questions about land use, historical disinvestment, and community planning. Since 2023, Jacksonville Public Library has partnered with the St. Johns Riverkeeper, a local nonprofit organization, to offer public programming to help Duval County residents better understand these issues.
May - June in 2026, this annual "Conservation Series" expands to include new partners and programs:
- a History Chat with the North Florida Land Trust,
- a Screening Room and discussion with the Duval Audubon Society,
- a series of five Life Lab community conversations,
- and a keynote Lit Chat Interview with author Clay Henderson.
"This partnership has provided an outstanding opportunity for the community to learn about important environmental issues from highly regarded authors, while helping to stimulate much-needed dialogue regarding solutions," Jimmy Orth, Exec. Dir., St. Johns Riverkeeper.
Schedule of Events
Note: Programs have been placed at libraries in areas facing flooding risks, development pressures, and environmental contamination, including exposure to “forever” chemicals on former dump sites.
History Chat: The Aquifer, Bears, Agriculture, Marshes & Aircraft Carriers
The Conservation Series kicks off from 7 - 8 p.m. on Wednesday, May 6, at Pablo Creek Regional Library. The North Florida Land Trust (NFLT) is a nonprofit organization committed to protecting and preserving our region’s irreplaceable natural beauty. Since 1999, it has protected over 123,000 acres in Northeast Florida worth $277M. Guest speaker Ramesh Buch will discuss how NFLT uses land conversation to accomplish their goals. An audience Q&A will follow the presentation.
The Screening Room: The Little Brown Bird with Duval County Audubon Society
Watch and discuss The Little Brown Bird (32 min.) from 7 - 8 p.m. May 18, at the Highlands Regional Library. The screening will be followed by a presentation and Q & A with Andrew Schumann, Conservation and Recovery Program Manager, White Oak Conservation and Board Member, Duval Audubon Society. The documentary created by Cornell Lab of Ornithology and Wildpath highlights the endangered Florida Grasshopper Sparrow.
Life Lab: Community Conversations
Want to make a difference in your own backyard? Throughout May and June, our community partners will facilitate five Life Lab "community conversations" that focus on empowering everyday residents. A "Life Lab" is a one-hour lecture or workshop featuring local, trained professional professionals offering free help on a variety of life skills and topics from gardening to starting a small business.
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Lights Out for Bird Migration
- with Johnna Bellen, Duval Audubon Society
- 2 - 3 p.m. on Thursday, May 21
- Willow Branch Library
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Love Your Backyard Birds
- with Elizabeth Filippelli, Duval Audubon Society
- 7 - 8 p.m. on Wednesday, May 27
- Webb Wesconnett Library
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SAVe Our River Grasses: Submerged Aquatic Vegetation
- with Soraya Aidinejad, St. Johns Riverkeeper
- 6 - 7 p.jm. on Tuesday, June 2
- Mandarin Branch Library
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Plants for Conservation - Your Yard Can Help Florida's Wildlife
- with Kala Neighbor, North Florida Land Trust
- 4 - 5 p.m. on Tuesday, June 23
- Beaches Branch Library
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Stroll the Blue Cypress Boardwalk
- with Clay Henderson
- 10:30 - 11:30 a.m. on Saturday, June 27
- 4012 University Blvd N
Lit Chat Interview with Clay Henderson
Clay Henderson, author of Forces of Nature: A History of Florida Land Conservation, is an award-winning environmental lawyer, educator, and writer long involved in environmental policy. He has served as president of Florida Audubon Society and Florida Trust for Historic Preservation.
He will be in conversation with Florida Master Naturalist Ryan Worthington from 1 - 2 p.m. on Saturday, June 27 at the University Park Branch Library. An audience Q&A and book signing will follow the 40-minute interview with books available from San Marco Books & More.
Before the Lit Chat: Walk with Clay from 10:30 - 11:30 a.m. at the nearby Blue Cypress Park. located at 4012 University Blvd N. He'll talk about local conservation efforts and the flora and fauna that can be found along the banks of the St. Johns River.
Funding for these programs was provided through a grant from the Florida Humanities with funds from The Mosaic Company. Any views, findings, conclusions or recommendations expressed in these programs do not necessarily represent those of Florida Humanities or The Mosaic Company.
About Our Partners
St. Johns Riverkeeper is a privately funded, independent nonprofit organization dedicated to the St. Johns River and the communities connected to it. Supported by members, donors, and volunteers, the organization brings expertise in the history, ecology, and cultural significance of the river.
North Florida Land Trust (NFLT), founded in 1999, is a regional nonprofit organization serving seven counties in Northeast Florida. Over its 25-year history, NFLT has worked to conserve ecologically, agriculturally, and historically significant lands, providing insight into how land use, stewardship, and conservation priorities have shaped the region over time. Through its work across Nassau, Duval, Clay, St. Johns, Putnam, Baker, and Flagler Counties, including within the Ocala to Osceola Wildlife Corridor, NFLT brings historical and cultural context to discussions of landscape change, land-use decisions, and community relationships to place.
Duval Audubon Society is a local chapter of the National Audubon Society serving Clay, Duval, and Nassau Counties in Northeast Florida. The organization brings expertise in regional wildlife, environmental history, and conservation culture, with a focus on birds and local ecosystems. Through its work, Duval Audubon Society provides historical and cultural context for discussions about environmental change, stewardship, and how communities in Northeast Florida have understood and responded to these issues over time.
