Practicing what we teach

by Joy Hazell, NRLI Interim Director

NRLI is facing exciting times! We are growing our course offerings, facilitating more collaborative decision-making processes, and expanding our alumni engagement and research. This growth is inspiring and NRLI receives significantly more requests for services than we can meet. Each time we say no, we are disappointed that we can’t do more to help shape natural resource decision making in Florida so that it is more inclusive, impactful and sustainable.

As we look to our second quarter century and rise to the level of an Institute, the team recognizes it is time for big picture thinking and planning. We are putting into practice what we teach in NRLI, looking at past and current contexts and envisioning future scenarios. We are engaging alumni and partners to support us with their creative thinking, diverse perspectives, and to develop a way forward that is lofty and achievable.

This big picture thinking and planning will involve multiple steps and include specific ways for alumni to engage with NRLI. Our first step is to hold a strategic planning session in December of this year guided by external facilitators. We are excited to have 30 confirmed guests, including alumni who represent the geographic, subject matter expertise, and organizational diversity that gives NRLI its strength. 

Selecting individuals from our amazing list of alumni was an enormous challenge and we wish every one of you could be there. That said, we have a plan for your engagement beyond this one planning meeting. It begins with asking you to share your ideas for what you as an alumnus envision as the NRLI of the future. We invite your feedback - please click on the green button below to add your input. Alternately, you could email me directly at jhazell@ufl.edu or call me at 305-978-9274.

In future newsletters articles and communications, we will let you know how everything is unfolding and about other ways you can be involved, including commenting on draft plans or even helping us execute new ideas.

As always, thank you for your support and engagement with NRLI!

Navigating a Lake Mired in Conflict

By Jason Daniels & Holley Short, NRLI Class 24 Fellows

Conflict is something that we have to deal with every day. Whether it’s deciding to make time for the gym in your schedule, or you hear that a contractor wants to build new condos next to a protected wetland you manage, we subconsciously lay out our own needs and interests when trying to reach a resolution. We have to decide how much of an effort needs to be made as an involved party, in our personal lives or as a natural resources professional.

The most surprising part about Lake Okeechobee and the surrounding water system is that no matter how much a person may think they know about this subject, there is always another opinion to consider, another issue to learn, another discussion to be had, or another conflict to overcome. This is a topic that means a lot to many different people and, unfortunately, seems to mean little or nothing to others living in Florida. Would it mean more if those people realized how much their lives are affected by the water system in central and south Florida? 

Our panel of presenters during this session made a big impression on the class. We were struck by how similar the five individuals sitting on the panel were in terms of their interest in the lake itself, their love for the environment, and the stories of how they remember the lake, all while having very different professions, backgrounds, and approaches to fixing the water management system in central Florida. This was a great example of having “a lot of cooks in the kitchen” but eventually working together to find a solution that can work for most involved. The particular, people on this panel have been discussing the topic for years and knew each other's personalities, similarities, and differences regarding goals and proposed solutions. While putting this article together, Jason made a great point: when we consider that two of the panel speakers are NRLI alumni, we can assume they have possibly used some of the same conflict strategies we are now learning for ourselves, which could have influenced how a particular conflict surrounding Lake Okeechobee was resolved. Devoting time to discussing interests after everyone knows the various positions should be a viable path to some sort of understanding or resolution. These were just a few views on an enormous and important resource, and we observed a level of familiarity and trust needed to approach any sort of resolution.

One way the session changed how we think about an issue or topic was the implicit discussions on the effect of emotions and perspective. It’s easy for many of us to default to the belief that conflict can be resolved through the application of a solid argument supported by evidence, and maybe people can be persuaded to change their views “if they can see reason.” This approach, of course, fails to acknowledge both that emotional reactions can often be irrational and that we live in a world where people, presented with the same set of facts, often reach very different conclusions. For dealing with conflict, this session brought forth many new ways of thinking: How can I effectively address emotional responses or different interpretations of data? How can I best prepare to address these issues? How can I change my own thinking to incorporate these strategies?

Applying the triangle of needs and interests is such a valuable tool to help resolve conflicts in natural resource issues. As we discussed during the session, positions are usually easier to discuss and are more difficult, if not impossible, to change. It’s important to take a breath, sit back, and listen to other parties to understand their concerns regarding their own needs and interests and to understand the “why.” Now, what are the big questions we have as we move forward in our NRLI sessions?

Jason: How can we best approach conversations regarding issues where there is a long history of distrust from one or multiple involved parties?

Holley: What are the most effective ways to present my own needs and interests to involved parties to make sure these are part of a resolution?

Local Government Scholarship

Ryan Kennelly

Stwardship Coordinator, Alachua County Forever Program

Ryan has been working for the Alachua County Forever Program since 2020 helping to manage the 34,000+ acres owned by the County. As the Stewardship Coordinator, he oversees the teams working on the ground to protect the natural resources on the preserves. Management activities include prescribed burning, invasive plant control, timber harvests, and restoration projects, as well as installing and improving infrastructure for management access and public enjoyment. Ryan has worked in Florida since 2013, when he originally moved here to work on various prescribed burn teams assisting partners accomplish more burning. Learning from all the different partners in north-central Florida was a foundational experience in working with outside partners with numerous different techniques and approaches to accomplish a common goal.

Originally from the suburbs of Chicago, Ryan graduated from the University of Illinois in 2011 with a degree in Natural Resources and Environmental Sciences. He likes to spend his free time hiking, camping, Florida “mountain” biking, kayaking, and enjoying all the natural wonders Florida has to offer with his wife, Stephanie, and dog, Chickpea.

Bruce Delaney Scholarship

Heather Obara

Associate Director, Alachua Conservation Trust

Heather has been working with Florida non-profits for more than 14 years and joined the staff of Alachua Conservation Trust (ACT) in 2019. She was born in Florida and grew up on the Gulf Coast. Heather earned her B.A. in English Literature in 2010 from Florida State University and her Juris Doctor with Honors in Environmental and Earth Law in 2013 from The Dwayne O. Andreas Barry School of Law. She is licensed to practice law in Florida and has gained experience in environmental law, property law, non-profit management, and real estate transactions.

Heather started her career in springs science and conservation in 2014 with the Howard T. Odum Florida Springs Institute before joining ACT. Heather currently leads the land conservation projects and acquisitions team as ACT’s Associate Director. She also assists with ACT’s communications, outreach, grants, and educational programming.

In her free time, Heather enjoys running, gardening, paddle boarding, and spending time with her husband, Jeff, and orange tabby cat, Lucy.

Local Government Scholarship

Debra Woithe

Environmental Lands Division Manager, Manatee County

Debra joined Manatee County in 2021 to lead the Environmental Lands Program and implement a referendum funding the purchase of conservation lands. The role is a welcomed challenge that pulls from understanding and skills developed throughout her career. Important conservation acquisition decisions use limited funds and require transparency and accountability. Participation and support from key staff, advisory board members, funding partners, interested and relevant parties, and, of course, the property owner(s) and the Board of County Commissioners, are critical to success.



Debra earned a B.S. in Landscape Ecology, an M.S. in Systems Ecology, and a Graduate Certificate in Wetlands from the University of Florida. She has served as a Founding Member, Governing Board Chairperson and Governing Board Member of local charter schools. Her family has lived in Florida for several generations. She began to experience the benefits of connecting with nature as a child during family vacations. Today, more than ever, she cherishes time on the water and adventures in natural places with friends and family.

Samantha Barquin Chief of Staff, Miami Waterkeeper

Kathleen Coates Deputy Director, Northwest Florida Management District

Jason Daniel Tribal Historic Preservation Officer, Miccosukee Tribe of Indians of Florida

Mike Davis Captain, Florida Fish & Wildlife Conservation Commission

Sara Ferson Professional Engineer, Suwannee River Water Management District

John Hall President, Deeper Roots Leadership Solutions

Ryan Kennelly Sr. Environmental Specialist, Alachua County Environmental Protection Dept

Mike McMunigal Strategic Planning Basin Coordinator, St Johns River Water Mgmt District

Brendan Myers Regulatory Biologist, U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service

Heather Nagy Strategic Conservation Planning Coordinator, North Florida Land Trust

Heather Obara Associate Director, Alachua Conservation Trust

Jyoti Parmar Organizing Representative, Sierra Club of Florida

Geoffrey Patterson Director of Agricultural Policy, Florida Farm Bureau Federation

Jessica Quiggle Assistant Deputy General Counsel, St Johns River Water Mgmt District 

Tom Reinert Regional Director, Florida Fish & Wildlife Conservation Commission

Holley Short Shorebird Program Manager, Audubon Florida

Tessa Skiles Owner & Underwater Cinematographer, Karst Productions

Ashley Smyth Asst Professor & State Extension Specialist, UF/IFAS TREC

Danielle Terrell Asst Director of Central Operations, Division of Recreation & Parks, FDEP

Amanda Thompson CCI Training & Education Coordinator, The Nature Conservancy

Jacob Thompson Biologist, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers

Delsina Trigoura Environmental Specialist, Miccosukee Tribe of Indians of Florida

Marnie Ward Extension Agent II, UF/IFAS Extension Citrus County

Debra Woithe Environmental Lands Division Manager, Manatee County

Natural Resources Leadership Institute

352.294.7643

jpeskin@nrli.ufl.edu

nrli.ifas.ufl.edu