Local Roots Second Annual Panel Discussion

By Villanova College of Liberal Arts & Sciences and Radnor Conservancy

Villanova University’s Center for Biodiversity and Ecosystem Stewardship will host their second annual panel, “Local Roots: Partnerships for Success,” on Monday, Nov. 3 at 5:30 p.m. in the Villanova Room of the Connelly Center on Villanova’s campus. Presented by Radnor Conservancy, this panel discussion invites students, faculty and staff, along with local community members, to engage and learn about environmental care and stewardship happening in the region.

This dynamic panel of experts, representing local organizations, will explore how community partnerships are enhancing ecological health across the Greater Philadelphia region.

Panelists include:

• Grant DeCosta, director, Brandywine Conservancy
• The Brandywine Conservancy utilizes a holistic approach to fulfill our mission of resource conservation which includes partnering with municipalities to achieve elevated results through collaboration. The Conservancy's Municipal Assistance Program provides planning support on comprehensive planning, open space plans, ordinance and regulations, and MS4 stormwater technical assistance and project implementation
• Dr. Amanda Hess, PhD, research assistant professor, Villanova Center for Resilient Water Systems, Villanova University
• Through interdisciplinary engineering research—environmental, geotechnical, water resources—the Villanova Center for Resilient Water Systems (VCRWS) engages with society to create resilient solutions to global water challenges. VCRWS is a group of faculty, staff, and students who perform research with a focus on the evolving field of sustainable stormwater management through field, laboratory, and modeling efforts.
• Kyle Rose, director, Land Protection Program, Natural Lands
• Since 2005, Natural Lands has administered PECO’s Green Region Open Space Program which has provided financial support to over 400 projects leading to over 340 acres of new open space, 51 miles of trails, and almost 9,000 trees planted across PECO’s service SE PA service region. Come learn about the history, partners, and successes of the program.
• Tom Smarr, executive director, Jenkins Arboretum & Gardens
• In 2021, Jenkins Arboretum & Gardens completed a Stormwater Management Plan that identified several problem areas on and adjacent to the Arboretum property. Since, Jenkins has partnered with the Tredyffrin Township, private environmental engineering firms, and Pennsylvania state agencies for physical improvements on and surrounding the Jenkins property to improve water flow and erosion control to protect downstream.

Moderator: Amber Atwood Levy ’12 MA, executive director, Radnor Conservancy

Members of the Villanova and local community are invited to learn about environmental efforts, connect with fellow nature enthusiasts and be inspired to get involved. A reception will follow the discussion, with opportunities for students and community members to network.

The event is free and open to the public. Registration is required.

About Radnor Conservancy: A registered 501c3 nonprofit for over 20 years, we at Radnor Conservancy are dedicated to preserving and enhancing the natural beauty of Radnor Township. Through community engagement, conservation initiatives, advocacy for sustainable development, and educational programs, we strive to foster a deeper appreciation for our local environment and create meaningful connections between our community and the natural beauty all around us.

About the Center for Biodiversity and Ecosystem Stewardship: Villanova University’s Center for Biodiversity and Ecosystem Stewardship (CBEST) promotes research in biodiversity and ecosystem science with a focus on understanding ongoing changes in ecosystems, their component organisms, and the benefits they provide to society. Housed within the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, led by a team of scientists at the forefront of their fields, and reinforced by the contributions of graduate and undergraduate researchers, CBEST integrates science with action, working with a diverse community of experts in locations around the world to preserve biodiversity, manage complicated ecosystems and combat the challenges posed by an uncertain future.

About Villanova University’s College of Liberal Arts and Sciences: Since its founding in 1842, Villanova University’s College of Liberal Arts and Sciences has been the heart of the Villanova learning experience, offering foundational courses for undergraduate students in every college of the University. Serving more than 4,500 undergraduate and graduate students, the College is committed to fortifying them with intellectual rigor, multidisciplinary knowledge, moral courage and a global perspective. The College has more than 40 academic departments and programs across the humanities, social sciences, and natural and physical sciences.