On the first Friday of most months, conservationists from across Southwest Florida gather at the Naples Botanical Garden to share ideas, build relationships and strengthen the region’s conservation community.
What started as a simple networking idea has grown into “Conserveza” — a clever mash-up of conservation and “cerveza,” the Spanish word for beer. Over refreshments, professionals and students in the conservation field share meaningful conversations about land management and environmental stewardship — tackling issues from prescribed burns to hurricane damage and recovery. Many are Florida Gulf Coast University faculty, students or alumni.
The meetup has become a vital space to connect, collaborate and learn.
Brian Bovard is associate dean and an associate professor in The Water School at FGCU. One of Conserveza’s original organizers, he says the casual, social format lowers barriers, helps strengthen relationships and spawns new partnerships…