Executive Overview

For over a decade, the Texas Women in Conservation Program—spearheaded by Audubon Texas—has served as a vital institutional pillar recognizing the profound, often foundational impact women have on environmental stewardship, ecological preservation, and natural resource management across the Lone Star State. In its landmark 11th year, the program proudly announces its esteemed 2026 honorees: Pamela Reese, Lydia Saldaña, and Shelly Plante.

These three visionary leaders have been selected for their extraordinary contributions toward protecting Texas’ fragile and diverse natural landscapes, advancing actionable climate solutions, restoring resilient coastal and inland ecosystems, and creating bird-friendly communities. Each honoree will be presented with the prestigious Terry Hershey Award, a tribute named after the legendary Houston conservationist whose fierce advocacy, tireless volunteerism, and structural reforms fundamentally reshaped the Texas environmental movement.

As urban sprawl, shifting climate patterns, and ecological fragmentation continue to threaten Texas’s wide-open spaces, the work of Reese, Saldaña, and Plante exemplifies the courage, vision, and operational tenacity required to safeguard the state’s natural heritage for generations to come. This year’s selections reflect Audubon’s broader hemispheric mission: fostering a healthier, more resilient future for birds, human communities, and the shared ecosystems that connect Texas to the wider Americas.

Detailed Chronology and Program Heritage

The Legacy of Terry Hershey and the Genesis of the Program

The roots of the Texas Women in Conservation Program trace back to the indomitable spirit of Terry Hershey, a pioneering environmentalist who dedicated her life to protecting the natural beauty of Houston and throughout Texas. Hershey was instrumental in saving the Buffalo Bayou from channelization, helping establish the Katy Prairie Conservancy, and serving on the national board of the Audubon Society. Known for her unyielding resolve and collaborative leadership, Hershey proved that persistent grassroots advocacy could alter the trajectory of state and national environmental policy.

Established eleven years ago, the Texas Women in Conservation Program was designed to ensure that the monumental contributions of women to environmental leadership received the public recognition they deserved. Operating through a rigorous open nomination process, the program relies on a distinguished steering committee composed of leading conservationists from every corner of the state. This committee evaluates candidates based on the scale of their impact, their leadership longevity, and their ability to inspire future generations of environmental stewards.

The Evolution of the 2026 Honorees’ Impact

The journey of the 2026 honorees spans decades of dedicated public service, philanthropic vision, strategic communications, and community-based conservation initiatives:

• Pamela Reese’s Decades-Long Foothold in the Hill Country: Pamela Reese’s institutional impact began years ago when she recognized the urgent need to protect the ecologically sensitive Texas Hill Country from rapid, unchecked development. As the founding president of the Hill Country Alliance Board of Directors, she forged a unified regional voice dedicated to protecting land, water, wildlife habitats, dark skies, and rural heritage. Alongside her husband, Mike, Reese cemented her personal commitment by placing their family ranch under a conservation easement with The Nature Conservancy, guaranteeing perpetual protection for vital acreage.
• Lydia Saldaña’s Transformation of Conservation Narratives: Lydia Saldaña spent decades shaping the public face of Texas wildlife conservation during her tenure as Communications Director for both the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD) and the Texas Parks and Wildlife Foundation (TPWF). By masterminding statewide awareness campaigns, scaling multimedia fundraising initiatives, and forging strategic partnerships, Saldaña translated complex ecological data into compelling narratives that drove public support and philanthropic investment into Texas’s public lands and wildlife initiatives.
• Shelly Plante’s Pioneering Work in Nature Tourism: Shelly Plante’s trajectory as a conservation catalyst took root through her hands-on leadership at the intersection of community outreach, economic development, and environmental education. As the Nature Tourism Manager for TPWD, Plante built and expanded flagship programs that not only connected millions of Texans to the outdoors—such as the Great Texas Birding Classic and the Texas Paddling Trails—but also generated millions of dollars directly earmarked for on-the-ground conservation grants.

Supporting Context, Metrics, and Biographical Profiles

To fully understand the weight of the 2026 Terry Hershey Award, one must examine the measurable outcomes and institutional frameworks built by each honoree. Their collective work forms a safety net that protects working lands, supports biodiversity, and educates the public.

Comprehensive Biographical Profiles of the 2026 Honorees

Pamela Reese: Philanthropy, Institutional Founding, and Land Protection

Pamela Reese is a distinguished conservation leader, philanthropist, and advocate whose decades of service have helped shape the modern conservation movement across Texas.

As the founding president of the Hill Country Alliance Board of Directors, Reese established one of the state’s most influential and respected voices for protecting the Hill Country’s land, water, wildlife, dark skies, and rural heritage. Through both her personal philanthropy and her leadership of the Reese Foundation, she has championed an expansive, interconnected network of conservation organizations. Her institutional support spans foundational entities such as:

• The Nature Conservancy
• Texas Land Conservancy
• Westcave Preserve
• Colorado River Alliance
• Shoal Creek Conservancy
• Wimberley Valley Watershed Association
• Trinity Edwards Springs Protection Association
• National Wildlife Federation
• Austin Parks Foundation
• Austin Trail Foundation
• Cibolo Nature Center

Beyond organizational governance and financial philanthropy, Reese’s legacy is permanently etched into the Texas landscape through her family’s land stewardship. Alongside her husband, Mike, she placed their Hill Country ranch under a conservation easement with The Nature Conservancy, ensuring that ecologically significant land remains shielded from future development in perpetuity.

Lydia Saldaña: Elevating Conservation Through Strategic Communications

Lydia Saldaña is a pioneering leader in conservation communications who has fundamentally shaped public engagement for Texas wildlife, habitats, and public lands.

During her tenure as Communications Director for the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department and the Texas Parks and Wildlife Foundation, Saldaña orchestrated impactful statewide public awareness campaigns that elevated the profile of land stewardship and habitat protection. Her responsibilities included directing sophisticated multimedia campaigns, spearheading major fundraising initiatives, and cultivating strategic partnerships across the public and private sectors.

Saldaña’s unparalleled expertise in storytelling and public outreach measurably strengthened public understanding and philanthropic backing for critical conservation efforts. In addition to her foundational institutional roles, she has lent her strategic communications expertise as a consultant for organizations such as the Borderlands Research Institute. Furthermore, she has produced numerous documentary videos celebrating past Texas Women in Conservation honorees, ensuring that the legacy of female environmental leadership continues to inspire audiences statewide.

Shelly Plante: Driving Nature Tourism and Grassroots Engagement

Shelly Plante is a dedicated conservation leader and passionate advocate for nature-based tourism, serving as the Nature Tourism Manager for the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department, where she works tirelessly to connect people with the natural world and advance community-based conservation models.

Plante’s leadership has driven the success and expansion of several key state programs designed to promote ecological literacy and outdoor recreation:

• The Great Texas Wildlife Trails: Guiding travelers to premier wildlife-viewing locations across the state.
• The Great Texas Birding Classic: A premier conservation tournament that has successfully raised over $1.34 million in direct conservation grants.
• Texas Paddling Trails: Opening up waterways for safe, accessible public recreation and river stewardship.
• Texas Pollinator BioBlitz: Engaging students and communities in citizen-science documentation of vital pollinator species.

Recognized widely for her commitment to education, strategic partnerships, and public outreach, Plante collaborates closely with private landowners, local municipalities, and the next generation of scientists as an adjunct professor at Texas State University. Her collaborative approach and robust legislative advocacy—including pivotal support for the federal Recovering America’s Wildlife Act—have cemented her status as a driving force in nature tourism and species preservation across Texas.

Official Statements and Institutional Perspectives

The announcement of the 2026 honorees drew widespread praise from environmental leaders across the state, underscoring the deep impact of the Texas Women in Conservation Program.

"We are so thrilled to honor these incredible women who have dedicated themselves to conservation and environmental stewardship," stated Audubon Texas Vice President and Executive Director Lisa Gonzalez. "True leadership in conservation is measured not just by the habitats restored or policies shaped, but by the generations inspired. These honorees embody the courage, commitment, and vision needed to protect Texas’s natural legacy—and to light the way for those who will follow."

Gonzalez’s remarks highlight a core philosophy of the Audubon organization: that ecological preservation cannot succeed in a vacuum. It requires cultural shifts, educational outreach, and resilient community networks—all hallmarks of the collective work achieved by Reese, Saldaña, and Plante.

Community collaborators, past honorees, and steering committee members echoed these sentiments, noting that honoring women leaders provides critical visibility for gender equity within the environmental sector, where women have historically led grassroots movements while frequently remaining underrepresented in executive governance roles.

Future Outlook and Call to Action

As Texas faces unprecedented demographic shifts, rapid urbanization, and mounting environmental pressures, the frameworks established by leaders like Pamela Reese, Lydia Saldaña, and Shelly Plante offer a clear roadmap for the future. Protecting working lands, educating youth, leveraging strategic communications, and expanding nature tourism are no longer ancillary goals—they are absolute prerequisites for ecological survival.

Looking Ahead: The 2027 Terry Hershey Award Nominations

In the spirit of continuity and forward momentum, Audubon Texas has officially opened the nomination window for the 2027 Texas Women in Conservation Terry Hershey Award.

The organization is calling upon conservationists, community leaders, educators, and everyday citizens to identify and nominate women who are making a significant, measurable impact in protecting and restoring the natural world.

• Eligibility: Nominees should demonstrate sustained leadership, innovation, and measurable outcomes in conservation, environmental education, advocacy, or resource management within Texas.
• Submission Deadline: All nomination applications must be submitted by January 18, 2027.
• How to Apply: The official application form and detailed submission guidelines can be accessed directly through the Audubon Texas Terry Hershey Award Nominations Portal.

For more information regarding the Texas Women in Conservation Program, historical archives of past honorees, and ways to get involved in local Audubon initiatives, please visit the Audubon Texas Conservation Hub.