TMN GLC July Chapter Meeting & Educational Program

CONSERVATION EASEMENTS 101/201: BRING YOUR QUESTIONS!

Concerned about the fast-paced land development in our 5-county chapter
area? We have invited representatives from three land trusts, a landowner who
intends to protect his land from development, and a realtor with land and wildlife
management experience for an informative Q&A session on Conservation
Easements! Bring both your basic and complex Q’s!

[VMS opportunity: AT: TMN chapter program (for advanced training segment) and Administrative work: chapter meeting (for the business meeting segment)]

TMN GLC chapter meetings are held the third Saturday of odd-numbered months at rotating locations in the five-county chapter area. Guests are always welcome to come learn about Texas Master Naturalists and to enjoy the free educational presentations on a variety of naturalist topics.

Our July chapter meeting will be held July 20, 2024 beginning at 9:30 a.m. at the Fayette County AgriLife Extension office in La Grange.

• The chapter business meeting will start at 9:30 am and the educational panel will begin at 10 am.
• The Gideon Lincecum Chapter of Texas Master Naturalists invites the public to join us for a unique panel discussion on the topic of Land Conservation with a landowner, realtor, and representatives from The Nature Conservancy and the Native Prairies Association of Texas.
• In addition, fellow chapter members will give brief presentations on their chosen topics.

PANELISTS BIOS:
Amber Arseneaux joined the Native Prairies Association of Texas (NPAT) as the Executive
Director in February 2024. At NPAT, Amber oversees a statewide staff of 5 and is attuned to
the dynamic pace and passionate efforts of its members. Prior to joining NPAT, Amber spent
eight years at the Texas Land Conservancy starting as the Development Director and later
served as the North Texas Program Director. Amber is a Texas Master Naturalist, who
volunteers to contribute to the preservation and enhancement of our state’s natural resources.

Randal Banik, owner of Only One Sky Farm (a remnant prairie in Round Top), is a pharmacist
by profession. For the last 35 years, Randal and his partner have been working diligently to
restore Only One Sky Farm to its natural state by using different management practices. As a
result, Only One Sky Farm has a rich diversity of over 300 different plant and 80 bird species,
plus about 75 species of mushrooms. Loving nature and the great outdoors has led Randal
to be an avid hiker, backpacker, birder and mushroom hunter. Randal is in the process of
entering into a conservation easement agreement with a nature conservancy to preserve the
farm from future development.

David Bezanson is the Land Protection Strategy Director for The Nature Conservancy’s Texas
Chapter and works to protect land and conservation easements statewide. David also assists
other land trusts and partner organizations with land and easement acquisitions. An East
Texas native, he was formerly Executive Director of the Texas Land Conservancy.

Elisa Donovan, Vice President and General Counsel, oversees the Coastal Prairie
Conservancy’s legal matters, administration, programs, and strategic planning. Elisa
has led multiple land conservation and structuring projects and has successfully
advocated for the protection of natural and agricultural lands in the Texas Gulf Coast
Region. She brings over 20 years of experience handling business, real estate, and
energy matters when she joined CPC to redirect her career in fulfillment of her passion
for the protection of wildlife habitat.

Robert Lehmann, a Brenham area native, began his career as a Park Ranger with Texas
Parks and Wildlife (TPWD). Robert retired from TPWD as a Regulatory Wildlife Technician
where he conducted game and non-game surveys and assisted landowners with their wildlife
habitat management plans within Washington and surrounding counties. Upon his retirement,
Robert joined Legend Texas Properties as a real estate agent. His experience in land
management provides Robert with a more comprehensive insight into real estate
transactions. Additionally, Robert continues to offer his expertise in wildlife and land
management by assisting landowners with their 1-d-1 Ag property evaluations.