Audubon Texas Announces 2026 Texas Women in Conservation Honorees

Audubon Texas is excited to announce the 2026 Texas Women in Conservation Honorees: Pamela Reese, Lydia Saldaña, and Shelly Plante. These remarkable leaders are recognized for their outstanding contributions to protecting Texas’s natural resources and advancing conservation across the state.

Now in its 11th year, the Texas Women in Conservation Program honors women whose work has left a lasting mark on the Texas landscape. Honorees are selected through an open nomination process and reviewed by a distinguished steering committee of conservation leaders from across the state. Each honoree receives the Terry Hershey Award, named after the late conservationist who dedicated much of her life to ecological conservation efforts in Houston and throughout Texas. Terry Hershey was known as a trailblazer in the field for her fierce advocacy, dedicated volunteerism, and steadfast work to improve the Texas environment for the benefit of wildlife and people.

The 2026 honorees embody the spirit of Audubon’s mission by protecting working lands, restoring resilient coastal ecosystems, advancing climate solutions, and creating bird-friendly communities, work that strengthens Texas’s connection to broader conservation efforts across the Americas.

“We are so thrilled to honor these incredible women who have dedicated themselves to conservation and environmental stewardship,” said 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.”

Through community collaboration and a shared purpose, the 2026 Texas Women in Conservation reflect Audubon’s vision: to create a healthier, more resilient future for birds, people, and the places we share. 

More information on current and former honorees can be found here.

Nominations are now open for the 2027 Texas Women in Conservation Terry Hershey Award. Do you know someone who is making a significant impact in protecting and restoring our natural world? Submit an application, available here before January 18, 2027.

Brief Biographies of the 2026 Texas Women in Conservation Honorees

Pamela Reese is a distinguished conservation leader, philanthropist, and advocate whose decades of service have helped shape the conservation movement across Texas. As the founding president of the Hill Country Alliance Board of Directors, she established one of Texas' most influential voices for protecting the Hill Country's land, water, wildlife, dark skies, and rural heritage. Through both her personal philanthropy and leadership of the Reese Foundation, she has championed a broad network of conservation organizations, including The Nature Conservancy, Texas Land Conservancy, Westcave Preserve, the Colorado River Alliance, Shoal Creek Conservancy, the Wimberley Valley Watershed Association, the Trinity Edwards Springs Protection Association, the National Wildlife Federation, Austin Parks Foundation, Austin Trail Foundation, and the Cibolo Nature Center, among others working to safeguard Texas' natural resources and connect communities to the outdoors. Together with her husband, Mike, she placed their Hill Country ranch under a conservation easement with The Nature Conservancy, ensuring the permanent protection of ecologically significant land from future development.

Lydia Saldaña is a distinguished leader in conservation communications, having shaped public engagement for Texas wildlife, habitats, and public lands through her roles as Communications Director for both the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department and the Texas Parks and Wildlife Foundation. Lydia has led impactful statewide campaigns that raised awareness of habitat protection and land stewardship, directed multimedia and
fundraising initiatives, and built strategic partnerships to support conservation. Her expertise in storytelling and outreach has strengthened public understanding and philanthropic support for conservation efforts. Additionally, Lydia has consulted for organizations such as the Borderlands Research Institute, and produced numerous videos celebrating Texas Women in Conservation, further amplifying the reach and impact of conservation initiatives statewide.

Shelly Plante is a dedicated conservation leader and advocate for nature-based tourism, serving as the Nature Tourism Manager for the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department, where she is dedicated to connecting people with nature and advancing community-based conservation. Through her leadership, Shelly has managed key programs such as the Great Texas Wildlife Trails, the Great Texas Birding Classic—which has raised over $1.34 million for conservation grants—Texas Paddling Trails, and the Texas Pollinator BioBlitz. She is recognized for her commitment to education, partnerships, and outreach, working closely with landowners, local communities, and students as an adjunct professor at Texas State University. Shelly’s collaborative approach and advocacy, including her role in supporting the Recovering America's Wildlife Act, have made her a driving force in nature tourism and conservation across Texas.