Stories Connect People to Conservation

Welcome to the park leader show where we are changing the landscape of leadership and parks and conservation. I'm your host, Jody Mayberry. And this episode, I'm bringing to you someone who is a new friend of mine because we just went to the underside of the world together. It's Jeff Parrish. Jeff is the global managing director of Protect Oceans, Lands, and Water at The Nature Conservancy. And I know this is gonna be a great conversation because I've spent a lot

of time talking to Jeff. And, Jeff, I'm so glad you were willing to join us. Oh, Jody, it's my pleasure. And as you know, I'm pretty passionate about the future of this planet and and nature and love sharing it with people, but particularly the people who are on the front lines, who are the guardians of of nature and and who help people experience this. So it's really awesome, and thanks for everything you do, my

friend. Oh, so Jeff and I just spent several days riding horses together, hiking together, in helicopter together. I made quite a trip to Puchagine in South America and Chile. Maybe we'll get to that. But Jeff's background is so big, and there's so many stories, and he's done so much. We may not get to Puccheguin this time, and we'll return to it later.

Jeff, I wanna start out asking you about your history with the outdoors because I know you did you you were interested from an early age, but how did you what was your history with the outdoors, and then how did you end up eventually with The Nature Conservancy? Yeah. Thanks, Judy. I'll I'll try to keep it short. But, you know, so I I am a a kid from Alabama. When I was growing up, honestly, no one in my family was, was, like, outdoorsy, and

I was passionate about wildlife. But growing up in Alabama back in the seventies and early eighties, it was I didn't know you could do what I do now as a career. So I thought you'd have to be a veterinarian or something like that. So but one day I got this letter in the mail from the director of the Birmingham Zoo, and it was to join this club of kids who were passionate about nature and wildlife. And so it was it changed my entire

world. And I saw that there were other people out there who were, you know, either loved snakes and amphibians or were into birds, and we did crazy things. We drove from Birmingham to Belize, and, a bunch of 16 high school kids with a zoo director. And it was an extraordinary experience, and I it set me on a path towards studying biology and ecology and as an undergrad. And then I did my PhD. I've always been

fascinated with birds. I won't say I'm a birder. I don't keep a life list or anything of that nature, but I'm fascinated with everything about birds. And so I studied migration, how these little tiny songbirds, these passerines can make it from one side of the planet to another and just a few hops. And so I studied that. It turned out it was on a TNC

preserve where I did my research. And it was, just it was really interesting because I got to use some of that science to inform the Nature Conservancy how to better manage their preserve because they were kinda screwing it up for when it came to songbirds and songbird ecology. And, that's what I love about the Nature Conservancy is that it's a place where I can say we make mistakes, and we always we were ever better. My first job, though, real job was the Latin

American ornithologist for the Nature Conservancy. And, you know, if you're into birds, like, that's pretty much the dream job. Right? To be able to with all the diversity of of birds across Latin America. I did a lot

of work then in parks. And so I've managed our work with protected areas in The Caribbean and then across Latin America, really getting to know the challenges around all kinds of protected area management, everything from visitor management to biological monitoring, to management plans, to park guards in places where there was intense poaching. So I really learned a lot about

and became passionate about protection and protected areas. And long story short, I was able to I started my career at TNC in '96, was able to I worked in a few other organizations in the late two thousands and twenty tens. And then I came back to TNC in this executive role in a job that I pinched myself every day when I describe what I get to do. I'm in charge of nature protection for the world's largest environmental

organization. I'm in the 50 states and 76 countries around the world, and it's been just the honor of my life to be able to do that and to help support others in their pursuit of protecting nature. So we're doing some really cool, huge, big things right now.

I guess one of the other things, and then I'll shut up, Jody, is just that we're doing it in radical collaboration with others too, because we've only you know, this is really the last decade we have left to get a lot of this right to bend the trajectory. And so and we and no organization, no matter what they tell you in their brochures, can do it alone. So really been trying to push that idea of of radical collaboration.

I saw that when we were in Chile, the way TNC, The Nature Conservancy is working with Pueblo Patagonia and some of the family foundations that are down there to help. It is a fascinating model, and I like it that it's it's almost like you you as the Nature Conservancy and tell me if I'm wrong about this. Like, you don't care if you get the credit. You don't care who manages it just so long as the

property gets preserved. That's right. You know, conservation is 1% science and 99% people, and that, you know, people have egos and, you know, things motivate them. But I do that is definitely the ethos that from our CEO to the executives all the way down to staff on on the ground really believe in that

partnership and that collaboration. And, yeah, in the this project in Chile, it's really the Yosemite of of South America, Massive, massive property that we're trying to purchase and then eventually turn into a a national park when we know it can be supported financially by the government. But for now, what's beautiful is that our partners at Pueblo Patagonia, people should look that up, they're just extraordinary. They come from the

community. They're passionate about protecting this this place, not just its nature, but its culture. And they're out front.

TNC is just providing our value add and with a a number of other great partners. And it's just you know, at the end of the day, I mean, I'll hopefully continue to do a few big things for this planet. And when I'm long gone, though, the things I'll remember is, the friendships. You and I were talking about this earlier, just the friendships, the partnership and moving all that stuff forward. And you got to enjoy it while you're doing it. It's hard work. And, I certainly do with these

incredible partners. So next week, I'm spending my whole week with the our TNC's quote unquote competitors, and, there was an air quotes there on the on the podcast, with, the World Wildlife Fund and the Pew Charitable Trust. And

they are my closest partners. And we talk I talk with them almost as much as I talk with my own staff or fellow colleagues with that do have a Oakleaf on their business card because we're collaborating on some of the biggest protection initiatives that basically help countries get to 30% protection, which is a big goal on the on the planet today, and do that in a way that's sustainably financed in perpetuity. And so we help each other. We raise

money for each other. It's like a new day. And so, yeah, it's it's amazing what you can accomplish when you don't care who gets the credit. If there is any competition that improves the whole world, it is these large conservation groups that are competing against each other to see who can conserve more. Yeah. I mean, it's, it is kinda crazy the level of competition. Sometimes it can be quite ugly, to be honest, but

I think things are different today. I I was on the phone with a donor this morning who just really hit what he I think what he cares about the most is the fact that we're all coming together. And a lot of people will tell me when they hear about something like this enduring earth partnership with WWF and Pew and Ben Walton's family office, They hear about that and they're like, finally. Finally, you guys are actually working together and pulling in the same direction and not badmouthing each

other. And and then they they're blown away when they realize that we're trying to raise money for each other. So it's it's pretty cool. It's what the planet needs. I know we're already getting deep into conservation and the projects that you're working on, but I I wanted to get some insight into the actual work you do because you have a very long title. It sounds very

important. You go all over the world. So give us some insight into what your responsibility is as the global managing director of Protect Oceans, Lands, and Water. Yeah. It is a long title. I just tell people I do. I'm accountable for our nature protection work at TNC. But, yeah, day to day first of all, you start the day with a lot of early morning calls and a lot of late night calls because we work across pretty much every time zone, And that's a blessing, but it's also so it can,

can make for some pretty long days. I spend a lot of time helping support some incredible leaders that work in my unit, in my program, or who are in other parts of the Nature Conservancy. So my job is to make their job better, make it easier and accelerate that protection work that they're doing. Now, specifically, I have to do a lot of thinking on what are our priorities when it comes to protection. The world needs a lot of

help, and so we do have to set priorities. I do have to spend a lot of time fundraising for all of these transactions to come together to protect the planet, whether it's hitting 30% in Mongolia and adding in another 14,000,000 hectares, that's like more than 35,000,000 acres into the protected area system, you've got to have some the funding to be able to do that. Pucchegine, the property that you and I were at, you know, we need to raise $78,000,000 to secure this valley

and make sure it's managed in perpetuity. By the way, that purchase price of 63 of that 78 is actually down by 150. Pablo Patagon needed some pretty amazing, negotiations. And then some of that is about negotiating and some of these specific deals, negotiating with

heads of state or with a property owner. Now, I've got amazing teams who are far better at those things than I am, but I spend a lot of time telling the story about this protection war, trying to inspire people and trying to get them to to do their part, to dig deep and help make it happen, whether it's through friends or through funds or through influence. And so that's a big part of my day and, you

know, and the world is constantly changing. So, you know, things are different today than they were at the end of last year in The United States in terms of policy. And that means we have to adapt. You know, we have to pivot. We have to do adaptive management. So that's partly what you do when you're at the level of responsibility that I carry. And so but, yeah, it's a I am the luckiest man on

the planet. I get to do protection work in the beautiful 50 United States and in all these countries around the world, and I pinch myself every time I tell people what I do. When someone says I'm the luckiest man on the planet because of the work I get to do, usually, you figure they're exaggerating. They just like their job. But with Jeff, I actually believe it that he is the luckiest man on the planet because the projects Jeff has worked on, the places he's been, the people he's met,

just incredible. And, Jeff, I look forward in a few years when you retire to the the book and the stories that are going to come out after all this. You've got so many. One of the things I really like that I saw in Chile is that here was a group, and we'll do an episode about Pochiguin later. But this whole thing started just from one person trying to figure out one problem that just snowballed and kept getting bigger and bigger until The Nature Conservancy stepped

in and said, we'll help with this. And it wouldn't have happened otherwise. And I really like that because there's, I know there's two ways you can do conservation. One is a big organization like The Nature Conservancy could just say, we're gonna buy this property, then it's gonna be protected. But what a great story with Puchagine that it was a local effort that just kept getting bigger and bigger. When you work on projects around the world, you mentioned friends, funds, and influence.

How much of the conservation you do now starts with those smaller friends and the smaller groups in the countries that are tied to a particular property? Yeah. I'd say at the end of the day, every

every single big project that's moving the needle on conservation comes from some passionate person or people championing that work on the ground or in the water. It comes from somebody's vision and everybody else just has the blessing to be able to to jump in and help them. Yeah. And Puiguille is a great example. It was really just a couple of people who were fighting a hydroelectric dam that would have, you know, dammed up a river on this property that we're

now trying to to purchase. And then that snowballed because it became then the community was engaged. And then they came up with the vision because of this passion when they realized that, woah, we might actually be able to buy the whole of this property, which extends from the fjords near Porto Mont all the way over to the Argentine border. And then they knew that they needed help. And so others came in and crowded in at their invitation. And so there are a lot most projects are like

that. But even at The Nature Conservancy, yes, we're a big organization, but we're we're hyper global, but we're also hyper local. So, you know, we have here where I live in Denver, we have a Colorado chapter and that Colorado chapter has staff that's living in the communities near Steamboat Springs and the Yapper River and who's living in Southwest Colorado or Southeast Colorado, where we're working on grassland protection and conservation. Like, so they are part of that

fabric. Sometimes, you know, they are working alongside those local farmers or local NGOs. And so we can I think one of the things I really appreciate about The Nature Conservancy is that we can be that hyper global and hyper local at the same time and bring all those things together? I mean, even in in Chile, the only way we can raise the money that we need to raise on this very complicated transaction at this at this with the, with the speed that we need is because of that hyper global part.

We can raise money from all around the world and bring it down all the way to our our local partners, Pueblo Patagonia. So I think that's a so, yes, it's all it all comes from a passionate person or group of people at the grassroots level, but then being able to scale that up and, is part of the of

the magic soft. One of the things I see you working on now that applies to all of us that are interested in conservation, and that that is you have to I see it where you have to get people who are thousands of miles away from a property that they may never see to be interested in it and donate money to help protect it. That just feels like such an uphill battle. How do you deal with that? How do you get people and I keep coming back to Pootjagin just because

I've been there. How do you get people in Wyoming and Arkansas and Oregon interested in a place they'll never visit that's thousands of miles away? Yeah. Well, everyone's a little different, but I'll tell you some of the secret tools. One is certainly when you can get them there, you go. You try to use that inspiration. Because as you saw in Chile, that forest touches you. You don't touch that forest. It is pretty magical and you can't really escape it once you've been there. And it's

just so inspiring. So that's always ideal. But as you said, most people don't get a chance to do that. So they really, it's you have to build trust that they trust in The Nature Conservancy to guide them to the place where they can make the biggest difference with their philanthropy. And then you have to inspire. You've gotta be a damn good storyteller.

And I one of the things I often joke about is, when I long time ago, their wonderful human being one of my favorite human beings on the planet, a guy named Rick Ridgeway, told me who worked at Patagonia, was the environmental vice president at Patagonia, the the company. And I he told me when I was just, you know, still a young scientist doing conservation at TNC, he was like, Jeff, the only way you're going to save the world is with a damn good story. And that quote changed my

life. And so so one of the things I really work hard to do is

to know the places that are our highest priorities so that I can tell the story to donors, so that I can tell a personal story about about that champion that we were just talking about, that local champion, about the biodiversity, or even about the adventure. Because you don't inspire people by being a walking pamphlet. Right? You really need to be able to tell that story. And so

that's not always the case. Sometimes I have to be, you know, to be that bridge to a place that I myself have not been to, but where where I can tell those personal stories to people, I think it's that's really an important part of the magic. And people, when they trust you and they hear those stories of inspiration, people do they dig deep. Yeah. I get it. And there's I see it in both ways. If you were there in Pochiguin, it's hard not to just fall in love.

For example, the Alarsa tree, which I had never heard of before, it's one thing to hear about them and how I think you told me, Jeff, that in the 380,000 acres or however big the property is, there's 11% of all of these trees in that one piece of property. So those stats, sure, it's meaningful. Sure, I may say, well, we should do something about that, but it is not the same thing as seeing an Elyssa tree and touching the bark and and walking through the forest and

just seeing the presence of one of these trees. Yeah. I mean, 16 people can't get their arms around these trees. Some of these have been around. They're probably making a run at the record of the bristlecone pine in terms of how long they've been around on this planet. Many of those trees that you and I were around were 3,000 or 4,000 years

old. And then when you're around them, that single tree, the amount of carbon it stores and keeps out of our atmosphere, you know, and not to mention all the incredible birds and fungi and and plants that we that we got to see, the incredible diversity. It is super inspirational, and you wanna be able to tell people about it and and inspire them. Yeah. It is pretty special that one property, one transaction could save 11% of these endangered trees and the sequoias of South America. And so it's a

unique blessing and responsibility we have to tell the story. You're telling the story right now, Jody, and I which I deeply appreciate. And, you know, we also have to tell the story of other champions around the world. And and, you know, a lot of your audience are people who work in the park space. And sometimes those rangers, those those folks in the front line aren't actually government, state or federal government employees, but they might be communal conservancies.

They might be people who live who have to live with wildlife and they want to, but it's kind of hard to live with wildlife when, you know, your kid could get eaten by a lion on the way to school, if you have a school. And so there are you know, we have to celebrate those people too and their stories and the diversity of people around the world that are making that are working to save it, to help us get to that 30 by 30 goal, 30% of the planet protected by 02/1930. So I feel

really lucky too that, you know, that, yes, I mean, Puiggin's amazing. It's it's my I'm waking up living and breathing it right now. It's indicative of the kind of stuff that we're trying to do all across our Latin America region. But then also about these other types of deals in places like Kenya or Gabon or Micronesia, trying to buy dams and blow them up, take them out of rivers and so that rivers can flow again. Those are all, there's a diversity of stories to tell, diversity of

people to champion. So I feel really lucky to be able to do that. When you talk about the project you're working on in Gabon and people telling the stories, I think about in 2016, I had the chance to speak at the World Ranger Congress. There's park rangers there from 65 countries around the world. One of them was from Gabon, and I think their park service was brand new at the time. And this guy, the way I don't remember his name, but I did

record an episode with him. So it's somewhere in the archives. But the way he talked about Gabon and how special it is, and it's the only place in the world where you see elephants and hippos on the beach. And he painted such a picture. I thought I cannot wait to get to Gabon and see this. And I still haven't been, but I've never forgotten his stories and his enthusiasm telling them. So when you go to a place like where we were at in Chile or in Gabon or Micronesia,

I'm really interested in how you find the stories. Are you so when we were together, were you actively looking for stories you could tell about trees, about people, so when you come back, you can tell those. So what's your process with that? Yeah. And and maybe it's worth telling everybody a little bit about the got bold and what that ranger is trying to champion too. You know, some of it is

active. Like, some of it's like I am looking for that story to tell because I know that I'm gonna be going back and I've got to excite people about it. But a lot of it is more of being present when we're there and do it and having that experience. I mean, I've been a couple of times and each time there's been a different experience. And so, you know, I it's just who I am is that I'm super transparent, so I can't

put on an act very well. I'm a horrible actor. So telling the story of those authentic experiences or stories that I've heard from people that were right, sitting right next to me at a, on a salvo, at a, Argentine Chilean barbecue, that's part of that. So some of it's active and I'm thinking, okay, what, you know, what is the, are the connections you can make here? But a lot of it is just being about telling an authentic, true, transparent

story of what you experienced. And that's why the real magic is when I have a chance to go to those places, Obviously, doing work in those places, you know, even on that trip, I was working in Santiago meeting with donors, working on some of the details of the deal, but then getting on the ground and sharing those experiences is really magical. I've done that and got blown. And, you know, I spent a little bit of time now and I'm hoping to get back

this year. We're trying to close by the end of this year, a big transaction called a PFP or project finance for permanence. Basically, it's a big single close with the government so that everybody makes these big commitments and we have some financing in place to make it happen such that over the long term, it ends up being permanent, durably

financed forever. And Gabbolin's doing something really bold, which is they are trying to get to 30% on land, in the ocean, and in their rivers and wetlands, and freshwater as well. So 30 by 30 by 30 by 30

is how they like to they call it. And so that's really innovative to actually think about the things that freshwater needs, which are very different. You don't protect rivers and wetlands just by protecting the land around it. And so that's really exciting. And it's a place where all these ecosystems do really kinda blend together. Like you said, you've got forest elephants on the beach. You've

got surfing hippos. And in the distance, you can see these migratory whales moving up and down these currents. And you've got your forest elephants are have really taken it on the chin through the ivory trade, illegal ivory trade, and most of their range, the two species, there's the Savannah elephant and the forest elephant. And the forest elephant in the Congo Basin has been under major persecution. Their ivory is actually thicker and denser than a Savannah elephant, and

so it's particularly prized in the illegal market. But in Gabon, there's so many elephants, so many forest elephants that it's such a good conservation success story that we're actually part of our project. Our big deal with government is to actually help people live with elephants, to reduce human elephant conflict. When these elephants come in and raid their their crops or gardens, like, how do you keep them out? And how do you

live with wildlife, which is not easy to do? So Gabbin's a really unique and exciting place, and helping to build up their capacity, their sustainable funding for the protected area system, and to grow that protected area system is is really just an extraordinary effort and hoping we can get that done this year. Wow. See, this is why Jeff says he's the luckiest man in the world. These projects are just amazing. The things that we're lucky enough to read about, he's out there doing it. It's

it's incredible. There's one project I find really fascinating that you've done, and that's the partnership you created with Disney a few years ago. Can you talk about that? Yeah. I love that because it's an example of

storytelling, but it's also I get to talk about another organization too who I do love. And because, again, in that spirit of radical collaboration, I love being able to do that. So I was the vice president for conservation at the Wildlife Conservation Network, WCN. And WCN exists to, in many ways, sort of democratize conservation. So they support these grassroots wildlife conservationists who most of them were

studying these animals and then realized they needed to save them. But that does not make necessarily all the talents of, someone who can run an NGO. So they support them technically, they support with fundraising. And then we supported some of the biggest wildlife crises through by raising funds and making those available to a 2,000 person organization or a two person organization in equal measure. Both had access as long as they had a good idea to address

this wildlife crisis. The first one was the Elephant Crisis Fund, which has really played a major role in supporting, I'm not sure of the number now, but over 50, maybe a hundred organizations across Africa and in Asia to reduce the demand, but supporting those to address the ivory crisis that has really made a difference. We also created the Lion Recovery Fund. And the Lion Recovery you know, most people don't realize, but we've lost half of Lions over the

past twenty five years. And then the Lion Recovery Fund is really about doubling that size of getting bringing them back to those levels. But, you know, if you don't know about the problem, it's hard to get concerned about it and donate and support that kind of effort. So we partnered with Disney. At the time, we partnered quite extensively with Leonardo DiCaprio as well, who helped to make a lot of those connections and get

line recovery fund started up. But the Disney was said, hey, we're about to launch the live action version of the Lion King. And we thought, wow, this is the moment to raise people's awareness. That was a pretty stellar success of a film. It was a classic film that was then brought back to life.

And it was a moment to be able to tell the story about lions. And there's actually a lot of conservation threads in the original narrative, but Disney then helped to raise money through, you know, the sales of things in in theme parks, the sales of the film, it's the digital film itself, and to tell the story about the lion recovery fund and encourage people to learn more. So it

was really exciting. And it and, you know, in many ways, what it enabled us to do was to reach to some of the unconverted versus preaching to the converted. And I think that's a really important thing to do in today's day and age. So yeah. And it was it was a lot of fun. But, yeah, it's kinda weird to see, like, some bird with some ornithologists going from that to, like, global marketing campaigns, but here I am. Oh, wow. What a great story. I'm lucky enough to do a lot of work with

Disney people, know the company well. So that was really fun to learn. And I I've always felt they do of all the things they do great, they're fabulous at self promotion, marketing what they have with the exception of their conservation work. It's almost like they try to keep it a secret, but they do some incredible work around the world. They do. And the Disney Conservation Fund is, funded through their revenues and they do some amazing things and they've supported a lot of organizations

and changed the trajectory for a lot of wildlife. So it is. I'm happy that we're tooting their horn right now because they they've been a great partner and player for so many organizations and including The Nature Conservancy. Well, and that I think if this isn't what we're talking about and perhaps neither of us is qualified to talk about it, but if you go back through the start of the company, Walt himself was very interested in in animals, and that was

a early theme in some of his films. Yeah. No. Absolutely. And and you're right. I've, had the pleasure of being in his old office that's in LA, which is I know you have too. It's really cool to to see some of that history, but that's my understanding as well. And so and there you know, even in today's day and age, there are a lot of people who this is what they care about. Again, I spoke with someone this morning who had just had a windfall from great work that had been bought

and a financial windfall. And he's like, you know, now I can do some of the stuff that I've always wanted to do, which is to be engaged in conservation. You know, he's not saying I can do what Jody Mayberry does or what Jeff Parish does, but I can be a part of it philanthropically, and I can learn too. So we just talked for an hour, you know, just talking about some of the nuances of conservation. And I think it's you know, you can see in his eyes, like, how that

just lights him up. And so there's a lot of people out there. And we just I sometimes I see our roles as storytellers or as conservationists or fundraisers is giving those people a an opportunity to make a difference too. So just like Walt Disney. Yeah. You you are so right on, Jeff, because you're not just asking for money. You're inviting them to be part of a really incredible story. And it's who doesn't wanna be part of

a great story? One thing I wanna tell you, Jeff, that I noticed when we got to spend all that time together that I thought when that trip started, I thought, alright. Well, here we've got Jeff Parrish. He's a conservation rock star. We've got all these people with the TNC and Family Foundations. And I was thrilled to be on that trip, but I thought they've done so much. I was a park ranger,

not even close to the impact you have done. But, the whole time, Jeff, I felt the appreciation and the interest that you have in people that are actually out there every day doing the work on the front lines. And you mentioned it here, but I wanted to tell you I felt that when we were together too. Oh, thanks, Jody. But I it's real. I mean, I've been looking forward to doing this with you ever since I met you. And and, like, it's part of telling the

story, man. You're doing your part. It takes all of us. And, you know, I just have an NGO business card. It's just I'm trying to do my part. You're doing your part. And everybody out there who's listening is doing their part too. And so and and then it takes all of us, you know, in including across political lines. Right? Like, we just it takes all of us, you know, to save this planet. It is the last decade we have left to get this right, and we've the only way we'll get it, as I mentioned

before, is through that kind of collaboration. So thanks for doing what you do. Oh, thank you. I I appreciate that. And I wanna tie in something you just said with what you opened with that everyone who's doing any role in conservation and parks and protection really makes a difference. Jeff said he got interested in birds because of the zoo. Well, my story started with I loved I grew up in Peoria, Illinois. We had the Glen Oaks Zoo. I love to go there. And that is what started it. And then

they had a TV show called Zoo For You. And I love the zoo so much. I said, I I wanna be on that show. And I sent in a letter, and I got invited to be a guest on Zoo For You and been hooked ever since. It was the two things, the Glen Oaks Zoo and the Kickapoo Creek near my house. Those are the two things that just got their hooks in me, and I've I've been crazy about outdoors and wildlife ever since. And Yeah. If it wasn't for people that worked at the zoo

so you can say, alright. So they're talking park rangers and and doing big work in conservation. But if you work at a zoo, you have no idea because so many kids come, they learn, and you never hear from them again, and then they go off and be a park ranger. Or then they become a bird scientist, and then so you just never know. No matter what your role is, you have an impact. It's so true. Good friend of mine from Patagonia, I was with him, a guy named Alex Perry, who manages Patagonia's

operations in Latin America. And, we were at this event in Jackson Hole to talk about this Pochi Dean project. And, you know, Patagonia has done this phenomenal short film from a climber's perspective about that property in the in the project. So they've just

been incredible storytellers. When we sat down to do this, before we got up into this panel and the film was shown, Alex leaned over to me and he said, when he looked across the room and he saw this huge climbing community, you know, and there were a lot of dirtbag climbers who don't get don't have 2 nickels to rub together right now. But he said, somebody in this room is gonna be inspired by this story. Ink will change the world. And you never know. You know?

And you're right. And so we just it's an amazing thing to think about that there could be the next park ranger, park manager, superintendent of national parks, you know, you don't know. And so we need to keep telling that story to people and reaching more people, more diverse people too, and people from all walks of life and ethnicity and economic stature because you never know. They could be the next

Jane Goodall. How inspiring. And I think that is something that can get us excited about the work we do because you could, for example, just be working at the welcome station registering campers when they come in. But you don't you never know which car has the kid in it who's gonna grow up to be a park ranger or a park director or superintendent of the National Park Service or perhaps replace Jeff Parish someday

at the work he does. And that's what I I love about the work we do is that you can never turn it off because every car could have that person. Every family you meet on a hike could have that person. You just don't know. And you may be the one that says the right thing, talks about birds the right way, that gets them interested, and the hooks are in, and it never lets go for the rest of their life. Yeah. It's a it's a special responsibility and opportunity, and

we're lucky we get to do that. So it does make it hard to ever stop. But, you know, the planet's gonna be a better place because we just did this podcast. The planet's gonna be a better place because of the work that that each of us and and everybody who's listening because of what they do. And so, yeah, I'd I'm just deeply grateful. Well, Jeff, I have one final question for you. You your career, you have impacted so many people around the world. You've impacted conservation.

What advice do you have for an up and coming park leader who wants to have an impact? You know, I would say, you know, everyone's got a different roles and talents to bring. But I I think one of the things for me that I'm really grateful for is the diversity of experiences. And we need people who are, you know, go to a park and they stay in the park and they're there their whole careers. But I think, you know, the diversity of experiences gives you

a diversity of stories even in in the same place. And that helps to open more doors into the possibilities of new areas that you can stretch into. By working for different organizations over my career and working in many different countries, I've learned so so much. And I think that that that diversity of experiences has really been a you can't be all, you know, an inch deep

and a mile wide. But I think that getting some of those diverse experiences is a way to branch out and to explore new ways of making a difference.

So I encourage people to do that and to tell good stories. You know, tell your story. So Oh, wonderful. Well, I'm sure if we wanna keep up with the great work that The Nature Conservancy is doing, we can find that on their website. Is there anywhere else you would recommend we go to find out maybe about you or the the work that TNC is doing? Yeah. I mean, nature.org

is a great place. I'd encourage people to look at enduringearth.org too about things like the Scabon deal and places we're working, like in Kenya and Mongolia where our partners are working in Brazil, Bolivia, Botswana. You don't have to have a b in your country name to be a part of it during Earth. But the, yeah, those would be good places. And, of course, on on social media, you can find me and and TNC. And go find us at a local

preserve. We're in all the 50 states too. And to your point about getting those experiences and being inspired, go check them out. We're trying to make sure that they're more ever more accessible to people. So yeah. And I'm just thankful, Jody, for having me on. Oh, Jeff. This has been I I was lucky to have been on that trip and got to know you, and, hopefully, this is just the first of many times you can come and talk to us here. You

bet, my friend. You bet. I know it. I'm deeply grateful. Alright. Thank you, Jeff. And thank you for listening to the Park Leaders Show.