How do we bridge political divides to protect the places that matter most? In episode 139 Roberta Swann, Director of the Mobile Bay National Estuary Program, shares her experience uniting diverse constituencies to safeguard Mobile Bay and Alabama's rich ecosystems—even in a traditionally conservative state.  In this episode, Roberta explains how a program originally created by Congress through the Clean Water Act has become a model of bipartisan support for environmental work. Today, Mobile Bay’s success isn’t just measured by ecological impact but by the variety of stakeholders working together, from local government funding to community and industry voices.  Tune in as we discuss how to set aside differences by finding common ground in environmental priorities, why Alabama’s biodiversity is unmatched, and how nature itself provides the blueprint for resilience in estuaries like Mobile Bay. Thank you to the ⁠⁠Sun Valley Forum⁠⁠ for sponsoring this season of Conservation Connection! Each interview this season was recorded live during the forum in July of 2024! If you'd like to learn more about the Mobile Bay National Estuary Program, click here! Conservation Connection would not be possible without the incredible support we receive from our listeners. If you'd like to support our podcast, you can donate or check out the merch store on our website, ⁠⁠⁠⁠ConservationConnection.co