America the Beautiful for All Coalition members are embracing a more holistic, equitable, and locally grounded approach to ocean conservation. Speakers at the symposium will discuss a new conservation framework that prioritizes access, equity, and quality alongside quantity, emphasizing nearshore habitats such as seagrass meadows, coral reefs, and coastal wetlands. Symposium participants will be asked to explore new conservation metrics that reflect community engagement, cultural relevance, and ecological outcomes, not just acreage. By uplifting state and local leadership, integrating Indigenous knowledge, and resisting extractive paradigms, ocean conservation can evolve into a movement that truly serves both people and planet.
This symposium invites America the Beautiful for All Coalition members of all expertises—including scientists, policymakers, and advocates—to co-create a post-2030 vision rooted in justice, stewardship, and love for the ocean.