Photo Gallery: “Wild Night” 2009 Dallas Spring Party benefits conservation

by Jamie Walzel

The honorary speakers were Texas Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison and lead scientist Dr. M.A. Sanjayan of the Nature Conservancy.

“Wild Night” 2009 Dallas Spring Party

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Dr. Sanjayan, Laura Huffman, and Senator Hutchison.

On Friday night the Nature Conservancy of Texas hosted the 2009 Dallas Spring Party at Arlington Hall at Lee Park. The honorary speakers were Texas Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison and lead scientist Dr. M.A. Sanjayan of the Nature Conservancy, the world’s largest and most respected conservation organization. Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison gave a moving speech that ranged from Texas history leading up to the United States to the importance of future protections of our water ways, grasslands, beaches, hills, and forests. After her brief speech the Senator introduced Dr. Sanjayan who charismatically ignited the crowd with energy as he discussed his passions of conservation and told stories of his observations from traveling the world. One topic was China’s increase in dam building that the Conservancy is working with to help restore wetland areas and assist the dams to run at a higher capacity. Dr. Sanjayan also spoke of private lands that are used for bird and other wildlife protections being purchased.