The second presentation in the 2005 spring College of Natural Resources (CNR)-Biology Colloquium Series will be held at the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point on Wednesday, Feb. 23.

Rebecca Baumann, executive director of Wisconsin Land and Water Conservation Association (WLWCA), will present "2005 - Year of Land and Water Conservation in Wisconsin" at 4 p.m. in Room 170 CNR. The event will be open to the public free of charge.

The colloquium will focus on the how 2005 came to be the "Year of Land and Water Conservation" and the people involved in that process. Baumann will discuss the importance of conservation, the benefits that could be achieved by a successful campaign, and how interested people can take an active role.

Baumann is a native of southern Ohio where she was raised on a small dairy farm. She completed her undergraduate work in Ohio at Miami University, receiving a bachelor�s degree in English. She went on to receive a law degree from Loyola University in Illinois. For the past five years Baumann has served as the executive director of WLWCA.

WLWCA is a nonprofit organization that represents county land conservation committees and departments. The organization helps county departments as well as private landowners to utilize federal, state and local programs in an effort to preserve the land.