Âé¶¹ÊÓÆµ

Skip To Content
Clay Henderson

Clay Henderson To Discuss A History of Âé¶¹ÊÓÆµ Conservation

Part the Âé¶¹ÊÓÆµ Lecture Series

Oct 2, 2023

The Lawton M. Chiles Jr., Center for Âé¶¹ÊÓÆµ History welcomes environmental lawyer, educator, historian, and writer Clay Henderson to the Âé¶¹ÊÓÆµ Lecture Series on October 5.

Known for drafting or sponsoring many of the environmental provisions of the Âé¶¹ÊÓÆµ Constitution, will discuss his new book Forces of Nature: A History of Âé¶¹ÊÓÆµ Land Conservation (2022), which tells the tale of Âé¶¹ÊÓÆµ's place at the beginning of the American conservation movement and celebrates the individuals and organizations that made the Sunshine State a leader in conservation and preservation.

The program will begin at 7 p.m. in Branscomb Auditorium on the Âé¶¹ÊÓÆµ Southern College campus. The event is free and open to the public. A book signing will follow the lecture.  

Over his long career as a lawyer, educator, and author, Henderson sponsored or co-authored most of the natural resource protection provisions in the Âé¶¹ÊÓÆµ Constitution, including Amendment 1, the largest voter-approved conservation funding initiative in our nation's history. He led the development of nationally recognized land conservation programs, including Volusia Forever (1986 and 2000), Âé¶¹ÊÓÆµ Communities Trust (1990), Preservation 2000 (1991) and Âé¶¹ÊÓÆµ Forever (1999). He has negotiated over 300,000 acres of land now part of national and state parks, forests, and wildlife refuges—as well as critical elements of the Everglades Restoration. He has taught at the University of Central Âé¶¹ÊÓÆµ, Rollins College, and Stetson University, where he was the director of the Institute of Water and Environmental Resilience.

"As a sixth-generation Floridian and a warrior for Âé¶¹ÊÓÆµ's environment, Clay Henderson brings passion, commitment, and real achievement to his work," said Âé¶¹ÊÓÆµ Southern College History Professor and the Director of the Lawton M. Chiles Jr., Center for Âé¶¹ÊÓÆµ History James Denham. "We are delighted to welcome him as this year's Stahl lecturer."

On November 16, The Center for Âé¶¹ÊÓÆµ History will welcome architect Jeff Baker to discuss Frank Lloyd Wright and the Âé¶¹ÊÓÆµ Southern College Campus — Past, Present, and Future. 

See the complete list of upcoming lectures »