Healthy rivers don’t happen by accident. In this webinar recap, Rad Watkins explains how forested watersheds and thriving riparian zones prevent flooding, reduce erosion, filter pollutants, and protect water quality. Learn why native vegetation along riverbanks is essential—and how simple human actions can either restore or degrade an entire river system.

Shelbi, a Piikuni leader in the Service Corps, is helping strengthen connections with local tribes and engage Native youth in conservation. After the pandemic, she and other Piikuni members brought cultural knowledge and land-based traditions into the program, inspiring a future where Indigenous-led conservation grows across Montana.

From biking across the globe to leading wildlife surveys in his hometown, Ganesh Nayak, assistant professor at Manipal Institute of Technology (India) and EPI alumnus, is turning adventure into environmental action. Discover how he’s inspiring students to explore, protect, and connect with nature.