Introduction by Bradley Smith, Chief Operating Officer & Philanthropic Lead at One Small Planet

Is biodiversity conservation a science, a form of stewardship, or perhaps an art? In her talk today, artist and activist Haley Mellin will show how it can be all three. As the founder of Art into Acres, she uses her creative talents to support Indigenous and community-led efforts to protect wild places, weaving care into the tapestry of sustaining biodiversity. She brings her creativity from the canvas to the planet, generating a cultural tributary of philanthropy to land stewardship. In 2024 alone, this work helped preserve 6.45 million acres. Raised in Northern California surrounded by Blue Oaks, she will share how her passion inspires action and how we can all connect to the earth through the art of land preservation.