Since 1995, Dr. Hilary Swain has served as the Executive Director of Archbold Biological Station in Venus, Florida, leading one of the nation’s premier field stations dedicated to science, conservation, and education. In her role she oversees two flagship properties: the 8,800-acre Archbold Biological Station on the ancient Lake Wales Ridge, and the 10,500-acre Buck Island Ranch, a fully working cattle ranch and living laboratory within the headwaters of the Everglades.

Over the past 30 years she has played a pivotal role in advancing land conservation and the understanding of prescribed fire, as well as the role of agricultural lands on the environment across Florida. Through those decades of leadership at Archbold, she has championed science as a foundation for conservation action, ensuring that Florida’s life, lands, and waters remain connected for generations to come. Evidence of her impact can be seen through the fact that under her leadership and regional impact, Archbold’s network of contiguous acres of conservation grow from 8,000 acres to 157,000 acres.

As Hilary prepares for her upcoming retirement, this conversation was a special opportunity to reflect on a remarkable career and lasting legacy in Florida conservation.

In this episode we discuss:

• How long-term science at Archbold informs the survival of threatened species, ecosystem resilience, and the protection of the Florida Wildlife Corridor.
• Why balancing working lands, water, and fire management is vital to large landscape conservation.
• Hilary’s role in building collaborations across agencies, nonprofits, and landowners—and why these partnerships matter for Florida’s future.
• What it takes to lead a team of more than 60 staff, students, and visiting scientists in one of the most ecologically important—and rapidly changing—states in the country.
• How early career roadblocks led to open doors elsewhere. 
• How she’s reflecting on her 30 years of leadership and what she hopes for the future of Archbold.

You can learn more about Archbold and all their fantastic work at archbold-station.org. 

This episode is part one of a four part series on the work of Archbold Biological Station and Buck Island Ranch. More to come! Thank you to Zach Franco and Tahlia Warrick for making these happen. 

Don’t forget to join us at Tampa Theater on September 18th! Buy tickets here: https://tampatheatre.org/movie/voices-of-the-corridor/

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