Celebrating the 2026 Reed Environmental Writing Award winners
The Southern Environmental Law Center congratulates this year’s winners of its 2026 Phillip D. Reed Environmental Writing Award, Catherine Coleman Flowers and Lindsey Liles. Their work exemplifies the power of storytelling to capture some of the most important environmental issues facing the South.
Catherine Coleman Flowers, a two-time recipient of the Reed Environmental Writing Award, is receiving the 2026 Reed Award for “Holy Ground: On Activism, Environmental Justice, and Finding Hope.”
Lindsey Liles receives the 2026 Reed Award for the Garden & Gun feature “Inside the Fight to Save the World’s Most Endangered Wolf.”
Everyone is invited to join us in person or virtually for a celebration honoring the winners on March 20 at 5:00 p.m. The in-person event will take place at the CODE Building, located at 225 West Water Street on the Downtown Mall in
Charlottesville, Va.
First 400 to register receive a free copy of the winning book—while supplies last.
In-person registrants will receive a free book at the event; copies will be mailed to the first 400 virtual registrants—available while supplies last.
The Reed Award is presented annually during the Virginia Festival of the Book, and honors writers who achieve both literary excellence and offer extraordinary insight into the South’s natural treasures and environmental challenges. This event is free and open to the public and will also be streamed online. Meet the winners and hear more about their writing and what inspires them.
The award recognizes outstanding writing on the Southern environment in two categories: the Book Category for works of nonfiction (not self-published) and the Journalism Category for newspaper, magazine, and online writing published by a recognized institution such as a news organization, university, or nonprofit group.
2026 Reed Award Winner: Book
Catherine Coleman Flowers is an internationally recognized environmental activist, MacArthur “genius” grant recipient and author. She has dedicated her life’s work to advocating for environmental justice, primarily equal access to clean water and functional sanitation for communities across the United States.
In “Holy Ground,” Flowers shares an inspiring collection of deeply personal essays with an urgent message. Drawing from a lifetime of organizing and advocacy, Flowers frames the defining challenges of our time, from climate change to rural poverty, through the lived experiences of the communities most often left behind. Grounded in the history of the South, the essays lay bare how planned disinvestments and systemic neglect continue to deprive people and communities of the basic right to clean air, safe drinking water, and a healthy environment. Flowers weaves together reflections on ancestry, faith, loss, resilience, and responsibility, honoring the trailblazers who paved the way while candidly reckoning with the personal costs of fighting for the common good. With grace, moral clarity, and unwavering hope, “Holy Ground” charts a path toward social and environmental justice, calling readers to take action for their communities and for the planet we share.
2026 Reed Award Winner: Journalism
Liles’ reporting takes readers inside the ongoing struggle to protect the red wolf, the most endangered wolf species on the planet, whose only wild population remains in a small corner of eastern North Carolina. Through vivid reporting and careful attention to science, policy, and place, the story explores the fragile balance between wildlife conservation, land use, and public will. By centering on the people, ecosystems, and stakes involved, Liles’s work underscores the broader implications of species loss and the urgency of preserving the South’s natural wonders—and leaves readers with hope for the red wolf’s future.
Liles is an environmental journalist based in Charleston, South Carolina. After completing degrees in biology and English literature from Sewanee: The University of the South, a master’s in literature from the University of St Andrews in Scotland, and a Fulbright grant in Brazil, she joined Garden & Gun in 2020. As a staff writer, she covers all aspects of Southern culture and specializes in wildlife and conservation. She has traveled the region from the Everglades to the Appalachians to report on the South’s most imperiled species and ecosystems and the threats facing them, including bog turtles, red wolves, hellbenders, northern long-eared bats, and many others. Her byline has also appeared in Nature Conservancy and National Geographic.
2026 Reed Award Featured Speaker
Christian Cooper is an Emmy Award-winning host and the New York Times bestselling author of Better Living Through Birding. Known for his work as the host of National Geographic’s Extraordinary Birder with Christian Cooper, he brings his lifelong passion for birding and environmental advocacy to a wide audience. A former president of the Harvard Ornithological Club and current vice president of the New York City Bird Alliance, Christian champions safe, accessible green spaces and engages underserved communities in the joys of birdwatching.
As a speaker, Christian captivates audiences with his unique blend of passion for nature, activism, and storytelling. He has spoken at prestigious institutions like the 92nd Street Y, Drexel University, and Swarthmore College, as well as major events such as The Biggest Week in American Birding Festival. He was also one of the few non-scientists to give the keynote speech to the annual meeting of the American Ornithological Society, the governing body for scientists in the field of bird study. Additionally, he has delivered impactful talks at various corporate events, where his ability to connect environmental issues with corporate social responsibility resonates deeply with attendees.
Christian is also a passionate comic book fan, blending his love for storytelling with his advocacy work. His graphic short story “It’s a Bird” from DC Comics explores the intersection of racial justice, LGBTQ+ rights, and environmentalism. This project reflects his belief in the power of storytelling to drive progress and spark change, much like his broader work. Christian’s debut memoir, Better Living Through Birding, encourages readers to find solace and meaning in nature, while his children’s book The Urban Owls inthroduces young minds to the wonders of wildlife in urban settings. Christian’s speaking engagements offer a powerful message of inclusion, progress, and the importance of protecting both the environment and each other. (Photo credit: John Labbé)