A Botanist Comes Full Circle

A Botanist Comes Full Circle: From Studying to Defending California’s Native Plants

Home to over 6,500 native plants, California is the most botanically diverse U.S. state. More than 30% of the state’s plants are considered endemic and are found nowhere else in the world. Yet, many plants and habitats in California are seriously threatened. Remarkably, more than a third of the state’s flora is considered rare and is included in the California Native Plant Society’s (CNPS) Rare Plant Inventory. With a rapidly increasing human population, the native plants of California and their habitats will come under increasing pressure from urbanization, climate change and a host of other threats in the 21st century.

Drawing upon his nearly 20 years of experience as a professional botanist and more recently as the lead conservation staff person in Southern California for CNPS, Dr. Nick Jensen will lead us on a tour of some of the most spectacular ecosystems in the region. He will then focus on two places where large-scale development projects threaten irreplaceable habitats. These projects (and others) serve as bellwethers for how our flora will fare in the coming decades. This period will mark a turning point for the state’s biodiversity. Nick will guide us on a path through which California continues to be a conservation leader while growing gracefully. This event is free but seating is limited–please RSVP. The Botanical Garden is open from 8am-5pm this day. Come early to explore the collection.

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