Conservation Stories: A Virtual Lecture Series

We need native plants. Their importance cannot be overstated; they sustain countless forms of wildlife; they improve the air that we breathe by filtering pollutants, sequestering carbon and offering oxygen; they define the places we hold dear. California native plants have been integral to the stories of every California Native American culture since time immemorial and they are part of every Californian’s story today.

With climate change, expansive urban development, environmental degradation and other significant challenges, the future of many California native plants and places is far from certain. But these challenges are worth fighting for the future of our native plants, habitats and the human communities they sustain. 

That is the mantra of our amazing guests and this lecture series. Through these talks, we aim to share the stories of diverse plant scientists and conservationists who are leading efforts to safeguard and celebrate native plants from all corners of California. Hear from these inspiring individuals about their actions to safeguard threatened species and habitats - and how you can help! 

This fall, join us via Zoom every third Tuesday of the month from 6pm - 7pm for an evening of conversation about conservation. You must register online to receive the Zoom link. The suggested program fee is $10, but there will be an option to register for the talk free of charge.

Maria Jesus, M.S. student at Claremont Graduate University (and California Botanic Garden).

Discussing the Southern Inyo Mountains with Director of Conservation Programs, Naomi Fraga

Tuesday, November 17 | 6pm - 7pm

Maria Jesus is graduate student at Claremont Graduate University (at California Botanic Garden) where she is completing a vascular flora of the southern Inyo Mountains. Thanks to a chance encounter with a plant identification course during her undergraduate English studies, Maria abandoned plans to become a librarian and found her way to field botany. She has since completed several field seasons monitoring plants in the Chihuahuan Desert, Sonoran Desert, Southern Plains, Southern Cascades, and the Great Basin. Just prior to graduate school, she managed a multi-agency vegetation monitoring program aimed at informing adaptive management of public lands. Maria is a Switzer Fellow (2019) and is passionate about advancing native plant conservation through her floristic research and beyond.