Dr. Naomi Fraga will present ongoing research by the California Botanical Garden to support rare plants in the Amargosa River Basin, their seed banking in collaboration with other botanic gardens to protect the genetic legacy all the rare plants of California, and why that is effort is so urgent, and finally her work in plant conservation advocacy to get Endangered Species Act listing status for Tiehm's buckwheat and the conflicts we face towards achieving a renewable energy future (e.g. lithium mining and solar).

Naomi Fraga is Director of Conservation Programs at California Botanic Garden in Claremont, CA; she received her Ph.D.in Botany from Claremont Graduate University, and she also holds a M.S. in Botany from Claremont Graduate University and a B.S. in Botany and Biology from California Polytechnic University, Pomona. Naomi serves as Secretary for the Southern California Botanists, is a chair of the Environment and Public Policy Committee for the American Society of Plant Taxonomists and is Treasurer for the Amargosa Conservancy.

The program will be online, at: https://bluejeans.com/432568808/4291