Chicago Botanic Garden

for immediate release

Chicago Botanic Garden Receives
Leadership Award from the
Plant Conservation Alliance

Outstanding conservation efforts recognized

 

Media Only:
Gloria Ciaccio
(847) 835-6819
gciaccio@chicagobotanic.org

GLENCOE, Ill. (August 6, 2007)—The Chicago Botanic Garden has received the 2007 Leadership Award from the Plant Conservation Alliance (PCA) in recognition of its outstanding conservation efforts, habitat restoration research and training programs for future plant scientists.

In 2002, the Chicago Botanic Garden partnered with the Bureau of Land Management to create the Conservation and Land Management and Mentoring program. Since then, 300 field botany and ecology interns have been trained and placed to work on federally managed and endangered habitats in 12 western states. In 2006, an international exchange program was initiated with the Department of Environment and Conservation in Western Australia, with the goal to share knowledge, skills and approaches for managing biodiversity in the United States and Australia.

“The Chicago Botanic Garden has created the nation’s premier conservation and land management intern program. These interns provide invaluable service as they monitor and map plants and animals, reintroduce endangered species, manage invasive species, acquire and analyze geographic data and collect seeds. We are honored to be recognized for this one-of-a-kind program that trains the next generation of land stewards,” said Sophia Siskel, President and CEO elect.

Approximately 50 percent of the biology staff in the BLM program is scheduled to retire in the next two to five years. By placing interns with the BLM, older staff is mentoring student interns, who, in turn, help ease the backlog of work. “We hope that these trained interns will eventually fill the critical shortage of professionals that will result once the current staff retires,” said Dr. Kayri Havens, director of Plant Conservation Science at the Chicago Botanic Garden.

“The federal agencies working with the BLM need partners like the Chicago Botanic Garden to meet their research and on-site needs. The Garden’s internship program is a model to be emulated by all botanic gardens,” said Peggy Olwell, BLM Plant Conservation Program director.

Approximately one-third of the United States (630 million acres) is public land, managed by federal agencies including the Bureau of Land Management, National Park Service, and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Agencies are understaffed in biological resource specialists, especially those with a strong knowledge of plants. Currently, there are 211 federally employed botanists, each responsible for 3 million acres of land.

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Editors, please note: The Chicago Botanic Garden's newsroom is online at www.chicagobotanic.org/pr. For digital images, contact Melissa Schuler at (847) 835-6829 or at mschuler@chicagobotanic.org.

The Chicago Botanic Garden, one of the green treasures of the Forest Preserve District of Cook County, is a 385-acre living plant museum featuring 23 distinct display gardens surrounded by lakes, as well as a prairie and woodlands. With events, programs and activities for all ages, the Garden is open every day of the year, except Dec. 25. Admission is free; select event fees apply. Parking is $15; free for members. On Tuesdays, senior citizens age 62 and older pay just $7 for parking. The Garden is located at 1000 Lake Cook Road in Glencoe, Ill. Visit www.chicagobotanic.org, or call (847) 835-5440 for seasonal hours, images of the Garden and commuter transportation information.

The Chicago Botanic Garden is managed by the Chicago Horticultural Society. It opened to the public in 1972 and is home to the Joseph Regenstein, Jr. School of the Chicago Botanic Garden, offering a broad array of adult classes in plant science, landscape design and gardening arts. Through the Division of Plant Science and Conservation, Garden scientists work on plant conservation, research and environmental initiatives that have global impact. The Center for Teaching and Learning brings the wonder of nature and plants to children, teens and teachers. The Garden's Horticultural Therapy and Community Gardening programs provide nationally recognized community outreach and service programs. The Garden is also breaking new ground in urban horticulture and jobs training through a 15-acre project in the North Lawndale neighborhood of Chicago called Windy City Harvest. The Chicago Botanic Garden is accredited by the American Association of Museums and is a member of the American Public Gardens Association (APGA). In 2006, the Chicago Botanic Garden received the Award for Garden Excellence, given yearly by the APGA and Horticulture magazine to a public garden that exemplifies the highest standards of horticultural practices and has shown a commitment to supporting and demonstrating best gardening practices.