Conservation biology and genetics

Tree conservation initiatives and collaborations in Asia

Cultivating collaborations that generate knowledge to inform threatened tree species protection and build capacity for tree conservation throughout the region.

Global Oak Conservation Partnership

Saving oaks from extinction through integrated conservation management and global collaborations.

The IUCN Red List of Oaks

Completing threat assessments for the world’s oak species to prioritize species for conservation and enable policymakers to protect threatened oaks.

Oaks of the Americas Conservation Network

Linking science to practice to achieve effective conservation of oak diversity

Tree conservation initiatives and collaborations in Latin America

Working with partners from multiple sectors in Latin America to research and protect threatened tree species, and advance tree conservation across the region

Gap analyses of ex situ collections and in situ conservation needs for North American oak species

Locating, prioritizing, and proposing amendments to spatial and genetic gaps within ex-situ collections of native U.S. oaks, towards the continued security of each species.

Clonal structure and pollen biology of Quercus havardii, a Western sand dune oak

We are using DNA data to further understand the reproductive biology of an under-studied oak, Quercus havardii, which will help inform seed collection strategies and collection management.

Preservation of seed in living collections of Quercus havardii, a Western sand dune oak

We collected acorns from across the range of Quercus havardii and distributed them to partner gardens to grow, research, and showcase this unique oak to the public.

Range-wide population structure of Quercus havardii, a Western sand dune oak

We are using DNA data to better understand the connectivity and recent history of populations of Quercus havardii, a Western sand dune oak.

Safeguarding Plant Collections by comparing ex situ and wild populations

We are quantifying the number of plants and seeds needed to best preserve genetic variation of 10 species of threatened trees in botanical gardens, which will be models for future seed collections.

Quantifying the conservation value of living collections

We are assessing whether important seed and living collections have sufficiently sampled the wild diversity of tree species we are trying to protect.

Chinese Union of Botanical Garden Visiting Scholar Program

Exchange program between the US and China, bringing environmental education practitioners from across China to the Chicago region to explore and share ideas about how best to communicate the importance and value of the environment and research.