In this compelling presentation, Jimmy Lange will present on his team's experience with cactus conservation in the Florida Keys, including the first documented extirpation of a vascular plant species in the United States due to sea level rise, highlighting cactus and other biodiversity of the Keys, and discussing future challenges. This talk offers both a sobering look at the realities of rising waters and an inspiring glimpse into the efforts to preserve what remains.

About the Presenter:
Jimmy Lange is a Research Botanist with the Conservation Program at Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden and a Research Associate with the Institute for Regional Conservation who has fifteen years of experience working with plant conservation and ecology. He received his BS from the University of Florida and MS from Florida Atlantic University. His work focuses on in situ and ex situ conservation of rare plants in South Florida and the Caribbean with a focus on threat mitigation. His primary areas of expertise include plant taxonomy and identification, rare plant ecology, invasive species biology, restoration ecology, horticulture, and GIS applications, and he has published peer-reviewed publications on a variety of these topics. He currently manages the Rare Plant Program in Broward County, while working on a variety of other regional conservation projects. Jimmy is the Co-Chair of the Florida Invasive Species Council Plant List Committee, is Chair of the EDRR Plant List Committee for the Everglades CISMA, and is a certified drone pilot and arborist. He particularly enjoys the challenge of working with difficult groups of plants such as graminoids, cacti, and ferns.

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