Born and raised in the mountains of Costa Rica, Silvia Alvarez-Clare, PhD, never thought that she would move to the plains of Illinois to fulfill her dream of working to conserve threatened trees. But with one third of the world’s tree species threatened with extinction, bold choices had to be made.
Botanic gardens, such as The Morton Arboretum, in Lisle, Illinois, where Alvarez-Clare is now based, are hubs of scientific and horticultural knowledge that can support conservation efforts where they are needed the most. Working alongside communities in biodiversity hotspots, where the majority of species are being lost, Alvarez-Clare and a team of scientists lead projects aimed at preserving and recovering tree species.
This work, which has earned Alvarez-Clare a spot among the National Geographic Explorers, conserves and restores threatened tree species, builds capacity within these communities to do conservation work, and raises awareness about the importance of preserving biodiversity. Come and learn about Alvarez-Clare’s journey from Costa Rica to Illinois and around the world in the name of tree conservation.
Attend in person at The Morton Arboretum (Section A) or online (Section B).
Speaker: Silvia Alvarez-Clare, PhD, director of Global Tree Conservation at The Morton Arboretum and lead for the new Center for Species Survival for Trees
Age: 16 and older
Course number: N053
