Winter Talk Series focuses on conservation of rare plants in January 17 event

Yakima Valley College, in collaboration with the Cowiche Canyon Conservancy, will kick off its 2023 Winter Talk Series with a January presentation exploring the unique forces that shape the evolution of plants in the Columbia Plateau. The series explores current issues related to the Yakima Valley region’s environment and ecosystems and features guest lecturers who are subject matter experts in a variety of disciplines. Admission is free and open to the community.

Conservation of Rare Plants in the Columbia Plateau
Presenter: Maya Kahn-Abrams, graduate student at the University of Washington in the School of Environmental and Forest Science studying restoration ecology
Tuesday, January 17, 2023 • 7:00 p.m. • Register for this virtual talk

This talk will focus on the wild buckwheats (Eriogonum species) as a case study for unique processes impacting plants in the Columbia Plateau, as well as explore current efforts for the conservation of a rare and endangered species, Eriogonum codium. These conversation efforts include  ongoing work between U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the University of Washington (UW) and the Cowiche Canyon Conservancy.

Maya Kahn-Abrams is currently a graduate student at the UW in the School of Environmental and Forest Science studying restoration ecology. She graduated in 2019 from The Evergreen State College with bachelor’s degrees in environmental microbiology and ecology. She has worked extensively on the conservation of rare plants in Washington state through the Rare Plant Care and Conservation program at the UW Botanic Gardens, and on shrub steppe restoration through the USDA Agricultural Research Service. Through discovering plants, microbes and their roles within ecosystems and human survival, Kahn-Abrams has been guided on a journey of profound scientific and personal discovery, instilling a commitment to explore how equitable societies can shape ecological resilience.

For more information contact Suzana Celestine at 509.574.4869 / scelestine@yvcc.edu.

Press Release Contacts:
Dustin Wunderlich / 509.574.6870 / dwunderlich@yvcc.edu
Stefanie Menard / 509.574.4646 / smenard@yvcc.edu