Plant Diversity Conservation in the Hawaiian Islands

My research examined the role of Hawaiian botanical gardens in halting endemic plant extinction. Five gardens engaged in plant diversity conservation provided case studies: the Amy B. H. Greenwell Ethnobotanical Garden; Harold L. Lyon Arboretum; Honolulu Botanical Gardens; National Tropical Botanical Garden; and the Waimea Valley Audubon Center. The findings from a survey and interviews with key personnel from these gardens determined that principal trends exist, including financial, communicative, and capacity constraints to the in-situ and ex-situ conservation program planning, development, and implementation at botanic gardens of the Hawaiian Islands.

I proposed a collaborative framework as an initial strategy to bring together a network of Hawaiian garden professionals to address concerns, enhance existing programs, and advance the development of future programs in plant diversity conservation. This network affords the opportunity to build a strong foundation for the exchange of knowledge, skills, data, and resources among garden professionals; it also offers the chance to reduce existing programmatic redundancies and gaps. This collaborative effort may serve as a model for other botanic gardens worldwide.

Carol Bebb has enjoyed a life-long passion for the botanical world, beginning with her upbringing in the tropics. She began her studies in horticulture and the sciences in high school, using the islands of Hawaiian as her learning laboratory. Since her employment as assistant manager of a full-service nursery and landscape company in Southern California, she has worked with plants in numerous capacities, including the management of research facilities, greenhouses, public gardens and arboreta, and private properties. She has served as a horticulturist, arborist, urban forester, and landscape consultant for the organizations including Home Depot, Roger’s Gardens, and the University of California at Irvine.

Before coming to Cornell University, Carol was a board member or committee member of several professional and environmental organizations, including the Hawaii Audubon Society, Scenic Hawaii Beautification, and Ho’olaulima ia Kawai Nui. And she has enjoyed serving as a volunteer interpreter with the Waikiki Aquarium, Hawaii Nature Center, and Honolulu Botanical Gardens.

While working in the field, Carol studied landscape horticulture at California State Polytechnic University. She graduated with a horticulture and environmental studies degree from Prescott College in Arizona. She has also participated in several valuable internship programs at the National Tropical Botanical Garden on Kauai, HI; Longwood Gardens in Kennett Square, PA; the Cornell Phytochemical Laboratory in Ithaca, NY; San Joaquin Wildlife Sanctuary in Irvine, CA; and California’s San Bernardino National Forest.

Carol is an International Society of Arboriculture (ISA) certified arborist and a member of the American Society of Consulting Arborists (ASCA), pursuing her final qualifications as a registered consulting arborist. She is founding vice president Hawaii Society of Urban Forestry Professionals (HSUFP), a nonprofit organization. . Carol is also the owner of Botanica, a horticultural consulting company which focuses on plant selection and procurement of ornamental and native plants for industry professionals, retail, municipalities, homeowners, and associations. Landscape design and horticultural consultation are also part of the company’s services.

Her participation in the Master of Professional Studies program in Public Garden Management at Cornell University will assist Carol in achieving her goal of rounding out her professional skills and knowledge to better prepare her for future leadership and organizational management roles at public gardens and natural areas. Carol is concentrating on organizational management in her coursework. She feels the interdisciplinary course offerings, talented faculty and staff, and vast resources at Cornell University and Plantations will provide an excellent learning environment for plant and environmental sciences, public garden management, communications, leadership, finance, marketing, human resources, and business management. Her summer internship will afford her yet another opportunity to gain the professional skills and knowledge required of public garden administrators.