Saving Our Savannas Kickoff Lecture – Fire and Life: Longleaf Pine Natural Areas and Their Conservation

North Carolina Botanical Garden 100 Old Mason Farm Road, Chapel Hill, NC, United States

Join us for the kickoff of our 6-month long exhibition - Saving Our Savannas: Stories of the Longleaf Pine. We will introduce the exhibition and share about upcoming series of programs. Our kickoff speaker is William (Bill) Owen, a private landowner who has restored his own longleaf pine forest at Raccoon Creek Pinelands. Bill will provide an overview of the pre-settlement condition of the longleaf pine in the United States, its near demise, and the current efforts to restore not only the tree but the ecosystem. He will also share his personal journey of restoration and offer some recommendations for the future of this vital natural resource.

Hybrid Lunchbox Talk: A Virtual Field Trip of Longleaf Pine Communities of the Southeastern United States

North Carolina Botanical Garden 100 Old Mason Farm Road, Chapel Hill, NC, United States

Longleaf pine natural areas are one of the most diverse and endangered ecosystems in North America. Join Alan Weakley, Director of the UNC Herbarium, at the North Carolina Botanical Garden as he takes you on a virtual field trip of these amazing habitats. You will learn about the history, ecology, and conservation of longleaf pines and their associated plants and animals. You will also see some of the beautiful and rare species that live in these fire-adapted communities. Don’t miss this opportunity to explore the longleaf pine forests of the Southeastern United States!

Hybrid Lunchbox Talk – Land of the Longleaf Pine: One Tree for Many Communities

North Carolina Botanical Garden 100 Old Mason Farm Road, Chapel Hill, NC, United States

Did you know that longleaf pine habitats are home to thousands of other living things? The longleaf pine landscape supports vast groundcover plants which in turn hosts hundreds of insects, birds, mammals, reptiles, and amphibians. Beyond its iconic biodiversity, fire-maintained longleaf pine forests provide numerous benefits to our communities. Join us to learn more about why longleaf pine conservation and restoration is critical for the future of the Southeast.

Annual Darwin Day Lecture with Dr. Mohamed Noor

North Carolina Botanical Garden 100 Old Mason Farm Road, Chapel Hill, NC, United States

Annual Darwin Day Lecture: Using science-fiction depictions to learn real-world evolution concepts With Mohamed Noor, Ph.D., Professor of Biology, Interim Vice Provost, Duke University Moderated by Damon Waitt, NCBG Director Date: Monday, February 12, 2024 Time: 7:00 PM-8:00 PM EST; followed by a reception, sponsored by the Carolina Biodiversity Collaborative, in the Pegg Exhibit Hall Venue: Reeves Auditorium and Virtual*...

Free