Botanic Garden News
updated: Dec 15, 2009, 1:02 PM

Source: Botanic Garden

Santa Barbara, CA--The Santa Barbara Botanic Garden is pleased to announce that Dr. Dieter Wilken has been named as its first Director of Plant Conservation. In his new role, Dr. Wilken will devote his efforts to one of the Garden's key mission objectives-conservation of California's unique and often threatened flora.

"We need to instill in the public an appreciation of the importance of biodiversity and raise awareness of the critical need for plant conservation," Dr. Wilken commented. "To bring conservation to the forefront and establish it as a clear overarching goal of the Santa Barbara Botanic Garden is a crucial objective." The 2008 recipient of the Center for Plant Conservation's STAR Award, Dr. Wilken will coordinate and implement an expanded conservation program that will include research, display, education, and public outreach. He will serve as the Garden's representative to state, regional, and national organizations such as the California native Plant Society, the Center for Plant Conservation, and the United States Department of Agriculture National Center for Genetic Resources. Dr. Wilken, who has served for many years as the Vice President of Programs and Collections at the Botanic Garden, will be assuming his new position on December 21, 2009.

Assuming the position of Vice President of Programs and Collections will be the Botanic Garden's current Director of Horticulture and Facilities Management Andrew Wyatt. Mr. Wyatt's accomplishments have been extraordinary during his three-year term as Director of Horticulture and Facilities. He has raised a total of $947,000 towards projects in horticulture; spear-headed the modernization of the Garden's irrigation system; reduced vegetation fuel loads; completed the California Native Orchid display; established the experimental Torrey Pine plantation, and made upgrades to the Hay-Hill (Carpinteria) operations including removal of four acres of Cape Ivy. Mr. Wyatt has shown extraordinary leadership in the Jesusita Fire recovery efforts and in performing the myriad of other duties required in the daily operation of the Garden's physical plant and horticulture departments.
"I am honored to be following in Dr. Wilken's footsteps, and am excited to have the opportunity to lead the skilled Programs and Collections staff in the future." Mr. Wyatt said of his recent appointment. Mr. Wyatt will continue to be responsible for the horticulture deparment and will also oversee the earned income operations of the Nursery.

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Botanic Garden announces Director Conservation Vice President Programs Collections