Conversations with Conservationists

The Ex-Situ Conservation of California’s Endemic Oaks: In Conversation with Amy Byrne

By Steve Potter | October 28, 2026

Quercus engelmannii, Cuyamaca Rancho State Park, Descanso, Calif., USA Image: Mary Duffy, iNaturalist CC BY-NC 4.0

The value and potential of efforts to conserve California's oaks ex situ

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California’s Oaks in a Changing Climate: In Conversation with Dr. Blair McLaughlin

By Steve Potter | August 10, 2026

Mortality of Quercus douglasii. An indication of things to come? © Blair McLaughlin

How will California’s iconic oaks fare in a changing climate?

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The Long and Hilly Journey of Oak Conservation: Carlos Vila-Viçosa

By Amy Byrne | April 19, 2024

Carlos collecting Quercus ×alentejana (Q. faginea × Q. pyrenaica) in northeastern Portugal for his PhD thesis © Carlos Vila-Viçosa

An interview with Portuguese oak conservationist Dr. Carlos Vila-Viçosa.

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A Hopeful Future for Oaks of Vietnam

By Amy Byrne | December 15, 2023

Collecting herbarium specimens in Vietnam

Dr. Ngoc Nguyen leads conservation projects for oaks in Vietnam.

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A Life Dedicated to Oak Conservation: Maricela Rodríguez

By Amy Byrne | June 20, 2023

Maricela Rodríguez, GCCO Mexico and Central America Coordinator in Antigua, Guatemala

Currently the GCCO Coordinator for Mexico and Latin America, Maricela leads a group of professionals and amateurs interested in oaks and their conservation.

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Finding His Roots: Michael Eason's Journey in Conservation

By Amy Byrne | February 15, 2023

Michael Eason hiking in Anza-Borrego Desert State Park to observe Washingtonia filifera in situ

Currently at San Antonio Botanic Garden, Michael's work has focused on conservation

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Conserving Californian Oaks

By Amy Byrne | December 6, 2022

Christy Powell of the San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance works on the conservation of several threatened oaks

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Editor's Picks

Data Request for Gap Analysis of Western Eurasian and North African Oaks

Website Editor | Oct 26, 2026

In Memoriam: Julianne Skai Arbor (1969–2026)

We were shocked to learn that Julianne Skai Arbor, also...