Native Plant Trust, the nation’s first plant conservation organization dedicated exclusively to native plants, is proud to announce the appointment of Dr. Lea Johnson as Director of Conservation. Dr. Johnson brings extensive experience in community ecology, ecological restoration, and urban ecosystems, blending foundational scientific research with practical applications for sustainable land management and ecological design.
Bringing Dr. Johnson on board marks an important step forward as the organization celebrates its 125th anniversary, prepares to accelerate the rate of rare plant monitoring, and expands native plant seed banking and plant production activities. Dr. Johnson’s distinguished career highlights her passion for interdisciplinary collaboration aimed at restoring and protecting environments impacted by human activity. Her innovative research spans multiple spatial and temporal scales and has enhanced ecological interventions across diverse US ecosystems including the Northeast, Southwest, Pacific Northwest, and Mid-Atlantic regions. “Dr. Lea Johnson brings a rare combination of scientific and pedagogical training, as well as experience with community science programs,” said Tim Johnson, CEO at Native Plant Trust. “In meeting Lea, I was immediately struck by her understanding that conservation work is backed by science but starts with people. Native Plant Trust is incredibly fortunate to be adding her to the team.”www.NativePlantTrust.org
Dr. Johnson expressed enthusiasm about her new role: “I am deeply honored to join Native Plant Trust and look forward to advancing collaborative, effective conservation efforts that resonate both regionally and nationally.”
In her new role, Dr. Johnson will lead influential conservation initiatives, including the New England Plant Conservation Program, the organization’s extensive Plant Conservation Volunteers program, and the internationally recognized seed bank and herbarium. Dr. Johnson will foster strategic partnerships with academic institutions, government agencies, and conservation organizations to promote and publish impactful research. She will manage Native Plant Trust’s native plant sanctuaries, ensuring ecological integrity and resilience, and lead a team of specialists dedicated to preserving New England’s rare and endangered plant species.
Her responsibilities include accelerating rare plant population monitoring, coordinating research on seed storage and plant propagation, developing conservation management plans, and guiding restoration and reintroduction projects for threatened plant species.
Prior to joining Native Plant Trust, Dr. Johnson served as Associate Director of Land Stewardship and Ecology at Longwood Gardens. In addition, Dr. Johnson is an affiliate faculty member in the Plant Science Graduate Program at the University of Maryland’s Department of Plant Science and Landscape Architecture, further underlining her commitment to mentorship and education in plant conservation. She holds a Ph.D. in Ecology and Evolution from Rutgers University, an M.Ed. in Science Education from The City University of New York, and an M.S. in Biology and Environmental Science and Management from New Mexico Highlands University.
ABOUT NATIVE PLANT TRUST For over a century, Native Plant Trust has been leading the movement to conserve native plants in the wild and use them in designed spaces. We do this to increase the beauty and resilience of New England and the planet. From our base in Massachusetts, staff and trained volunteers work throughout New England each year to monitor and protect rare and endangered plants, collect and preserve seeds to ensure biological diversity, detect and control invasive species, conduct research, and offer a range of educational programs. We welcome visitors from all over the world to Garden in the Woods, our renowned native plant botanic garden in Framingham, MA. We also operate a nursery at Nasami Farm in western Massachusetts and manage six sanctuaries in Maine, New Hampshire, and Vermont that are open to the public. Please visit NativePlantTrust.org.