Register for the 5th Annual, Virtual, Kentucky Botanical Symposium

Wednesday, January 14th, 2026, 9:00AM-12:00PM EST, Virtual and Free

“Coming Together to Discuss Current Botany Projects, Conservation, and Collaboration in Kentucky and Beyond“

White Haired Goldenrod (Solidago albopilosa) – Photo courtesy of John MacGregor

The Kentucky Native Plant Society (KNPS) and the Office of Kentucky Nature Preserves (OKNP) is co-hosting the 5th annual Virtual Kentucky Botanical Symposium on Wednesday, January 14th, from 9:00AM-12:00PM EST. For ten years, KNPS has organized a botanical symposium with a goal of bringing together professionals, community scientists, academics, researchers, gardeners, and students to learn about what is going on in the world of Kentucky botany and beyond.

This year, speakers and facilitators include Kendall McDonald, President of KNPS facilitating the meeting and speaking about OKNP’s Kentucky Forest Biodiversity Assessment Program, Jeff Nelson, Immediate Past President of KNPS providing a KNPS update, Tara Littlefield, of the Office of Kentucky Nature Preserves on the state of Kentucky plant conservation, Tony Romano of OKNP speaking about the Kentucky Roadside Conservation Program, Joey Shaw of the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga providing an update on the Tennessee-Kentucky Plant Atlas, and our keynote speaker Dr. Wesley Knapp, CEO of the Center for Plant Conservation.

Speakers and Facilitators

Kentucky Native Plant Society and Office of Kentucky Nature Preserves Updates

The symposium will feature talks on the latest news and programs from KNPS and OKNP, the state of Kentucky plant conservation, and overviews of statewide botanical projects.

Jeff Nelson

KNPS Immediate Past President

Presenting: Kentucky Native Plant Society Updates

Tara Littlefield

OKNP, Biological Assessment & Conservation Branch Manager; Kentucky Plant Conservation Alliance, Coordinator; University of Kentucky, PhD candidate

Presenting: The State of Kentucky Plant Conservation

Kendall McDonald

KNPS President and OKNP Botanist/Lichenologist

Presenting: Symposium Facilitator, Volunteer Opportunities with KNPS and OKNP, and Kentucky Forest Biodiversity Assessment Program: A State-wide Assessment of American Ginseng and Mesic Forests of Kentucky

Tony Romano

OKNP Botanist

Presenting: Remnant Habitat and Rare Species along Kentucky’s Roadsides – A 5-year Inventory

Curator’s Corner

A lightning round of updates from several of the major herbaria across the state.

Dr. Sally Chambers

Eastern Kentucky University

Presenting: Curator’s Corner

Dr. Allen Risk

Morehead State University

Presenting: Curator’s Corner

Dr. Ingrid Jordon-Thaden

Murray State University

Presenting: Curator’s Corner

Dr. Maggie Whitson

Northern Kentucky University

Presenting: Curator’s Corner

Rob Paratley; University of Kentucky (left)

Quinn Towery; Office of Kentucky Nature Preserves (right)

Presenting: Curator’s Corner

Featured Speaker

Dr. Joey Shaw

University of Tennessee at Chattanooga

Presenting: Introduction to Version 7.1 of the Tennessee-Kentucky Plant Atlas: understanding the data and tools behind this resource

Keynote Speaker

Dr. Wesley Knapp

Center for Plant Conservation

Presenting: How the Center for Plant Conservation Slows the 6th Mass Extinction

Dr. Wesley Knapp is a leading voice in plant conservation with a career spanning over two decades. Born in Lawrence, MA, and raised in Claremont, NH, Wes’s journey into the world of conservation began during his childhood in New England, where time spent outdoors sparked a lifelong passion for nature. He holds a B.S. in Environmental Sciences from Catawba College, an M.S. in Plant Science from Delaware State University, and a Ph.D. in Ecology from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Wes began his career as Eastern Region Ecologist & Botanist for the Maryland Natural Heritage Program (2001–2016), followed by five years in the role of Mountains Botanist & Ecologist for North Carolina’s Natural Heritage Program. In 2021, he became Chief Botanist at NatureServe, and in 2025, was appointed Chief Executive Officer of the Center for Plant Conservation, a conservation nonprofit working with over 80 partnering institutions on three continents on the front lines to prevent plant extinction. With extensive field experience across the U.S. and abroad, Wes has led efforts to describe new plant species, prevent extinction events, and assess conservation priorities. His work is singularly focused on advancing conservation strategies that combat biodiversity loss driven by the sixth mass extinction.

Botanical Stakeholders Update

The Symposium will include a slide show of updates from other individuals and organizations working with the native plants of Kentucky. If you want to update Kentucky’s botanical community about recent native plant related news, projects, or upcoming events, check the appropriate box in the registration form below. Upon submitting your registration you will be directed to a page where you will be able to upload your slide. If you want to submit an update but are not going to be able to register and attend the Symposium, you can submit the update here: Botanical Symposium Stakeholder Update Upload.

Plant Conservation Awards

KNPS is also taking nominations and giving out awards for significant conservation actions in Kentucky in 2025. As you register for the Botanical Symposium you will have the option to nominate organizations or individuals for these awards. If you want to make a nomination check the appropriate box in the registration form below. Upon submitting your registration you will be directed to a page where you can make your nominations in these categories:

  • Plant Conservation Organization Award: An agency or organization that has contributed significantly to Kentucky plant conservation in 2025
  • Plant Conservation Individual Award: A person who has contributed significantly to Kentucky conservation in 2025

If you want to nominate an organization or individual for a Plant Conservation Award but are not going to be able to register and attend the Symposium, you can submit the nomination here: Plant Conservation Awards Nomination(s)

We hope you will be able to attend the Botanical Symposium. If you have any questions, please contact us at BotanicalSymposium@knps.org.

Tentative Agenda

A finalized agenda will be distributed at a later date to those who register. The following list is tentative and non-comprehensive.

9am-9:05am: Welcome & General Symposium Rules Overview, Kendall McDonald, KNPS President

9:05am-9:15am: Kentucky Native Plant Society Updates, Jeff Nelson, KNPS Immediate Past President

9:15am-9:40am: Curators Corner, A round of updates from Kentucky’s major herbarium curators

9:40am-9:50am: Volunteer Opportunities with KNPS and OKNP, Kendall McDonald, KNPS President

9:50am-10:05am: State of Kentucky Plant Conservation, Tara Littlefield, OKNP

10:05am-10:35am: Office of Kentucky Nature Preserves Updates

  • Kentucky Forest Biodiversity Assessment Program: A State-wide Assessment of American Ginseng and Mesic Forests of Kentucky – Kendall McDonald
  • Remnant Habitat and Rare Species along Kentucky’s Roadsides – A 5-year Inventory– Tony Romano

10:35am-10:45am: Break with Stakeholders Updates Slides

10:45am-11:05am: Introduction to Version 7.1 of the Tennessee-Kentucky Plant Atlas: understanding the data and tools behind this resource – Dr. Joey Shaw, University of Tennessee at Chattanooga

11:05am-11:35am: How the Center for Plant Conservation Slows the 6th Mass Extinction, Dr. Wesley Knapp, Center for Plant Conservation, Chief Executive Officer

11:35am-11:45am: Q&A

11:45am-12pm: Conservation Awards

Registration

Use this registration form to sign up for the Symposium. There is no fee to register and attend. When you submit the registration form, you will receive an email with a link to the virtual meeting.