December 2010

• Today we pay respects to a dear friend and champion for natural areas in Miami-Dade County.  EmilieYoung, who was the first director of the Environmentally Endangered Lands Program passed away on December 11, 2010 and was laid to rest at St. Matthew the Apostle Episcopal Church.  Those who knew her professionally remembered her as a strong, compassionate, kind, and gracious lady, who dedicated much of her life to protecting the environment in our beautiful county.  Few individuals have single-handedly done more to protect habitats and rare species.  With Joe Maguire and John Pipoly, Emilie orchestrated the contract for Fairchild’s work with endangered plant species in county natural areas that funds Jennifer Possley’s position.  She always offered us her unequivocal trust and support for the work we have done.  We always could count on her to smile assuredly at any public presentation where she heard about our research and ongoing plant conservation efforts.  We will miss her greatly. Image on the right, A meeting of the "Miami-Dade County Natural Areas Management Working Group" in 2003.  From left to right:  Steve Hofstetter, Cristina Rodriguez, Dallas Hazelton, Jennifer Possley, Sonya Thompson, Emilie Young, Joe Maguire.  Photo by Dr. Joyce Maschinski.

• Invited by our Dr. Hong Liu, a delegation of three senior scientists from the Chinese Academy of Forestry (CAF) visited us between November 29 and December 2.  This party of distinguished colleagues is composed of Prof. Daping Xu, Director, Research Institute of Tropical Forestry; Prof. Yide Li, Chief Scientist, Research Institute of Tropical Forestry; and Dr. Guangsen He, Director, Office of International Cooperation of the CAF.  During their visit they delivered a seminar at our Center for Tropical Plant Conservation. In addition, Memoranda of Understanding were signed with Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden, Florida International University, and the Montgomery Botanical Center. During their visit, these three researchers stayed at the guest house of the Montgomery Botanical Center. Image on the right, left to right: Ms. Wuying Li (FIU-FTBG graduate student), Prof. Guangsen He, Prof. Daping Xu, Dr. Hong Liu, and Porf. Yide Li.