Dr. Mauricio Diazgranados is the Chief Science Officer and Dean of Science at the New York Botanical Garden, where he leads the Garden’s global scientific strategy. His work focuses on plant biodiversity and the application of botanical science to conservation and climate solutions across tropical and urban ecosystems.
Nurturing Nature: Plant-based Solutions for Long-term Climate Resilience
June 3, 2026
5 p.m. | Online
The world is facing increasingly severe environmental challenges, including climate change, biodiversity loss, and ecosystem degradation, all of which undermine the benefits that nature provides to people and the planet. Plants are central to building climate resilience, yet their role in climate adaptation and mitigation strategies remains insufficiently prioritized in global planning.
The Nurturing Nature Initiative addresses this gap by mobilizing botanical gardens as key actors in advancing plant-based solutions. Through science-driven conservation, ecological restoration, and cross-sector collaboration, the initiative works to scale practical, plant-based strategies that strengthen long-term climate resilience while supporting biodiversity and ecosystem health.
About the Speakers
Dr. Eric Sanderson is Vice President for Urban Conservation and the Director of the Center for Conservation and Restoration Ecology at the New York Botanical Garden. He is a landscape ecologist, as well as an expert in historical ecology with a particular focus on New York City. His work examines the relationship between people and nature in urban environments and informs strategies for urban biodiversity and resilience.
Emma Grover, MESc, is Project Manager for the Nurturing Nature Initiative at the New York Botanical Garden. With a background in tropical forest ecology and agroforestry, she supports the design and implementation of nature-based climate solutions.
Location Online
Location Online