Kara Barron

 Kara grew up in Phoenix, AZ, and holds a Masters in Plant Biology and Conservation from Arizona State University. Her master’s thesis focused on floristics and post-fire changes in plant community composition within the Arizona Uplands of the Sonoran Desert. She has been involved with regional efforts to improve seed availability in the desert southwest since 2015. Her efforts include collaborating on the development of the Regional Open Space Strategy, coordinating the Sonoran Seed Collaborative, leading a Seeds of Success crew at the Desert Botanical Garden for two years. She currently manages the seed collection for Gila Watershed Partnership and contracted to act as the Plant Conservation and Restoration Program specialist for BLM California. She brings knowledge of regional seed collection and conservation practices, as well as a network of contacts and potential partners, that will be an important component to the successful establishment of the Desert Seed Resource Center.