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Field Guide

Parabotanist Program

Update, April 2003: Since the date of publication of this article, a multi-agency San Diego County Plant Atlas project has been initiated which incorporates a parabotany program like the one suggested here.

In a time when the scientific study of botany-like the rest of biology-has become more and more technical, there is still need for a more basic kind of knowledge: the on-the-ground, in-the-field work that tells us what plants are found where. With an eye to filling this need, here in the Museum's Botany Department are in the process of developing a parabotanist program, to improve our scientific knowledge and documentation of the flora of San Diego County.

What is a parabotanist? It is any person trained in plant methods, but who is not actually a practicing, professional botanist. We hope to train interested persons how to survey, inventory, and voucher plants in natural areas throughout the region.

What does this mean to you if you are interested in the natural history of plants in our area and want to get involved? Well, if you live on a canyon and want to learn more about its vegetation, for example, we will train you in botanical methods and help you obtain permits for plant collection under our supervision. Then you can collect and document a natural area for us and, in the process, contribute greatly to our scientific endeavors.

Some topics being considered in planning the parabotanist program are the need to:

• Develop and offer training workshops on the program. Include education on: local floristic diversity; the need for scientific documentation; areas in need of surveys and how to obtain permits for entry and collection; how to survey for plants and make collections; herbarium methodology and specimen processing; how to submit specimens and data to the herbarium; awareness of sensitive plant taxa. Produce a printed reference guide for the training workshop participants. Consider certification for graduates.
• Develop a web-based process to submit specimen data to the SD Herbarium in order to produce archival labels and integrate specimen information into the existing herbarium database.
• Seek funding support for the costs of the parabotanist program, including: hire additional SD Herbarium staff to process voucher specimens; buy equipment and supplies for processing the resulting specimens; buy herbarium cabinetry for specimen storage.

Many benefits may result from this program and the new knowledge of plant distributions that it will produce. We may be able to:

• Develop a website on the flora of San Diego County that includes a field guide section on the plants of the county with photos and some descriptive text, including a section that shows our projects and progress on regional floristics using the parabotanist program.
• Create a formal academic connection to a local university so that students can earn class credits for conducting plant inventories. Extension classes may also be useful in accrediting the public's efforts in plant documentation.
• Develop a process of relaying floristic discoveries, inventories, and specimen data to the land management agencies where surveys are conducted, so agencies will better understand their botanical resources.
• Develop an atlas of plant diversity and distribution in San Diego County.

A parabotany program will increase the public's awareness and respect for local natural history, especially in regard to plant resources. This program will also increase our Museum's scientific collection of the regional flora, which will help us gain a better understanding of the distribution, variation, and diversity of the plants in San Diego County.