BLM Botanist Dr. Carol Dawson wins prestigious Society for Conservation Biology award

BLM Botanist Dr. Carol Dawson wins prestigious Society for Conservation Biology award

Aug 27, 2024

Carol Dawson, PhD, a plant conservation biologist in the BLM Colorado State Office, is this year's recipient of the Edward T. LaRoe III Memorial Award from the Society for Conservation Biology (SCB) North America.

The SCB is a non-profit, 501(c)(3) organization dedicated to facilitating, promoting, and advancing the scientific study and conservation of biological diversity. The Edward T. LaRoe III Memorial Award recognizes the innovative application of science to resource management and policy. The award is given annually to an individual who has been a leader in translating principles of conservation biology into real world conservation, specifically those who have spent at least part of their careers in public service.

BLM Colorado State Botanist and BLM Threatened and Endangered Species Program Lead Carol Dawson is the 2024 recipient of the Edward T. LaRoe III Memorial Award from the Society for Conservation Biology.

Dr. Dawson has spent the last 23 years of her career as the BLM's Plant Conservation Program Lead. She also took on the role of the BLM's Threatened and Endangered Species Program Lead.

The SCB award announcement states: "She promotes conservation at the regional and national level and has been instrumental in establishing long-term monitoring of rare plant species. The data from these projects have been crucial in listing decisions under the US Endangered Species Act and influenced land use management decisions. She has also promoted large-scale seed collection efforts to support the US national seed strategy, which includes the collection of large numbers of native seeds for restoration. Dr. Dawson has contributed to not only improved land management decisions but also to improved policy, including how science is used in making policy decisions and to prioritize using sound data to support management and policy decisions."

SCB North America President Dr. Rebecca Hufft commented: "I have personally known Carol for the past 12 years and am continuously inspired and motivated by her. She shows up every day to promote conservation. I am thrilled to present Dr. Carol Dawson the 2024 LaRoe Award for her dedication to supporting science-driven management policies to conserve plant biodiversity through her leadership in the U.S. Bureau of Land Management."

Dr. Dawson continues an exemplary career with the BLM. In her job, she develops and implements trend monitoring studies for BLM special status plant species in Colorado. She also works with the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service to develop species status assessments and status reviews, de-listing packages, recovery plans, and conservation strategies. In addition, Dr. Dawson is involved in the native plant development program - from collecting seeds for Seeds of Success, the national native seed collection program led by the BLM, to helping implement the National Seed Strategy in Colorado.

BLM Colorado State Botanist and BLM Threatened and Endangered Species Program Lead Carol Dawson in the field evaluating an occurrence of a rare plant in Colorado in June 2024.

Further, Dr. Dawson partners with botanic gardens, the Colorado Natural Heritage Program, Colorado Natural Areas Program, and universities to gather additional data for use in the conservation of rare plant species. She mentors interns, serves on graduate student committees, and teaches plant identification classes and trainings.

In 2022, Dr. Dawson co-authored a field guide, Recognizing Plant Families of the West. A fun fact about Dr. Dawson is that a new species of cactus discovered in western Colorado, Sclerocactus dawsoniae (Cactaceae), is named for her.

BLM Colorado State Botanist and BLM Threatened and Endangered Species Program Lead Carol Dawson oversees the sampling of a macroplot of the cactus species named for her, Sclerocactus dawsoniae, in Debeque, Colorado in April 2021.

Read more about the 2024 Edward T. LaRoe III Memorial Award from the Society for Conservation Biology (SCB) North America.

Frank Quamen, PhD, Headquarters Division Chief, Wildlife Conservation, Aquatics, and Environmental Protection