Chicago Botanic Garden

Plant Biology

PHOTO: CLM intern collecting data

Conservation and Land Management Fellowship Program

The Federal Bureau of Land Management (BLM) oversees 260 million acres of land and one of its roles is to make sure endangered animals and plants living on this land are protected. With fewer than 400 biologists and 54 botanists on staff (one biologist per 650,000 acres, one botanist for every 4.8 million acres), it is clear why the organization asked the Chicago Botanic Garden to help.

In 2001, in partnership with the BLM, the Garden launched a mentoring program that trains and employs graduate biologists to help monitor and maintain plant and animal diversity on federal lands. Since then, the National Park Service (NPS) and U.S. Forest Service (USFS) have also become partners.

Each year, approximately 100 biologists, graduates from universities across the country, take part in the Conservation and Land Management Fellowship Program (CLM). An intensive one-week orientation workshop prepares these biologists for their respective positions by providing an overview of the agencies, policy, expectations, safety and refresher courses in their field of expertise.

After training, fellows are sent to specific field locations across the United States, where they work with mentors to help manage and maintain plant and wildlife diversity on public lands. This work hones their applied land-management and leadership skills, and provides valuable work experience to prepare them for their all important role as future land stewards.

To date, the program has successfully placed hundreds of graduates in BLM, NPS and USFS offices, providing recent biology graduates with an excellent springboard from which to launch their professional careers.

The Garden’s Conservation and Land Management Fellowship Program received the 2007 Leadership Award from the Plant Conservation Alliance.