Jun Bando selected as California Native Plant Society Executive Director
Editor's note: this story was originally published by the California Native Plant Society.
The California Native Plant Society (CNPS) announced the hiring of its new executive director, Jun Bando, PhD, of Sacramento. Dr. Bando is an ecologist with a 20-year career spanning higher education, international diplomacy, and advocacy.
“In the face of global climate and biodiversity crises, CNPS’s mission to save California’s native plants and habitats has never been more relevant,” Dr. Bando said. “I’m thrilled to be joining an amazing team of people working to power the native plant movement through both head and heart.”
Established in 1965, CNPS is one of California’s most long-standing and influential conservation organizations, with 34 chapters across California and one in Baja California, Mexico. In recent years, the organization significantly expanded its staff and project portfolio to help address the escalating impacts of extreme wildfire, species extinction, sea level rise, and inequitable access to nature while also building positive partnerships with Indigenous communities.
“California’s native plants intersect with many of the most pressing issues of our time,” CNPS Board President John Hunter said. “Dr. Bando is a dynamic leader who will ensure we meet this moment by advancing best available science, community-based programming, and sound, equity-focused policy solutions.”
