California has the highest biodiversity of any state in the nation, but also has the most species at risk, and many are now extinct.  The Santa Ynez Valley Natural History Society and the Solvang Library are privileged to present eminent scientist, Dr. Douglas Long, to speak on this subject. 

Douglas will present his lecture both in-person at Solvang Library, and via Zoom.   Those wishing to attend via Zoom should register at the Society’s website at www.syvnature.org.   The lecture will be followed by a question and answer period.

In his lecture, Long will explain what makes California such a hotspot for biological diversity, and how California's history of booming economies and growth over the last two centuries set the stage for our state's environmental exploitation and loss of rare and endemic species.  However, steadfast protection, conservation measures, and environmental science has brought some species back from the brink of extinction.  Find out which native species in our state are gone, in peril, or are doing better than ever.

Douglas was born and raised in Orange County during the lost era when fishing, birdwatching, and snake-catching were great opportunities to explore the wild natural world.  His scholarly research includes a BS at UC Riverside, an MA and PhD at UC Berkeley, and 33 years as a college instructor.  Douglas served at San Francisco's California Academy of Sciences as the collections manager and chairman of the Department of Ornithology & Mammalogy.  More recently, Douglas left his post as Curator of Natural History at the Museum of Riverside to join his wife and director of the UC Sedgwick Reserve, Dr. Heather Constable.