Maddie Wallace

Climate change is making Arizona much hotter and drier than it has been in the past, and some of our native plants are struggling to adapt to these sudden changes. When plants struggle to survive in these hot and dry conditions, the ecosystems that depend on these plants can become damaged. We rely on healthy plants and functioning ecosystems to clean our water and air, grow our food, and provide homes for wildlife.

I am a plant ecologist and restoration ecologist, so I study why certain plants are struggling and what might happen to them in the future. I also help people figure out which plants will grow best when we’re trying to restore damaged ecosystems. When the plants are healthy and thriving, they can perform all the important jobs that keep our ecosystems strong. The good news is, when we work together, we can help plants survive and repair our ecosystems!