Doug Ladd

Doug Ladd serves as a Senior Lecturer in the Master of Landscape Architecture program at Washington University in St. Louis and holds adjunct roles with the Missouri Botanical Garden and Morton Arboretum. As Director of Conservation Science for The Nature Conservancy's Missouri chapter, he specializes in fire ecology, vegetation management, and ecological restoration. His work spans over 30 years, focusing on Midwestern prairies, woodlands, and lichen biodiversity.

Education:

• Bachelor's degrees in Botany and Chemistry, Southern Illinois University
• Master's in Botany (thesis on Vermont flora under Robert Mohlenbrock)

Research Interests: Fire management protocols, lichen taxonomy, and ecoregional conservation planning. Notable collaborations include Ozark lichen studies with Richard Harris, yielding new species discoveries. His work bridges academic research with applied conservation practices.

Publications: Recent studies focus on invasive species detection (e.g., Pilosella aurantiaca) and fungal taxonomy. He authored field guides including North Woods Wildflowers and Tallgrass Prairie Wildflowers.

Awards:

• 2019 Garden Club of America Conservation Award
• 2018 Steyermark Award (Missouri Native Plant Society)
• 2017 Outstanding Lifetime Achievement Award (Conservation Federation of Missouri)

Advising & Grants: Collaborates with institutions like the New York Botanical Garden. Leads projects on ecological monitoring protocols and has advised on conservation planning for ecoregions. Active in professional networks through boards of the Conservation Research Institute and Shaw Nature Reserve.

Labs/Teams: Research associate at Missouri Botanical Garden and Morton Arboretum; contributes to interdisciplinary teams in lichenology and fire ecology.