Saguaros Under Pressure: Science and Community in a Changing Desert with Dr. Tania Hernández Sanders
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Airing Date: August 15, 2026
Time: 10AM Pacific Time
About the Presenter
Dr. Tania Hernández is a Research Scientist at the Desert Botanical Garden in Phoenix, Arizona, and an Adjunct Faculty member at Arizona State University. An internationally recognized expert in cactus evolution and conservation genomics, her research uses innovative genomic technologies to explore the origins, diversification, adaptation, and conservation of cacti and agaves. Her work has contributed significantly to our understanding of the evolutionary history and remarkable diversity of the cactus family.
Dr. Hernández also develops and leads conservation programs that bring together science, technology, and community participation. She founded the Saguaro Initiatives, a collaborative effort to monitor, conserve, and restore saguaro populations across the Sonoran Desert through research, volunteer engagement, and public outreach. She also established the Desert Botanical Garden’s Cryopreservation Program, which uses ultra-low-temperature storage to safeguard the genetic diversity of threatened cactus and agave species for future generations.
Born, raised, and educated in Mexico City, Dr. Hernández is passionate about using cutting-edge science to understand cactus evolution and diversity, inform conservation efforts, and help ensure the long-term survival of cactus and agave species in a rapidly changing climate.
About the Webinar:
Saguaros Under Pressure: Science and Community in a Changing Desert
What can DNA, thousands of saguaro observations, and a community of cactus enthusiasts reveal about the future of the Sonoran Desert’s most iconic plant?
In this engaging presentation, Dr. Tania Hernández will explore the Desert Botanical Garden’s Saguaro Initiatives, which bring together genetics, community science, long-term monitoring, seed banking, and propagation to better understand and protect the saguaro (Carnegiea gigantea). She will share the latest insights into saguaro populations across the Sonoran Desert, examine how extreme heat and a changing climate may affect their future, and discuss the important role cities such as Phoenix can play in saguaro conservation.
Dr. Hernández will also highlight how volunteers, students, gardeners, and cactus enthusiasts can contribute directly to conservation—from documenting and monitoring saguaros to preserving seeds and growing the next generation of these remarkable plants. The Saguaro Initiatives demonstrate that protecting an iconic species requires not only good science, but also a community committed to caring for it.
Recordings
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