Native Plant Trust Celebrates 125 Years of Conservation and Preservation
Native Plant Trust 125 Years logo. | Native Plant Trust
Native Plant Trust is celebrating its 125th anniversary. As part of this milestone, the organization will honor climate scientist Dr. Jonathan Foley, Executive Director of Project Drawdown, with its Founders’ Medal at a gala in Boston this fall. This 125th anniversary marks both a historic legacy and a bold vision for the future — one grounded in the belief that native plants are essential to solving the climate and biodiversity crises.
The 125th Anniversary Gala will take place on Tuesday, Sept. 30, 2025, from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. at the Artists for Humanity Epicenter in Boston, MA. In addition to honoring Dr. Foley, Native Plant Trust will recognize longtime supporters Abby and Peter Coffin for their contributions to the organization’s mission. The evening’s theme, “Sowing the Seeds for Our Future,” reflects Native Plant Trust’s commitment to ecological resilience through native plant conservation. A limited number of tickets are available for purchase here: www.NativePlantTrust.org/gala.
“As we mark 125 years of conservation, the stakes have never been higher: One in five native plant species in New England is now rare or endangered,” says Tim Johnson, CEO of Native Plant Trust. “Our response must match the scale of this ecological emergency. Let this milestone serve as a rallying cry for urgent, science-based action. In just the past 50 years, we’ve lost over 30% of plant biodiversity globally. Native Plant Trust has shown that coordinated, data-driven efforts can reverse that trend. But we need more hands, more support, and more resolve to meet the next century’s challenges. The next 125 years will depend on our collective will to protect land, invest in science, and restore balance to the natural world.”
Founders’ Medal Award
The Founders’ Medal is awarded for exceptional leadership and achievement in the conservation and promotion of healthy, biologically diverse landscapes. It recognizes individuals whose contributions to conservation, horticulture, or education have had a national or international impact, advancing the resilience of ecosystems and the public’s understanding of their value. The Founders’ Medal has been awarded only once before, in 2015, to Dr. Paul Smith, who was then head of the Millennium Seed Bank at Kew.
“Dr. Foley is not only a world-class scientist — he’s a visionary whose work helps shape a climate-secure, biodiverse future for all,” says Native Plant Trust CEO Tim Johnson. “By translating rigorous science into practical solutions, Jonathan Foley embodies the very spirit of the Founders’ Medal. His leadership at Project Drawdown proves that bold, collaborative action can reverse climate change, and native plants play a vital role in that equation. It’s an honor to recognize a thinker whose integrity, clarity, and imagination are helping to change the trajectory of our planet.”
Foley says about the award, “I was humbled beyond words when I heard I would be awarded the Founder’s Medal by Native Plant Trust. We share a deep love of New England and a vision of building a more sustainable future where nature and people can thrive together. At a time when our precious landscapes are under incredible threats, their mission couldn’t be more important to the world.”
Distinguished Leadership Award
As part of its 125th anniversary celebration, Native Plant Trust will recognize Abby and Peter Coffin as recipients of the Distinguished Leadership Award. The Coffins are two high-impact leaders who embody the ideals in plant conservation and environmental protection.
During her time on the Native Plant Trust board, council, committees, and as a member, Abby’s creative ideas, insights, and direction sustained and improved Native Plant Trust’s programs and operations. Peter, the founder and chair of Breckinridge Capital Advisors, recently completed his term as chair of the Board of The Trustees of Reservations, one of Native Plant Trust’s important partners.
“Abby is one of the shapers of the modern Native Plant Trust, advising two of our executive directors and providing creative, action-oriented leadership of her board colleagues,” says Bill Huyett, Native Plant Trust’s board chair. “She and Peter love our landscapes and embody a powerful combination of generosity, vision, and hands-on commitment to the natural world. The Coffins understand the importance of institutional strength. Their dedication to conservation has had a lasting impact across New England, and their contributions have strengthened the fabric of our institution. It is a privilege to celebrate their extraordinary leadership.”
125 Years of Impact: Inspired by Nature, Powered by Science
Formed in 1900 to combat the over-collection of native plants, Native Plant Trust is the nation’s first plant conservation organization and the only one focused solely on New England’s native flora. Key achievements in the organization’s history include:
Leadership in Rare Plant Conservation
Monitoring over 3,300 populations of 389 rare plant species; publishing comprehensive scientific data on New England’s flora.
Seed Banking for Future Resilience
Collecting and preserving seeds from thousands of New England’s rare plant species to support restoration and genetic diversity in the future.
Restoring Cadillac Mountain’s Summit Habitat
Rebuilding a damaged summit ecosystem at Acadia National Park with native plants and innovative propagation techniques.
Supporting Hurricane Sandy Recovery
Collecting seeds from 127 habitats to restore plant populations along the Eastern Seaboard after the storm’s devastation.
Working to Restore a Globally Rare Species on the Edge
Rescuing Robbins’ milk-vetch from extinction by augmenting fragile populations in difficult riverbank terrain.
Crossing Boundaries to Save Endangered Species
Native Plant Trust’s Conservation department led the formation of two innovative networks: the New England Plant Conservation Program (NEPCoP), which connects professional plant scientists in public agencies and private nonprofits to collect and share information about rare species; and Plant Conservation Volunteers, the first community science corps established to monitor rare plants. These systems create efficient ways for scientists to monitor rare plant populations, collect seeds, manage habitat, and share crucial data across state lines and government jurisdictions.
Aiding a Monumental Comeback
Contributing to the recovery and delisting of Robbins’ cinquefoil (Potentilla robbinsiana) from the federal endangered species list through trail rerouting, habitat protection, and off-site propagation.
Pioneering Research to Save Biodiversity
Co-authoring Conserving Plant Diversity in New England, which identifies 234 Important Plant Areas and calls for the protection of 2.3 million climate-resilient acres.
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