Extinction rates are expected to increase during the Anthropocene. Current extinction rates of plants and many animals remain unknown. This study represents the first effort to quantify extinctions among the vascular flora of North America north of Mexico since European settlement.

As the Ecologist/Botanist with the North Carolina Natural Heritage Program, Wes explores and inventories some of the best remaining natural areas in North Carolina and by extension the eastern United States. His work helps identify conservation targets and prioritizes sites for acquisition, conservation, and management.He has a long list of scientific publications and has presented his research internationally.

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