My-Lan Le, one of Rare Care’s 2026 field technicians.
Anabelle Manrique, one of Rare Care’s 2026 field technicians.
My-Lan Le will be heading our rare seed collections this field season. My-Lan grew up in the Bay Area of California and has eight years of experience working across the West in various botany jobs. She most recently earned a master’s degree from the University of Colorado in Biology. She is most excited to spend time in unique plant communities and the chance to compare different rare plant populations to better understand them. “We still have so much to learn about rare plants, and their seed form is such an integral part of a vascular seed plant’s life — it’s great to know that we are working on creating a resource to advance conservation,” My-Lan said.
Anabelle Manrique will assist with monitoring several rare plant reintroduction projects Rare Care has implemented and conduct rare seed collections. Anabelle grew up in Chicago, Illinois, and went to the University of Washington for her bachelor’s degree in plant biology, where she fell in love with the region’s biodiversity. She has three years of field work experience, working in various botany positions in Washington, Hawaii, and Oregon. “There is no greater feeling than holding rare seeds in your hand, knowing you’re directly contributing to the conservation of an imperiled species, and I’m excited to continue this work,” Anabelle said.
