Plants Can Save the World: Green Space Solutions for a Resilient Future

Plants are the foundation of life on earth, and yet they’re often the last thing we consider when looking for systems that can build climate resilience. This panel will bring together plant and nature experts to discuss how plants and gardens can enhance human health and well-being while providing solutions to mitigate the detrimental effects of climate chaos. Join our moderator, Richard Hayden, Senior Director of Horticulture for the High Line, and panelists Tami Lin-Moges, Director of the Cities Program in New York for The Nature Conservancy, and Uli Lorimer, Director of Horticulture for the Native Plant Trust, for a series of short presentations followed by a lively discussion and audience Q&A.

This event takes place rain or shine—the event space is fully covered.

Moderator:

Richard Hayden is Senior Director of Horticulture at the High Line, an elevated railway in New York City reimagined as a spectacular, climate-resilient, naturalistic garden. As a professional horticulturist dedicated to an ecological and sustainable approach to garden care and design, Richard has enjoyed a long career in horticulture starting on the West Coast, where he served as board chair for the Pacific Horticulture Society and was the Assistant Deputy Director for the Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County overseeing the Nature Gardens and project management for the design of the new La Brea Tar Pits Museum. Previously, he enjoyed a 20-year20 year career as a Los Angeles-based landscape designer. He currently serves on the boards of the Metro Hort Group and the American Horticulture Society.

Panelists:

Tami Lin-Moges is the Director of the Cities Program in New York at The Nature Conservancy. She manages the Future Forest NYC initiative, including the strategic planning work for Forest for All NYC, a coalition of over 220 organizations. She also partnered with the NYC Mayor’s Office of Climate and Environmental Justice on the development of the city’s first ever Urban Forest Plan (released in April 2026), managed the development and publication of the NYC Urban Forest Agenda, as well as co-authored The State of the Urban Forest in NYC and Growing Greener: The State of Tree Canopy in NYC, 20217-2021. Prior to joining The Nature Conservancy, Tami developed and implemented climate change policies and projects for the City of New York, and consulted to federal and state agencies on public-private partnerships for infrastructure development in Washington, D.C. She holds a Master of Public Administration degree from Columbia University and B.A. degrees in Geography and Political Science from the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA).

Uli Lorimer serves as the Director of Horticulture for the Native Plant Trust, a leading non-profit dedicated to preserving the native flora of the Northeastern United States. In this role, he oversees the acclaimed Garden in the Woods in Framingham and Nasami Farm in Western Massachusetts, both of which focus on native plant propagation and research. His career includes positions at the National Arboretum, Wave Hill, and as the Curator of Native Plants at the Brooklyn Botanic Garden. Uli is a 2026 recipient of the Garden Club of America's Distinguished Service Medal for dedication to conserving the genetic diversity of native plants and restoring native plant communities. He currently writes the Ask the Gardener column for the Boston Globe, sharing ecological horticulture guidance with the region. With a science-based approach and a passion for biodiversity, Uli offers invaluable insights into selecting plants that maximize the ecological impact of our gardens while celebrating the beauty of native flora.

Photo Consent:

By attending this event, you agree that photos and/or video footage of you may be taken, and you grant your permission to Friends of the High Line and its agents/licensees to use such photos/footage for promotional and other purposes.

Accessibility:

We encourage all persons with disabilities to attend. To request additional information regarding accessibility or accommodations at a program, please contact programs@thehighline.org. Program venues are accessible via wheelchair, and ASL interpretation can be arranged two weeks in advance. For live elevator updates, see our elevator status page.

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Photo by Andrew Frasz