Shelly Davis-King


"I am honored to be joining the Board of Directors of Calflora to help promote this invaluable, go-to platform. Calflora is an accessible, reliable, and current representation of California’s plant distributions.

We must preserve native plant communities and ensure their continuity. I consult herbaria and archival references that use historical plant names, and Calflora’s cross-referencing of plant names has proven especially helpful.

I look forward to collaborating with the Calflora Team."

Shelly is an anthropologist, archaeologist, and ethnobiologist who has lived and worked in the central Sierra Nevada for 45 years. She is a Research Associate at the California Academy of Sciences.

Her work explores phenological changes in plants significant to California’s first peoples, as well as traditional tending and burning practices, both recent and ancient. She also documents ethnobotanical complexes connected to long-term Native American land use and stewardship.

Shelly’s deep knowledge of cultural landscapes and plant histories brings an invaluable perspective to Calflora’s mission. We look forward to the insight and collaboration she will bring to the Board.

Justin Valliere

"My motivation for joining the Calflora Board of Directors stems from a strong commitment to protecting California’s iconic flora and encouraging others to share in that stewardship.

I use Calflora for outreach, research planning, mapping invasive species, and developing science-based recommendations. I want to help ensure that the platform remains useful, accessible, and responsive.

I also believe deeply in Calflora’s Calflora's Mission and Vision."

Justin is an Assistant Professor of Cooperative Extension at University of California, Davis, where he specializes in ecological restoration and invasive plant management. His research is driven by a lifelong fascination with plants and a deep commitment to conservation, with a focus on practical solutions to restore native ecosystems and strengthen land stewardship.

He earned his PhD in Plant Ecology from University of California, Riverside.

We’re thrilled to have Justin’s expertise and passion helping guide Calflora’s work to support science-based conservation and stewardship across California.