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Endangered Plant Program: Botany Staff
Erika Rowe: State Botanist, Endangered Plants Program Coordinator, and Staff Supervisor
Erika joined the New Mexico Forestry Division as State Botanist in January 2023. She leads the Endangered Plant Program, overseeing rare plant monitoring projects, coordinating federal grants, reviewing plant rarity statuses and listing, and contributing to recovery plans. Erika works closely with federal agencies, universities, local herbaria, and Natural Heritage New Mexico on a broad range of native plant conservation issues. She also manages the state’s permitting for endangered plant take, scientific collection, and propagation.
As Chair of the New Mexico Rare Plant Technical Council, Erika helps guide a statewide coalition of conservation partners committed to the goals of the New Mexico Rare Plant Conservation Strategy as well as maintaining New Mexico’s list of rare plants.
With over 24 years of experience as a botanist and research plant ecologist, Erika’s work has included rare plant surveys, vegetation analysis, conservation planning, and long-term monitoring of native plant communities. She previously led the design and coordination of a statewide monitoring program in Minnesota to track vegetation change over time. Erika holds a B.S. in Natural Resources Management with a focus on Vegetation Assessment and Monitoring, and an M.S. in Forest Ecology, where her research examined post-wildfire recovery of vascular and nonvascular ground-layer species.
Phone: 505-699-6371
Martin “Marty” Purdy: Assistant State Botanist
Marty comes to New Mexico from California’s eastern Sierra Nevada mountains where he worked as a Biological Science Technician for the Inyo National Forest and studied high elevation plant diversity for his MS in Botany from Claremont Graduate University. He joined the Forestry Division in 2023, and although new to the state, he is eager to apply his experience in botanical surveys, education, and rare plant conservation towards protecting New Mexico’s diverse and beautiful flora.
As Assistant State Botanist, Marty is largely focused on acquiring and managing Cooperative Endangered Species Conservation Fund Grants: Section 6 of the Endangered Species Act (administered by the USFWS) and conducting associated monitoring and research on rare species in New Mexico.
Phone: 505-699-3803
Kathleen (Katie) Kline: Botanist / Plant Ecologist
Katie joined the Botany Program in 2025. Originally from Pennsylvania, she earned a degree in Biology from York College before heading west to pursue her passion for desert and arid land ecosystems.
Katie has spent several years living and working west of the Continental Divide, most recently serving as a research assistant studying Mojave Desert ecology. Her work provided valuable insights into plant and habitat dynamics in one of North America’s most iconic desert regions.
In her current role, Katie works closely with our Bureau of Land Management (BLM) partners to update rare plant surveys and monitor species of conservation concern on BLM-managed lands throughout New Mexico. Her dedication to collaborative fieldwork and data-driven conservation supports our mission to protect and understand the state’s rarest flora.
Phone: 505-607-4603