"Kyle Lybarger built a loyal following online by talking about native plants and why biodiversity matters."
"Nerding out on native plants may not seem like a formula for success as a social media influencer. But meet Kyle Lybarger.
Born and raised in Alabama, often wearing camo, Mr. Lybarger has found an unexpected degree of internet fame by introducing his followers to the overlooked world of Southeastern flora.
Along the way, he has become a guardian — sometimes official, sometimes not — of a growing patchwork of rare and endangered plant populations across several counties in northern Alabama and beyond.
“A lot of what we’re doing is saving these remnants so they still exist if people want to bring them back in the future,” said Mr. Lybarger, who is 32.
In a state where more than 90 percent of the land is privately owned, that has meant knocking on doors to speak with landowners who are unknowing hosts to rare plants. Mr. Lybarger, a forester by training, offers to care for those populations at no cost, thanks to his income from social media."
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