Wayt is a leading authority on the plants of the Atlantic coastal forest of Brazil, one of the most critically endangered rainforests in the world, with less than 5% of its original vegetation remaining. Wayt works with Brazilian collaborators to survey these special forests and make their data available for conservation action.

He is Curator of Botany at the Institute of Systematic Botany of the New York Botanical Garden and a faculty member of the Garden’s Graduate Studies Program. Wayt received his B.S. from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and a Ph.D. in botany from the University of Michigan.

Dr. Thomas is also a member of various Rainforest Trust Committees.