Cultivate Issue 20 - February 2008

Dear Cultivate

Biodiversity issues are becoming hugely important in 2008 and climate change has become an accepted issue in mainstream debate. As pressure grows on plant life to survive BGCI are forging ahead with plans and strategies to guide global efforts and catalyse conservation action - read on to see what's new.

This will be my final message to you as I am leaving BGCI at the end of March. I've had a great experience over the past three years or so, and I've really enjoyed hearing from everyone about the myriad ways that you engage with plants and work to protect them. I am going freelance, working on other internet sites as a consultant as well as trying some new areas like photography.

Best wishes, and many thanks for all your support and interest in Cultivate. I hope you will grow your connections with BGCI in the coming months, to help to protect plant life and biodiversity.

Sarah Dixon
Editor
cultivate@bgci.org

Medicinal Plants Under Threat: New Report

BGCI's recent report on threatened medicinal plants has drawn global media attention to the problems facing the world's 'medicine cabinet'.

• Read about it and download the report
• Medicinal Plants in the News

• Japan BGs Bring Plant Conservation Concerns to the Public

• Coloquio "Las plantas útiles en los jardines botánicos y herbarios de México."

• Inauguration Solennelle du Jardin Botanique de Kisantu

• New Sites Poised to Take on The Fairchild Challenge

If you'd like regular botanic garden updates,

• Sign Up for Weekly News Alerts

• Hard Rain Exhibition: Ambitious Plans, Botanic Gardens Can Take Part

• 2008: Year of the Frog - Plea for Gardens to Help Save Amphibians

• International Diploma in Botanic Garden Education

• 3rd Conference of Caribbean Botanic Gardens for Conservation 24-28 March 2008

• 2nd World Botanic Gardens Scientific Congress: Challenges in Botanical Research and Climate Change - Delft, July 2008

• More Events
• More Jobs and Opportunities
• Signup for Opportunities alerts

Andrea Tietmeyer Kramer joins BGCI as the new Executive Director of the US office. She's planning to increase the involvement of US botanic gardens in BGCI's work and is based at the (currently snowed-under) Chicago Botanic Garden.

We also welcome Meirion Jones as our new Head of Information Management, after saying farewell to Diane Wyse Jackson who left in December.

Lauren Evans joins us as Development Officer, replacing Laura Jones in the crucial fundraising role

Of course I myself am leaving so once again I want to thank you all for reading Cultivate and for all your enthusiasm and input to the bulletin over the past three years. With best wishes

Sarah