• BGCI: The global network
• Our work
  • Preventing plant extinctions
    • Africa
    • Asia
    • Central and South America
    • China
    • Eurasia
    • Europe
    • North America
    • Southeast Asia
    • Islands
    • Cactus and Succulent Survey
  • Plants for people
    • Medicinal plants
    • Human well-being
    • Livelihoods
  • The Global Trees Campaign
    • Magnolia
    • Oaks
    • Trees of Central Asia
    • Maples
    • Rhododendrons
  • Policy frameworks
    • Gran Canaria II
    • GSPC
    • BGCI Policy Tools
    • International Agenda
    • International Frameworks
    • CITES Manual
  • Education
  • Global Island Plant Conservation Network
    • GIPC Statement
    • The GIPCN
    • Areas of intervention
    • Upcoming events
    • Literature
    • Sources of funding
  • Ecological restoration
    • The role of botanic gardens
    • Ecological Restoration Alliance
    • Images of restoration projects
• Our supporters and partners
• Join in
• Resource centre
• Education centre
• Climate change information centre

Eurasia: Russia, Georgia, Kyrgyzstan

The preservation of species in situ is preferable to preservation ex situ.  However, in many regions the scale of ecological devastation simply does not allow for the preservation of plants under natural conditions.  In these cases, the reintroduction of  species in conservation areas for future recovery becomes a critical measure for saving plants threatened with extinction - and this is a key role for botanic gardens.

Russia

In Russia, we work in regions with historically extensive agriculture covering vast areas of vulnerable steppe landscapes that have reached the most serious stage of degradation.

We've been training botanic garden staff in developing and implementing species recovery programmes, and published a handbook (click here to download the English version, here for Russian) providing methodological guidance on all aspects of species reintroductions.

Work is underway to reintroduce two threatened and ecologically important steppe species (Stipa ucrainica and S.pulcherrima) in the Rostov region of the country and similar methodologies are being developed for the forest steppe in the Volga region with rare Paeonia tenuifolia, Juniperus sabina and Iris pumila (middle picture above).

See our Russia site for pages in Russian or contact us if you would like more details of our work in this region

Georgia 

Our work in Georgia is just beginning; a planning workshop has assessed the potential of Georgia's botanic gardens to undertake practical and integrated plant conservation activities building on Red Listing initiatives recently completed.  The workshop was a great success.  Find out more...

Kyrgyzstan

In Kyrgyzstan we have recently completed a three-year project working with the Gareev Botanical Garden of the National Academy of Sciences of the Kyrgyz Republic. A number of activities aiming to strengthen public outreach and capacity of staff at Gareev Botanical Garden were carried out as part of  this Darwin Initiative project funded by the United Kingdom’s Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs .  Find out more

We need your support to be able to continue this work