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Our work > Securing ex situ collections of Critically Endangered and Endangered Rhododendrons
Securing ex situ collections of Critically Endangered and Endangered RhododendronsWhy action is neededA quarter of the world’s rhododendrons are threatened with extinction in the wild. The recent Red List of Rhododendrons, Based on the information presented in the Red List report, urgent attention is required for the 76 rhododendrons considered to be at most risk of extinction (Endangered or Critically Endangered) according to the IUCN Red List Categories and Criteria. Some of these are reduced to a handful of individuals in the wild and it would be a tragedy if such species are needlessly lost. It is clearly important that all Critically Endangered (CR) and Endangered (EN) taxa are represented in well-managed ex situ collections as an insurance policy for the future and in support of Target 8 of the Global Strategy for Plant Conservation. At the same time habitat protection and restoration should be reviewed and mechanisms put in place for local people to be involved in and benefit from the in situ conservation and management of these important species. BGCI surveyBGCI is now undertaking a comprehensive survey of ex situ collections of globally threatened rhododendrons building on information held within our PlantSearch Database. The survey will enable us to identify precisely which Critically Endangered (CR) and Endangered (EN) rhododendrons are currently held in ex situ collections, what is known about their cultivation and what related conservation activities are currently taking place. From this information, we will be able to identify the gaps and the opportunities in order to develop a prioritised plan for the long term integrated conservation of the most threatened rhododendrons.
As this survey is being carried in order to support the conservation of wild rhododendrons, we are focusing our attention on rhododendron species and subspecies, not cultivars. How you can helpWe would be very grateful for your help with this survey. For each rhododendron in your collection, we would ideally like to know:
You can also help by:
Sharing experiences of cultivation and propagation of CR or EN rhododendrons that can be included in our Propagation database If you think that you can help, or have any questions about the survey, or know of any important collections of rhododendrons, then we would very much like to hear from you. Future plansBGCI will publish a report on ex situ conservation of rhododendrons based on the results of this survey later in 2011. All information sources and completed surveys will be duly acknowledged. Following the publication of the report, we will work with Fauna & Flora International under the umbrella of the Global Trees Campaign (www.globaltrees.org) to initiate integrated measures to restore wild populations of selected species and strengthen ex situ collections. Contact detailsPlease send your collections details to or contact either Douglas Gibbs or Wen Xiangying for further details. 
Global Survey of Ex situ Rhododendron CollectionsThe results: A better understanding of the conservation status of group (The Red List of Rhododendrons) and a better understanding of the ex situ collections status contained in the ex situ survey forms a strong basis with which to set conservation priorities and action. 
New Research Shows 25% Rhododendron Species under Threat of ExtinctionBotanic Gardens Conservation International launches a new report assessing the conservation status of the Rhododendron plant species. A quarter of the 1157 Rhododendron species are under threat. Read more about the report. |
Global Trees Campaign
 Over 8000 tree species, 10% of the world’s total, are threatened with extinction. The Global Trees Campaign is addressing the problems with help from botanic gardens and BGCI. |
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published jointly by Botanic Gardens Conservation International (BGCI), Fauna & Flora International (FFI) and Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh, in June 2011 identifies 317 rhododendrons as being in danger of extinction, out of a global total of 1157 taxa evaluated. The members of the IUCN/SSC Global Tree Specialist Group, for which BGCI provides the Secretariat, and rhododendron experts around the world contributed much of the information for this Red List report. Electronic copies of the report are available from the BGCI website (
An important component of the BGCI survey of rhododendrons in cultivation is to access information on species held in botanic garden collections in China by working with the Chinese Academy of Science (CAS) Botanic Gardens Committee and other gardens. However, the survey will not only focus on the botanic gardens within the regions of Rhododendron diversity such as China, but will also include the important ex situ collections and centres of horticultural excellence outside the natural ranges of the most threatened species.