| Dear Cultivator, Conservation of the Rhododendron Species 
Photo: Flowering Rhododendron kanehirae, June 2011,
Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh
BGCI has published The Red List of Rhododendrons, a survey of the conservation status of the Rhododendron species. Whilst we may be alarmed that a quarter of Rhododendron species are under threat, there is a good news story too. One species of Rhododendron, Rhododendron kanehirae has survived extinction due to ex situ conservation by botanic gardens, and it’s likely that without our work it would be lost forever. Unfortunately, it’s too late for Rhododendron retrorsipilum; it is now considered extinct. Our partners in the Red List of Rhododendrons report included the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh. David Chamberlain, one of the report’s researchers, explained the story behind that most threatened Rhododendron species: “Rhododendron kanehirae is considered to be extinct in the wild, following flooding of the river banks around its only known natural locality in Northern Taiwan. This was caused by a dam that was built in 1984. However, an ex situ conservation project is being run by the Taiwan Endangered Species Research Institute. As a result of crucial international collaboration, plants have now been distributed to Botanic Gardens in Taiwan, Japan, the UK and the United States to ensure that this unique species has a future”. Read more about The Red List of Rhododendrons Andrew Wood, Cultivate Editor
cultivate@bgci.org
BGCI News Birds and Bats in Your Botanic Garden We need your help to promote botanic gardens as a habitat for birds and bats at BirdFair, the UK’s largest event for all things ornithological, held in August. More information African Field Trip Report BGCI General Secretary Sara Oldfield visited two botanic gardens in the Democratic Republic of Congo which she says are amongst the most beautiful botanic gardens she's ever seen. More information Botanic Gardens Radio Programme The Global Partnership for Plant Conservation meeting at Missouri Botanical Gardens, USA on 6 July attracted the attention of the local radio station. You can listen online BGCI and Secretariat of the CBD sign new agreement Our work with the Secretariat of the Convention on Biological Diversity is continuing. More information BGCI partners with Jewellery Designer Leanne Guthrie makes beautiful silver jewellery using designs based on plants. A portion of profits from sales will benefit BGCI. You can purchase online. Please take a look at her work Propagation techniques for threatened tree species BGCI is compiling a bibliography on propagation techniques for threatened tree species, to be published online and in a manual. We'd really welcome your suggestions
Biodiversity News International Biodiversity Day 2011 BGCI celebrated International Biodiversity Day on 22 May with a reflection on the fantastic Catalogue of Life project. More Information Calendar for International Year of Forests The Collaborative Partnership on Forests have published a calendar for the United Nation’s International Year of Forests. More information Biodiversity Awareness Increases Internationally According to a survey on biodiversity awareness in seven countries, the term is increasingly recognised. More information
Botanic Garden Education Fairchild Challenge/BGCI Global Competition 2012 BGCI is delighted to collaborate with the Fairchild Challenge to offer an annual Global Competition for students aged 11-19. This year's Global Competition (Plant Champions) is linked to the London 2012 Summer Olympics. More information Seeds of Unity A new project from BGCI about plants, faith and belief. Educational resources are now available online. More information Seeds of Unity Workshop A one day workshop organized by BGCI at Westonbirt Arboretum, UK on 26 July 2011. More information Growing the Social Role of Botanic Gardens BGCI is continuing to work with Ness Botanic Gardens near Liverpool (England), and Winterbourne House and Garden which is part of the University of Birmingham in England. More information Proceedings of BGCI's 7th International Congress on Education in Botanic Gardens The proceedings of the congress held in Durban, South Africa in 2009 are now available online from BGCI. More information
New Botanical Publications  | The Conscientious Gardener This book by Sara Hayden Reichard is a "engaging and beautiful treatise - written with inflections of Rachel Carson and Aldo Leopold" giving guidance on gardening with conservation in mind. The book's forward is by Peter Raven, President Missouri Botanical Garden. The Conscientious Gardener, Sara Hayden Reichard, University of California Press, 2011. ISBN: 978-0-520-26740-4. Purchase The Conscientious Gardener using our Amazon link in BGCI's shop and benefit BGCI. | | The Biology of island floras Publication Imminent ! | The Biology of island floras, edited by David Bramwell and Juli Caujapé-Castells. This book, in 21 chapters, brings together some of the most renowned specialists in different aspects of island floras worldwide to give an updated account of how modern research methods and new concepts have challenged accepted theories and changed our understanding of island flora. Chapters include writings by BGCI's first Secretary General, and our present Secretary General. Further information | | 
