Conserving Plant Diversity

Achievements

Botanic gardens (BGs) have enhanced their role as repositories of plant conservation:
Many of the world’s threatened plants requiring immediate attention are stored ex-situ in botanic gardens either preserved in living collections, seed or gene banks. Using the 1997 Red List as the baseline, and using data from BGCI’s PlantSearch database, we know that at least 35% of threatened plants are stored ex-situ.

BGs are increasingly playing a role in conservation efforts in-situ and in recovery and restoration work:

- More than 400 BGs are involved in managing protected areas;
- BGs have been involved in many plant restoration programmes and projects over the past decade.

BGs have started to take action in view of rapid global environmental change
- involving local communities in monitoring the impacts of climate change on plants (as in the US);
- making increasing efforts in establishing representative seed banks (for example 96% of the UK’s flora is conserved in the MSB);
- giving more attention to ‘problem’ seeds, recalcitrants, dessication-prone seeds, etc. and improvements in seedbank technology;
- realizing the impacts of alien invasive species and actively contributing to control and eradication programmes.

In so doing, BGs are increasingly embracing a holistic way in conserving plant diversity by putting into practice the integration of ex-situ and in-situ conservation.

Challenges

Effective conservation action by BGs is constrained by gaps in understanding of plant biology and ecosystem functioning, especially in the context of global environmental change
- Successful plant restoration projects depend on a clear understanding of propagation/germination of species, considering also recalcitrant, dessication- sensitive species which are often overlooked in ex-situ collections as they are difficult to store;
- There is limited understanding of migration patterns based on models and potential global warming scenarios, as well as the potential of increased invasiveness of alien species as a result of climate change;

Genetic representativeness of ex-situ collections is often incomplete.

Many important areas for plant conservation are believed to be outside protected area systems but most of these vulnerable areas are currently unidentified.

Recommendations

Conservation action should give more emphasis to integrating local and science-based knowledge.

Good scientific research, including research in horticulture and education, is essential to underpin effective biodiversity conservation.

The role of BGs in advancing an ecosystem approach-based management style should be promoted.

Partnerships should be strengthened and new partnerships developed to ensure integrated in situ and ex situ conservation

While there are some excellent training programmes there is a need for greater focus on capacity building for conservation, taking into account local needs and languages

BGCI Projects in Jordan - Current

BGCI is working in Jordan on a variety of projects to conserve and protect plant resources and diversity in this unique region.