Databases

BGCI maintains four globally unique and publicly accessible databases: PlantSearch, GardenSearch, ThreatSearch and GlobalTreeSearch; and an increasing number of data tools (including PlantConnect). BGCI databases and new tools work in conjunction with the GlobalTree Portal and SheepCRM to provide the botanical community with an array of resources to better conserve plant diversity.

The combination of these databases and services provides powerful tools to prioritise, connect, manage, monitor and build capacity among ex situ and in situ conservation efforts at the local, regional and global scales.

Training modules

BGCI’s Online Training Platform offers a range of training modules for botanic garden and plant conservation professionals. This includes a selection of training modules relevant to seed conservation practices:

• Introduction to seed conservation (free to access) – available in English and French
• Scaling up biodiverse forest restoration (free to access) – available in English and French
• Propagation protocols (free to access) – available in English and French
• Vegetative propagation of threatened tree species (free to access) – available in English and French
• Best practice for tree planting (free to access) – available in English

Technical guidelines and manuals

BGCI has produced a range of publications relevant to the IKI project.

Basic guidance for threatened tree conservation

The basic guidance for threatened tree conservation briefs are a series of documents aimed at individuals and organisations who already have some experience working in conservation, but who are looking for basic guidance on the particular skills required to conserve threatened trees. Specifically, we hope these briefs will be of use to individuals directly involved with the protection, management or restoration of a particular site including people working for protected areas, NGOs, community-based organisations and research institutions.

BGCI’s propagation protocol manual

The Propagation Protocol Manual has been developed by BGCI to assist with the development of propagation protocols at different institutions globally. 

Species recovery manual

BGCI and the International Association of Botanic Gardens (IABG) have published a manual to guide species recovery projects. Species recovery involves many different disciplines and actors, and responsibility for it at a national level is often unclear, given that it cuts across different ministries and agencies. After various consultations, it was felt by BGCI and IABG that it would be valuable to produce a manual that would clarify the aims and purpose of species recovery, set out the various steps involved, and indicate good practice. This manual is aimed specifically at conservation practitioners but also includes comprehensive bibliographic references, which enable more in depth reading on the topics covered in this publication.

Species recovery briefs

With support from the Rufford Foundation, BGCI has produced a series of six concise guidance briefs based on chapters of the Species Recovery Manual. The guidance briefs are designed to be easy to follow and downloadable so they can be taken into the field by restoration practitioners. They are available in English and Chinese. The Chinese translation was completed by Yiyi Wen.

Integrated conservation of tree species by botanic gardens: A reference manual

This reference manual has been designed to support the integrated conservation of threatened tree species by botanic gardens and arboreta. The manual presents step-by-step guidelines that can be used in launching conservation work with trees. It also presents a series of case studies on a range of perspectives on tree conservation, including population diversity assessments, propagation techniques, ex situ and in situ approaches, and integration with planning, policy, monitoring, education, and sustainable use.

Reports

Best Practices for Threatened Tree Conservation

To evaluate the effectiveness and sustainability of BGCI’s past Global Trees Campaign (GTC) projects and inform best practice in future initiatives, a review was undertaken evaluating 21 projects between 2008 and 2016.  In general, although the conservation threats may not have not been eliminated, the integrated ex and in situ conservation efforts championed by these projects have provided an immediate safety net for the target species in the short and medium-term, in turn contributing to GTC’s mission and objectives.

Securing a future for the world’s threatened trees – a global challenge

Securing a Future for the World’s Threatened Trees – A Global Challenge outlines tried-and-tested approaches by Global Trees Campaign (GTC) partners that effectively conserve tree species, aiming to share examples and learning on how to save threatened trees with a wider audience. It is a “call to action” to scale up efforts, aiming to encourage and catalyse new players to engage in this vital work.