F: Conservation

Date posted: 6 June 2010  -  Permalink / Shortlink

Botanic and similar, gardens containing well-documented and scientifically arranged collections of plants are well placed to make significant contributions to conservation. Ex situ collections can be useful in conservation, especially if their use is well integrated with other methods, such as in situ conservation, research on breeding systems, reintroduction programmes or education projects. Botanic gardens have a unique mix of staff – people who can research, grow and explain plants. This staff resource, held in conjunction with plant collections, can contribute significantly to plant conservation. To be of maximum use, the collections need to be well documented and from multiple, known, wild-origin sources. Frequently, gardens, with their collections, offer superb opportunities for conservation and environmental education, not only about plant conservation, but also on all aspects of the environment.

Conservation projects are usually best undertaken in conjunction with other specialist organisations and institutions; for example universities, government agencies or gene banks and organisations such as Planta Europa, Botanic Gardens Conservation International (BGCI), the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) and Fauna & Flora International (FFI). The countries of origin in which the plants are found must also be informed at the very least, but meaningful collaboration should be the norm.

PlantNet recently (May 2000) held a conference at the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh to discuss the conservation of plant genetic resources, and at more recent conferences and committee meetings time has been devoted to exploring the role that PlantNet should play in conservation.

The PlantNet policy for conservation makes specific recommendations on general conservation, the Convention on Biological Diversity, Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora and the UK Biodiversity Action Plan. Environmental issues are included in a separate policy, G.

General plant conservation

PlantNet aims to encourage the use of plant collections to support and contribute to plant conservation.

To achieve this aim, PlantNet will:

  • encourage members to take part in conservation projects
  • encourage members to maintain ex situ living collections to the highest possible standards (e.g. multiple source, wild origin and well documented) to ensure that they meet the needs of conservation projects
  • encourage members to establish integrated plant conservation techniques wherever possible
  • highlight model projects in the PlantNet Newsletter
  • ensure that any PlantNet conferences consider the conservation implications of the topic selected for discussion
  • encourage members to ensure that conservation projects have a sound scientific basis
  • develop close links with conservation-based organisations such as BGCI, FFI, WWF, National Council for the Conservation of Plants and Gardens, English Nature, Scottish Natural Heritage, Countryside Commission for Wales, local wildlife trusts, specialist plant societies such as the Pteridological Society and others.

Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD)

The CBD encompasses all living things, including all parts of plants. It has three objectives: The conservation of biodiversity, the sustainable use of biodiversity and the fair and equitable sharing of any benefits deriving from biodiversity. It is arranged in 42 Articles, 12 (at least) of which are directly relevant to the work of botanic gardens. These include activities such as identification and monitoring, education, capacity building, technology transfer, access to, and supply and transfer of, genetic resources, and more.

While botanic gardens have much to offer and gain from the Convention, there are also obligations (such as gaining government permission to access genetic resources) which botanic gardens must honour.

PlantNet aims to:

  • provide information to its members on the CBD and promote an understanding of its provisions
  • seek to ensure that plant collections are collected, maintained and managed in accordance with the CBD
  • promote the use of plant collections in Britain and Ireland to support implementation of the CBD.

To achieve these aims, PlantNet will:

  • organise training courses for members on the CBD and its implementation
  • provide information on plant collections and the relevant activities of plant-collection holders to bodies co-ordinating the implementation of the CBD, nationally and internationally
  • participate in national and international activities in the development of policies for botanic gardens and other plant-collection holders in regard to the CBD, and specifically in regard to transfer of plant material and benefit sharing
  • consider the role of PlantNet’s members in the sharing of benefits derived from the use of plant collections, particularly with countries that are rich in biodiversity, but poor in resources to conserve it
  • assist individual collection holders in developing their own institutional policies and practices in accordance with the CBD.

Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES)

CITES provides a mechanism to regulate and monitor the international trade in threatened wild plants. Botanic gardens should have a central role in the enforcement and extension of CITES, as part of their general strategy and code of practice for plant conservation. CITES came into force in 1975 and, as a consequence, is perhaps better understood and implemented in botanic gardens than the CBD. Those wanting a good, short and understandable reference to CITES and botanic gardens should consult A CITES Manual for Botanic Gardens by John Akeroyd, Noel McGough and Peter Wyse Jackson (BGCI 1994).

PlantNet will encourage its members to:

  • identify, and take particular care of, CITES plants within their collections
  • inform staff about CITES and its importance
  • inform garden visitors about CITES and the importance of not buying CITES-listed plants (or any other CITES-listed commodities) while on holiday
  • not import CITES-listed plants without the correct documentation.

UK Biodiversity Action Plan

Biodiversity: the UK Action Plan (1994) was written as a direct response to Article 6 of the CBD. Its main recommendation is to produce detailed action plans for Britain’s most rare, threatened and endangered species, and these were produced in a series of volumes from 1995 to 1999. Action plans have also been produced for threatened habitats. In more recent years, local biodiversity action plans have been produced for many regions in Britain. Now that the action plans have been written, they need to be acted upon and botanic gardens are in a good position to help with implementation.

PlantNet will encourage its members to:

  • find out about the UK Biodiversity Action Plan and inform their staff
  • take part in Species and Habitat Action Plans, where appropriate
  • become involved in their local Biodiversity Action Plan.

The following policies are also relevant in delivering the Conservation policy: