scholarly journals Botanic gardens, education, and orchid conservation strategies: the need for a coordinated approach

Lankesteriana ◽  
2011 ◽  
Vol 11 (3) ◽  
Author(s):  
Thomas Mirenda
Keyword(s):  
Plant Conservation ◽  
Global Strategy ◽  
Ex Situ ◽  
Conservation Strategies ◽  
Botanic Gardens ◽  
Botanic Garden ◽  
Orchid Conservation ◽  
Public Garden ◽  
Para Determinar

Se ha escuchado a nivel mundial el llamado para la conservación de orquídeas, por parte de científicos, profesionales de horticultura, propagadores comerciales y los apasionados entusiastas privados, todos con diferentes opiniones sobre la manera para atacar este problema global. Las noticias han sido desalentadoras en relación al calentamiento global, destrucción de hábitat, desplazamiento de poblaciones nativas por parte de agresivas, exóticas e insostenibles depredaciones /cosechas de plantas y los esfuerzos impotentes para hacer cumplir las protecciones legales. Se han dedicado muchas ideas y esfuerzos para determinar estrategias específicas para la conservación de orquídeas, incluyendo la protección al hábitat, la compra y preservación de los “puntos calientes,” así como las tendencias hacia la creación de reservas hortícolas, tanto nativas (reservas de los Jardines de Lankester, Fundación EcoMinga, Ecuagenera) y ex situ (jardines de orquídeas en Hawái, colecciones bajo vidrio, etc.). Tácticas como un banco de semillas, tecnología ADN, esfuerzos de propagación ex situ, así como eventuales reintroducciones, inherentemente dependen de recursos y propiedades de jardines botánicos y cultivadores comerciales responsables. Es este tipo de trabajo de horticultura el que ha salvado a otros géneros que no corresponden a las orquídeas, tales como Franklinia, Torreya, Wollemia, y especies de orquídeas como Paphiopedilum vietnamense, Epidendrum ilense, y Angraecum longicalcar de la extinción. Los jardines botánicos unidos bajo ciertas organizaciones como la Asociación Americana de Jardines Públicos (American Public Garden Association - APGA) y Jardines Botánicos para la Conservación Internacional (Botanic Garden Conservation International - BGCI), necesitan de una mayor cooperación y coordinación para el éxito de sus esfuerzos para la conservación de plantas. Además, es un aspecto crítico que los jardines botánicos se conecten con la comunidad científica (y viceversa), especialmente aquellos que mejor pueden asesorar sobreaquellas especies más amenazadas. Si las colecciones van a ser utilizadas en forma óptima, las sociedades científicas y de horticultura deben estar más conscientes de sus respectivos activos y prioridades. En el Primer Congreso Internacional para la Conservación de Orquídeas (International Orchid Conservation Congress - IOCC), se adoptaron cuatro resoluciones de la Estrategia Global para la Conservación de Plantas (Global Strategy for Plant Conservation – GSPC en inglés): 1): el 90% de todas las orquídeas amenazadas deberían ser asegurada en colecciones ex situ; 2) el 50% debería constar en programas para su recuperación activa; 3) Se debe considerar que las orquídeas están amenazadas cuando su cosecha no es sostenible; y 4) Para el año 2010, cada niño y niña debe estar consciente de lo que es la diversidad de plantas (incluyendo a las orquídeas). ¿C.mo podemos evaluar si se está logrando el progreso hacia estos admirables objetivos sin que exista una entidad que unifique y que pueda recopilar el progreso, la información y el grado de éxitos alcanzado? Al ver el esfuerzo desplegado en tantos lugares separados, es indudable que se necesita urgentemente este tipo de entidad. Constituye la meta de muchos jardines botánicos y una meta específica del Instituto Smithsoniano, el promover la diseminación de conocimientos y comprensión. Con este fin en mente, el anterior objetivo #4 constituye una particular prioridad. A pesar de que alcanzar la meta del 100% de conciencia compartida en relación a la diversidad de plantas para el año 2010, hemos iniciado un proyecto que nos permita comprender y finalmente corregir el llamado síndrome de “Ceguera relativa a las Plantas,” bajo el cual la persona promedio no considera que las plantas son seres vivientes (en el mismo sentido de los animales). Mediante el uso de encuestas y entrevistas personales, se está analizando este síndrome generalizado y penetrante para determinar sus caracter.sticas demográficas, hombre/ mujer, urbano/rural, jóvenes/ viejos, etc. Es imperativo para los educadores que identifiquen la edad en la cual dichas actitudes empiezan a introducirse en la psiquis de los jóvenes. Es necesario aplicar ciertas técnicas que permitan elevar el grado de conciencia de los individuos de todas las edades en relación a la importancia de la diversidad de las plantas y su conservación. Esto puede tomar la forma de presentaciones, exposición a especies representativas, paseos de campo y otras oportunidades educativas, que permitan cultivar un enfoque mental que comprenda y a la final proteja el mundo natural. 

scholarly journals The role of the Francisco Javier Clavijero Botanic Garden (Xalapa, Veracruz, Mexico) in the conservation of the Mexican flora

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Milton Díaz-Toribio ◽  
Victor Luna ◽  
Andrew Vovides
Keyword(s):  
Plant Species ◽  
Threatened Species ◽  
Cloud Forest ◽  
Vascular Plant ◽  
Plant Conservation ◽  
Ex Situ ◽  
Botanic Gardens ◽  
Botanic Garden ◽  
Threatened Plant ◽  
Threatened Plant Species

Background and Aims: There are approximately 3000 botanic gardens in the world. These institutions cultivate approximately six million plant species, representing around 100,000 taxa in cultivation. Botanic gardens make an important contribution to ex situ conservation with a high number of threatened plant species represented in their collections. To show how the Francisco Javier Clavijero Botanic Garden (JBC) contributes to the conservation of Mexican flora, we asked the following questions: 1) How is vascular plant diversity currently conserved in the JBC?, 2) How well is this garden performing with respect to the Global Strategy for Plant Conservation (GSPC) and the Mexican Strategy for Plant Conservation (MSPC)?, and 3) How has the garden’s scientific collection contributed to the creation of new knowledge (description of new plant species)?Methods: We used data from the JBC scientific living collection stored in BG-BASE. We gathered information on species names, endemism, and endangered status, according to national and international policies, and field data associated with each species. Key results: We found that 12% of the species in the JBC collection is under some risk category by international and Mexican laws. Plant families with the highest numbers of threatened species were Zamiaceae, Orchidaceae, Arecaceae, and Asparagaceae. We also found that Ostrya mexicana, Tapirira mexicana, Oreopanax capitatus, O. echinops, and O. xalapensis are highly threatened species representative of cloud forest currently in the collection. Conclusions: The conservation and scientific utility of the JBC collection is reflected in the exceptional accession data and the description of 24 new plant species. Having a significant number of threatened plant species in its ex situ collection, the JBC contributes to the implementation of the GSPC, particularly Target 8, as well as the implementation of the MSPC.

scholarly journals Plant Health Protocols for the Reintroduction of Native Plants

2013 ◽  
pp. 53-60
Author(s):  
Natacha Frachon
Keyword(s):  
Native Species ◽  
Native Plants ◽  
Plant Conservation ◽  
Royal Botanic Garden ◽  
Global Strategy ◽  
Plant Health ◽  
Botanic Gardens ◽  
Botanic Garden ◽  
Pests And Diseases ◽  
Different Populations

Many botanic gardens and conservation agencies are now cultivating threatened native species specifically for reintroduction programmes in response to the second part of Target 8 of the Global Strategy for Plant Conservation (GSPC). While collection, cultivation and reintroduction techniques are frequently discussed in workshops and described in papers, few seem to have considered the threats of introducing non-native pests, diseases, weeds and hybrids between different populations of the same species. The Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh has been cultivating plants for its Target 8 programme since 2005 and now grows 82 per cent threatened Scottish species. It is running active reintroduction programmes for nine of these species with programmes planned for a further five species. In recent years increasing attention has been paid to reducing the risks of introducing non-native organisms and hybrids between different populations of native species into the wild.This paper describes the protocols that have been developed, including verification, screening for pests and diseases, averting spontaneous hybridisation and preparing plants for reintroduction.

scholarly journals The Development of the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh ‘Certificate in Practical Horticulture’

2010 ◽  
pp. 165-178
Author(s):  
Leigh Morris ◽  
Laura Cohen
Keyword(s):  
International Development ◽  
Plant Conservation ◽  
Royal Botanic Garden ◽  
Global Strategy ◽  
Educational Outcome ◽  
Botanic Gardens ◽  
Botanic Garden ◽  
Course Structure ◽  
Train The Trainer ◽  
Support Materials

The Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh (RBGE) has a long history of delivering high-quality practical horticultural training within the UK and abroad. In 2007 this training was formalised by the RBGE Education Department into the ‘RBGE Certificate in Practical Horticulture’ (CPH) programme. The vision for the CPH was to create an internationally recognised and standardised, yet flexible and practical horticultural qualification, predominantly, but not exclusively, for the botanic gardens sector. Providing a measurable educational outcome for international development projects is increasing the contribution that RBGE makes to target 15 of the Global Strategy for Plant Conservation. This paper reviews the development of the CPH programme, through its initial conception, the writing of the first course syllabus, the evolution of the course structure and content, up to the course now being offered today. The initial success of the CPH is discussed, detailing the different locations in which the course has been delivered to date and the other gardens that are now offering the CPH themselves. Recent developments are discussed, including the endorsement of the course by Botanic Gardens Conservation International (BGCI) and the funding awarded by the Stanley Smith (UK) Horticultural Trust in 2010 for course development. The paper ends by highlighting the future objectives for the CPH, including the development of new and improved tutor and learner support materials, the offering of ‘train the trainer’ programmes that will facilitate the wider uptake of these courses and the vision for the programme to become a benchmark for practical horticultural training worldwide.

scholarly journals Botanic gardens and plant pathogens: a risk-based approach at the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh

2020 ◽  
pp. 127-139
Author(s):  
Katherine Hayden
Keyword(s):  
Plant Pathogens ◽  
Plant Conservation ◽  
Royal Botanic Garden ◽  
Plant Diseases ◽  
Plant Distribution ◽  
Ex Situ ◽  
Botanic Gardens ◽  
Botanic Garden ◽  
Global Environmental ◽  
Horticultural Practice

Introduced and emerging plant diseases as a result of live plant movements are increasingly recognised as a global environmental and economic threat. This presents a fundamental challenge to botanic gardens and other ex situ plant conservation organisations: how to continue this important work while recognising and mitigating the plant health risks. The approach taken by the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh is presented as a case study, showing how we have reduced ecological and evolutionary opportunities for pests in ex situ conservation and are monitoring the success of these efforts. We have developed protocols in quarantine and horticultural practice, expanded visitor engagement and public education, and taken a precautionary approach towards plant distribution supported by in-house diagnostics and working closely with statutory authorities. We hope that by sharing activities as well as difficulties, botanic gardens can acknowledge and address the new biosecurity landscape.

scholarly journals Hue and cry for Fritillaria cirrhosa D.Don, a threatened medicinal plant in the Western Himalaya

2021 ◽  
Vol 2 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Manisha Mathela ◽  
Amit Kumar ◽  
Monika Sharma ◽  
Gurinderjit Singh Goraya
Keyword(s):  
Medicinal Plant ◽  
Population Decline ◽  
Plant Conservation ◽  
Western Himalaya ◽  
Ex Situ ◽  
Conservation Strategies ◽  
Market Demand ◽  
Wild Populations ◽  
Threatened Medicinal Plant ◽  
Fritillaria Cirrhosa

AbstractThe unique Himalayan ecosystems are repositories to the wild populations of diverse flora and fauna. The high value medicinal and aromatic plant species (MAPs) are an example of the same. Since time immemorial, these MAPs have been traditionally used by the local inhabitants and have eventually developed a high market value all over the world. Increasing market demand engenders over-extraction of species, unsustainable collection further catalyses decline in wild populations. The current communication raises high conservation concern on the rapid population decline of Fritillaria cirrhosa D.Don in the Western Himalaya. Harvested and traded with a new trade name i.e., ‘Jangli lehsun’ probably to disguise common Allium species, the species is facing tremendous decline in wild populations due to its illegal harvesting and trade in Himachal Pradesh. Further, F. cirrhosa faces threat due to unorganized, over-extraction, unsustainable and premature harvesting of the bulbs, coupled with illegal hidden markets functioning parallelly. Considering that this valuable species is under multiple threats being a medicinally important plant, priority should be given for its conservation through in-situ such as identification of medicinal plant conservation areas and ex-situ methods for its propagation and multiplication. Further, to ensure the long-term conservation of Fritillaria cirrhosa, prioritized conservation strategies such as strengthening of the Biodiversity Management Committees, capacity building through awareness programs for the key stakeholders and sustainable harvesting would be the practical solution.

scholarly journals Implementing Target 10 of the Global Strategy for Plant Conservation at the National Botanic Gardens of Ireland

2013 ◽  
pp. 125-142
Author(s):  
Noeleen Smyth
Keyword(s):  
Native Species ◽  
Biological Diversity ◽  
Plant Conservation ◽  
Global Strategy ◽  
Convention On Biological Diversity ◽  
Effective Control ◽  
Botanic Gardens ◽  
Early Introduction ◽  
Carpobrotus Edulis ◽  
Chemical Treatments

The importance of managing invasive non-native species (INNS), be it through eradication or limitation, is set out in the United Nations Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) which states that parties to the Convention should ‘prevent, control or eradicate alien species’ (IUCN, 2000). Unfortunately there is some evidence that botanic gardens have been implicated in being responsible for the early introduction of many environmental weeds listed by IUCN as among the worst invasive species (Hulme, 2011). Stronger global networking between botanic gardens to tackle the problem of INNS has been suggested by Hulme. Botanic gardens have a remit to meet Target 10 of the Global Strategy for Plant Conservation (GSPC) and the European Strategy for Plant Conservation (ESPC) Targets 10.1 and 10.2. The National Botanic Gardens, Glasnevin, in conjunction with University College Dublin and Mayo and Fingal County Councils, with grant funding from the Heritage Council, has monitored populations then researched and implemented effective control methods of two escaped garden plants: Hottentot fig (Carpobrotus edulis (L.) N.E. Br.) and giant rhubarb (Gunnera tinctoria (Molina) Mirb.) in EU protected habitats and in Special Areas of Conservation (SACs) in Ireland. Chemical treatments were trialled and tested in the field for both species, and successful regeneration of native vegetation in formerly invaded areas has been observed since treatments began in 2009.

scholarly journals Building a Global System for the Conservation of all Plant Diversity

2016 ◽  
pp. 5-13
Author(s):  
Paul Smith
Keyword(s):  
Plant Species ◽  
Plant Diversity ◽  
Plant Conservation ◽  
Professional Community ◽  
Cost Effective ◽  
Global Network ◽  
Ex Situ ◽  
Botanic Gardens ◽  
Global System ◽  
Wide Range

Botanic gardens and arboreta offer the opportunity to conserve and manage a wide range of plant diversity ex situ, and in situ in the broader landscape. The rationale that botanic gardens have a major role to play in preventing plant species extinctions is based on the assumptions that (1) there is no technical reason why any plant species should become extinct, and (2) that, as a professional community, botanic gardens possess a unique set of skills that encompass finding, identifying, collecting, conserving and growing plant diversity across the entire taxonomic spectrum. Botanic Gardens Conservation International (BGCI) is the pivotal centre of a global network of c. 2,600 botanic gardens and arboreta, which includes living collections representing at least one-third of known plant diversity; world class seed banks, glasshouses and tissue culture infrastructures; and technical knowledge networks covering all aspects of plant conservation. Following the example of the crop conservation community, BGCI is promoting the concept of a cost-effective, rational,botanic garden-centred Global System for the conservation and management of plant diversity.This system will aim to collect, conserve, characterise and cultivate samples from all of the world’s rare and threatened plants as an insurance policy against their extinction in the wild and as a source of plant material for human innovation, adaptation and resilience.

scholarly journals Application of the MSAP Technique to Evaluate Epigenetic Changes in Plant Conservation

2020 ◽  
Vol 21 (20) ◽  
pp. 7459
Author(s):  
María Elena González-Benito ◽  
Miguel Ángel Ibáñez ◽  
Michela Pirredda ◽  
Sara Mira ◽  
Carmen Martín
Keyword(s):  
Dna Methylation ◽  
In Situ Conservation ◽  
Plant Conservation ◽  
Ex Situ ◽  
Conservation Strategies ◽  
Regenerated Plants ◽  
Before And After ◽  
Methylation Patterns

Epigenetic variation, and particularly DNA methylation, is involved in plasticity and responses to changes in the environment. Conservation biology studies have focused on the measurement of this variation to establish demographic parameters, diversity levels and population structure to design the appropriate conservation strategies. However, in ex situ conservation approaches, the main objective is to guarantee the characteristics of the conserved material (phenotype and epi-genetic). We review the use of the Methylation Sensitive Amplified Polymorphism (MSAP) technique to detect changes in the DNA methylation patterns of plant material conserved by the main ex situ plant conservation methods: seed banks, in vitro slow growth and cryopreservation. Comparison of DNA methylation patterns before and after conservation is a useful tool to check the fidelity of the regenerated plants, and, at the same time, may be related with other genetic variations that might appear during the conservation process (i.e., somaclonal variation). Analyses of MSAP profiles can be useful in the management of ex situ plant conservation but differs in the approach used in the in situ conservation. Likewise, an easy-to-use methodology is necessary for a rapid interpretation of data, in order to be readily implemented by conservation managers.

scholarly journals Education and training in Brazilian botanical gardens: are we achieving GSPC targets?

Rodriguésia ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 69 (4) ◽  
pp. 1603-1612
Author(s):  
Tania Maria Cerati
Keyword(s):  
Plant Diversity ◽  
Public Awareness ◽  
Plant Conservation ◽  
Global Strategy ◽  
Ex Situ ◽  
The Public ◽  
Botanical Gardens ◽  
Representative Species ◽  
Education And Awareness

Abstract Engage, educate and raise public awareness of the importance of plant diversity is the means through which plant conservation can be achieved. The Global Strategy for Plant Conservation (GSPC) is a programme to halt the loss of plant diversity and recognize botanical gardens as a partners. This paper investigates the implementation of targets 14 and 15 GSPC in Brazilian botanic gardens specially in education and awareness about plant diversity and trained people. A survey was carried out on the institutional websites of 21 gardens registered in the National System of Botanical Gardens Registration to identify actions that follow the guidelines of these two targets. Websites outdated, difficult access and lack online resources for the public shows us that internet tools are poorly used to divulgation. The target 14's activities performed in most gardens are educational visits and environmental interpretation and explore collections in situ and ex situ from representative species of regional flora. Trained people is held in all gardens but some stand out as important research centers and graduate programs. Despite the efforts Brazilian botanical gardens need improve the public communication and develop strategies to measure the targets progress.

scholarly journals Conservation of threatened plant species in botanic garden reserves in Brazil

Oryx ◽  
2016 ◽  
Vol 52 (1) ◽  
pp. 108-115 ◽  
Author(s):  
Maria Lúcia M. N. da Costa ◽  
Peter Wyse Jackson ◽  
Ricardo Avancini Fernandes ◽  
Ariane Luna Peixoto
Keyword(s):  
Plant Species ◽  
Threatened Species ◽  
In Situ Conservation ◽  
Integrated Approach ◽  
Ex Situ ◽  
Conservation Strategies ◽  
Botanic Gardens ◽  
Threatened Plant Species ◽  
Integrated Conservation ◽  
Scientific Value

AbstractOver the last few decades botanic gardens worldwide have been encouraged to adopt complementary measures for the conservation of plant species from their own regions, combining in situ conservation efforts with ex situ methods, both in cultivation and in storage. This integrated approach is particularly important for botanic gardens in the tropics, which face the challenge of conserving a highly diverse and often threatened flora. We gathered information on the occurrence of threatened species in the natural vegetation reserves of 21 Brazilian botanic gardens. The data were collected from herbarium records in the database of the National Centre for Flora Conservation, and from the available plant inventories of these reserves. The results indicate that 148 species from the List of Threatened Species of Brazilian Flora are recorded as having been collected in the reserves. Of these, 51 species were maintained in the living collections of 18 botanic gardens and 83 species were recorded in federally protected areas. The occurrence of threatened species in the reserves of botanic gardens highlights the scientific value of these areas, as well as their biological, social and cultural importance for conservation. The results may be used to inform the planning of integrated conservation strategies for threatened species.

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