EIP_EU_targets

Global & European Strategies for Plant Conservation

ESPC Target 14

The importance of plant diversity and the need for its conservation
incorporated into communication,
education and public awareness programmes

TARGET 14. INCREASING AWARENESS ABOUT WILD PLANTS

Information: This target is seen as crucial to the delivery of all the targets. There are many national and local initiatives, including national competitions to vote for native flower emblems, training materials for children and teachers, and a regional approach to introducing plant information into curricula through the Plant Science Gardens Project. Botanic Gardens are a key focal point for delivering plant conservation messages to the public and this strategy recognises their special role in relation to their audience of tens of millions of visitors every year. The strategy also recognised that there are different audiences (policy makers, children, teachers, land managers and spatial planners, the general public, and trade, business and tourism sectors) who all require clear plant conservation messages provided in an accessible format for that audience.

Targets: (for details of lead partners download pdf of ESPC)

GSPC target 14

The importance of plant diversity and the need for its conservation incorporated into communication, education and public awareness programmes

ESPC target 14.1

6 year sequence of targeted campaigns at the Pan-European and regional level (within EU, within Accession countries and in non-EU countries), that aim to ensure biodiversity initiatives, actions and incentives, deliver sufficient plant conservation (including campaigns on climate change, agriculture, forestry, and invasive species)

At least 1 regional campaign for each of the following target groups at regional level:

Policy makers

Children and young people

Land managers and spatial planners

General public

Trade, business and tourism sectors

The target can be implemented at the national level with national lead organisations.

ESPC target 14.2

Initiate a Wake Up Call for European plant conservation in all European countries.

ESPC target 14.3

Develop a high quality touring photographic exhibition, with a legacy of permanent exhibitions in public gardens and arboreta. These should be produced in local languages to highlight the plight of plants in Europe.

ESPC target 14.4

50% of botanic gardens in Europe to display information on the GSPC and ESPC by 2010.

Actions to mitigate the effects of climate change:Targeted campaign to highlight the effects of climate change on plant diversity and to provide clear messages on conservation action. The touring/permanent exhibitions should include information on the effects of climate change and methods to mitigate its effects.

European Projects/Databases/Organisations:

Organisation

Project/Database (DB)/Aims

Online DB

BGCI

Botanic Gardens Conservation International has an education programme and a range of online resources for education.

(http://www.bgci.org/education/home/)

EU

The European Commission’s Biodiversity Communication Strategy is currently being developed.

(http://ec.europa.eu/environment/nature_biodiversity/index_en.htm)

European Botanic Gardens Consortium

European Botanic Gardens are a key focal point for increasing awareness and the consortium works to improve communication and action among the botanic gardens of Europe.

(http://www.plantnetwork.org/ebg/index.html)

Planta Europa

Wake Up Call

(http://www.plantaeuropa.org/pe-raising_awareness-wuc.htm)

PlasciGardens

Plant Science Gardens – an EU funded initiative in 4 countries to link schools and botanic gardens and provide training materials for teachers and children.

(http://cordis.europa.eu/search/index.cfm?fuseaction=proj.document&PJ_RCN=9437920)

Link to case-studies/tool kits: (.pdf)

County Flowers & Wake up Call

British Lichen Society training materials for schools

Plantlife landowner leaflets & general public create your own wildflower meadow, bog garden – alternative pond plants etc

The EDEN project

PlaSciGardens ( Plant Science Gardens)

International Projects:

BGCI – Botanic Gardens Conservation International – education section (http://www.bgci.org/)

Communication, Education and Public Awareness Toolkit – Developed by the IUCN Commission for Education and Communication for the CBD. (http://www.cepatoolkit.org/)

Return to top >>

GSPC target 14	The importance of plant diversity and the need for its conservation incorporated into communication, education and public awareness programmes
ESPC target 14.1	6 year sequence of targeted campaigns at the Pan-European and regional level (within EU, within Accession countries and in non-EU countries), that aim to ensure biodiversity initiatives, actions and incentives, deliver sufficient plant conservation (including campaigns on climate change, agriculture, forestry, and invasive species) At least 1 regional campaign for each of the following target groups at regional level: Policy makers Children and young people Land managers and spatial planners General public Trade, business and tourism sectors The target can be implemented at the national level with national lead organisations.
ESPC target 14.2	Initiate a Wake Up Call for European plant conservation in all European countries.
ESPC target 14.3	Develop a high quality touring photographic exhibition, with a legacy of permanent exhibitions in public gardens and arboreta. These should be produced in local languages to highlight the plight of plants in Europe.
ESPC target 14.4	50% of botanic gardens in Europe to display information on the GSPC and ESPC by 2010.
Actions to mitigate the effects of climate change:Targeted campaign to highlight the effects of climate change on plant diversity and to provide clear messages on conservation action. The touring/permanent exhibitions should include information on the effects of climate change and methods to mitigate its effects.

Organisation	Project/Database (DB)/Aims	Online DB
BGCI	Botanic Gardens Conservation International has an education programme and a range of online resources for education. (http://www.bgci.org/education/home/)
EU	The European Commission’s Biodiversity Communication Strategy is currently being developed. (http://ec.europa.eu/environment/nature_biodiversity/index_en.htm)
European Botanic Gardens Consortium	European Botanic Gardens are a key focal point for increasing awareness and the consortium works to improve communication and action among the botanic gardens of Europe. (http://www.plantnetwork.org/ebg/index.html)
Planta Europa	Wake Up Call (http://www.plantaeuropa.org/pe-raising_awareness-wuc.htm)
PlasciGardens	Plant Science Gardens – an EU funded initiative in 4 countries to link schools and botanic gardens and provide training materials for teachers and children. (http://cordis.europa.eu/search/index.cfm?fuseaction=proj.document&PJ_RCN=9437920)