Global & European Strategies for Plant Conservation
ESPC Target 8
60% of threatened plant species in accessible ex situ collections,
preferably in the country of origin, and 10% of them
included in recovery and restoration programmes
TARGET 8. CONSERVING THREATENED PLANTS EX-SITU
Information: The GSPC estimates that there are currently 10,000 threatened plant species maintained in living collections (botanic gardens, seed banks and tissue culture collections) and 2% in recovery and restoration programmes. A current estimate of European and Mediterranean plant species is 30,983 (Kell et al. 2008 – see pdf of ESPC for details) although there is no current assessment of the number of threatened species in Europe (see target 2). The European Native Seed Collection Network holds a combined list of seeds maintained in seed banks in the EU (currently 5200 European taxa), the majority (2729 species/2855 taxa) held by the Millennium Seed Bank at the Royal Botanic Gardens Kew. BGCI holds information on living plant collections through its Plantsearch database. The EURISCO database holds data on national inventories of ex situ collections of plant genetic resources. Not all collections hold associated information on provenance of material, ecological and conservation information which would be essential for recovery and restoration programmes. For the purposes of the European target the term ‘species’ is intended to cover ‘taxa’, i.e. sub species should be included in assessments. Assessments should also include reference to the genetic diversity of the species held, and all transfers of germplasm should be made in line with current treaties and agreements (e.g. CBD, IPEN, International Treaty on Plant Genetic Resources for Food & Agriculture).
Targets: (for details of lead partners download pdf of ESPC)
GSPC target 8
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60% of threatened plant species in accessible ex situ collections, preferably in the country of origin, and 10% of them included in recovery and restoration programmes. |
ESPC 8.1 |
Store in gene banks 60% of European threatened species, or species and populations of particular interest (e.g. populations under extreme conditions, or at the edge of their distribution area, species potentially at risk from the effects of climate change, including species with a trans-European distribution) and implement restoration programmes for 50 species |
ESPC 8.2 |
At least 10 priority species in each country held in gardens undertaking conservation activities or research institutes active in that country, and research initiated into storage methods, recalcitrant seeds, autoecology, propagation methods including germination and cultivation techniques, and re-introduction methods. |
Actions to mitigate the effects of climate change: species particularly threatened by the effects of climate change (e.g. certain alpine species) should be identified and targeted for inclusion in ex situ collections. |
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European Projects/Databases/Organisations:
Organisation
Project/Database (DB)/Aims
Online DB
AEGIS
A European Genebank Integrated System – aims to conserve the genetically unique and important accessions for Europe and making them available for breeding and research
BGCI
Botanic Gardens Conservation International provides online access to information on plant species in living collections around the world through its Plantsearch facility
yes
ECPGR
The European Cooperative Programme for Plant Genetic Resources aims to facilitate the long-term in situ and ex situ conservation of plant genetic resources in Europe.
ENSCONET
The European Native Seed Collection Network coordinates the activities of over twenty European botanic gardens and institutions to improve quality & integration of seed collection practice, policy & research.
yes
(for partners)EUFORGEN
The European Forest Genetic Resources Programme provides information on ex situ holdings of forest species genetic material. www.euforgen.org
EURISCO
The EURISCO web catalogue receives data from national inventories and provides access to all ex situ plant genetic resources in Europe
yes
European Botanic Gardens Consortium
The European Botanic Gardens Consortium coordinates ex situ conservation activities in Europe.http://www.plantnetwork.org/ebg/index.html
Maunder et al, 2001
Proposes a study of the data quality of collections of threatened plants: Maunder, M., Higgens, S., & Culham, A. (2001) The effectiveness of botanic garden collections in supporting plant conservation: A European case study. Biodiversity & Conservation 10: 383-401
Link to case-studies/tool kits: (.pdf)
- Conservation of bryophytes ex-situ
- Seed containers
- ENSCONET
- Recalcitrant seeds
- Making botanic gardens collection good for conservation
- IUCN reintroduction guidelines & reintroduction newsletter and database
- Odyssey of the Greek plant study
International Projects:
- IPEN – International Plant Exchange Network (http://www.bgci.org/abs/ipen/ )
- International Treaty on Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture (http://www.planttreaty.org/ )
- IUCN Reintroduction Specialist Group (http://www.iucnsscrsg.org/ )