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ESPC Target implementation
at European level

Brief Overall Summary of ESPC Final Review 2007

An online survey on a pan-European scale was undertaken by Planta Europa to review the European Strategy for Plant Conservation (ESPC) and the development of a new set of targets. The online questionnaire was launched through the Planta Europa website in December 2006 and was available up to mid March 2007.

The online review was promoted to over 1,000 individuals and organisations across Europe. Responses varied from 20 to 30 across the different parts of the questionnaire. An overwhelming majority of respondents belonged to institutions strongly involved with the EPCS, mainly Planta Europa members; many were lead organisations for one or more of the targets. This provided much concrete information on implementation to date, and the constraints and needs for the future.

The on-line questionnaire had four different sections, which could be completed in their entirety or in part, enabling respondents to focus on their particular area of expertise and experience.

- SWOT Analysis
- Feedback on the implementation process (comments)
- Recommendations for a future Strategy
- Analysis of GSPC Implementation in National Reports to CBD

Progress in the implementation of ESPC Targets

Progress: Good progress on checklisting, Natura 2000, Emerald Network. PEEN, Important Plant Areas and micro-reserves projects, crop wild relatives and plant genetic resources programmes, and ex situ collections. Red Listing projects are in progress. Progress on in situ species and habitats conservation ongoing but difficult to assess base line data at the national and regional level. Invasive species programmes increasing and higher up the political agenda. Communication and awareness raising ongoing but difficult to assess impacts. Some initiatives at national and regional levels to increase capacity for taxonomy. National and regional plant conservation networks increasing and strengthening.

Challenges: Influencing plant conservation in agricultural lands and engaging with EU agricultural policy. Very few projects on sustainable use of plants and projects to halt the loss of plant based knowledge. Accessing funds at the national and regional level remains complex and partial. There are no national funding strategies to implement the GSPC/ESPC.

Significant progress has been made towards meeting this target

Constraints should be faced in developing this target further

In progress (no special achievements made)

Objective 1: Understanding & Documenting Plant Diversity (see comments)
	PROGRESS
Target 1		A widely accessible working list of known plant species, as a step towards a complete world flora
Target 2		A preliminary assessment of the conservation status of all known species at national, regional and international levels
Target 3		Development of models with protocols for plant conservation and sustainable use, based on research and practical experience
Objective 2: Conserving Plant Diversity (see comments)
Target 4		At least 10% of the world’s ecological regions effectively conserved
Target 5		Protection of 50% of the most important areas for plant diversity assured by 2010
Target 6		At least 30% of production lands managed consistent with the conservation of plant diversity
Target 7		60% of the world’s threatened species conserved in situ
Target 8		60% of threatened plant species in accessible ex situ collections, preferably in the county of origin, and 10% of them included in recovery and restoration programme
Target 9		70% of the genetic diversity of crops and other major socio-economically valuable plants conserved, and associated indigenous and local knowledge maintained
Target 10		Management plans in place for at least 10 major alien species which threaten plants, plant communities, habitats and ecosystems
Objective 3: Using plant diversity sustainably (see comments)
Target 11		No species of wild flora endangered by international trade
Target 12		30% of plant based products derived from sources that are sustainably managed
Target 13		The decline of plant resources, and associated indigenous and local knowledge, innovations and practices that support sustainable livelihoods, local food security and healthcare, halted
Objective 4: Promoting education and awareness about plant diversity (see comments)
Target 14		The importance of plant diversity and the need for its conservation incorporated into communication, education and public awareness programmes
Objective 5: Building capacity for the conservation of plant diversity (see comments)
Target 15		The number of trained people working with appropriate facilities in plant conservation increased, according to national needs, to achieve the targets of the strategy
Target 16		Networks for plant conservation activities established or strengthened at national, regional and international levels

Website designed by A. Mendizabal 2009

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Objective 1: Understanding & Documenting Plant Diversity (see comments)

Objective 2: Conserving Plant Diversity (see comments)

Objective 3: Using plant diversity sustainably (see comments)

Objective 4: Promoting education and awareness about plant diversity (see comments)

Objective 5: Building capacity for the conservation of plant diversity (see comments)