European Plant Conservation Strategy

To download the European Plant
Conservation Strategy, please click on the
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In June 2001, at the 3rd Planta Europa Conference in Pruhonice, Czech Republic, the Planta Europa Network mobilised all its plant conservation expertise to develop a master plan with concrete and achievable targets to halt the loss of plant diversity in Europe by 2007.

The outcome of the conference was the development of the European Plant Conservation Strategy (EPCS). The 42 targets of the EPCS provide the framework and directions for plant conservation in Europe.

The targets are clear, realistic and measurable and translate the internationally accepted Global Strategy for Plant Conservation (GSPC) into a European scale.

Each target has a named lead organisation who has pledged to take the target forward.

The targets are divided under five objectives:

• Understanding and documenting plant diversity
  
• Conserving plant diversity
  
• Using plant diversity sustainably
  
• Promoting education and awareness about plant diversity
  
• Building capacity for the conservation of plant diversity

In April 2002 the European Plant Conservation Strategy was recognised as a contribution to the GSPC adopted by the Convention on Biological Diversity - CBD (Decision VI/9).

The decision to endorse the GSPC by more than 180 countries across the globe was a momentous step forward for plant conservation. Including the EPCS in this decision, however, significantly helped to raise the profile of protecting plants in Europe.

In September 2004 a Mid-term review of the EPCS took place, during the 4th Planta Europa Conference.

At the same conference, an action plan for Planta Europa was developed, Critical Targets for the Network to be achieved by 2007.