History of Planta Europa

Arable flowers
© Kate Still/Plantlife

1993: Plantlife makes a proposal to Bern Convention Plant Expert Meeting for a conference to discuss pan-European collaboration for plant conservation.

1995: The French Ministry of Environment hosts the 1st Planta Europa Conference in Hyères, France. This conference brought together plant conservation experts from throughout Europe for the first time ever.

1996: Draft Planta Europa constitution agreed.

1998: The Swedish Species Information Centre hosts the 2nd Planta Europa Conference in Uppsala, Sweden.

2000: Planta Europa becomes the European programme of Plantlife International. The Planta Europa constitution is finalised.

2001: The Czech Agency for Nature Conservation hosts the 3rd Planta Europa Conference in Pruhonice, Czech Republic. The European Plant Conservation Strategy (EPCS) is developed, essentially comprising the work programme of Planta Europa.

2002: The EPCS is endorsed by the Convention on Biological Diversity as part of and a contribution to the Global Strategy for Plant Conservation (GSPC).

2004: Generalidat Valenciana and Botanic Garden of the University of Valencia host the 4th Planta Europa Conference in Valencia, Spain.

2004/2005: The Mid-term review of the EPCS reveals good progress. Two targets have been completed, and many others are well underway. Planta Europa determines seven Critical Targets as a contribution of the Network towards the full implementation of the EPCS.

2007: The Association of Romanian Botanic Gardens, the local University Babes Bolyai and the Botanic Garden "Al Borza" host the 5th Planta Europa Conference in Cluj Napoca, Romania. The theme of the conference is "Working together for plants". Register here.