The effectiveness of botanic garden collections in supporting plant conservation: a European case study

Europe has the greatest concentration of botanic gardens in the world, they cultivate extensive collections of plants that include samples of European threatened plant species. This study looks at the effectiveness of these collections in supporting species conservation. A three part study is presented: (1) the results of a survey and assessment of threatened plants in botanic gardens, as defined by the Bern Convention; (2) case studies illustrating current issues in the ex situ management of European threatened plant species; and (3) presentation of policy recommendations on further improving botanic garden contributions to European plant conservation. The survey indicated that of 119 European botanic gardens in 29 European countries, 105 are cultivating 308 of the 573 threatened plant species listed by the Bern Convention. The survey identified 25 botanic gardens in 14 countries undertaking 51 conservation projects focused on 27 Bern listed species. In particular this survey has established that the majority of taxa are held in a small number of collections, dominated by non-wild origin accessions, and are not adequately documented. The majority of specimens in botanic gardens are cultivated out of the range country and not contributing to a specific conservation project. We review the genetic representation and documentation of origin in collections. Existing plant collections contain representatives of populations, now lost in the wild and maintain samples of at least nine European plant taxa identified as 'Extinct in the Wild'. However, inadequate standards of record keeping has compromised the conservation value of many collections. We highlight the dangers of hybridisation and disease in ex situ collections. The results suggest that botanic garden collections are skewed towards horticulturally robust and ornamental species and do not fully reflect priorities as defined by the Bern Convention. Recognising the limitations of traditional botanic garden collections we propose that botanic gardens more effectively utilise their two core competencies, namely scientific horticulture and public display and interpretation. The unique horticultural skills resident in European botanic gardens could be more effectively utilised through the application of horticulture to the management of wild populations.

Hortus Kewensis, or, A catalogue of the plants cultivated in the Royal Botanic Garden at Kew /by William Aiton ...

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Hortus Kewensis, or, A catalogue of the plants cultivated in the Royal Botanic Garden at Kew /by William Aiton ...

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Hortus Kewensis, or, A catalogue of the plants cultivated in the Royal Botanic Garden at Kew /by William Aiton ...

v.3

Bulletin of miscellaneous information / Trinidad, Royal Botanic Gardens.

2, 1895-1896

Annals of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Peradeniya.

4, 1907-10

Adelaide Botanic Gardens, Australia, 1876 (Raster Image)

This layer is a georeferenced raster image of the historic paper map entitled: Plan of the Botanic Garden and Park as designed by Dr. Schomburgk, compiled and drawn in the office of the Surveyor General by E.P. Laurie from a survey made by Mr. Surveyor J.W. Jones 1874. It was published by Surveyor-General's Office in 1876. Scale [ca. 1:1,584].The image inside the map neatline is georeferenced to the surface of the earth and fit to the World Miller Cylindrical projected coordinate system. All map collar and inset information is also available as part of the raster image, including any inset maps, profiles, statistical tables, directories, text, illustrations, index maps, legends, or other information associated with the principal map. This map shows features such as drainage, roads, paths, fountains, buildings, gardens, lawns, and more. Relief shown by hachures.This layer is part of a selection of digitally scanned and georeferenced historic maps from the Harvard Map Collection. These maps typically portray both natural and manmade features. The selection represents a range of originators, ground condition dates, scales, and map purposes.

Contributions - Brooklyn Botanic Garden.

This series consists of papers originally published in botanical or other periodicals, re-issued as "separates" without change of paging, and numbered consecutively.

One thousand American Fungi : how to select and cook the edible : how to distinguish and avoid the poisonous : giving full botanic descriptions : made easy for reader and student /

Half title: American fungi.

Hand-list of trees and shrubs, excluding Coniferae, cultivated in the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.

Mode of access: Internet.

Hand-list of rock garden plants cultivated in the Royal botanic gardens.

Heretofore included in Hand-list of herbaceous plants.

Hand list of rock garden plants cultivated in the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.

Mode of access: Internet.

Hand-list of hardy monocotyledons cultivated in the Royal botanic gardens.

Heretofore included in the Hand-list of herbaceous plants.

A summary of the culture of California plants at the Rancho Santa Ana Botanic Garden, 1927-1950.

Mode of access: Internet.

Guide to the Santa Barbara Botanic Garden, Santa Barbara, California.

Includes index.