International Agenda for Botanic Gardens in...

International Agenda for BotanicGardens in Conservation

International Agendafor Botanic Gardens

in Conservation

Botanic Gardens Conservation International

May 2000

Citation: Wyse Jackson, P.S.and Sutherland, L.A.(2000) International Agenda for BotanicGardens in Conservation. Botanic GardensConservation International, U.K.

Design: SeascapeISBN: 0 9520275 93

All photographs by Peter Wyse Jackson.© Botanic Gardens Conservation International,2000

The generous support of the Mitsubishi Corporation Fund forEurope and Africa has made possible the publication of theInternational Agenda for Botanic Gardens in Conservation.The Mitsubishi Corporation Fund are Gold Members of BGCI'sPlant Charter Group and examples of their support to date includefunding an education workshop and training course in Poland,thepublication of BGCI's Annual Review and the translation andprinting costs of the BGCI brochure into Japanese. Support for theInternational Agenda has once again underscored the outstandingcommittment of the Mitsubishi Corporation Fund for Europe andAfrica for the conservation and sustainable use of plant resourcesaround the world.

The International Agenda for Botanic Gardens in Conservationwas launched at the World Botanic Gardens Congress on 25 June2000. This Congress was hosted by The North CarolinaArboretum,and organised by The American Association of BotanicalGardens and Arboreta,Botanic Gardens Conservation Internationaland the Center for Plant Conservation.

The help of the following institutions and individuals in the preparation of this textdeserves special acknowledgement:

Institutional Contributions were received from:

Jardín Botánico OroVerde,Argentina;Alice Springs Desert Park,Australia;AustralianNational Botanic Gardens,Australia;Australian Network for Plant Conservation,Australia;Botanic Gardens of Adelaide,Australia;Friends of the Australian NationalBotanic Gardens,Australia;Friends of the Gold Coast Botanic Gardens,Australia;Gladstone Tondoon Botanic Gardens,Australia;Gold Coast Regional Botanic GardenAssociation,Australia;Ipswich Branch of the Australian Plants Society,Australia;MidNorth Coast Group,Australia Plants Society,Australia;Nanju Proteas,Toowomba,Queensland,Australia;Royal Botanic Gardens Melbourne,Australia;Royal BotanicGardens Sydney,Australia;Royal Tasmanian Botanical Gardens,Australia;BotanischerGärten der Universität Wien,Austria;Belize Botanic Gardens,Belize;Brazilian Networkof Botanic Gardens,Brazil;Jardim Botânico do Rio de Janeiro, Brazil;Limbe BotanicGarden,Cameroon;Canadian Botanical Conservation Network,Canada;Royal BotanicalGardens,Canada;University of Guelph,Canada;Jardín Botánico Nacional,Viña del Mar,Chile;Jardín Botánico Juan Mariá Céspedes,Colombia;Red Nacional de JardinesBotánicos de Colombia;Kisantu Botanic Garden,Democratic Republic of Congo;CubanBotanic Garden Network,Cuba;Jardín Botánico Nacional,La Habana,Cuba;Conservatoire et Jardins Botaniques de Nancy, France;Botanischer Gärten undBotanisches Museum,Germany;Aburi Botanic Garden,Ghana;National Tropical BotanicalGarden,Hawaii;National Botanical Institite, Lucknow India;Tropical Botanic Garden andResearch Institute, India; Kebun Raya Eka Karya Bali,Indonesia;Istituto ed Orto Botanicodella Universitá Pisa,Italy;Orto Botanico Universitá degli Studi di Padova,Italy;WorkingGroup for Botanical Gardens and Historic Gardens of the Italian Botanical Society, Italy;National Museums of Kenya, Kenya;Asociation Mexicana de Jardines Botanicos,Mexico;Instituto de Ecologia,Xalapa,Mexico;Instituto Nacional de Ecologia,Mexico;NationalCommission for Conservation of Biodiversity (CONABIO),Mexico;Jardín BotánicoCanario ‘Viera y Clavijo’,Spain;Leiden Botanic Garden,The Netherlands;RijksherbariumThe Netherlands;Utrecht University Botanic Gardens,The Netherlands;AucklandRegional Botanic Gardens,New Zealand;Dunedin Botanic Garden,New Zealand;TheBotanic Gardens of Wellington,New Zealand;Botanic Garden “Al.Borza”,Cluj-Napoca,Romania;Ljubljana University Botanic Garden,Slovenia;Central Botanical Garden,Ukraine;National Botanical Institute South Africa;South African Botanical DiversityNetwork (SABONET);Sukkulenten-Sammlung Zürich,Switzerland;Nong Nooch TropicalGarden,Thailand;Bristol Zoo, U.K.;Chelsea Physic Garden,London, U.K.;Hergest Croft,Herefordshire, U.K.;National Botanic Garden of Wales, U.K.;Oxford University BotanicGarden, U.K.;PlantNet The Plant Collections Network of Britain and Ireland;RoyalBotanic Garden Kew, U.K.;The Eden Project, U.K.;WWF-U.K.;Central Botanical GardenM.M.Grisko, Kiev, Ukraine;Donetsk Botanic Garden,Ukraine;Tam Dao National Park,Vietnam;WWF-International;American Association of Botanical Gardens and Arboreta,U.S.A.;Bok Tower Gardens, U.S.A.;Center for Plant Conservation, U.S.A.;ChicagoBotanic Garden, U.S.A.;Fairchild Tropical Garden, U.S.A.;Huntingdon Botanical Gardens,U.S.A.;Missouri Botanical Garden, U.S.A.;State Botanical Garden of Georgia, U.S.A.;Strybing Arboretum U.S.A.;The Morton Arboretum, U.S.A.; The North CarolinaArboretum, U.S.A.;University of Washington, U.S.A.

Individual contributions were received from:

Maricela Rodriguez A c o s t a ;B ayu A d j i e ; Jim A f fo l t e r; George Owusu-Afriyie;Wilson Dev i aA l v a re z ; John A m b ro s e ; He Shan A n ; Sue A s p l a n d ;Abel A t i t i ;W. L .B a n k s ; Joze Bav c o n ;D av i dB e d fo rd ; Gianni Bedini; S t eve Benham; Daan Botha; Marlin Bow l e s ;B rent Bradd i c k ;D av i dB r a m we l l ; Christine Brandt; Barbara Bridge; George Briggs; Gail Bro m l ey ;L a rry DeBuhr;R o b e rt Bye ; Elsa Cap p e l l e t t i ; Barbara W h i t n ey Carr; Je n n i fer Ceska; M e l a ny Chap l i n ; Ju d yC h e n ey ;Tatania Cherev c h e n ko ;Trevor Christensen; Neil Cro u c h ; Paula Culaciati; F i o n aD e n n i s ; Juan de Dios Muñoz; K i n g s l ey Dixon; John Donaldson; G e r a rd T. D o n n e l ly ;Christopher Dunn;Ken duPlooy ;Thomas Elias; Judith Evans-Parke r; James Fo l s o m ;C h r i sFo m i ny a m ; Stephen Fo r b e s ; Enrique Fo re ro ;D avid A .G a l b r a i t h ;N i ko l ay Gap o n e n ko ;A . Z .G l u k h ov ;A l b e rto Gómez Mejía; Donald Gord o n ; Bill Graham; Kate Gre e n ;M e r i lyn Haigh;Alan Hamilton; Rod Harvey ; Sarah Hedean; M a ry ke Honig; Stephen Hopper; F r a n kH ow a rt h ; Brian Huntley ; Kris Jarantoski; Ke rry ten Kate; Kibungu Ke m b e l o ;Amin U. K h a n ;Michael Kiehn; Jan de Ko n i n g ; Julia Ko r n e g ay ; Brigitte Lalibert é ; Charles Lamoure u x ;B l a n c aLasso de la Ve g a ; Etelka Leadlay ;Angela Leiva; Edelmira Linare s ;Anders Lindstro m ;S a l lyN i c h o l s o n ; Sarah Maietta; R o b e rt Marr s ; Ian Mart i n ;M i ke Maunder;Alison McCuske r;Brien Meilleur; Jeanette Mill; Sue Minter; Xola Mke fe ; Judy Moffatt; E ddie Mole; P h i l i pM o o r s ; Nancy Morin;Tom Mye r s ; John Parke r; Michael Oates; Carla Pastore ;B e r n a rdP ay n e ; Romaric Pierre l ; George E. P i l z ; Ghillean Prance; Carlo Del Pre t e ;D avid Price;R oyal Pullen; Palpu Pushpangadan;Tammera Race;T. R a u s ; Peter Rave n ; Sarah Reichard ;Arnold Rieck; M a rcia Ricci; Mark Richard s o n ; John Roff; D awn Sanders; Susanne Schmitt;Stella Simiyu; I gor Smirnov ; Gideon Smith; Susan M. S m i t h ;R o b e rt Sullivan; D. J .S u p t h u t ;Charles Stirt o n ;I vor T. S t o ke s ;Wendy Strahm; Hugh Synge; Jacob T h o m a s ; Bruce T i n wo rt h ;Do Dinh T i e n ;G e rda van Uffe l e n ;A n d rew Vov i d e s ;S t eve Wa l d re n ;T i m o t hy Wa l ke r; Ke rryWa l t e r; Chris Wa rd ; Suzanne Wa r n e r;Valette W i l l i a m s ; Christopher W i l l i s ; Julia W i l l i s o n ;B e rt van den Wo l l e n b e r g ; Diane Wyse Jackson; M a ry Yu r l i n a

2 International Agenda for Botanic Gardens in Conservation

Contributors

CPCBGCI

Following its establishment in 1987,the IUCN BotanicGardens Conservation Secretariat (BGCS) began tobuild its membership of botanic gardens worldwideand develop a programme of activities in support ofbotanic gardens. In 1989,The Botanic GardensConservation Strategy was published and thefollowing year BGCS became independent fromIUCN, and subsequently known as Botanic GardensConservation International (BGCI). BGCI registeredas a U.K.charity and received the support of HRHThe Prince of Wales as its Royal Patron.Independence helped it to gain a greater measure ofself-determination and made it possible for theorganisation to receive charitable donations in theU.K. BGCI also receives support from the RoyalBotanic Gardens of Kew and Edinburgh as PatronGarden members. In addition to its head office in theU.K.at Kew, BGCI now has national foundations in theU.S.A.and Russia and regional offices in China,Colombia,Indonesia,the Netherlands and Spain.

A primary concern of BGCI has been to provide ameans for botanic gardens in all parts of the globe toshare information and news about their activities,programmes and any new advances made that benefitconservation and education. Networking and capacitybuilding for botanic gardens has been assisted throughBGCI’s magazines and the publication of a series ofresource books,manuals and policy handbooks on thedevelopment of botanic gardens and their roles, onsuch subjects as plant reintroductions,ex situconservation,environmental education,education forsustainability, computer software, regional action plans,the Convention of Trade in Endangered Species ofFauna and Flora (CITES) and the Convention onBiological Diversity (CBD).

Although publications provide a valuable means to linkbotanic gardens,they are no substitute for ensuringthat people from botanic gardens can meet regularlyto share ideas,agree on common priorities and toplan the implementation of collaborative programmes.For this reason,BGCI organises an internationalbotanic gardens conservation congress ever threeyears. Following the first such congress in Las Palmasde Gran Canaria, Spain in 1985,this congress has beenheld in Réunion Island;Rio de Janeiro, Brazil; Perth,Western Australia;Cape Town,South Africa; andAsheville, U.S.A.

BGCI also holds regular international congresses forbotanic gardens on education. Four of thesecongresses have been held to date, in Utrecht,TheNetherlands;Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Spain;Brooklyn,New York, U.S.A.;and Thiruvananthapuram,India.

The last decade has also seen the establishment orgrowth of a wide range of national and regionalorganisations in all parts of the world for, or including,botanic gardens. BGCI has worked to support thisdevelopment and to provide such organisations withassistance and support and in addition to collaborateclosely with these sister networks.

Developing efficient information management systemsto document botanic garden collections continues tobe a priority. The BGCI databases list over 10 000rare and endangered species in cultivation in botanicgardens. In 1987, BGCI published the InternationalTransfer Format for Botanic Garden Plant Records(ITF) to facilitate the exchange of data on botanicgarden plant collections in electronic form. The ITFquickly became a recognised international standard forbotanic garden record systems. A second version ofthe ITF (ITF2) was completed and launched in 1998.

BGCI has developed a unique computer database onthe botanic gardens of the world,which lists everyknown botanic garden, arboretum and many moresimilar institutions maintaining living plant collectionsin cultivation,with details of the facilities,collectionsand work of over 1800 botanic gardens.

International Agenda for Botanic Gardens in Conservation 3

Botanic GardensConservationInternational

Fo rewo rd 5E xe c u t i ve Summary 6

Section 1: I n t ro d u c t i o n 81 . 1 O b j e c t i ve s 81 . 2 B a c k g ro u n d 81 . 3 The Current Status 81 . 4 The Global Mission of Botanic Gardens in

C o n s e rv a t i o n 91 . 4 . 1 The main elements of the global mission 1 01 . 4 . 2 Role rev i ew of botanic gardens 1 1

1 . 5 Botanic Garden Backgro u n d :S t rength in Dive r s i t y 1 21 . 5 . 1 The characteristics (and definition) of a botanic

g a rd e n 1 21 . 5 . 2 Distribution of botanic gard e n s 1 31 . 5 . 3 The types of botanic gard e n s 1 3

1 . 6 Policies and Legislation Relevant to Botanic Gardens 1 51 . 6 . 1 C o nvention on Biological Diversity (CBD) 1 51 . 6 . 2 CITES - The Convention on International Trade in

E n d a n g e red Species of Wild Fauna and Flora 1 61 . 6 . 3 The United Nations Convention to Combat

D e s e rt i f i c a t i o n 1 71 . 6 . 4 The United Nations Framework Convention on

Climate Change 1 81 . 6 . 5 C o nvention Concerning the Protection of World

Cultural and Natural Heritage 1 91 . 6 . 6 The Convention on We t l a n d s 1 91 . 6 . 7 Agenda 21: P rogramme of Action for Sustainable

D eve l o p m e n t 2 01 . 6 . 8 The Global Plan of Action for the Conservation

and Sustainable Utilization of Plant Genetic R e s o u rces for Food and A g r i c u l t u re 2 1

1 . 6 . 9 National legislation on conserv a t i o n ,e nv i ro n m e n t a lp ro t e c t i o n ,p rotected areas and sustainable use 2 1

1 . 7 Defining the Mission of the Individual Botanic G a rd e n 2 2

1 . 8 Building and Sustaining the Institution 2 3

Section 2:The Practice of Conserv a t i o n 2 42 . 1 I n t ro d u c t i o n 2 42 . 2 National Strategies on Conservation of Biodive r s i t y 2 42 . 3 Identification and Monitoring 2 52 . 4 Integrated Conserv a t i o n 2 52 . 5 In situ Conserv a t i o n 2 62 . 6 Ex situ Conserv a t i o n 2 72 . 7 R e s e a rc h 3 02 . 8 Sustainable Use of Biodive r s i t y 3 1

2 . 8 . 1 Sustainable use of plant genetic re s o u rc e s 3 22 . 8 . 2 Sustainable fo re s t ry, a g r i c u l t u re and land use 3 32 . 8 . 3 Sustainable tourism 3 32 . 8 . 4 Sustainable plant trade 3 3

2 . 9 Training and Capacity Building 3 42 . 1 0 Public Education and Aw a re n e s s 3 42 . 1 1 Impact Assessment and Mitigation 3 52 . 1 2 Access to Genetic Resources and Benefit Sharing 3 6

2 . 1 3 Te c h n o l o gy Tr a n s fe r 3 72 . 1 4 I n formation Exchange 3 82 . 1 5 Technical and Scientific Cooperation 3 82 . 1 6 B i o t e c h n o l o gy 3 92 . 1 7 Cultural Heritage 3 92 . 1 8 Sustainable Deve l o p m e n t 4 0

2 . 1 8 . 1 Planning and policy deve l o p m e n t 4 02 . 1 8 . 2 R e s e a rch and economics 4 02 . 1 8 . 3 Raising public aw a reness and empowering the

c o m munity 4 12 . 1 8 . 4 Sustainable practices within the botanic gard e n 4 1

2 . 1 9 N e t working / Relationships with Other Sectors and/or Organisations 4 1

2 . 1 9 . 1 N e t working on an international and national leve l 4 22 . 1 9 . 2 N e t working at a community leve l 4 2

A n n exe s 4 3Annex 1: A checklist for botanic gardens to implement the

C o nvention on Biological Dive r s i t y 4 3Annex 2: A CITES checklist for botanic gard e n s 4 4Annex 3: A checklist for botanic gardens to promote and

implement Agenda 21 4 4Annex 4: The CBD and integrated conserv a t i o n 4 5Annex 5: Seed banks 4 6Annex 6: Sample contents of a species re c ove ry pro g r a m m e 4 7Annex 7: Botanic gardens and medicinal plants 4 7Annex 8: A code of practice on plant trade for botanic gard e n s 48

Section 3: Implementing the International A ge n d a 4 93 . 1 Global Mechanisms for Monitoring Implementation

of the International Agenda and Report i n g 4 93 . 1 . 1 Measurable Ta r g e t s 4 9

3 . 2 Adopting the International A g e n d a 5 03 . 3 D eveloping a Registration System 5 03 . 4 M o n i t o r i n g 5 13 . 5 A d m i n i s t r a t i ve Structure s 5 13 . 6 M e e t i n g s 5 23 . 7 Publication of Results 5 23 . 8 Adoption of Protocols to the A g e n d a 5 33 . 9 R evision of the International A g e n d a 5 33 . 1 0 Financing and Resourcing Conserv a t i o n 5 3

G l o s s a ry of Te r m s 5 5R e fe re n c e s 5 6

B oxe sB ox 1: Major activities of botanic gard e n s 1 1B ox 2: Defining characteristics of a botanic gard e n 1 2B ox 3: Distribution and number of botanic gard e n s 1 3B ox 4: The types of botanic gard e n s 1 4B ox 5: Ways botanic gardens can respond to the

C o nvention on Biological Dive r s i t y 1 6B ox 6: CITES A p p e n d i c e s 1 7B ox 7: Ex situ conservation priorities 2 8B ox 8: The economic uses of plants 3 2


Contents

The publication of The Botanic Gardens ConservationStrategy in 1989 provided an extremely valuableshared rationale and framework for botanic gardens worldwide. Not only did it assist the development ofmany conservation programmes but it also stimulatedthe creation of new botanic gardens,or supported theredevelopment of older botanic gardens, throughoutthe world. However, much has changed forconservation in the intervening years, with the development of new conservation techniques andpractices, the identification of changing priorities andwith the enactment of important global instruments such as the Convention on Biological Diversity andAgenda 21 and new national laws and strategies toprotect biological diversity.

In 1998 Botanic Gardens Conservation Internationalbegan to give thought to how the Strategy should berenewed and updated. We considered that it would be a mistake simply to rewrite or redraft the existingtext but that a fundamental revision involving inputfrom many partners throughout the world should beundertaken to produce an action-based document,outlining priorities and targets for botanic gardens inthe implementation of specific tasks,as well as todefine general principles. We believed that the document should also address the need for botanicgardens to be active participants in theimplementation of, for example, the Convention on Biological Diversity at national and international levelsand to contribute to national sustainable developmentand environmental sustainability.

At BGCI's 5th International Botanic GardensConservation Congress,held in Cape Town,SouthAfrica in September 1998 the delegates endorsed theneed for this revision and an internationalconsultation process was launched. Since thennumerous contributions from individuals,institutionsand organisations have helped to define the contentand terms of the International Agenda, providingdetailed submissions and many specific suggestions

and commenting on and correcting the draft text.We hope that in this way the International Agenda will reflect a shared view on our global concern forbiological diversity and agreement about theimportant roles that botanic gardens can play,individually and collectively, in its conservation. To allof those who have contributed to the InternationalAgenda in so many different ways we offer our sincerethanks.

As we can see from this International Agenda,thetasks for botanic gardens in biodiversity conservationare extremely diverse, often complex and sometimesvery demanding. Nevertheless, working individuallyand collectively, I have no doubt that we can achievethe ambitious targets we set ourselves,not only forplant conservation but to raise awareness of the need to build a sustainable future for the planet.Plant conservation must become a fundamental globalpriority if we are to ensure that our biologicalresources survive to support this fragile world.

Peter S.Wyse JacksonSecretary GeneralBotanic Gardens Conservation International

May 2000


Foreword

There is a growing recognition that biological diversityis a global asset of vital importance and value topresent and future generations. Nevertheless thethreat to species and ecosystems has never been asgreat as it is today, with human beings living farbeyond the carrying capacity of Earth. This has majorimplications for future economic and socialdevelopment and so urgent measures must beinitiated in all parts of the world to safeguard theglobal biological heritage. A fundamental requirementfor sustainable living is to integrate conservation anddevelopment.

Botanic gardens worldwide play major roles inscience, horticulture and education. In the last fewdecades,they have also become importance centres for biodiversity conservation,playing a role inintegrating conservation and development.

The first global strategy for botanic gardens inconservation was The Botanic Gardens ConservationStrategy, published in 1989. However with manychanges over the last decade in the context in whichbotanic gardens operate, it was essential to develop anew agenda for botanic gardens.

This International Agenda for Botanic Gardens inConservation provides a global framework for thedevelopment of botanic garden policies and programmes for the effective implementation ofinternational treaties and national laws,policies andstrategies relevant to biodiversity conservation.Within the document, the role of botanic gardens inthe development of global partnerships and alliancesfor biodiversity conservation are defined and a means to monitor the work of botanic gardensin plant conservation has been presented. TheInternational Agenda aims to motivate botanic gardensto evaluate their conservation policies and practicesto enhance their effectiveness and efficiency in plantconservation.

It is recognised that there is great diversity amongstthe botanic gardens of the world. Some are oldestablished institutions with vast collections of living and preserved plants from many parts of theglobe, which provide vital resources to supportscience, conservation,horticulture and education.Other botanic gardens are more recentestablishments often working with plants native totheir own region. Nevertheless,the InternationalAgenda provides a grass roots common agenda forevery botanic garden, regardless of its size, history andcollections. It gives guidance on how each botanic garden can develop its own role in conservation thatis appropriate to its resources and to the relevantlocal and regional context and importantenvironmental issues.

How to Use the InternationalAgenda

It would be impossible for every botanic garden toachieve all of the key tasks and recommendationsoutlined in this Agenda. However each botanic garden can use the International Agenda to guide itsplanning and develop its own role in conservation thatis appropriate to its region and resources. Toimplement a global mission for plant conservation,botanic gardens need to undertake a broad butclosely coordinated strategy in conservation, researchand education, working in cooperation and incollaboration with the widest possible range of otherbodies.

Some initial priorities for botanic gardens are:

• Undertake an institutional review of the mission and the capacity of the individualinstitution.

• Assess current activities and priorities and checkthe status of these against the key tasks outlined inthe International Agenda.

• Develop a plan for the implementation of theAgenda including the specific roles that theinstitution will and will not undertake and considerthe following:


ExecutiveSummary

• access to genetic resources and benefit sharing• biotechnology• cultural heritage • ex situ conservation• identification and monitoring • impact assessment and mitigation• in situ conservation• information exchange• integrated conservation• national strategies on the conservation of

biodiversity• networking/relationships with other sectors

and/or organisations • public education and awareness• research• sustainable development• sustainable use of biodiversity• technical and scientific cooperation• technology transfer• training and capacity building

• Develop partnerships and alliances to ensure aunited and best practice approach to plantconservation.

The successful implementation of the InternationalAgenda will be dependent on each botanic gardencarefully considering and formulating their own response to the Agenda. A series of measurabletargets have been developed to help monitor thesuccess of its implementation. In addition,an international registration system will be developedand maintained by BGCI to record the actions ofbotanic gardens implementing the Agenda. Regularmeetings and publication of the results are also animportant part of the monitoring and implementationprocess.

By providing a global framework for botanic gardensin conservation it is hoped that the loss of plantspecies and their genetic diversity and the furtherdegradation of the world's natural environment can be halted; therefore enhancing the legacy of theworld's biological resources handed on to futuregenerations.


1.1 Objectives

The objectives of the International A genda fo rBotanic Gardens in Conserv a t i o n a re to:

i ) P rovide a common global framework for botanicg a rden policies, p rogrammes and priorities inb i o d i versity conserv a t i o n .

i i ) Define the role of botanic gardens in thed evelopment of global partnerships and alliancesfor biodiversity conserv a t i o n .

i i i ) S t i mulate the evaluation and development ofc o n s e rvation policies and practices in botanicg a rdens to enhance their effe c t i veness ande f f i c i e n c y.

i v ) D evelop a means to monitor and re c o rd theactions undert a ken by botanic gardens inc o n s e rv a t i o n .

v ) P romote the roles of botanic gardens inc o n s e rv a t i o n .

v i ) P rovide guidance for botanic gardens onc o n t e m p o r a ry issues in conserv a t i o n .

1.2 Backgro u n d

In 1985,The World Conservation Union (IUCN) andthe World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) convened ac o n fe rence on ‘Botanic Gardens and the Wo r l dC o n s e rvation Strategy’ with the aim of exploring themultiple roles of botanic gardens worldwide in plantc o n s e rv a t i o n . Their aim was to facilitate thep reparation of an international botanic gard e n sc o n s e rvation strategy and to work tow a rds itsi m p l e m e n t a t i o n . Fo l l owing the 1985 confe re n c e, h e l din Las Palmas de Gran Canaria Spain, the IUCNBotanic Gardens Conservation Secretariat (IUCN-BGCS) was cre a t e d . BGCS began its work in early

1987 with the aim of implementing the new strategyand drawing together the botanic gardens of theworld as a global fo rce for plant conserv a t i o n .

The Botanic Gardens Conservation Stra t e g y w a spublished in 1989 with the fo l l owing aims:

1 . Outline why the invo l vement of botanic gardens isan essential element in living re s o u rc ec o n s e rvation for sustainable deve l o p m e n t .

2 . Identify the priority tasks that botanic gard e n sneed to undert a ke as their part in implementingthe World Conservation Strategy.

3 . P ropose effe c t i ve ways in which the botanicg a rdens of the world can work together toa c h i eve these priorities.

4 . P rovide a coherent set of principles andp ro c e d u res that will allow botanic gardens to plantheir part , alongside other institutions, in achiev i n gthe maximum amount of long term conserv a t i o nof plant species and populations and focus publicattention on the issues of conservation thro u g hap p ropriate educational displays and pro g r a m m e s(IUCN-BGCS and W W F, p v i i ) .

This Strategy played an important part in guiding thed eveloping role of botanic gardens in conserv a t i o nt h roughout the 1990s. It was published in seve r a llanguages (Bahasa Indonesia, C h i n e s e, E n g l i s h , I t a l i a n ,Po rt u g u e s e, Russian and Spanish) and sent to over 3000 institutions and organisations wo r l d w i d e.

1.3 The Current Status

T h e re are over 1800 botanic gardens and arboreta in148 countries worldwide and they maintain morethan 4 million living plant accessions (individual plant


Section 1

Introduction

c o l l e c t i o n s ) . Amongst their collections arere p re s e n t a t i ves of more than 80 000 species, a l m o s tone third of the known vascular plant species of theworld (Wyse Jackson 1999). These collectionscontain a wide diversity of plants. T h ey arep a rt i c u l a r ly rich in such groups as orc h i d s , cacti andother succulents, p a l m s , b u l b s , c o n i fe r s , t e m p e r a t et rees and shrubs and wild species, e s p e c i a l ly thosethat are thre a t e n e d , as well as tens of thousands ofcultivars of economic importance and their wildre l a t i ve s , such as fruit trees and medicinal plants.In add i t i o n , botanic gardens have a wealth of othercollections such as herbaria (pre s e rved specimens)and seed banks.

T h e re are now few countries without at least onebotanic gard e n . N ew botanic gardens are beingestablished throughout the world mainly to becomebotanical re s o u rce centres supporting native plantc o n s e rv a t i o n . In add i t i o n , m a ny older existingbotanic gardens are being re d eveloped to take onn ew roles in botanical re s o u rce management.Building the capacity of new and existing botanicg a rdens for conservation and education is a toppriority in helping to ensure the maintenance of plantd i ve r s i t y.

The developing roles of botanic gardens inb i o d i versity conserv a t i o n , e nv i ronmental educationand sustainable development provide gre a to p p o rtunities and responsibilities for institutionst h roughout the wo r l d . T h e re has never been a bettertime for botanic gard e n s , when their importance andmultiple roles are being incre a s i n g ly recognised bygovernments and international agencies.S t rengthening the global network of botanic gard e n sand linking it closely to others working to safe g u a rdthe biodiversity of our planet must be the mosti m p o rtant and urgent task for botanic gard e n s .

In 1998, BGCI launched an international consultationp rocess to rev i ew and update The Botanic Gard e n sC o n s e rvation Stra t e g y (IUCN-BGCS and WWF 1989).In the decade since the Strategy was published mu c hhas changed in the wo r l d , for botanic gardens and fo rplant conserv a t i o n . N ew international and nationalpolicies and frameworks now exist, such as theC o nvention on Biological Dive r s i t y, in the context in

which botanic gardens operate. N ew conserv a t i o ntechniques have also been deve l o p e d , e s p e c i a l lyenhancing the role of botanic gardens inc o n s e rvation biology, molecular studies, a n decological re s e a rch and in practices such asre i n t ro d u c t i o n , wild plant population managementand habitat re s t o r a t i o n .

E nv i ronmental education has become a primaryconcern to botanic gard e n s , which now re c e i ve ove r150 million visitors each ye a r. Not only concernedwith education about plants, m a ny botanic gard e n sa re promoting env i ronmental sustainability byworking with their visitors and local community tounderstand the vital links between human surv i v a land sustainable deve l o p m e n t .

Traditional aspects of botanic gardens re s e a rch inplant taxonomy and biosystematics continue tounderpin much work in biodiversity and inh o rt i c u l t u re and they remain major botanic gard e np r i o r i t i e s . All these aspects of their work needed tobe rev i ewed and evaluated to identify futurepriorities and tasks so that botanic gardens couldrecognise their obligations and responsibilities inc o n s e rv a t i o n . The aim was to complete and launchthe new strategy in 2000 under its new name, t h eInternational A genda for Botanic Gardens in Conserv a t i o n,so that the way fo r w a rd for botanic gardens into thenext millennium can be determined.

1.4 The Global Mission of BotanicG a rdens in Conserv a t i o n

During the last few decades, botanic gard e n st h roughout the world have acknowledged the needto accept the challenge of undertaking a globalmission for conserv a t i o n . This mission wase x p ressed collective ly for the first time in The BotanicG a rdens Conservation Stra t e g y (IUCN-BGCS and W W F1 9 8 9 ) , which was widely contributed to, rev i ewed andwelcomed by botanic gardens throughout the wo r l d .In this International A genda for Botanic Gardens inC o n s e rv a t i o n the mission is further refined andupdated in the light of new developments inc o n s e rvation and the botanic gardens commu n i t y.


The global mission of botanic gardens worldwide in conservation can be summarised as follows:

• Stem the loss of plant species and their geneticdiversity worldwide.

• Focus on preventing further degradation of theworld’s natural environment.

• Raise public understanding of the value of plantdiversity and the threats it faces.

• Implement practical action for the benefit andimprovement of the world’s natural environment.

• Promote and ensure the sustainable use of theworld’s natural resources for present and futuregenerations.

The achievement of this mission will require botanicgardens to undertake a broad programme of activities,as outlined in this Agenda. However, botanic gardenscannot achieve this mission on their own, they mustwork in partnership with a wide range of bodies toachieve their targets including governments,organisations,institutions,corporations,communitiesand individuals.

1.4.1 The main elements of the globalmission

The mission will require botanic gardens to undertakea broad but closely coordinated cooperative strategyin conservation, research and education,of whichthere are several main elements.

i) Conservation

• Work within international and national policies andframeworks for the conservation of biologicaldiversity.

• Set agreed levels and standards in plant diversityconservation, integrating techniques in ex situ andin situ conservation.

• Support the development of global capacity forconservation through collaborative partnerships atall levels.

• Fully integrate conservation of plant diversity atthe ecosystems, species,population and molecularlevels.

• Develop, implement and participate in plans andactions aimed at the recovery of species and therestoration of ecosystems and their diversity.

• Maintain genetically diverse and accessible samplesof the world’s plant species in their collectionsthroughout the world.

• Pay special attention to the conservation of plantspecies that are threatened and/or of directeconomic importance to human societies.

• Develop and implement control measures forinvasive alien plants that pose great threats tobiodiversity.

• Develop and implement best practices in plantconservation for botanic gardens.

• Ensure the fullest community and institutionalparticipation in botanic garden programmes.

ii) Research,monitoring,and informationmanagement

• Stimulate and undertake research on plant biologyand interactions with social,cultural, and economicfactors that impact on biodiversity, and utilise theresults of this research to support conservationaction.

• Document the plant diversity of the world,including its present distribution in the wild,conservation status and trends,threats, use andpreservation in protected areas and ex situcollections.

• Contribute to integrated,distributed, interactiveinformation systems to manage and makeaccessible information on plant diversity.

• Work in partnership to develop best practicetechniques for research,monitoring andinformation management.

• Promote botanic gardens as centres of informationon plant diversity and conservation.

iii) Education and public awareness

• U n d e rt a ke public aw a reness programmes withinthe botanic gard e n s , and in the commu n i t y, t oraise public aw a reness of the value of plantd i versity and the human impacts that threaten itsm a i n t e n a n c e.


• Develop partnerships and alliances withgovernment and non-government organisationsand community groups to promote awareness andunderstanding of the value of biodiversity.

• Assist in the development of public policies andpriorities for environmental protection andbiodiversity conservation.

• Work in partnership to incorporate theimportance of plants and environmentalconservation into formal curricula and informaleducation programmes.

1.4.2 Role review of botanic gardens

Botanic gardens perform a multitude of diverse butinterconnecting roles in conservation. In somecountries, they are the primary institution involvednationally in the research,collection, maintenance andconservation of wild plant species. Many are involvedin the conservation of plants of importance for foodand agriculture, as well as those used for many othereconomic purposes. In addition,botanic gardens incorporate information on plants, the environment,ecological systems and sustainability into theirprogrammes and activities. In addition,botanicgardens are important for demonstrating therelationship and interdependence of society andnature, and helping communities to live sustainably.

Some of the major activities of botanic gardensaround the world are listed in Box 1. Not all botanicgardens currently undertake all or even most of theseactivities and they cannot be expected to. However,the list demonstrates the unique potential resources,experience and skills of botanic gardens forconservation in a way that no other institution can.


Box 1

Major activities of botanic gardens

• arboriculture• city and town planning, resource allocation and

land use• conservation biology• cultivar conservation and maintenance• dendrology• empowering and building the capacity of local

and rural communities for conservation• environmental education programmes• environmental impact assessment• ethnobiological research• field genebanks• herbarium studies and plant taxonomy• horticultural research• horticultural training• integrated pest control management• laboratory research, including in vitro (tissue

culture) plant cultivation• library services and information centres• new crop genetic resource introduction and

assessment• ornamental horticulture and floriculture• plant reintroductions and research in habitat

restoration• pollution abatement and monitoring programmes• public recreation• remedial training and therapy• seed store and tissue banking• conservation networks and community groups• systematics• teacher training• tourism• wild plant species research,conservation and

management ex situ and in situ

1.5 Botanic Garden Background:Strength in Diversity

Each botanic garden has a diffe rent purpose,organisational structure and location and there fo re theemphasis of its work may vary. The diffe rent emphasisplaced on each function is what gives each botanicg a rden its distinctive character and its special ro l e.

1.5.1 The characteristics (anddefinition) of a botanic garden

In 1987,an extensive survey of institutions maintainingliving collections was undertaken and with the resultsa computer database was established listing everyknown botanic garden in the world,as well as detailsof their resources,staff and activities. The aim of thedatabase was to support the development andsubsequently the implementation of The BotanicGardens Conservation Strategy (IUCN-BGCS and WWF 1989).

Shortly after in 1990,BGCI prepared an internationaldirectory of botanic gardens,where 1400 institutionswere recorded. This was a considerable increase fromthe 708 institutions that had been included in theprevious edition in 1983. Today the total ofinstitutions maintaining living collections listed byBGCI has risen to 1846 worldwide , in 148 countries.

The lack of a very clear definition as to whatconstitutes a ‘botanic garden’ has blurred the edgesbetween what are public parks or private collectionsand what are true scientifically based botanic gardens.Some institutions have been accepted into the listeven though they might only be marginally describedas a botanic garden.

An early definition of a botanic garden given by theInternational Association of Botanic Gardens (IABG)was ‘...a botanic garden or arboretum is one open tothe public and in which the plants are labelled’.However The Botanic Gardens Conservation Strategy(IUCN-BGCS and WWF 1989) contains a morecomprehensive list of characteristics defining a botanicgarden (Box 2) that incorporate the diversity of rolesthat these institutions now undertake.

It should be recognised that there are manyinstitutions that are clearly botanic gardens but areo n ly able to meet some of these criteria. B G C I ’s mostrecent definition of a botanic garden is one that ithopes encompasses the spirit of a true botanic gard e n :

‘Botanic ga rdens are institutions holdingdocumented collections of living plants for thepurposes of scientific re s e a r c h ,c o n s e rva t i o n ,display and education’ (Wyse Jackson 1999, p 2 7 )

In some instances a garden has retained the name‘botanic’ for historic re a s o n s . Some or even most ofthe plant collection may surv i ve but all scientificactivities have ceased and documentation has beenl o s t . One might argue for the re m oval of these fro m


Box 2

Defining characteristics of a botanic garden

• adequate labelling of the plants• an underlying scientific basis for the collections• communication of information to other gardens,

institutions,organisations and the public• exchange of seeds or other materials with other

botanic gard e n s ,a r b o reta or re s e a rch stations(within the guidelines of international conve n t i o n sand national laws and customs re g u l a t i o n s )

• long term commitment to, and responsibility for,the maintenance of plant collections

• maintenance of research programmes in planttaxonomy in associated herbaria

• monitoring of the plants in the collection• open to the public• promoting conservation through extension and

environmental education activities• proper documentation of the collections,

including wild origin• undertaking scientific or technical research on

plants in the collections

This list does not,however, constitute acomprehensive summary of the activitiesundertaken by botanic gardens.

(IUCN-BGCS and WWF 1989, p5)

the global list of botanic gard e n s . H oweve r, e x p e r i e n c ehas shown that it is pre c i s e ly these institutions in manyp a rts of the world that are curre n t ly being rev i ve d ,re d eveloped and re-established to become potentiallyi m p o rtant botanical centre s .

Within the context of this International Agenda fo rBotanic Gardens in Conserv a t i o n , the use of the term‘botanic gardens’ should be interpreted to includea r b o reta and other specialised forms of plantc o l l e c t i o n .

1.5.2 Distribution of botanic gard e n s

About 60% of the wo r l d ’s botanic gardens are situatedin temperate re g i o n s , in North A m e r i c a ,E u rope andthe countries of the former Soviet Union. In are a sw h e re there are exceptional concentrations of specieswith high levels of endemism such as South A m e r i c a ,Southeast Asia and A f r i c a ,t h e re are still re l a t i ve ly fewbotanic gardens (Box 3).

H owever there is cause for optimism as a large nu m b e rof new botanic gardens are being created in these highb i o d i versity re g i o n s . Most have re l a t i ve ly few re s o u rc e sbut neve rtheless their aim is to contribute to thec o n s e rvation and sustainable use of native plants.

1.5.3 The types of botanic gardens

Within the definition of a botanic garden given onpage 12,there may be included a great diversity ofinstitutions ranging from large gardens with severalhundred staff and a diverse range of activities to smallinstitutions with limited resources and activities.Nevertheless,as suggested by the InternationalAgenda,all can play a role in botanical resourcemanagement, botany, horticulture, conservation andeducation.

The fastest growing sector in the botanic gardenworld is the creation of community botanic gardens.These gardens are designed to serve specific needs intheir local communities and are often managed bythose same communities. In some tropical countries,botanic gardens have been created alongside nationalparks and have been designed to play roles inintegrated conservation,sustainable development andpublic education.

A diverse range of organisations and administrationsmanage botanic gardens. Many are state administeredor managed by regional or local authorities andreceive public funding. More than 30% of the world’sbotanic gardens belong to universities and otherresearch institutes for higher education,and arelatively small proportion are private. In recent yearsthe trend has been for botanic gardens to gain greaterfinancial and administrative independence, oftenbecoming trust-administered and operating partly withfunds gained through their independent fund raisingefforts.

The major types of botanic gardens in the world areoutlined in Box 4,although many have multi-purposeroles and so do not fit neatly into any well-definedcategory.


Box 3

Distribution and number of botanic gardens

Region Number of botanic gardensAfrica and the Indian Ocean 98Asia 265Australasia 153Caribbean Islands 43Central America 56Europe 621Former Soviet Union 155Middle East 10North America 297South America 107Southeast Asia 41Total 1846

Source: BGCI database, 2000


1. ‘Classic’ multi-purpose gardens - are ofteninstitutions with a broad range of activities inhorticulture and horticultural training; research,particularly in taxonomy with associated herbariaand laboratories and public education andamenity.They are generally state supported.

2. Ornamental gardens - are often very beautifulestablishments with diverse plant collections thatare documented;they may or may not currentlyhave research,education or conservation roles.Some ornamental gardens are privately ownedand many municipal gardens fall into this category.

3. Historical gardens - include the earliestgardens developed for the teaching of medicine;some were established for religious purposes.A number of these gardens are still active inmedicinal plant conservation and research,andtoday are primarily concerned with the collectionand cultivation of medicinal plants and increasingpublic awareness about them.

4. Conservation gardens - most have recentlybeen developed in response to local needs forplant conservation. Some contain,or haveassociated areas of, natural vegetation in additionto their cultivated collections. Included in thiscategory are native plant gardens, which onlycultivate plants from their surrounding region ornational flora. Most conservation gardens play arole in public education.

5. University gardens - many universities maintainbotanic gardens for teaching and research. Manyare open to the public .

6. Combined botanical and zo o l ogical gard e ns -are currently reassessing the roles of theirbotanical collections. Plants collections are beingresearched and developed that provide habitatsfor the displayed fauna, and interpretation ofthese habitats to the general public is animportant element.

7. Agro-botanical and germplasm gardens -function as an ex situ collection of plants ofeconomic value or potential for conservation,research,plant breeding and agriculture.

Several are experimental stations associated with agricultural or forestry institutes and containassociated laboratory, plant breeding and seedtesting facilities but many are not open to thepublic.

8. Alpine or mountain gard e n s - are mostf re q u e n t ly in mountain regions of Europe andsome tropical countries. T h ey are specificallydesigned for the cultivation of mountain and alpinef l o r a , or in the case of tropical countries, for thecultivation of subtropical or temperate flora.Some alpine and mountain gardens are satelliteg a rdens of larger lowland botanic gard e n s .

9. Natural or wild gardens - contain an area ornatural or semi-natural vegetation, which isprotected and managed. Most are established toplay conservation and public education roles andinclude areas where native plants are grown.

10. Horticultural gardens - are often owned andmaintained by horticultural societies and open tothe public. They exist primarily to foster thedevelopment of horticulture through the trainingof professional gardeners,plant breeding,registration and conservation of garden plantvarieties.

11. Thematic gardens - these specialise in growinga limited range of related or morphologicallysimilar plants or plants grown to illustrate aparticular theme generally in support ofeducation,science, conservation and publicdisplay. These include orchid, rose, Rhododendron,bamboo and succulent gardens or gardensestablished on such themes as ethnobotany,medicine, bonsai,topiary, butterfly gardens,carnivorous plants and aquatics.

12. Community gardens - are generally smallgardens with limited resources, developed for,and by, a local community to fulfil its particularneeds,such as recreation, education,conservation,horticultural training, and thegrowth of medicinal and other economic plants.

(adapted from Wyse Jackson 2000,p9)

Box 4

The types of botanic gardens

1.6 Policies and LegislationRelevant to Botanic Gardens

The growing concern for the wo r l d ’s env i ro n m e n thas led to a significant advance in internationalcooperation on development and env i ronment issuesin recent ye a r s . As part of this, c o m p re h e n s i veinternational frameworks have been developed toguide countries in their fo r mulation of nationalpolicies and the allocation of re s o u rces to meetd evelopment and env i ronment go a l s . M a ny of theseinternational frameworks are re l evant for botanicg a rdens and provide valuable mechanisms tos t i mulate and guide their work globally for plantc o n s e rv a t i o n .

1.6.1 Convention on Biolog i c a lD i versity (CBD)

The world community has re c o g n i s e d ,t h rough theUnited Nations Convention on Biological Dive r s i t y( C B D ) , the negative effects of the loss of biodive r s i t yon quality of life and on the survival of humankindand life in general on this planet. This Conve n t i o ne n t e red into fo rce in December 1993, 18 monthsafter it opened for signature at the United NationsC o nvention on Education and Deve l o p m e n t(UNCED) in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil in 1992.

The Convention aims to:

• C o n s e rve the wo r l d ’s biological dive r s i t y.• P romote the sustainable use of the components

of biological dive r s i t y.• P rovide for the equitable sharing of benefits fro m

the use of biodive r s i t y, including providing assessto genetic re s o u rces and the transfer of re l ev a n tt e c h n o l o g i e s .

Botanic gardens are playing an important role ina c h i eving these aims. Botanic gardens’ collections andthe application of their skills in areas such ast a x o n o my, botanical re s e a rc h , c o n s e rv a t i o n ,

p ropagation and cultivation contribute significantly tothe implementation of the CBD. T h ey also provide amajor link between in situ and ex situ conserv a t i o nand are fre q u e n t ly invo l ved in national planningp rocesses such as biodiversity strategies. Their wo r kin other sectors, f rom the development of new cro p sfor agriculture and the discove ry of new plant-basedm e d i c i n e s , to education, illustrates the important ro l et h ey can play in implementing the Conve n t i o n .

Botanic gardens implement the CBD in seve r a lw ay s .

General Measures for Conservation andS u s t a i n a ble UseContributing to national biodiversity strategies andsustainable development (Article 6).

Identification and MonitoringU n d e rtaking work in plant taxonomy systematics,f l o r i s t i c s ,i nve n t o r i e s , m o n i t o r i n g , and survey s( A rticle 7).

In situ C o n s e rv a t i o nContributing through the deve l o p m e n t ,d e s i g n a t i o n ,c a re and management of pro t e c t e da re a s , habitat restoration or re - c reation and wildplant population re s e a rc h , re c ove ry ormanagement (Article 8).

Ex situ C o n s e rv a t i o nD eveloping and maintaining germplasm collectionsincluding seed banks, field genebanks, t i s s u ecollections in culture, individual species re c ove ryp ro g r a m m e s , and databanks (Article 9).

S u s t a i n a ble Use of the Components ofB i o l ogical Dive r s i t yIdentifying and developing economically import a n tspecies in commercial hort i c u l t u re, fo re s t ry anda g r i c u l t u re, and in bioprospecting (Article 10).

R e s e a rch and Tr a i n i n gU n d e rtaking re s e a rch in many re l evant fields, s u c has taxonomy, e c o l o gy, b i o c h e m i s t ry, e t h n o b o t a ny,e d u c a t i o n ,h o rt i c u l t u re, plant anatomy,

,


b i o g e o g r ap hy and providing training opport u n i t i e sand courses in conservation and re l a t e dd i s c i p l i n e s , often available to national andinternational trainees (Article 12).

Public Education and AwarenessProviding public education and developingenvironmental awareness,including programmes topromote public understanding of biodiversity, itsimportance and loss. Many botanic gardens playimportant roles in school and university teaching(Article 13).

Access to Genetic Resources (and benefitsharing)Developing the capacity of partner institutions forbiodiversity conservation through collecting fees,research support,equipment, information,training,shared specimens. As well as providing access totheir vast conservation resource of stored andmanaged biodiversity (Article 15).

Exchange of InformationMaking information on their collections and theresults of their research widely available throughpublished and unpublished literature and accessibledatabases. Many botanic gardens share data ontheir collections (Article 17).

Technical and Scientific Co-operationCooperating in technical and scientific areas,including joint research and staff exchanges (Article 18).

The CBD is a binding international regulation for thecountries that are parties to it. Their obligations areconstantly evolving as parties negotiate furtherdecisions and legislation and policies are adopted andimplemented at national level. The CBD has a majorimpact on the way botanic gardens operate in all partsof the world (refer to Box 5 to see how botanicgardens can respond to the CBD).

1.6.2 CITES - The Convention onInternational Trade in EndangeredSpecies of Wild Fauna and Flora

The Convention on International Trade in EndangeredSpecies of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) was set up tocontrol international trade of endangered species offauna and flora and came into force in 1975. CITESallows trade in species (including plants) that canwithstand current rates of exploitation, but preventstrade in those that face extinction. The Conventionoperates through the issue and control of export andimport permits for species listed in three Appendices(Box 6).


Box 5Ways botanic gardens can respond to theConvention on Biological Diversity

• Develop an institutional policy on the CBD and astrategy for its implementation in the garden.This will ensure that the best possible use ismade of the present and future resources and allthe actions of the botanic garden are in line withthe spirit and letter of the Convention.

• Seek to publicise the CBD and its objectives totheir constituency to increase its understandingof the value of biodiversity and the importanceof plant conservation.

• Work to implement the CBD at a national andinternational level through practical action and byworking with other bodies, governments and theSecretariat of the CBD.

Refer to Annex 1 for a detailed checklist

Each member nation who has adopted theConvention is responsible for its implementation,including the appointment of Management andScientific Authorities. It is a duty of the ManagementAuthority to establish a strategy for the control andutilisation of all confiscated plants.

Botanic gardens have a central role in improving theimplementation and aw a reness of CITES. T h ey cana c t i ve ly protect taxa threatened with extinctiont h rough illegal or unsustainable commercial exploitationin several differing but complementary way s .

Botanic gardens can:• Register as a scientific institution with their

CITES Management Authority

• Provide advice and training to their country’sCITES Management and Scientific Authorities,customs and legal authorities.

• Act as rescue centres for holding plant materialconfiscated by the statutory authorities.

• Provide an example to the public by settingethical standards for their own conduct incollecting,displaying and using plants.

• Develop and implement public awarenessprogrammes on CITES.


1.6.3 The United Nations Conventionto Combat Desertification

Combating desertification (i.e. the degradation of landin arid,semi-arid and dry sub-humid areas) is essentialto ensure long term productivity of drylands and thebiodiversity they support. The United NationsConvention to Combat Desertification was adoptedin 1994 and aims to promote effective action throughinnovative local programmes and supportiveinternational partnerships. The Convention calls ongovernments to focus on raising awareness,education,and training, both in developing and developedcountries (Article 16).


Box 6

CITES APPENDICES

Appendix I lists species which are threatenedwith extinction; international trade inthese species is prohibited.

Appendix II lists species that are not threatenedwith extinction at present, but maybecome so if uncontrolled tradecontinues. Trade is permitted ofboth wild and artificially propagatedmaterial provided an appropriatepermit is obtained.

Appendix III lists species that are threatenedlocally with extinction throughcommercial exploitation andtherefore subject to trade controlswithin certain nations. Internationaltrade in this material requires anexport permit from the country thatlisted the species,or a certificate oforigin.

Botanic gardens,in particular in dryland regions ofthe world such as in parts of China,India,theArabian Peninsula, Israel,South Africa and theU.S.A.,are contributing to combating desertificationin several ways.

• Undertaking research and development of theplants of dry regions (Article 17).

• Working in partnership with other bodies toprevent and/or reduce land degradation andundertake rehabilitation and reclamation ofdegraded land.

• Improving the utilisation of land by theintroduction and cultivation of appropriate plants.

• Improving knowledge of plants from dry regionsand disseminating information about them(Article 16).

• Conserving germplasm of dryland plants in theircollections.

• Providing training in plant conservationtechniques appropriate for the management ofdryland plant resources and ecosystems.

1.6.4 The United Nations FrameworkConvention on Climate Change

The 1992 United Nations Framework Convention onClimate Change is an international agreementdeveloped in response to the concern that humanactivities are changing the basic conditions thatallowed life on earth to exist and are risking alteringthe global climate. Among the expectedconsequences are an increase in the average

temperature of the earth’s surface and shifts inworldwide weather patterns. This climate change willaffect forests,agriculture and food security, biologicaldiversity, and most ecosystems.

The ultimate objective of the Convention is tostabilise greenhouse gas concentrations in theatmosphere and prevent further human inducedinterference in the climate system. The level shouldallow ecosystems to adapt naturally to climate change,to ensure that food production is not threatened andto enable economic development to proceed in asustainable manner. The Convention sets out detailedCommitments (Article 4) for Contracting Parties tothe Convention and there is a role for botanicgardens in helping their countries to fulfil thesecommitments.

Botanic gardens are well placed to:

• Cooperate and work with other institutions tomonitor and assess the impact of climate changeon biodiversity.

• Disseminate relevant information on climates,andclimatic change under the Convention itself,toother bodies and the general public.

• Develop and implement educational and publicawareness programmes on climate change and itseffects on biodiversity and global sustainability.

• Adjust their daily operations to ensure that theywork towards reducing their currentcontributions to global warming or to the highlevels of carbon dioxide in the Earth’satmosphere.


1.6.5 Convention Concerning theProtection of World Cultural andNatural Heritage

The Convention Concerning the Protection of WorldCultural and Natural Heritage (popularly known asthe World Heritage Convention) emerged from aUNESCO meeting in 1972. The Convention arosefrom a need to stimulate international cooperation toprotect and preserve the world’s cultural and naturalheritage for present and future generations.

The Convention defines the kind of natural and culturalsites that can be considered for inscription on theWorld Heritage List. The authenticity and integrity ofthe site and the way it is protected and managed areve ry import a n t . A benefit of areas being included onthe World Heritage List is the support that becomesavailable from the international community to pro t e c t ,c o n s e rve and present the wo r l d ’s heritage as well as aheightened public profile of the are a . The first botanicg a rden to be designated a World Heritage Site wasPadua University Botanic Garden in Italy in 1997.

Botanic gardens can support this Convention inseveral ways.

• Apply to be included on the World Heritage List.

• Promote and support applications for natural andcultural sites to be included on the WorldHeritage List.

• Work in partnership to counteract dangers thatthreaten natural and cultural heritage .

• Develop educational materials and undertakeactivities that enhance knowledge of,and respectfor, important cultural and natural heritage sitesand support the aims of the Convention.

,

• Undertake the preparation of inventories of plantdiversity and other information for sites includedin the ‘List of World Heritage in Danger’.

1.6.6 The Convention on Wetlands

The Convention on Wetlands (popularly known as theRamsar Convention) is an international treaty thatprovides a framework for national action andinternational cooperation for the conservation andwise use of wetlands and their resources. Signed in1971 and entered into force in 1975,originally theConvention was set up to protect wetland habitats forthe conservation of waterfowl. It now has broadenedits scope to cover all aspects of wetland conservation,their wise use and importance for biodiversityconservation. The Convention also recognises thewell being of human communities supported bywetland ecosystems.

Botanic gardens can have a role in theimplementation of this Convention in several ways.

• Working in partnership with other bodies tomanage and restore local and regional wetlandareas.

• Undertake research into the conservation,cultivation and biology of threatened aquatic andother wetland plants.

• Raise public awareness about the importance ofwetland habitats through education programmesand activities.


1.6.7 Agenda 21: Programme of Actionfor Sustainable Development

Agenda 21 forms a blue print for a ‘global part n e r s h i p ’to encourage cooperation among nations as theys u p p o rt a transition to sustainable living on eart h .The central belief is that all countries can protect thee nv i ronment while simu l t a n e o u s ly experiencing grow t h .

The Agenda is a non-binding programme of action,which was adopted by more than 178 Governmentsat the ‘Earth Summit’ in 1992. Although the Agendalacks the force of international law, the adoption ofthe text carries with it a strong moral obligation toensure implementation of its strategies. Theimplementation of the Agenda is primarily theresponsibility of governments at all levels,throughnational strategies,plans, policies and procedures.International and regional organisations are also calledupon to contribute to this effort and the broadestpublic participation and the active involvement of non-governmental organisations and other groups areencouraged.

Critical to the effective implementation of theobjectives and policies agreed by the governments inall areas of Agenda 21 will be the commitment andgenuine involvement of all institutes and social groups,including botanic gardens.

Botanic gardens can address the four major areasoutlined in Agenda 21 in several ways.

Section I Social and Economic Dimensions

• Provide and promote opportunities for small scaleenterprises and support local business and servicesto improve the standard of living of people in theircommunity (Chapters 2 and 30).

• Incorporate development issues into botanic gard e neducation programmes (Chapters 2 and 4).

• Provide training for community members,teachersand botanic garden staff to increase theirunderstanding of local and global developmentissues (Chapters 3-5).

,

• Develop and implement community outreachprogrammes that empower the community tocombat poverty and achieve sustainable livelihoods(Chapters 3 and 6).

Section II Conservation and Management ofResources for Development

• Develop partnerships with other bodies and thelocal community to manage local resourcessustainably and to restore degraded areas(Chapters 11 and 12).

• Promote sustainable or alternative livelihoodsystems in fragile areas (Chapter 12)

• Provide support for nature based tourism thatoperates in a sustainable manner (Chapter 13).

• Evaluate and identify the potential economic andsocial implications,and benefits of the conservationand sustainable use of local biological resources(Chapter 15).

III Strengthening the Role of Major Groups

• Work with government,business and industry, thescientific and technological community, non-government organisations,the general public andlocal communities to strengthen their participationin sustainable development (Chapters 23-32).

• Improve communication and cooperation betweenthe scientific community, decision makers and thegeneral public (Chapters 23-32).

IV Means and Implementations

• Provide and promote education, public awarenessand training as a means of implementing Agenda 21(Chapter 36).

• Incorporate education for sustainability intoprogrammes and activities to teach about local,national and global issues and develop values,attitudes and skills to motivate and empowerpeople to live sustainably in the natural and socialenvironment.




1.6.8 The Global Plan of Action for theConservation and SustainableUtilization of Plant Genetic Resourcesfor Food and Agriculture

The Global Plan of Action for the Conservation andSustainable Utilization of Plant Genetic Resources forFood and Agriculture was adopted in 1996 at anInternational Technical Conference on Plant GeneticResources in Leipzig, Germany and developed by theFood and Agriculture Organization of the UnitedNations (FAO).

The main objectives of the FAO Global Plan of A c t i o na re to:

• E n s u re the conservation of plant genetic re s o u rc e sfor food and agriculture as a basis for food security.

• P romote sustainable use of plant genetic re s o u rc e sfor food and agriculture, foster development andreduce hunger and pove rt y.

• P romote the fair and equitable sharing of thebenefits arising from the use of plant geneticre s o u rc e s .

• Assist countries and institutions in identifyingpriorities for action.

• S t rengthen existing programmes and enhanceinstitutional capacity (FAO 1996, p p 1 3 - 1 4 ) .

This Plan is a framework document and catalyst fo raction to provide sufficient food to feed the wo r l d ’speople for the current century. In 1983, the FAOC o n fe rence established the Intergove r n m e n t a lCommission on Plant Genetic Resources and adopteda non-binding International Undertaking on PlantGenetic Resources to promote international effo rts fo rtheir conserv a t i o n . In the light of the CBD, t h eInternational Undertaking is now being revised becauseit originally recognised genetic re s o u rces as thecommon heritage of all people and subscribed to theconcept of free exchange. N e gotiations are continu i n gto bring the Undertaking into harmony with the CBD,

which recognises national sove reignty over geneticre s o u rces and states that authority to determineaccess to genetic re s o u rces rests with nationalgove r n m e n t s .

Botanic gardens are recognised as having a major partto play in implementing the Global Plan of A c t i o n . T h ePlan notes that botanic gardens are important fo rgenetic re s o u rce conservation through themaintenance of living collections, seedbanks and in-v i t ro collections (FAO 1996). F u rt h e r m o re, it pointsout that species of importance for medicinal andornamental purposes, as well as plant genetic re s o u rc e sfor food and agriculture (PGRFA) of essentially localsignificance are often more fully re p resented in botanicg a rden collections than in traditional collections ofP G R FA . The importance of including botanic gard e n sand arboreta in regional programmes for ex situc o n s e rvation of PGRFA has also been highlighted.

1.6.9 National legislation onc o n s e rv a t i o n ,e nv i ronmental pro t e c t i o n ,p rotected areas and sustainable use

Many countries have developed national legislationand/or national strategies and action plans onbiodiversity conservation and environmentalprotection. Numerous nations have also enactedlegislation to safeguard biodiversity, including forexample, protection of specific taxa or populations ofplants and animals that may be endangered.

One major way that countries are safeguardingbiodiversity for the future is by the establishment ofprotected area networks.Through these networkssignificant sites of natural importance and the diversitythey contain,are safeguarded for the future, asnational parks,nature reserves and as other forms ofprotected areas.

The CBD (Article 6A) requires each ContractingParty to ‘Develop national strategies,plans orprogrammes for the conservation and sustainable useof biological diversity, or adapt for this purposeexisting strategies,plans or programmes which shallreflect, inter alia, the measures set out in thisConvention relevant to the Contracting Partyconcerned (UNEP 1994 p7)’.

Botanic gardens have a major role to play insupporting the enactment of such national legislationfor biodiversity and environmental protection as wellas to help in defining and implementing nationalbiodiversity action plans.

Botanic gardens can contribute to nationalbiodiversity action plans and specific national lawsto protect wildlife and the environment by:

• Advocating the legal protection of nationalbiodiversity and the environment in general.

• Advising on the specific terms and scope of suchlegal instruments.

• Assisting in the development of legislation andnational biodiversity action plans.

• Promoting the adoption of measures to ensurethe sustainable use of biodiversity.

• Ensuring botanic gardens and their roles areintegrated into existing policies.

• Encouraging and assisting others to follow thelaws and following the laws themselves.

• Providing services as scientific authorities forinternational conventions such as CITES.

• Developing methodologies for puttingconservation into practice on a national scale.

• Providing leadership in the development ofinternational policies and conventions on theenvironment,sustainability and plantconservation.

• Training relevant government authorities e.g.customs officials on CITES issues.

• Raising public awareness about their role inimplementing national biodiversity andenvironmental legislation.

1.7 Defining the Mission of theIndividual Botanic Garden

Botanic gardens are urged to develop their ownindividual responses to this International Agenda. Nobotanic garden will be able to implement more than afraction of the priorities and actions outlined in thedocument. However, that should not prevent anybotanic garden from seeking to maximise and enhancetheir individual roles in conservation and identifyingtheir priorities and the scale of their tasks andresponsibilities. If they have not already done so,botanic gardens are encouraged to incorporate a longterm commitment to a conservation role into themission and governance of the garden,and seek ordesignate whatever resources are necessary toachieve this mission within a carefully planned andconsidered implementation framework.

One of the main targets for an individual botanicgarden may be to achieve the conservation of theflora of their own region. Significant actions in thisregard range from scientific research to collaboratingwith local community groups in habitat protection andrestoration. They must generally adopt a scale that islocal and appropriate for local needs. Differentbotanic gardens need to adopt different priorities andgeographical focus, related to their size , resources,scale of operations,mission and brief and the prioritytasks or responsibilities available to them. Theirmission may also extend to supporting andcollaborating with botanic gardens and other bodieselsewhere in the world,especially in regions whereresources for plant conservation are few and incountries that are rich in biological diversity.

The accessions policy of the institution should closelyreflect its defined role so that the plant collectionsmaintained are clearly in support of the achievementof the garden’s mission. This policy may also bedefined in relation to the work of other bodies, forexample, to ensure that roles and responsibilities aredistributed and shared between a number of botanicgardens and other similar institutions in a region toprevent duplication and identify gaps in coverage.Collaboration and coordination are key words in thiscontext.


1.8 Building and Sustaining theInstitution

One of the threats to botanic gardens is thesustainability of the institution. Public sector fundingfor the operation of botanic gardens and other publicorganisations is being reduced and there is increasingcompetition for private support and endowments inmany countries. As a consequence of this,support forthe key roles of botanic gardens may be reduced andsome institutions are finding it increasingly difficult tofunction as effective scientific , educational andconservation orientated institutions.

Building and sustaining the institution is vital and inorder to address contemporary issues,many botanicgardens are remodelling themselves and theiroperations to reflect the time we live in and ensuretheir relevance in the future. It is not only olderestablished botanic gardens that are facing theseongoing challenges but also the new botanic gardensbeing developed worldwide.

Botanic gardens should seek to prove their relevanceto the conservation of natural and cultural heritageand their importance as national institutions forscience, culture, education, recreation and tourism.To promote the institution and ensure understandingof its relevance in contemporary society, botanicgardens should:

• Be part of a appropriate national or regionalnetwork organisation.

• Search for new ways to broaden their financialbase.

• Work with new partners outside the institution.• Undertake work that has an ecological and socio-

economic context.• Identify strengths and benefits and communicate

these to stakeholders.

Planning provides the foundation for botanic gardensmanagement and future success. It helps botanicgardens prepare for, and anticipate, future trends thatmight be beyond their control. In addition,documentation of plans provides a valuable instrumentfor promoting the botanic gardens both within andoutside the institution. Botanic gardens should work

with their staff to develop strategic plans,institutionalpolicies and business plans to ensure that the gardenhas a clear vision,mission and realistic targets. As partof this process,priorities need to be defined,resources identified and weaknesses addressed so asto assist in achieving the garden’s mission.

The value of staff in building and sustaining aninstitution should never be underestimated. Botanicgardens staff are being confronted with newchallenges and roles and it is essential that botanicgardens have good communication practices withinthe institution and support and empower staff throughtraining, skills and knowledge development,ensuringtheir involvement in all levels of planning and decisionmaking.


2.1 Introduction

This section outlines the practice and priorities forbotanic gardens in conservation. It highlights theimportance of botanic gardens as the world’s greatestresource for the cultivation and conservation ofindividual plant species and suggests ways in whichbotanic garden actions can be directed towardspromoting integrated biodiversity conservation(combining and utilising ex situ and in situ techniques).It considers the contributions that botanic gardenscan make to conservation and the sustainable use ofplants through their research and educational activitiesand suggests the ways in which cooperation andnetworking can enhance and multiply this effort byestablishing or strengthening collaborativepartnerships. In addition,it suggests ways in whichbotanic gardens can become models for bestenvironmental practice through their own policies andpractices,with the aim of promoting environmentalawareness and sustainability to the general public.

2.2 National Strategies on theConservation of Biodiversity

Botanic gardens can play important roles in assisting inthe development and implementation of nationalstrategies,plans and programmes for the conservationof biological diversity and its sustainable use. They canprovide expert advice , data, information,practicalassistance and collaboration in the creation of suchnational plans. After their completion,botanic gardenscan be amongst leading institutions involved in theirimplementation,and in any processes that evolve torevise and update such strategies and to monitorprogress made in their implementation.

Botanic gardens should:

i) Identify their particular roles in assisting thepreparation of national strategies for biodiversityconservation and for the sustainable use of plantresources.

ii) Seek to participate in national processes andconsultations undertaken as part of thepreparation of national biodiversity conservationstrategies.

iii) Provide data,advice and other forms of assistanceto authorities seeking to develop nationalstrategies.

iv) Ensure that staff throughout the institution areaware of, and involved in,contributing tosubmissions made for inclusion in any local,regional or national strategies to which the botanicgarden contributes.

v) Encourage those with whom they work to beinvolved in such strategic planning for biodiversityconservation.

vi) Seek to participate in the development ofconservation strategies at a local level, focused onthe conservation and sustainable use ofbiodiversity in their own regions with partnerorganisations and/or community groups.

vii) Integrate their activities and future plans with suchstrategies to ensure that the work of theirinstitution is involved in their implementation at allappropriate levels.

v i i i )Support,assist and encourage, as far as possible ,collaborating institutions and partners,nationallyand in other countries,to enable them to be aseffective as possible in contributing to thedevelopment of biodiversity conservationstrategies.


Section 2

The Practice of Conservation

2.3 Identification and Monitoring

Knowledge about the world’s biodiversity isfundamental to conservation. Identification andmonitoring involve generating new data,gatheringexisting information and ensuring that all informationis accessible and usable for conserving biodiversity.Botanic gardens, along with national parks, museums,universities and herbaria,are often amongst the majorcustodians of data, expertise and collections ofbiological diversity in their countr y. These can includecollections of living specimens,seeds and otherpropagules, herbarium specimens and other plantmaterials, such as spirit collections,tissues, woodsamples and ethnobotanical artefacts. For historicalreasons,some large botanic gardens throughout theworld contain vast collections and much expertise onthe biodiversity of other countries and regions.


i) Seek to ensure that their collections,data andexpertise are made available and utilised to thefullest extent possible to support the identificationand monitoring of biological diversity throughoutthe world.

ii) Ensure that appropriate access to their collectionsis given to those seeking to use them foridentification and monitoring purposes.

iii) Maintain and organise data derived fromidentification and monitoring activities undertakenby the botanic garden to ensure that such data aresafeguarded and made available to potential users.

iv) Work where possible to help identify thecomponents of biological diversity important forconservation and sustainable use.

v) Seek to monitor and identify plant diversity that isthreatened, especially in their local regions,including its distribution,current status,actual andpotential threats and the recovery action needed.

vi) Include new, and enhance existing,collections ofbotanical specimens in their living collections,herbaria and museums,where such samples cansupport the identification and monitoring ofbiological diversity, while ensuring at the same timethat such collection activities do not threaten thediversity of such species in any way or its survivalin the wild.

v i i ) Be invo l ved in the preparation of Floras,taxonomic monograp h s , identification keys andm a nu a l s ,h a n d b o o k s , other re fe rence works andpublications that assist in the identification,monitoring and re c ove ry of plant dive r s i t y.

v i i i )Be invo l ved in the identification and monitoring of plant diversity at all leve l s , including species,habitats and the interactions and pro c e s s e si nvo l ved in the maintenance of biological d i ve r s i t y.

2.4 Integrated Conservation

Successful biodiversity conservation requires amultitude of skills, techniques and practices to beblended in a seamless fashion and often represents acomplex mixture of biological, economic andsociological issues. Biodiversity conservation alsoneeds to act at various levels of biologicalorganisation,from genes and alleles,individuals,populations and species to whole ecosystems,preserving not only the components of biodiversitybut also the interactions between them.

Biodiversity conservation cannot be accomplishedeffectively by one institution or sector working alone.The challenges facing biological survival require thatevery possible tool at hand is used,choosing the rightcombination to fit particular needs for eachpopulation,species,plant community and the naturalhabitats in which they grow. This multidisciplinaryapproach to plant conservation has been termed‘integrated conservation’.

The fundamental premise of integrated conservationstrategies is that they must be collaborative andinvolve a wide range of relevant expertise andtechnical and scientific disciplines. Integratedconservation methodologies combine resources ofland and habitat management,biological research,database and information management,and off-site (exsitu) propagation and cultivation.

Effective conservation practice needs the involvementof all those who have an impact on the species inorder to be successful. Therefore one of the otherfundamental premises of integrated conservation is


the integration of all stakeholders such asgovernment,industry, non-governmental agencies andthe community.

The Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD)highlights the importance of integrated conservationof biological diversity by stressing that conservationtechniques used should be complementary (refer toAnnex 4 for a list of integrated conservationtechniques). Integrated conservation strategies forwild plants have primarily involved the developmentand implementation of species recovery plans andprogrammes. These have often involved acombination of in situ assessment of natural plantpopulations,monitoring of their status and the currentor past causes of their decline, and the determinationof future priorities, therefore enabling their recovery.Recovery measures include land protection,habitatmanagement and/or restoration,ex situ cultivationand reintroduction and public education programmes.Integrated conservation development programmeshave been primarily based on innovative land usestrategies,including biosphere reserves, multiple-useconservation areas, buffer zones on protected areaboundaries and a variety of other approaches.

Botanic gardens are well placed to undertake manyactivities in integrated conservation and already playmajor roles in botanical research,species recovery,ecosystem management and restoration,explorationand floristic surveys, reintroduction,development ofsustainable use systems for wild plant resources,public education,conservation biology, management ofliving collections and other fields.


i) Ensure that the conservation activities theyundertake are carried out within the context ofintegrated conservation priorities and practices.

ii) Undertake, or assist in undertaking or evaluating,model and demonstration projects in integratedconservation to help establish and develop toolsand methodologies and identify potential problemsand risks.

iii) Provide up-to-date information for theprioritisation, selection,establishment andmanagement of integrated conservation projects

involving threatened plants,especially those thatare of economic importance .

iv) Support and seek to strengthen national andinternational networks of organisations andindividuals involved in integrated conservation ofbiological diversity.

v) Provide advice and guidance as relevant to theCBD Secretariat and other bodies on the aims,methods, feasibility and practice of integratedconservation of plants.

vi) Seek to develop close cooperative partnershipswith other institutions and organisations involvedin plant conservation,including protected areas,biosphere reserves, other botanic gardens, localcommunities, government agencies includingforestry, health,education,wildlife and agriculturaldepartments,universities and other sectors.

vii) Document and manage information effectively tosupport integrated conservation activities.

v i i i )Ensure that their activities in plant conservationare integrated fully with appropriate animal andecosystem conservation activities.

2.5 In Situ Conservation

In situ or on site conservation is defined asc o n s e rvation of biodiversity within ecosystems andnatural habitats. In the case of cultivated plants, in situc o n s e rvation is when they are conserved in thes u rroundings where they have been developed andutilised (Refer to Section 2.8).

The aim of in situ conservation is to allow and enableb i o d i versity to maintain itself within the context of theecosystem in which it is fo u n d . In the case of a plantpopulation this will include its ability to sustain itselft h rough self-replication and to have potential fo rc o n t i nued evo l u t i o n .

M a ny botanic gardens are active in in situ conserv a t i o n ,maintaining or managing nature re s e rve s ,a reas ofnatural vegetation or working closely with managers ofassociated national parks and other protected are a s .O ver 400 botanic gardens worldwide have re p o rted toBGCI that they manage areas of natural vegetation orh ave natural areas within their boundaries. B o t a n i cg a rdens have special skills and re s o u rces to support in


situ conserv a t i o n , including the re fe rence collectionsand libraries that support botanical re s e a rch and theh o rt i c u l t u re and nu r s e ry facilities that are import a n tfor habitat re s t o r a t i o n , re i n t roductions andrevegetation pro j e c t s .


i ) S u p p o rt the implementation of pro c e d u res for thep rotection and management of natural ecosystems.

i i ) Collaborate with national and other landmanagement agencies, public and private institutionsand organisations, local communities and otherre l evant stakeholders invo l ved in protected are aand natural ecosystem conserv a t i o n .

i i i ) Integrate their ex situ conservation activities ins u p p o rt of in situ conserv a t i o n , with the aim ofa c h i eving viable populations of species in naturalh a b i t a t s .

i v ) Seek to include expertise in ecology andc o n s e rvation genetics amongst their staff.

v ) U n d e rt a ke or participate in programmes aimed atc o n s e rving species diversity in situ, including speciesre c ove ry pro g r a m m e s , habitat re s t o r a t i o n ,c o n t ro lof inv a s i ve plant species and the management ofplant populations and ecosystems.

v i ) D evelop ap p ropriate re s e a rch programmes thats u p p o rt in situ conserv a t i o n , including conserv a t i o nb i o l o gy, restoration ecology, h o rt i c u l t u re, p o p u l a t i o ng e n e t i c s ,t a x o n o my, the control of inv a s i ve species,pests and diseases, floristic inventories and statuss u rvey s .

v i i ) P romote public aw a reness on the importance of insitu conserv a t i o n .

v i i i )D evelop and support ap p ropriate strategies andp rogrammes for the conservation of biodiversity inthe human dominated landscapes in which manybotanic gardens are situated.

i x ) Be invo l ved in advising policy makers on thefo r mulation and implementation of in situc o n s e rvation and land-use policies, plans andpriorities for their own region or country.

x ) S u p p o rt and provide advice to local enterprisesthat use wild plant re s o u rces in a sustainable way,p a rt i c u l a r ly where botanic garden expertise can beused to develop methods to reduce pre s s u re onplant re s o u rces in situ, t h rough cultivation andother means.

2.6 Ex situ conservation

Ex situ conservation is recognised as one of the mostimportant tools available to botanic gardens inbiodiversity conservation. The Botanic GardensConservation Strategy states that ‘The purpose of exsitu conservation is to provide protective custody.It is justifiable only as part of an overall conservationstrategy to ensure that species ultimately survive inthe wild. Its role should be seen as a means to anend,not an end in itself:as a source of material forreintroduction into damaged habitats and to enhancepopulations as part of ecosystem management, forresearch and education, for selecting material forintroduction into the nursery trade , local agriculture,amenity planting and local forestry, etc. Another roleis to take the pressure off wild populations for plantsthat are likely to be the subject of interest byscientists, commercial horticulturists, hobbyists orlocal gatherers. Above all,ex situ conservation makesplants available for use by [humankind] (IUCN-BGCSand WWF 1989,p21)’.

Ex situ conservation has several purposes:

• Rescue threatened germplasm.• Produce material for reintroduction,

reinforcement,habitat restoration andmanagement.

• Produce material for conservation biologyresearch.

• Bulk up germplasm for storage in various forms ofex situ facility.

• Supply material for various purposes to remove orreduce pressure from wild collecting.

• Grow those species with recalcitrant seeds thatcannot be maintained in a seed store.

• Make available material for conservation educationand display.

Ex situ conservation of wild plants is a central andunique role of botanic gardens. They have theappropriate facilities and staff expertise in botany andhorticulture to be an ‘insurance policy’ against plantextinction. Ex situ conservation can include themaintenance of samples of whole individuals,as well asseed,pollen, vegetative propagules and tissue or cellcultures.


As a method of conservation, ex situ is inherentlydeficient in that it is not usually possible to maintainmore than a limited sample of the genetic diversity incultivation or in storage. In addition, it may lead tounpredictable genetic change and can become inpractice a form of domestication. It is often regardedas preservation rather than conservation. In contrast,in situ conservation,at least in theory, allows plantpopulations to develop and evolve in, and as part of,the ecosystem of their natural habitat. In practiceboth methods should be regarded as mutuallyreinforcing and complementary approaches.

Ex situ conservation in botanic gardens has severalbenefits:

• Ex situ conservation may be the only optionavailable when a natural habitat has beendestroyed.

• It can be very cost-effective.• Seeds of many species especially lend themselves

to compact storage (allowing bulk samples),theyare economical and can undergo long term storage(refer to Annex 5 for information on Seed banks).

• Plant collections can give users ready access to awide range of genetic variation within a species.

• Botanic gardens provide propagation and oftenresearch facilities,together with horticultural andother applied scientific skills needed in practicalspecies conservation.

• Ex situ conservation provides back-up forpopulations of threatened plants in the wild,contributing material for reintroduction, restockingand restoration, as well as advice and data for fieldmanagement.

Despite various approaches taken by different botanicgardens,there is an across the board need for morebotanic gardens to focus and consider their ex situconservation roles by:

• Assessing the current conservation value of theircollections.

• Assigning new priorities and identifying importantspecies requiring conservation action (Box 7).

• Enhancing their documentation systems.• Managing their collections according to stricter

scientific and horticultural standards to maximisetheir value for conservation purposes.

• Implementing agreed and well planned actions sothat they can reach the conservation targets theyset themselves.


Box 7

Ex situ conservation priorities

Priority should be given to certain categories ofplants for inclusion in ex situ conservationprogrammes.

• Species or taxa that are in immediate danger ofextinction,either locally, nationally or globally.

• Species or taxa that are of local economicimportance, such as minor food crops, medicinalplants and wild or cultivated plants providing thebasis of local industries,agriculture, horticultureand crafts.

• Species or taxa,such as local ecotypes,that maybe required for specific reintroduction or habitatrestoration and management schemes.

• Local ‘flagship’ species or subspecies that willstimulate conservation awareness and can beincorporated into education and fund raisingprogrammes.

• Species or taxa that are of special scientificinterest, such as narrow endemics orgeographical relics.


i ) Fo r mulate an institutional policy on their chosen,or designated role in ex situ conservation andidentify priority tasks, institutional re s p o n s i b i l i t i e sand re s o u rces that will be available to supportsuch conservation pro g r a m m e s .

i i ) D evelop and undert a ke planned programmes fo rthe conservation of biodiversity ex situ, g i v i n gp re fe rence to plant species that are indigenousto their own re g i o n ,e s p e c i a l ly ones that aret h reatened or are of actual or potentialeconomic value (Box 7).

i i i ) D evelop their infrastructures and facilities toenable them to undert a ke effe c t i ve ex situc o n s e rvation of important plant species in theirre g i o n .

i v ) S u p p o rt the implementation of species re c ove ryp rogrammes and in situ conservation through theuse of their ex situ holdings for ap p ro p r i a t ere i n t roduction and other re c ove ry pro j e c t s(Annex 6).

v ) A p p ly rigo rous standards and pro c e d u res ofcultivation and the storage of germplasm fo re f fe c t i ve ex situ conservation of thre a t e n e dplants including careful husbandry, a c c u r a t elabelling and meticulous re c o rd ke e p i n g .

v i ) E n s u re that they adopt ap p ro p r i a t emethodologies and pro c e d u res to cap t u re andmaintain adequate samples of the geneticd i versity of plants conserved in their collections,thus enhancing the value of such collections fo rb i o d i versity conserv a t i o n .

v i i ) Within the limit of available re s o u rc e s , seek tocharacterise their living plant collections andgather molecular data of value for conserv a t i o n .

v i i i ) Maintain efficient information systems on theirplant collections of importance for conserv a t i o na n d , as ap p ro p r i a t e, p rovide access to such datafor those undertaking bona fide conserv a t i o nactions for these species.

i x ) N ever allow the development or maintenance ofex situ collections to damage or threaten in situpopulations of such species, t h rough ove rc o l l e c t i o n , i n a d ve rtent release of damagingpathogens and inv a s i ves or by other means.

x ) Check the availability of suitable germplasm fro mother sources befo re considering wild collection.

x i ) D evelop field genebanks for plant species thatcannot be stored in conventional seed storages y s t e m s .

x i i ) Seek to ensure the genetic integrity of their plantcollections by making sure they are, as far asp o s s i b l e, d e r i ved from documented wild sourc e s ,t h e re by increasing their value for ex situc o n s e rv a t i o n .

x i i i ) S u p p o rt and participate in the repatriation ofplant material and information to the countriesof origin of such material that may be of valuefor biodiversity conservation and sustainable use.

x i v ) Cooperate with partner botanic gardens in theirown countries and other regions of the world tobuild collaborative programmes in ex situc o n s e rvation and to support capacity building incountries rich in biological dive r s i t y.

x v ) Cooperate with partner institutions to undert a kere s e a rch of value for the development of ex situc o n s e rvation techniques and practices.

x v i ) D evelop educational displays of rare ande n d a n g e red plant species, to highlight the plightof threatened plants and the conservation ro l e sof botanic gard e n s .

x v i i )G i ve particular focus to the conservation ofg e n e p o o l s , rather than miscellaneous individualsof particular species, by ensuring adequate initials a m p l i n g .

x v i i i )Be aw a re of, and seek to minimise, the risks ofhy b r i d i s a t i o n ,i n b reeding (leading to low seed setand homozygosity) and inap p ropriate outb reeding (e. g .b e t ween populations within aspecies) amongst conservation collections.

x i x ) Seek to reduce losses and low survival rates ofi m p o rtant conservation plants in cultivation,e s p e c i a l ly in artificial env i ronments such asg re e n h o u s e s , by implementing rigo ro u smaintenance pro c e d u res and through theduplication and the maintenance of back-upc o l l e c t i o n s .


N e t working organisations should:

i ) D eve l o p, assist and/or support re g i o n a lp rogrammes for ex situ conserv a t i o n , i d e n t i f y i n gpriorities and assigning responsibilities top a rticular gardens and monitoring theimplementation of actions, with the aim ofc o o rdinating actions and avoiding duplication ofe f fo rt s .

i i ) Assist botanic gardens to build accessiblei n formation systems on their plant collections.

i i i ) Disseminate information on effe c t i ve ex situc o n s e rvation techniques, p ro c e d u res andpriorities to help build capacity and standards ofex situ conservation in their re g i o n .

i v ) U n d e rt a ke regular assessments and disseminatei n formation and re p o rts on ex situ conserv a t i o nactivities of the botanic gardens within theirre g i o n .

2.7 Researc h

A basic understanding of plant diversity isfundamental to ensuring its conservation and so therole of botanic gardens in re s e a rch must be fullyrecognised and supported as a vital component ina c h i eving biodiversity conserv a t i o n .

Botanic gardens throughout the world are active inu n d e rtaking and promoting scientific re s e a rch onplants and in biological diversity in general. T h e i rcollections and libraries provide important re s o u rc e sto support such re s e a rch and many botanic gard e n sh ave excellent re s e a rch facilities either within, o rassociated with, the institution. These includel a b o r a t o r i e s ,h e r b a r i a , g re e n h o u s e s , and grow t hchambers with controlled conditions, f i e l dexperimental are a s , climatic and weather stations,data management systems, and advanced equipmentfor molecular and genetic studies.

For traditional reasons and due to the majorcollections held by botanic gard e n s ,t h ey have aspecial role and responsibilities in plant taxonomy.F i r s t ly through preparing and publishing thetaxonomic works so essential in undertaking any

b i o d i versity conserv a t i o n . In add i t i o n , by trainingf u t u re taxonomists and supporting the deve l o p m e n tof re s e a rch in taxonomy in parts of the world wheree x p e rtise and collections are poorly deve l o p e d .

Although not all botanic gardens have the re s o u rc e s( s t a f f , facilities and expertise) to enable them to playmajor roles in botanical re s e a rc h , all can contributeto such re s e a rch by making their facilities andcollections available to re s e a rc h e r s . M a ny botanicg a rdens are closely associated with universities andt h e re fo re have special opportunities to undert a ke ord evelop re s e a rch programmes that support plantc o n s e rv a t i o n .

M a ny botanic gardens are curre n t ly active in re s e a rc hin some of the fo l l owing are a s :

• b i o t e c h n o l o gy• c o n s e rvation biology• c o n s e rvation genetics• data management systems and info r m a t i o n

t e c h n o l o gy• e c o l o gy• ecosystem conserv a t i o n• e d u c a t i o n• e t h n o b o t a ny• e x p l o r a t i o n• f l o r i s t i c s• h o rt i c u l t u re• i nv a s i ve species biology and contro l• molecular genetics• plant bre e d i n g• pollination biology• p ro p a g a t i o n• restoration ecology• seed and spore biology• systematics and taxonomy• urban env i ro n m e n t s .


i ) Identify their current and future activities andpriorities in botanical re s e a rc h , in part i c u l a rhighlighting those activities that can contribute tob i o d i versity conservation and its sustainable use.

i i ) Disseminate information derived from re s e a rc h


p rogrammes to support biodiversity conserv a t i o n ,including making it available to gove r n m e n t s ,decision make r s ,s c i e n t i s t s ,c o n s e rv a t i o np r a c t i t i o n e r s , land managers, other users and thegeneral public to support conservation andsustainable use programmes through a variety ofw ays including publications.

i i i ) Collaborate with others in the development andimplementation of re s e a rch programmes bothn a t i o n a l ly and internationally.

i v ) Seek to raise aw a reness amongst the generalpublic of the importance of re s e a rch undert a ke non plants.

v ) G i ve special attention to undertaking re s e a rch onthe plants, habitats and vegetation of their localregion and their socio-economic and culturalaspects and uses.

v i ) U n d e rt a ke re s e a rc h ,w h e re ap p ro p r i a t e, on thebiological and physical processes that impact onbiological dive r s i t y, e s p e c i a l ly in their local re g i o n ,including re s e a rch on reduced biodiversity due toi nv a s i ve species, change in land use, climate andp o l l u t i o n .

v i i ) Include re s e a rchers in the botanic garden staffteam where possible, and work to integrate theiractivities fully with the priorities and otheractivities of the institution.

v i i i )Help to ensure that the results of scientific andother forms of re s e a rch undert a ken by and withinbotanic gardens are used to develop or supportmethods for conservation and sustainable use ofbiological dive r s i t y.

2.8 Sustainable Use of B i o d i v e r s i t y

Sustainability is seen as a guiding principle fo rd eve l o p m e n t . D evelopment and env i ro n m e n t a lintegrity must be inextricably linke d . Economies ofmost countries re ly on plants so the conservation ofbiological diversity and the sustainable use of itscomponents must be ensure d . The sustainable use ofbiological diversity is a re o c c u rring theme in theCBD and one of its primary objectives (Articles 8and 10).

Sustainable use is difficult to define but includes twofundamental ideas. F i r s t ly that the sustainable use ofwild species provides benefits to conservation noto n ly to conserve particular species but also theirassociated ecosystem/s. S e c o n d ly sustainable usep rovides benefits to development by ensuring thelong term supply of valuable re s o u rces to people andenabling the re c ove ry of species and populations thath ave been depleted by over use (Glowka 1994).

Botanic gardens have been, and re m a i n , a c t i ve in thesustainable use of biodive r s i t y. Some botanic gard e n swe re founded to introduce and cultivate economicp l a n t s , whether it was medicinal plants in RenaissanceE u ro p e, t ropical crops in the colonial era orornamental plants in this and the last century.

M a ny botanic gardens maintain extensive collectionsand undert a ke re s e a rch on useful plants of actual orpotential value for fo o d , a g r i c u l t u re, fo re s t ry,h o rt i c u l t u re, ecological purposes (such as habitatm a n a g e m e n t , restoration and re i n t ro d u c t i o n , l a n dre c l a m a t i o n , soil improvement and stabilisation),amenity (display, t o u r i s m , re c re a t i o n ) , essential oils,f u e l , medicinals (Annex 7), forage and many otherpurposes (Box 8). Their role in the sustainable use ofplant genetic re s o u rces has also been acknow l e d g e dby organisations such as the Food and A g r i c u l t u reOrganization of the United Nations (FAO 1998).

Botanic gardens are also active in monitoringdomestic and international damaging or potentiallyunsustainable trade in plants and pro d u c e s , re g u l a t e dby the Convention on International Trade inE n d a n g e red Species of Fauna and Flora (CITES).


In some countries,tourism and the associateddevelopment generated is a major threat to themaintenance of biological diversity. Tourism is one ofthe world’s fastest growing industries and someaspects have significant impacts on the physical andsocial environment.

For tourism to be sustainable it is dependent on somekey principles including operating within the capacityof the environment so that biodiversity is not lostthrough the degradation of areas of natural andcultural significance. The Conference of the Parties tothe CBD has been called upon to help develop andimplement an action oriented programme of work on

sustainable tourism development and within thisprogramme botanic gardens should play a role.

Many countries regard their botanic gardens asimportant tourist assets and the income to thebotanic gardens from visitors and tourism is reliedupon. Larger institutions have public relations andmarketing sections employing professional staff,however in smaller gardens such promotion is carriedout by staff who are required to be multi-skilled inseveral areas and may not have specific training in thiswork. The challenge for all botanic gardens is toattract people and then use innovative educationprogrammes that engage the public and raise theirawareness of the issues involved with the maintenanceof biological diversity and living sustainably and thecultural,conservation and scientific purposes of theplant collection.

2.8.1 Sustainable use of plant geneticresources


i ) P romote the sustainable use of biodiversity thro u g hthe assessment, c o n s e rvation and utilisation ofplant genetic re s o u rc e s .

i i ) Use their expertise in botany, h o rt i c u l t u re,a r b o r i c u l t u re and other fields to active ly re s e a rc hand contribute to the development of sustainableuse systems for plants, p a rt i c u l a r ly relating to theeconomic use of wild plant re s o u rc e s .

i i i ) D evelop and maintain plant genetic re s o u rc ecollections especially :• t h reatened plants of economic import a n c e• wild plants of economic import a n c e, i n c l u d i n g

c rop re l a t i ve s• c u l t i v a r s ,p r i m i t i ve cultivars (land races) and semi

domesticated plants.i v ) Seek to obtain national recognition as genetic

re s o u rces conservation centres for the economicplant collections maintained.

v ) P rovide ap p ropriate access to their collections ofeconomic plants to those who would use them tos u p p o rt conservation and sustainable use systems.

v i ) G i ve particular attention to the conservation ofplant groups that are not adequately cove red byother institutions nationally or re g i o n a l ly.


Box 8

The economic uses of plants

Botanic gardens maintain many plant collections ofactual or potential importance for economic use.The main priority for botanic gardens are plantswith the following uses:

aromaticsbee foodsbeveragesdyes and tanninsenvironmental managementfibres and canesfood crops (including vegetables, root crops,cereals,fruits and seeds)forage and pasturefuels and fuel woodintoxicantsinvertebrate foodmedicinalsoilsornamentalspoisonsreligious and ceremonialspicestimberswaxes, latex and resinswild crop relativeswild crops

v i i ) D evelop their genebank collections (seed, s p o reand tissue collections) to include plants ofeconomic import a n c e.

v i i i )Establish collaborations with development pro j e c t sand agencies that work to integrate biodive r s i t yc o n s e rvation with sustainable use of plant geneticre s o u rc e s .

i x ) D evelop methodologies to help to control theunsustainable collection of wild plants.

x ) D evelop or contribute to information systemsdocumenting the diversity of plants used fo reconomic purposes, including inventories and statuss u rvey s .

x i ) D evelop programmes to investigate and documentindigenous or traditional uses of local domesticatedand wild plant species.

x i i )S u p p o rt and contribute to the development ofregional and international initiatives andorganisations that promote the sustainable use andc o n s e rvation of plant genetic re s o u rc e s .

2.8.2 Sustainable fo re s t ry, ag r i c u l t u reand land use


i ) P a rticipate in the development and evaluation ofsustainable agriculture, fo re s t ry and other land usep r a c t i c e s ,p a rt i c u l a r ly focused on the impact thatt h ey may have on biodive r s i t y, habitats andtraditional land-use systems.

i i ) Assist as ap p ropriate in measures taken to pro t e c tw a t e r s h e d s , soils and the vegetation they support .

i i i ) Encourage the use of native plants in commerc i a lfo re s t ry and ornamental hort i c u l t u re and, a sap p ro p r i a t e, p rovide access to their collections tos u p p o rt such usage.

i v ) S u p p o rt and participate in effo rts made toc o n s e rve economically important plants in situ,t h rough their continued use in traditional systems.

v ) A s s e m b l e, re s e a rch and maintain re fe re n c ecollections and data on plants important fo rsustainable agriculture, fo re s t ry and traditional landu s e.

v i ) Monitor and re s e a rch the impact of exotic plantand animal invasions and their effect on biodive r s i t yand the sustainable use of plants and their habitats.

2.8.3 Sustainable tourism


i) Participate in research on the impact of tourismon biodiversity.

ii) Involve themselves in the development of nationaland/or regional strategies to integrate biodiversityconsiderations into their tourism plans.

iii) Develop education programmes aimed at touriststo explain the importance of local plant diversityand measures needed to conserve it.

iv) Assist in the development of low impact tourismin areas with significant biodiversity value.

v) As appropriate, supply information aboutbiodiversity to support sustainable tourismdevelopments that seek to raise resources for, orcontribute to, biodiversity conservation.

vi) Work in partnership to build the capacity ofcommunities to be involved in tourism thatpromotes the protection of biodiversity andcreates employment opportunities.

vii) Work with local,national and international touristauthorities to seek their advice and assistance inpublicising the gardens.

v i i i )Provide visitors with programmes that focus onthe historic and cultural heritage of the gardens,the plant collections, research in progress andconservation.

2.8.4 Sustainable plant trade


i) Develop and implement institutional policies inrelation to CITES and plant trade and follow anagreed institutional Code of Conduct (Annex 8).

ii) Ensure that all staff are aware of,and follow, theinstitutional policy and code of conduct.

iii) Support national bodies in the implementation ofCITES,through the development of a rescuecentre for confiscated plants, training of customsofficials and police, and by raising public awarenessof CITES and its provisions.

iv) Contribute to long term programmes for thecultivation,propagation and distribution of plantsendangered in the wild by trade, including thoselisted by CITES, in order to reduce or remove the


market in illegally traded plants.v) Gather and maintain information and undertake

research on wild plants that are endangered bytrade and use the data obtained to support thedevelopment and implementation of CITESnationally and internationally.

2.9 Training and Capacity Building

Botanic gardens have an important role to play inbuilding capacity for the maintenance of biodiversity,and as part of this ‘training’ provides a crucial role.Training is one of the most important tools fordeveloping human resources and facilitating thetransition to a more sustainable world. Training andcapacity building can be done in formal and informalways ranging from workshops and short courses tooffering professional diploma and degree courses inhorticulture and other disciplines. The targetaudiences for training and capacity building includebotanic garden staff,students,teachers,the local andrural community and general public , and national andinternational clients.


i) Build the capacity of botanic garden staff andprovide ongoing support to promote a flexible andadaptable workforce in subject areas includingconservation techniques, collection methodologies,propagation (in nursery and laboratories),habitatmanagement and restoration, reintroduction,control and eradication of invasive plants,strategicand financial planning, international policies onconservation, plant identification and classification,horticulture, silviculture, education and marketing.

ii) Identify priority areas for the strengthening ofbotanic gardens (e.g.team building, developing staffleadership skills,enhancing the skills ofmanagement staff in legal and political matters,providing opportunities for staff exchanges).

iii) Network with other botanic gardens to shareresources and knowledge and build a globalbotanic garden community.

i v ) Establish and/or strengthen vocational andp ro fessional training programmes that meet theneeds of env i ronment and development by wo r k i n g

with universities and other learning institutions toestablish and promote the botanic garden as are s o u rce for higher education and training.

v) Develop collaborative capacity building/trainingprogrammes with wider conservation/environmental organisations.

vi) Liaise with national/regional groups to coordinatecapacity building and training and seek regionalresources and support.

vii) Use the skills within the botanic garden to providecourses that build the capacity of the localcommunity for conservation and sustainability.

v i i i )Develop relationships with expert support teamsto assist in botanic garden development.

ix) Develop the capacity of the botanic garden tomaintain itself and its services and facilities and asecure financial status.

2.10 Public Education andAwareness

The CBD and Agenda 21, resulting from the EarthSummit held in Rio de Janeiro in 1992,highlighted theimportance that public education and awarenessraising play in promoting sustainable development,andimproving the capacity of people to addressenvironment and development issues. As more of thepopulation move into urban environments,botanicgardens will play an ever increasing and crucial role inpublic education and awareness raising. They mayrepresent one of the only opportunities for urbaninhabitants to visit a natural or semi natural setting intheir region. As the population becomes isolated fromthe natural environment there is a risk that peoplewill become unaware of how their daily lives impacton the environment. Therefore, there is a need toincrease public sensitivity to environment anddevelopment problems,and foster a greater sense ofpersonal environmental responsibility, motivation andcommitment towards sustainability.

The role of botanic gardens is as an advocate for themaintenance of biodiversity and there fo re botanicg a rdens need to reorient their education pro g r a m m e sand incorporate a vision for a more socially ande nv i ro n m e n t a l ly sustainable future. These pro g r a m m e sand activities can add ress topics including deve l o p m e n t


i s s u e s , i nv a s i ve thre a t s ,g e n e t i c a l ly modified fo o d s , t h erelationship between people and plants, the role ofscience in plant conserv a t i o n , sustainable living, and thevalue of biodiversity for example.

Botanic gardens can use a variety of techniques toconvey these messages from guided tours,culturalactivities and exhibitions to interpretive signs andmedia such as the internet, radio, television andnewspapers.


i) Develop themselves as centres for environmentaleducation and sustainability by having well plannedenvironmental education programmes withappropriate resources allocated.

ii) Employ appropriately qualified professionaleducation staff and establish education sections ordepartments within their organisationalframework.

iii) Develop an environmental education strategystating what they want to achieve, how they aim toachieve it,identify the attitudes,behaviour andsocial change to be encouraged,and identify andprioritise the target groups,conservationmessages,sustainability and development issues tobe addressed and facilities and resources needed.

iv) Ensure that their programme is flexible , taking intoconsideration different cultural and communityvalues.

v) Develop and promote botanic gardens as centresfor environmental education to schools and:• work with national and regional education

authorities to promote the inclusion ofconservation,sustainability and developmentgoals in school curricula

• collaborate and support teachers to bring theirclasses to the garden

• develop child-friendly policies and train staff inthese policies

• conduct regular audits to ensure that thegardens is ‘child friendly’ e.g.access points,eating areas,storage areas, activity/play areas

• in collaboration with regional educationauthorities develop and deliver curriculumbased programmes in environmental educationwithin the botanic garden.

vi) Establish strong marketing and communicationskills within the botanic garden to supporteffective communication with the communityabout their mission,and to seek to influence abroad target audience, including decision makers,politicians,teachers,technicians, practitioners,students,children,professionals,consumers, andcommunities.

vii)Develop and implement a range of activities,usinga variety of techniques,that target a broadaudience and convey messages that not only reachthose who visit the garden but the wholecommunity including non traditional botanicgarden users.

v i i i )Identify themes for their programmes and activitiesthat are relevant to their local and regionalenvironment and conservation issues.

ix) Use their programmes to raise awareness of theirrole in providing a sanctuary/refuge in urban areasand support local communities to ‘green’ theirneighbourhoods.

x) Offer a variety of informal education opportunitiesthat complement the garden’s mission and target abroad audience with diverse interests using holisticand experientially based techniques that aim toachieve practical outcomes.

xi) Evaluate the techniques used in the visitor,interpretive and educational services to ensurethat they are effective in achieving their objective.

2.11 Impact Assessment andMitigation

Environmental impact assessments are proceduresundertaken to identify potential threats to theenvironment. These threats can include invasiveplants,climate change, pollution and developmentprojects.

Botanic gardens can be involved in helping toundertake such assessments by making available theirfacilities (laboratories etc.) and staff expertise. Inaddition,botanic gardens have a responsibility toregulate their own environmental impacts byundertaking appropriate prior assessments.


Projects that can damage biological diversity areoccasionally mitigated by safeguarding an equivalentarea or habitat,or through conservation measuresundertaken by other means. In such mitigationmeasures, botanic gardens are occasionally requestedto assist, for example by conserving plant resourcesex situ that are being destroyed in situ.


i) Undertake impact assessments for any majordevelopments that they undertake both within andbeyond the garden, to ensure that no adverseeffect on biodiversity is caused by such actions.

ii) Not allow their expertise and facilities in ex situconservation to be used as a justification to allowthe destruction of biological diversity in situ.

iii) Assist in the implementation of environmentalimpact assessments when they have appropriatestaff skills and other resources available for suchpurposes,particularly if their involvement can helpto conserve important plant resources or naturalhabitats.

iv) Work in partnership to integrate all responsibleauthorities and regulations so there is a unitedposition on managing threats.

2.12 Access to Genetic Resourcesand Benefit Sharing

The CBD recognises the sovereign rights of Statesover their natural resources and their authority todetermine access to such genetic resources.However, the Convention also states that eachContracting Party shall endeavour to facilitate accessto genetic resources for environmentally sound usesby other Contracting Parties and that they are not toimpose restrictions that run counter to the objectivesof the Convention.

Botanic gardens hold in cultivation representatives ofup to one-third of the vascular plant species of theworld, much of it collected, received or otherwiseobtained before the Convention on BiologicalDiversity came into effect. Accordingly, botanicgardens have very special responsibilities andobligations to ensure that they facilitate access to

their collections for those seeking to use suchmaterial for the benefit of biodiversity conservation.Furthermore, it is important that botanic gardensfollow fair and ethical policies relating to access totheir collections and benefit sharing that are fully inaccordance with the terms of the CBD and relevantnational legislation.

The importance of botanic gardens developingmechanisms and sharing benefits derived from the useof their plant collections with relevant stakeholdershas also been highlighted under the terms of theConvention on Biological Diversity. In the context ofaccess and benefit-sharing, a stakeholder have beendefined as ‘...an individual, organisation or groupwhether formal or informal,affected by, or with aninterest in,the activities relating to the acquisition,useor supply of genetic resources,their progeny orderivatives (Royal Botanic Gardens Kew 1999)’.Stakeholders may include national, regional and localgovernments,local communities and indigenousgroups,organisations and institutions,land-owners andfarmers and private individuals.

The types of benefits shared by botanic gardens withstakeholders are many and varied and can includeaccess to collections and information sources, trainingand technology transfers,in-kind benefits,jointprogrammes,projects and publications, technicalassistance and advice and other activities in support ofcapacity building and monetary benefits (such asroyalties) derived from the use of plant collections forcommercial purposes.

Under the CBD, botanic gardens have an obligation toobtain the prior informed consent of stakeholders inthe country of origin of genetic resources they wishto obtain,not only relating to their collection of suchmaterial but also the proposed uses to which suchmaterial will be put. In practice, such prior informedconsent takes the form of collecting permits andmaterial acquisition agreements,which define the usesto which plant material covered by the agreement canbe put. Such agreements may also cover obligationsfor the exchange of information derived or resultingfrom research on or from other uses of the materialconcerned.


Although many plant collections held by botanicgardens were obtained prior to the CBD (and so arenot covered by its provisions),many botanic gardensagree that,as far as is practical and reasonable andwithin the scope of their available resources,they willtreat all the genetic resources in their care in a similarmanner, implementing ethical policies, facilitatingaccess, identifying stakeholders,and sharing benefitsand to support biodiversity conservation.


i) Develop, adopt and implement an institutionalpolicy relating to access to their collections,material transfers and benefit sharing that is fully inaccordance with the provisions of the CBD, CITESand any relevant national legislation.

ii) Develop and implement a Code of Conductrelating to the implementation of institutionalpolicies concerning access and benefit sharing andensure that all staff follow this Code of Conduct.

iii) Facilitate and provide access to their collectionsfor bona fide users, particularly to supportbiodiversity conservation, research, education,display and other activities of public benefit.

iv) Make sincere and genuine efforts to identifystakeholders related to plant material they wish tosource or use, particularly when obtaining materialfrom wild sources;obtain prior informed consentfor such collecting activities,and agreement onfuture uses and the sharing of benefits,if any,derived from such material.

v) Determine institutional obligations to sharebenefits with stakeholders nationally andinternationally, including the type and extent ofbenefits to be shared.

vi) Ensure that Material Transfer Agreements arerecognised and accepted at a national level andagreed with all stakeholders.

vii) Promote the fair and equitable sharing of thebenefits arising from the use of the geneticresources in their collections (including theirprogeny and derivatives) with the country of originof the material and other relevant stakeholders.

v i i i )Develop appropriate procedures and mechanismswithin the garden to:• record and maintain data on access and benefit

sharing related to their plant accessions

• track the movement and use of geneticresources within the institution and betweendifferent institutions

• identify and share benefits derived from the useof genetic resources to ensure that such use isin accordance with the provisions of the CBDand any agreements entered into by the gardengoverning their use of such material.

ix) Communicate their policies and practices onaccess and benefit sharing to other relevantsectors such as government, private industry, thescientific community and non-governmentorganisations.

x) Seek to influence national policy makersdeveloping regulations relating to access to geneticresources about the importance of noting thedistinctions between the use of genetic resourcesfor scientific research, and for commercialpurposes.

xi) Support, encourage and assist other institutionswith which they work to develop, adopt andimplement policies relating to access and benefitsharing.

xii)Seek to harmonise their policies on access andbenefit sharing with other institutions with whichthey work and in line with their relevant nationallegislation.

x i i i )Raise public aw a reness about the importance andneed to share benefits derived from the use ofgenetic re s o u rces as a means to generate andap p ly new re s o u rces to biodiversity c o n s e rv a t i o n .

2.13 Technology Transfer

The transfer of technology has been defined as the‘...transfer of systematic knowledge for themanufacture of a product, for the application of aprocess or for the rendering of a service (UnitedNations Conference on Trade and Development -UNCTAD 1990)’. Technology transfers can beconveniently divided into those involving the transferof skills,know-how, knowledge and techniques,oftenknown as ‘soft technologies’,and the transfer oftangible goods such as equipment,hardware or forexample, computer programs known as ‘hardtechnologies’. The transfer of germplasm,such as a


particular plant variety to be used for a specificpurpose, can also be regarded as a technologytransfer. Botanic gardens are extremely active inundertaking and supporting technology transfers bothwithin and beyond the botanic garden community,nationally and internationally.


i) Develop an institutional policy to identify anddetermine the scope , responsibilities and practiceof technology transfer undertaken by the garden.

ii) Promote the widest possible transfer oftechnology in support of biodiversity conservationand environmental sustainability, particularlyconcerning enhancing techniques and the practiceof conservation in countries that are rich inbiodiversity.

iii) Develop training opportunities,staff exchanges andclose collaborations between institutions andorganisations to facilitate technology transfersboth nationally and internationally.

2.14 Information Exchange

Botanic gardens hold valuable information relating toplant diversity, including its distribution in the wild,conservation status and trends, and its use andpreservation. Their programmes include research onplant systematics and general plant biology;theinteractions with social,cultural,and economic factorsthat impact biodiversity;the genetics and ecology ofplants,both in the wild and in the context of humanactivities; all of which yield information vital tosupport biodiversity conservation. Botanic gardenscurrently undertake, facilitate and support theexchange of such information by means of theirpublications,on the internet and by providing accessto their databases. Free and open exchange ofinformation on their plant collections and scientificactivities has been a hallmark of the botanic gardencommunity. In the 1980s botanic gardens pioneeredthe exchange of information on their living collectionsin electronic format by means of the InternationalTransfer Format for Botanic Garden Plant Records(ITF) (IUCN-BGCS 1987),and by recognising the

need for compatibility between electronic datasystems and incorporating such compatibility intotheir databases.


i) Develop an institutional policy to identify anddetermine the scope, responsibilities and practiceof information exchange undertaken by the garden.

ii) Manage information efficiently within the garden,and through their electronic data systems,in sucha way as to facilitate the effective exchange ofinformation with those seeking to use suchinformation to support biodiversity conservation.

iii) Undertake, facilitate and support the exchange ofinformation relevant to, and valuable for,biodiversity conservation and environmentalsustainability, particularly taking into account thespecial needs of countries rich in biodiversity.

iv) Develop, participate in, and support initiatives todevelop information exchange programmes onbiodiversity and its conservation at national andinternational levels.

v) Develop partnerships for information exchangewith other botanic gardens to assist in thepromotion of work on biodiversity conservation.

2.15 Technical and ScientificCooperation

Close technical and scientific cooperation exists atmany levels within the botanic gardens community.Such cooperation has been promoted, fostered andsupported by many individual botanic gardens as wellas networking bodies such as Botanic GardensConservation International and national or regionalbotanic garden associations. The need to broaden,enhance and build on existing cooperation betweenbotanic gardens and the wider botanical,environmental and conservation communities has alsobeen identified as a future priority. This is not only tobuild capacity for biodiversity conservation amongstvarious sectors but also to help implement integratedconservation programmes.


Existing technical and scientific cooperation alreadyundertaken by botanic gardens includes:• Joint or collaborative research and conservation

projects and programmes at national andinternational levels.

• International institutional ‘twinning’ initiatives.• Cooperative capacity building and human resource

development initiatives,especially in support ofdeveloping country institutions.

• Joint initiatives to develop policies,technologiesand techniques of importance for biodiversityconservation and environmental protection.


i) Seek to develop and enhance new and existingtechnical and scientific cooperation andcollaboration with other organisations andinstitutions,both nationally and internationally, insupport of the conservation and sustainable use ofbiodiversity.

ii) Identify priorities for future technical and scientificcooperation especially with, and to support,institutions and organisations in countries that arerich in biodiversity.

iii) Promote cooperation with partner bodies at alllevels within the garden.

iv) Encourage and support their staff to developtechnical and scientific collaboration andcooperative links with staff in related institutions.

v) Participate actively in networking initiatives atnational and international levels to foster closertechnical and scientific cooperation.

2.16 Biotechnology

Some botanic gardens are active and directly involvedin undertaking research in biotechnology, or facilitatebiotechnological research by providing access to theirplant collections. Major areas of activity inbiotechnology in botanic gardens include in vitropropagation and multiplication, tissue and cell culture,recombinant DNA technology, molecular and geneticresearch, plant breeding and disease elimination. Newmethods in biotechnology present many possibilitiesand opportunities for the use of botanic garden

collections and facilities as well as for biodiversityutilisation and conservation. However, the rapidadvances in this field have presented uncertainties andmay present risks that require careful consideration.


i) Participate in policy formulation and contribute tothe assessment/approval process for nationalregulatory systems for genetically modifiedorganisms (GMOs).

ii) Be aware, and follow the provisions,of relevantinternational agreements, instruments and nationallegislation relating to bio-safety and bio-ethics thatseek to evaluate and control any possible risksrelated to GMOs, including their transfer,cultivation,propagation, handling and use.

iii) Seek to provide current,informative and unbiasedinformation to the general public on issues relatingto biotechnology, bio-safety and bio-ethics.

iv) Share any benefits derived from the use of theirplant collections for biotechnology, in accordancewith the terms of the CBD.

2.17 Cultural Heritage

Plants form the foundation of all civilisations,they havebeen,and still do, play a vital role in providing humanswith food,medicine, and clothing as well as playing arole in religion, cultural events and celebrations. Formore than 450 years,botanic gardens have beenshowcasing the world’s biodiversity and many havehad a significant role in the early development ofbotany and have provided innumerable opportunitiesfor people to research and learn about plants,theiruses and values. Many of the world’s botanic gardensare a rich heritage with an endowment of historicplant collections,period gardens, libraries,herbaria,historic buildings and architectural features.

Botanic gardens have a responsibility to safeguardtheir heritage and provide and pass on a legacy forfuture generations.



i) Seek recognition and promote the heritage valuesof botanic gardens.

ii) Endeavour to preserve, safeguard and manage thecultural heritage (including religious,sacred andarchitectural values) of the botanic garden site andthe local community.

iii) Use visitor, interpretive and educational servicesand facilities to communicate the links betweenpeople, nature and plants and raise awareness ofthe roles of botanic gardens in history and thedevelopment of botany, science and plantintroduction.

iv) Work in partnership with museums,national andinternational heritage associations and other suchbodies to increase awareness and understanding ofthe values and uses of plants.

v) Provide support to, and work in partnership with,indigenous people to protect and maintain theirknowledge of plant values and uses and conservecultural heritage.

vi) Endeavour to ensure that new buildingsconstructed in the botanic garden are of thehighest possible quality and design that provide alegacy for future generations.

2.18 Sustainable Development

Humanity is part of nature and is utterly dependentupon it. Over the last four decades concern hasmounted over the impact of human activities andlifestyles on plant diversity. Sustainable development isdefined as ‘...development that meets the needs of thepresent without compromising the ability of futuregenerations to meet their own needs (The WorldCommission on Environment and Development 1987,p43)’. Achieving sustainable development will requirethe adoption and implementation of policies forchanging resource consumption patterns, recycling,promoting energy efficiency, conserving, rehabilitatingand carefully managing habitats, intact and damagedecosystems,and landscapes.

For developing nations,sustainable developmentrequires policies and practices that also create wealth,promote trade, combat poverty and promote human

health,without damaging the capacity of thosecountries to support their human population or theenvironment and biodiversity on which they depend.

An alternative approach to sustainable development islooking at a preferred future (looking from the futureto the present). Although it is difficult to predict thespecific needs of future generations, the basic needswill be to combat poverty and protect and promotehuman health and the natural environment. Theappropriate actions will need to encompass a changein all areas such as economic, social,political, cultural,technological, environmental,ecological,biotechnological,and spiritual.

Due to their diverse re s o u rc e s , considerable expert i s eand knowledge and situation often close to urbana re a s , botanic gardens are well placed to have a majorrole in promoting social change for a sustainable future(Willison 1997). If however botanic gardens are to bee f fe c t i ve in influencing the public to live sustainably,t h ey need to not only preach sustainability they needto establish themselves as models of sustainability.

2.18.1 Planning and policy development


i) Seek to work in partnership with government atall levels and with other relevant bodies to planthe strategic development priorities in their stateand region.

ii) Develop and promote codes of conduct relating towild and sustainable harvesting of wild plants.

iii) Be involved in local and regional development thatinfluences,or has the potential to influence,biodiversity e.g.tourism and rural development.

iv) Review their own institutional policies andpractices to see how they impact on sustainabledevelopment.

2.18.2 Research and economics


i) Work in partnership with other relevant bodies todevelop data that helps to set levels of sustainableexploitation of plant species.


ii) Work with relevant specialists (e.g.economists) todevelop data and assess economic benefits ofbiodiversity and natural ecosystems throughcooperation.

iii) Work in partnership with appropriate bodies toidentify, assess and communicate wild plant speciesthat have economic importance (Box 8) orpotential to urban and rural communities.

iv) Assist in the introduction of plants to cultivationby providing expertise in the agronomicimprovement of local varieties and horticulturaltechniques for cultivation initiatives by working inpartnership with appropriate bodies.

v) Liaise with, and support,commercial plant tradeorganisations to introduce appropriate plants intothe commercial nursery trade (i.e . rare, unusualand native).

vi) Promote the development of integrated pestmanagement in relevant areas of horticulture,agriculture and related disciplines,as well as intheir own operations.

2.18.3 Raising public awareness andempowering the community


i) Take an active role in extension services andoutreach programmes in the community in suchareas as poverty alleviation,healthcare,horticultural training and development and otherfields that will help generate better living standardsand sustainability for local communities.

ii) Use visitor, i n t e r p re t i ve and educational serv i c e swithin the botanic garden to promote corporatecitizenship and the sustainable use of naturalre s o u rc e s , to raise aw a reness of consumerl i fe s t y l e s , and show the link between env i ro n m e n t a lp rotection and healthy economics for sustainabled evelopment and ways people can live sustainably.

iii) Work with communities to develop sustainablecraft industries that are not detrimental tobiodiversity and the environment, and whichsupport conservation and sustainable developmentin priority regions.

iv) Develop partnership projects that facilitate theappropriate sharing of plant knowledge with localcommunities.

2.18.4 Sustainable practices within thebotanic garden


i) Develop and implement an institutional policy onsustainable development that addresses:• horticulture (e.g.collection practices,

composting,integrated pest management,use offertilisers and chemicals)

• low impact resource use (e.g.water quality,quantity and use, waste disposal,officeadministrative and catering outlets wastage,recycling)

• equitable sources (e.g. equipment, food stuffs,shop merchandise produced from fair trade andsustainable sources)

• design and construction (e.g.effluent, fuelrequirements i.e. biomass usage and heating ofglasshouses, fossil fuel use verses alternativeenergy sources

• transport and accessibility for staff and visitors.ii) Ensure staff are well informed about sustainability

and the institutional policies in this area and areempowered to implement appropriate practiceswithin their own work area.

iii) Undertake regular ‘green’ audits to ascertain howthey are addressing sustainability in their day-to-day operations.

iv) Raise public awareness,especially amongst visitors,of the botanic garden’s concern for environmentalsustainability and policies in this area.

2.19 Networking/Relationshipswith Other Sectors and/orOrganisations

Botanic gardens cannot achieve their targets insustainable living and the maintenance of plantdiversity alone. They must form an alliance at alllevels,international,national and local,and develop andimplement wide ranging cooperative programmes.The current distribution of botanic gardens worldwidedoes not match the demands for biodiversityconservation and so botanic gardens need to worktogether to share resources and integrate theirconservation activities with other stakeholders


(IUCN-BGCS and WWF 1989). Besides therelationships between botanic gardens,there are alsomany different partnerships and linkages that botanicgardens can form on a community, national orinternational level that can have significant effects onmaintaining plant diversity and ensuring sustainableliving.

2.19.1 Networking on an internationaland national level


i) Become active members of global, regional andnational network organisations for botanic gardensand biodiversity conservation.

ii) Strengthen linkages,and develop or support multi-tasked diverse networks with other botanicgardens,protected areas,universities,botanicalinstitutions,a wide range of national andinternational governmental and non-governmentalorganisations,the corporate and business sectorsand development agencies to develop andimplement a shared programme for plant andenvironmental conservation.

iii) Work with relevant bodies to coordinate andimplement international and national policies onthe conservation of biological diversity andhighlight the role of botanic gardens in plantconservation.

iv) Work together to present themselves globally as awell coordinated community able to performeffectively and efficiently.

v) Use electronic networking as a resource for futuredevelopment.

vi) Form partnerships with other botanic gardens toprovide support to the establishment anddevelopment of new and existing botanic gardens.

vii) Work with BGCI and other bodies to stimulateand support the development of national andregional botanic garden networks.

v i i i )Provide and support twinning opportunities tostrengthen northern/southern hemisphererelationships,which should be characterised bysensitivity to each other’s requirements andconditions.

2.19.2 Networking at a communitylevel


i) Develop or support community based networksfor conservation organisations to ensure acoordinated approach to the local conservation ofplants.

ii) Support and empower the local community tovalue and conserve plants and appreciate the rolethey play in everyday lives.

iii) Develop partnerships with schools and universitiesto ensure a collaborative approach toenvironmental and science education in the region.

iv) Develop appropriate mechanisms to acknowledgeand safeguard the indigenous knowledge andintellectual property rights of local and/orindigenous communities, and support their use ofsuch knowledge for conservation and thesustainable use of plants.



Annexes

Annex 1

A checklist for botanic gardens toimplement the Convention onBiological Diversity

1. Obtain and read a copy of the text of theConvention on Biological Diversity.

2. Develop an official policy on the CBD and astrategy for its implementation in your garden toensure that that all the actions of your botanicgarden are in line with the spirit and letter of theConvention. It will include:

• How the mission of your garden is relevant tothe CBD;consider reviewing your mission tobecome more involved with the aims of the CBD.

• A ‘CBD-audit’ or strategic review of your gardenand its collections in relation to the CBD.

• An institutional Code of Conduct on collectingand acquiring plant material.

• Material Transfer Agreements and MaterialAcquisition Agreements to help ensure thatbenefits arising from distributed plant material arefairly and equitably shared.

• An awareness programme so that all staff areaware of,and follow, the garden’s policies,procedures and practices relating to theimplementation of the CBD.

3. Seek to publicise the CBD and its objectives toyour constituency.

4. Work to implement the CBD at a national andinternational level:

• Become involved in the development andimplementation of national biodiversityconservation strategies and action plans and offeradvice on plant diversity matters to nationalpolicy-makers.

• Seek to be included,or represented, in officialdelegations sent by your government to theConference of the Parties of the CBD or toSBSTTA (Subsidiary Body on Scientific andTechnological Advice), or seek accreditation andattend meetings in your own right as a non-governmental organisation.

• Ask your government for support and officialrecognition of your garden’s role in implementingthe CBD.

• Become involved in processes and workinggroups established by organisations such as BGCI,to develop appropriate international policies forbotanic gardens.

• Develop and strengthen partnerships withinstitutions in other countries,particularly thosethat are rich in biodiversity but poor in resources,and assist them in all ways possible to meet theirchallenges and obligations in implementing theConvention.

(Wyse Jackson 1997,p16)

• Contact and find out about your national CITESA u t h o r i t i e s , Management Authority and ScientificA u t h o r i t y.

• Find out if your country is a party to CITES. W h oa re the experts in your country on plant trade?

• Do your country ’s field botanists or botanicg a rden staff have knowledge of part i c u l a rt h reatened plants?

• D evelop an institutional policy tow a rds CITES.• Consider registering your institution with the

national Management Authority of CITES.• Check your collections for plants on the CITES

Appendices and assemble complete documentationfor these species.

• Distribute information about CITES to all yo u rstaff and ensure they understand what is re q u i re dof them.

• Designate one member of staff to be your CITESO f f i c e r.

• A g ree and implement an institutional Code ofConduct for the collection of rare or thre a t e n e dwild plants, whether or not they are listed byC I T E S .

• A lw ays obtain export and, if necessary, i m p o rtpermits and CITES labels.

• E n s u re that no illegally collected plants come intoyour collections ‘ t h rough the back door’.

• Compile pro c e d u res for obtaining the necessarylicences for the import or export of CITES-listedplants with your collaborating institutions.

• Publicise your ro l e, l o c a l ly and nationally, in theimplementation of CITES through plant display s ,e x h i b i t s , educational materials and leaflets, a n dp ress re l e a s e s .

• Consider ways in which you can become morec l o s e ly invo l ved in plant trade issues nationally andi n t e r n a t i o n a l ly.

• Fo l l ow your own guidelines and Code of Conduct!

( A ke royd et al 1994) Refer to Annex 8 for a code ofpractice on plant trade for botanic gard e n s


Annex 2

A CITES checklist for botanic gard e n s

Annex 3

Are checklist for botanic gardens topromote and implement Agenda 21

National and international• Contact your national authorities which negotiate

International conventions:Has your country approved Agenda 21?If it has not,why not?If your country has not approved Agenda 21,encourage it to do so.Has your country prepared a national strategyto implement Agenda 21?Has your national authority produced leafletson Agenda 21 that you could use with youreducational materials?

• Contact groups at a national and internationallevel to share materials and expertise in theimplementation of Agenda 21.

• Cooperate with national governments to supportthe implementation of national policies insustainable development.

• Participate in,support and/or develop relevantnational and international programmes andpartnerships.

Internally• Review your development and operations policies

and practices and develop an institutional policyon sustainable development.

• Allocate a staff member to be your Agenda 21Liaison Officer.

• Decide on the level of involvement that ispossible in each area e.g. exemplify in operations,incorporate sustainability and development issuesinto education and interpretation programmes,oractively promote through outreach programmes.

The Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD)highlights the importance of integratedc o n s e rvation of biological diversity by stressing thatc o n s e rvation techniques used should bec o m p l e m e n t a ry. Integrated conserv a t i o ntechniques may be interpreted to include:

• The identification and monitoring of thecomponents of biological diversity (Article 7).

• In situ conservation of biological dive r s i t yt h rough the protection of ecosystems, n a t u r a lhabitats and the maintenance of viablepopulations of species in natural surro u n d i n g s ,a swell as through the establishment of a system ofp rotected are a s . In situ conservation alsoincludes a number of restitution techniques tore s t o re plant populations in the wild and theirh a b i t a t s ,t h rough active management,re i n t ro d u c t i o n s ,t r a n s l o c a t i o n s , re i n fo rc e m e n tand effo rts made to re c reate whole or re s t o redamaged ecosystems (Article 8).

• Ex situ conservation of the components ofbiological diversity in genebanks, botanic gard e n sand other institutions (Article 9).

• P rogrammes of re s e a rch on biological dive r s i t yto contribute to the development of techniquesfor the conservation and sustainable use of thecomponents of biological diversity (Article 12).

• P rogrammes for public education and aw a re n e s sthat promote public understanding of thei m p o rtance of and measures re q u i red for thec o n s e rvation of biological diversity (Article 13).

• The promotion of technical and scientificcooperation and national and international leve l s( A rticle 18).

F u rt h e r m o re the CBD re fers to the need tointegrate the conservation and sustainable use ofbiological diversity into re l evant sectoral or cro s s -sectoral plans, p rogrammes and policies (Art i c l e6 b ) .


• Distribute information and organise workshopsabout Agenda 21 for all your staff so they canprovide leadership and an example in thecommunity.

Locally• Explore and support the needs and interests of

visitors and the local community in sustainabledevelopment.

• Undertake a consultative process with your localcommunity, businesses,non-governmentorganisations and botanic garden staff to identifyand prioritise local concerns and opportunities.

• Using the outcomes from the consultativeprocess, determine what issues your garden couldaddress relevant to plant conservation andsustainable living at a local level. These issuesmight include threats to local plants and habitats,water shortage during drought, the disappearanceof traditional knowledge or invasive plants andanimals for example.

• Examine the strengths of the botanic garden toidentify how you can contribute to resolving localissues.

• Assess the facilities and resources needed and/oravailable for undertaking the implementation ofAgenda 21.

• Contact all local groups with a view tocollaborating on projects and providing mutualsupport.

(BGCI 1999, pp53-54)

Annex 4

The CBD and integrated conserv a t i o n


Annex 5

Seed banks

The storage of material in the form of seeds is oneof the most widespread and valuable ex situap p roaches to conserv a t i o n . E x t e n s i ve expert i s ehas been developed in this field by agencies andinstitutions invo l ved with plant genetic re s o u rc e sover the past 30 ye a r s . Seed banking hasconsiderable advantages over other methods of exsitu conservation such as ease of storage, e c o n o myof space, re l a t i ve ly low labour demands andc o n s e q u e n t ly, the capacity to maintain large samplesat an economically viable cost.

Seeds are a convenient means of long term storageof genetic dive r s i t y, as the samples are small in size,a re easily handled, re q u i re low maintenance andf re q u e n t ly remain viable for long periods. I ng e n e r a l , conditions of low temperature anddesiccation allow seeds to maintain viability, in manycases indefinitely. Seed banks take up little space,but can be expensive to run, both because of theneed to maintain low temperatures and thenecessity for germination tests, g rowth trials andre g e n e r a t i o n . T h ey are not suitable for species withrecalcitrant seeds.

Botanic gardens in many countries have deve l o p e dseed banks for the storage of seeds, m a i n ly of wilds p e c i e s . BGCI figures (1998) indicate that there arec u rre n t ly almost 200 botanic gardens that have seedbanks maintaining seeds in long term and medium-term storage.

S everal botanic gardens have developed the cap a c i t yto store isolated embryo s ,m i nute seeds and tissuesunder conditions of cryo p re s e rv a t i o n ,m a i n t a i n i n gsamples in liquid nitrogen at temperatures of - 1 9 6

oC. Such techniques offer great potential fo r

the maintenance and conservation of biodive r s i t y,p a rt i c u l a r ly plant species that cannot be stored byc o nventional means.

Botanic gardens should be aw a re of the vulnerabilityof stored material to external factors such as powe rc u t s , civil disturbance, a d verse weather conditionsand natural disasters.

(Laliberté 1997)

The importance of plants for healthcare has oftenbeen underestimated. As stated by a recent WorldBank paper ‘Despite all the progress in syntheticchemistry and biotechnology, plants from the wildfloras of developing countries are still anindispensable source of medicinal preparationsboth preventative and curative. Indeed,it isthought that more than 80% of the world’spopulation rely primarily on plants for health care...[and] medicinal plants are a possible ‘bridge’between sustainable economic development,affordable health care and the conservation ofbiodiversity in many countries (Srivastava et al.1995)’.

Many botanic gardens play an active role inmedicinal plant study and research,cultivation andconservation. Their extensive collections are easilyaccessed and available, for example, to supportlocal initiatives in primary health care usingmedicinal plants and their sustainable use,particularly in developing countries. They are alsoavailable as a resource for screening programmesfor pharmaceutical companies and to providematerial for those assessing the value and safety ofparticular herbal medicines. Botanic gardens canprovide the expertise to improve the agronomy ofcultivated medicinal plants and bring intocultivation those species needed in medicine thathave not been previously cultivated. Mostmedicinal plants are at present grown asunimproved wild plants, and so tend to be veryvariable. Effective plant breeding requires access toa wide range of genetic variation as a startingmaterial. Botanic gardens have an important rolein the development of a gene pool of wild stockplants,which can contribute to breedingprogrammes.


Annex 6

Sample contents of a speciesrecovery programme

• description of the species or taxon• taxonomy, morphology and where possible, the

genetic variation of the species• present known and past distribution,as far as is

known• current status (is it endangered and to what

degree?)• population and reproductive biology/life history• habitat description and ecology• limiting factors (e.g. available suitable habitat)• identification of relevant stakeholders and

collaborators in the species recoveryprogramme

• actual and potential threats• conservation measures and actions required• recovery objectives• recovery criteria (measurements of how to

judge whether objectives have been met)• implementation schedule• resources required and available (including

personnel)• aftercare and monitoring• work plan• budget and costs

(Akeroyd and Wyse Jackson 1995)

Annex 7

Botanic gardens and medicinal plants


Annex 8

A code of practice on plant trade forbotanic gardens

• Judge whether any plant trade operations thatyou influence or in which you participate aredetrimental to the survival of plant species orvulnerable populations.

• Be aware, and try to obtain and read copies,of allrelevant legislation relating to the protection ofwild plants and regulation of the trade in wildplants at local, national and international levels.

• Never break any of these laws intentionally, andtake all measures possible to ensure that you donot break them unintentionally.

• Include in your institution’s curation oraccessions’ policy guidelines to be followed onplant trade issues.

• Always check sources,provenance anddocumentation of new accessions and thecredentials of those with whom you exchangeplants.

• Do not purchase, collect,accept as unauthorisedgifts,or otherwise receive plants that are knownto be in breach of national or internationalregulations or that have inadequate, incorrect orincomplete legal documentation.

• Designate a member of staff whose duties willinclude the checking of legislation on plant tradeand ensuring that the institution’s activities andpolicies comply fully with such legislation.Ensurethat this person is in regular contact with theCITES Management and Scientific Authorities ofyour country.

• Lobby for the conservation of your country’sflora and the protection of its most vulnerablespecies from illegal or unsustainable trade.

• Make available, where possible and appropriate,any spare seed or propagated material ofthreatened plants from the collections of yourinstitution, if the distribution of such materialcan have the effect of reducing trade pressureon threatened wild populations,and if suchmaterial may be released in accordance with theterms of the CBD.

(Akeroyd et al.1994) Refer to Annex 2 for a CITESchecklist for botanic gardens


3.1 Global Mechanisms forMonitoring Implementation of theInternational Agenda andReporting

The implementation of the International Agenda forBotanic Gardens in Conservation represents aconsiderable challenge and responsibility for thebotanic garden community, both individually andcollectively. Successful implementation will only beachieved if botanic gardens develop carefullyformulated and well considered individual andcollective responses to it. In this section,administrative procedures are outlined to provide ameans to measure its implementation,to report onactivities undertaken in its implementation and toregister those institutions that are involved or seek tobe involved in its implementation.

Also included is a set of step indicators and targets bywhich a measure of the success in achieving itsobjectives can be made.

3.1.1 Measurable targets

It is difficult to set measurable targets by which thesuccess in implementing the International Agenda canbe monitored. Local or institutional targets may becreated so that institutions can assess their ownsuccess in achieving conservation. However, it isrecognised that global targets for plant conservationmust urgently be established which go beyond thework of botanic gardens. These targets shouldaddress:

• Halting the worldwide loss of plant species andtheir genetic diversity in the wild.

• Raising awareness of the importance of plants andthe maintenance of biodiversity for the planet andhuman survival.

• Conservation needs and priorities within national,regional and local strategies on biodiversityconservation,the environment,sustainabledevelopment,economic and social policies,landuse management and public education.

For the botanic garden community:

Target: Botanic gardens globally adopt andimplement the InternationalAgenda.

Success measure: Number of botanic gardensworldwide who have adopted theInternational Agenda.

Target: Each known threatened plant andecosystem is included in aprogramme for conservation,withthe ultimate aim of safeguardingthem and their genetic diversity inthe wild.

Success measure: Number of species recoveryprogrammes and ecosystemconservation programmes and theirsuccess rate.

Target: The capacity of botanic gardens isdeveloped for biodiversityconservation worldwide and inparticular in regions of highdiversity. Resources identified and

Section 3

Implementing the InternationalAgenda

accessed to support theirbiodiversity conservation activities.

Success measure: Number of botanic gardensoperating throughout the world;the percentage that have research,conservation and educationprogrammes.

Target: Current information on theactivities,collections and facilitiesof botanic gardens worldwide isavailable to support biodiversityconservation

Success measures: Number of botanic gardens linkedto the Internet; number of botanicgardens with comprehensive andaccessible electronic data systemson their collections.

For individual botanic gardens:

Target: Conservation programmes for anythreatened plants species areestablished and implemented intheir own regions,leadingultimately to the recovery of suchspecies in the wild.

Success measures: Number of botanic gardensundertaking plant conservationprogrammes; number of individualspecies conservation programmesimplemented.

Target: Public education programmes onconservation, sustainability and theenvironment are created and/orstrengthened.

Success measures: Number of public educationprogrammes operated by botanicgardens on a national, regional andinternational level;percentage ofvisitors to botanic gardens awareof environmental and conservationpriorities and the role of botanicgardens; attitudes of the generalpublic to plant conservation andenvironmental protection.

3.2 Adopting the InternationalAgenda

The International Agenda has been published andmade available to botanic gardens to provide anagreed framework for botanic garden action inconservation. Individual botanic gardens areencouraged to declare their intent to work for theimplementation of the International Agenda byadopting it as the policy (or a part of the policy) fortheir institution in conservation.


i) Agree to adopt the International Agenda bymaking a written undertaking to work for theimplementation of its provisions.

ii) Seek to publicise their adoption of theInternational Agenda to those who work with,orvisit,their botanic garden, so as to raise awarenessof the importance and significance of a globalpolicy for botanic gardens in conservation and tohelp raise new resources to support theirconservation programmes.

3.3 Developing a RegistrationSystem

It is important to maintain information on the actionsof botanic gardens that implement the InternationalAgenda, so that gaps can be identified and addressed,coordination and cooperation fostered, and awarenessraised about the important work of these botanicgardens.

Botanic Gardens Conservation International should:

i) Develop an international registration scheme forbotanic gardens that have declared their intent tocontribute to the implementation of theInternational Agenda.

ii) Encourage botanic gardens globally to adopt theInternational Agenda as their (or part of their)institutional policy on conservation.

iii) Maintain a list of institutions that have made such adeclaration,and publish and make available this listregularly.



iv) Seek to gain endorsement for the principles andobjectives of the International Agenda from othernon-garden bodies, institutions and organisations,with the aim of strengthening and fosteringcooperation for its implementation.


i) Consider the development of an internationalregister of projects that contribute to theimplementation of the International Agenda.

ii) Allow the names of their botanic garden to beadded to the list of those institutions that havemade a declaration of intent work for theimplementation of the International Agenda.

3.4 Monitoring

Monitoring the implementation of the InternationalAgenda will be an important future task to ensurethat targets are being met and priorities achieved.


i) Undertake to monitor and evaluate theimplementation of the International Agenda on aglobal scale.

ii) Support and cooperate with networkingorganisations and individual botanic gardens thatare monitoring implementation at local, regionaland national levels.

iii) Maintain a computer-based information system onthe botanic gardens of the world,including up todate information on their collections, facilities andactivities.

iv) Use the results of monitoring and evaluation todetermine ways in which the International Agendacan be made more effective.

Network organisations should:

i) Establish appropriate coordinating,monitoring andevaluation systems to ensure that biodiversityconservation targets in their own regions arebeing met.

ii) Develop and implement electronic informationsystems to monitor biodiversity conservationactivities that contribute to the InternationalAgenda.

iii) Appoint or designate one or more people to be aregional coordinator for activities related tomonitoring the implementation of the InternationalAgenda.

iv) Undertake occasional surveys to documentfacilities,activities and institutional involvement inthe implementation of the International Agenda.

v) Support international monitoring of theimplementation of the International Agenda byproviding data and information as appropriate .


i) Monitor and evaluate the activities they undertakethat contribute to the implementation of theInternational Agenda so that assessments of theachievement of institutional goals can be made.

ii) Provide information of activities undertaken thatare relevant to the implementation of theInternational Agenda to national, regional orinternational bodies and organisations that aremonitoring and coordinating the achievement ofglobal targets.

3.5 Administrative Structures

There is a need to establish institutional and networkadministrative structures to coordinate and monitorthe implementation of the International Agenda.

Botanic Gardens Conservation International shall:

i) Provide a secretariat and administrative suppor tservices to assist in monitoring and coordinatingthe implementation of the International Agenda.

ii) Organise international expert consultation groups,as required, to prepare additional policy, technicaland procedural papers to elaborate and considermatters relating to the implementation oroperation of the International Agenda.



i) Assist in providing coordination at national andregional levels to monitor and support theimplementation of the International Agenda bybotanic gardens.

ii) Support individual botanic gardens to developappropriate administrative structures to assist indeveloping responses to the International Agenda,implementing its provisions and monitoringactivities undertaken.


i) Establish their individual institutional response tothe International Agenda.

ii) Monitor their activities that contribute to theimplementation of the International Agenda.

iii) Formulate individual targets that they seek toachieve in the implementation of the InternationalAgenda.

iv) Create appropriate administrative structures toensure that their implementation of theInternational Agenda is planned,coordinated andmonitored within their individual institution.

v) Offer support to other institutions andorganisations with which they work to promotethe development of administrative structures forthe International Agenda implementation.

vi) If appropriate, establish thematic or special interestgroups within the botanic garden to consider theirimplementation of the International Agenda indifferent fields in which they are active.

vii)Establish processes and procedures to enableregular reports on their conservation activities tobe made available to the Secretariat monitoringthe International Agenda implementation.

3.6 Meetings

Regular meetings of representatives of botanicgardens in different parts of the world are an effectiveway of monitoring the implementation of theInternational Agenda. The BGCI International BotanicGardens Conservation Congress,held every threeyears, will be recognised as the opportunity and venue

for changes and updates to the International Agendato be proposed and adopted. BGCI will convenethese congresses and the venue and date of suchmeetings will be notified to all botanic gardensincluded in the international directory of botanicgardens maintained by BGCI,no later than six monthsbefore such meetings are held. Resolutions of thecongress will be by consensus. However, should avote be necessary, resolutions may be passed by asimple majority of delegates registered at thecongress.


i) Organise regular international congresses wherethe implementation of the International Agendacan be planned,considered and monitored.

ii) Inform the botanic gardens and networks of theworld about these congresses and invitecontributions for discussion and consideration.

i) Prior to the Congress,prepare a report outliningprogress made since the previous Congress on theimplementation of the International Agenda. Sucha report will be presented to the Congress forapproval and subsequently published.


i ) Seek to organise regular meetings at a national or regional level to consider the implementationof the International Agenda in their own re g i o n .


i ) Seek to be re p resented at such meetings andwithin the limits of their available re s o u rc e s ,be active in contribution to their d e l i b e r a t i o n s .

3.7 Publication of Results

There is a need to ensure that the results of workundertaken in implementing the International Agendaare published and widely disseminated (includingprinted form and by electronic means) to ensure that

botanic gardens worldwide have access to informationon guidelines,codes of conduct and best practice,techniques and methodologies and the results ofsuccessful projects undertaken.


i) Publish information and articles relevant to theimplementation of the International Agenda anddisseminate such information to the botanicgarden community.

ii) Encourage botanic gardens to publish anddisseminate the results of their work throughrelevant national and international journals andother media.


i) Ensure that results of their work in conservationare published and disseminated widely.

3.8 Adoption of Protocols to theAgenda

Specific and detailed policies and protocols may ben e c e s s a ry or desirable from time to time to defineor redefine particular aspects of the InternationalA g e n d a . Individual botanic gard e n s ,g roups of botanicg a rd e n s , other re l evant bodies, or their netwo r k i n gorganisations may develop such protocols andp o l i c i e s . While in draft, such policies shall be madew i d e ly available for comment, revision and agre e m e n tamongst the botanic garden commu n i t y.

Botanic Gardens Conservation International shallp l ay a role in ensuring that such documents arew i d e ly available for rev i ew by botanic gard e n st h roughout the wo r l d . Subsequent to this rev i ewp ro c e s s , such policies and protocols shall bep resented to the International Botanic Gard e n sC o n s e rvation Congress for finalisation andr a t i f i c a t i o n . Ratification shall be achieved if agreed toby a two - t h i rds majority of all re g i s t e red delegatesattending the Congre s s .

3.9 Revision of the InternationalAgenda

Amendments and revisions of the InternationalAgenda shall be undertaken from time to time.The purpose being to update its provisions,clarifyparticular clauses and their meanings,and makecorrections and alterations in the light ofdevelopments,changes and advances in the fields ofbotany, conservation,the environment and in theoperation of Conventions and policies that mayimpact on the Agenda. Such amendments may beprepared and proposed by individual botanic gardens,other relevant bodies,groups of botanic gardens,ortheir networking organisations.

Botanic Gardens Conservation International shall playa role in ensuring that such changes are widelyavailable for review by botanic gardens throughout the world. Subsequent to this review process,suchamendments and revisions shall be presented to theInternational Botanic Gardens Conservation Congressfor finalisation and ratification. Ratification shall beachieved if agreed to by a two-thirds majority ofregistered delegates attending the Congress.

The preparation of a complete revision or redraftingof the International Agenda may be undertaken ifproposed and subsequently agreed to by two-thirds ofregistered delegates attending an International BotanicGardens Conservation Congress.

3.10 Financing and ResourcingConservation

Although the majority of botanic gardens re c e i ve theirmain funding from single sources such as gove r n m e n t ,charitable trusts or university departments there is noguarantee that this situation will continue in all cases,or that there will be ongoing re s o u rces and finance fo ressential conservation wo r k . Too often conserv a t i o np roject funding and implementation is dependent onthe initiative of individuals within an institution ratherthan by the development of institutional pro g r a m m e s .T h e re are a range of diverse ways that botanic gard e n scan raise funds to assist in financing and re s o u rc i n gc o n s e rv a t i o n , but they need to plan care f u l ly to ensure


their effo rts are successful (Leadlay and Greene 1998).D eveloping a secure financial basis for the institutionshould be one of the top priority tasks for eachbotanic gard e n .


i) Assist botanic gardens in their fund raising effortsfor conservation by providing advice, expertise andsupport as appropriate.


i) Provide support, advice and expertise to theirmembers in fund raising efforts.

ii) Encourage the development of partnerships andcooperative conservation projects that enhancefunding possibilities.


i) Develop a fund raising strategy for their activitiesundertaken in conservation as part of the overallstrategic plan for the garden.

ii) Investigate ways to access further resources fromparent bodies or institutions, governmentauthorities,charitable donations and specificproject funding for local conservation actions.

iii) Investigate ways to raise resources from earnedrevenue (e.g.sales of plants,gate and programmefees,cottage industries,and profits from shopand/or restaurant/café sales) to supportconservation initiatives.

iv) Form partnerships with local communities todevelop volunteer programmes that contribute tobotanic garden development,management,maintenance and local conservation projects.

v) Form partnerships with bodies that have acomplementary mission so as to attract supportfor conservation based partnership initiatives.

vi) Support networking organisations such as BGCI toaccess and develop resources to help implementthe International Agenda.

vii)Raise awareness of the important conservationwork they are undertaking amongst national andlocal authorities,potential donors and the generalpublic to help attract new and sustained supportfor their programmes in biodiversity conservation.


For the purposes of the International A genda for BotanicG a rdens in Conservation the fo l l owing terms are defined:

A c c e s s i o n is a specimen or sample held in a collection(living or pre s e rve d ) .

B i o d i ve rsity (biological dive rs i t y ) means ‘ . . . t h evariability among living organisms from all sourc e si n c l u d i n g , inter alia, t e rre s t r i a l , marine and other aquaticecosystems and the ecological complexes of which theya re part ; this includes diversity within species, b e t we e nspecies and of ecosystems (UNEP 1994, p 4 ) ’ .

B i o t e c h n o l og y is any technological application thatuses biological systems, living organisms, or derivative st h e re o f , to make or modify products or processes fo rspecific use (CBD). It has also been defined elsew h e rem o re narrow ly to include new technologies that have as t rong molecular basis.

Ex situ conserva t i o n is the conservation andmaintenance of samples of organisms outside of theirnatural habitat, u s u a l ly in the form of seed, p o l l e n ,ve g e t a t i ve pro p a g u l e s , tissue or cell cultures ori n d i v i d u a l s

G e n e b a n k is a collection of propagating materials thata re stored under conditions that retain viability for longp e r i o d s . It can include seed, p o l l e n , tissue culture,ve g e t a t i ve propagating material, DNA and even wholeplants grown as plantations.

H e r b a r i a a re the traditional way in which dried plantmaterial is stored in the long term. Herbaria conservethe type specimen of each taxon described by botanistsand they are a documentary fund as re g a rds thed i s t r i b u t i o n ,p h e n o l o gy and variability of plants p e c i m e n s .

In situ conserva t i o n is the conservation of biologicald i versity in nature.

I n t e g rated conserva t i o n is the combination of thec o m p l e m e n t a ry ap p roaches of in situ and ex situc o n s e rvation for the protection and management ofbiological dive r s i t y, by combining species leve lc o n s e rvation with the management of communities ande c o s y s t e m s . Integrated conservation also seeks tod r aw together organisations using diffe rent methods fo rc o n s e rvation of diversity and draw together alls t a keholders across gove r n m e n t ,i n d u s t ry andc o m munity who have an impact on the survival ofs p e c i e s .

I n t ro d u c t i o n is the establishment of a plant in an are ain which it has never been known to occur.

R e i n t ro d u c t i o n or R e s t i t u t i o n i nvo l ve the release andmanagement of a plant into an area in which it fo r m e r lyo c c u rre d , but in which it is now extinct or believed to be extinct - also called R e i n s t a t e m e n t or R e - e s t a b l i s h m e n t.

R e s t o ra t i o n is defined by the Society for EcologicalRestoration as:‘The process of intentionally altering asite to produce a specified historic ecosystem. T h eintent of the work is to emulate the natural structure,f u n c t i o n ,d i versity and dynamics of a defined, i n d i g e n o u secological system.’

Species Recove ry Plan is a compre h e n s i ve practicalplan of action to safe g u a rd a species against furt h e rloss/deterioration of its remaining genepool.

S t a ke h o l d e r is ‘...an individual, organisation or gro u pwhether formal or info r m a l ,a f fected by, or with ani n t e rest in, the activities relating to the acquisition, u s eor supply of genetic re s o u rc e s , their pro g e ny ord e r i v a t i ve s .’ (Royal Botanic Gardens Kew 1999).

S u s t a i n a b i l i t y ‘ . . . i nvo l ves an equation betwe e ne nv i ronmental re q u i rements and development needs. I tcan be balanced by acting either to reduce stresses orto increase ‘ c a rrying capacities’ (UNESCO 1997 p12)’.

Sustainable deve l o p m e n t is ‘ . . . d evelopment whichmeets the needs of the present without compro m i s i n gthe ability of the future generations to meet their ow nneeds (The World Commission on Env i ronment andD evelopment 1987, p 4 3 ) ’ .


Glossary of Terms

A ke roy d ,J . ,M c G o u g h ,N . and Wyse Jackson, P. (1994) A CITES Manual for Botanic Gard e n s , Botanic Gard e n sC o n s e rvation International, U. K .

A ke roy d ,J . and Wyse Jackson, P. (1995) A Handbook fo rBotanic Gardens on the Reintroduction of Plants to the W i l d .Botanic Gardens Conservation International, U. K .

Botanic Gardens Conservation International (1999) A Rev i ew of International Conventions Which A f fect theWork of Botanic Gard e n s . B G C N ews Vol 3(2) June 1999.Botanic Gardens Conservation International, U. K .p p 2 9 - 5 5 .

C h e n ey, J . ,N av a rrete Nav a rro, J . , and Wyse Jackson, P. S .( 2 0 0 0 )(eds) Action Plan for Botanic Gardens in the European Union.National Botanic Garden of Belgium, Meise Belgium.

FAO (1996) Global Plan of Action for the Conservation andSustainable Utilization of Plant Genetic Resources for Fo o dand A g r i c u l t u re and the Leipzig Declaration Adopted by theInternational Technical Confe rence on Plant GeneticR e s o u rc e s ,L e i p z i g ,G e r m a ny 17-23 June 1996. Food andA g r i c u l t u re Organization of the United Nations, Rome Italy.

FAO (1998) The State of the Wo r l d ’s Plant Genetic Resourc e sfor Food and A g r i c u l t u re. Food and A g r i c u l t u re Organizationof the United Nations, Rome Italy.

G l ow k a ,L . ,B u r h e n n e - G u i l m i n ,B . ,S y n g e, H . ,M c N e e ly, J .a n dG u n d l i n g ,L . (1994) A Guide to the Convention on BiologicalD i ve r s i t y. IUCN-The World Conservation Union, G l a n dSwitzerland and Cambridge UK.

IUCN-BGCS (1987) The International Tr a n s fer Format fo rBotanic Garden Plant Record s . Hunt Institute for BotanicalD o c u m e n t a t i o n , Pittsburgh for IUCN-BGCS.

IUCN-BGCS and WWF (1989) The Botanic Gard e n sC o n s e rvation Strategy. IUCN Botanic Gardens Conserv a t i o nS e c re t a r i a t , Kew Richmond UK and WWF and IUCN Gland,S w i t z e r l a n d .

L a l i b e rt é ,B . (1997) Botanic Garden Seed Banks / Gene BanksWo r l d w i d e, their Facilities, Collections and Netwo r k .B G C N ews Vol 2 (9), December 1997. Botanic Gard e n sC o n s e rvation International, U. K .p p 1 8 - 2 3 .

L e a d l ay, E . and Gre e n e, J . (1998) The Darwin Technical Manu a lfor Botanic Gard e n s . Botanic Gardens Conserv a t i o nI n t e r n a t i o n a l , U. K .

R oyal Botanic Gardens Kew (1999) Common Po l i c yGuidelines on Access to Genetic Resources and Benefit-Sharing for Participating Botanic Gard e n s . R oyal BotanicG a rdens Kew, U. K .

S r i v a s t av a ,J . ,L a m b e rt ,J . andV i e t m eye r, N . (1995) MedicinalP l a n t s :An Expanding Role in Deve l o p m e n t . World BankTechnical Paper No. 3 2 0 . World Bank A g r i c u l t u re andFo re s t ry Systems,Washington D. C. , U. S . A .

The World Commission on Env i ronment and Deve l o p m e n t(1987) Our Common Future. O x fo rd University Pre s s , U. K .

UNEP (1994) Convention on Biological Diversity Text andA n n e xe s . C o nvention on Biological Diversity Secre t a r i a t ,G e n eva Switzerland.

UNESCO (1997) Educating for a Sustainable Future. U n i t e dNations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization.

W i l l i s o n ,J . (1997) Botanic Gardens as Agents for SocialChange in To u c h e l l , D. H . and Dixon, K . W. (eds) Conserv a t i o ninto the 21st Century Proceedings of the 4th InternationalBotanic Gardens Conservation Congre s s . Kings Park andBotanic Gard e n ,Western Australia pp339-344.

Wyse Jackson, P. S . (1997) Convention on Biological Dive r s i t yin The Journal of the American Association of BotanicalG a rdens and A r b o reta-The Public Garden 12 (2) April 1997p p 1 4 - 1 7 .

Wyse Jackson, P. S . (1999) Experimentation on a Large Scale-An A n a lysis of the Holdings and Resources of BotanicG a rd e n s . B G C N ews Vol 3 (3) December 1999. B o t a n i cG a rdens Conservation International, U. K .

Wyse Jackson, P. S . (2000) Introduction in Cheney, J . ,N av a rre t eN av a rro, J . , and Wyse Jackson, P. S . (eds) Action Plan fo rBotanic Gardens in the European Union 2000. N a t i o n a lBotanic Garden of Belgium, Meise Belgium.


References

Botanic Gardens Conservation InternationalDescanso House, 199 Kew Road, Richmond,SurreyTW9 3BW, U.K.

Tel:+44 (0)20 8332 5953Fax: +44 (0)20 8332 5956Email:[email protected]:www.bgci.org.uk

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