Endangered tree propagation at Tooro Botanic Garden ©BGCI
Working with the local community at Nature Palace Botanic Garden ©BGCI
In 2010/11, The Rufford Foundation provided a grant of £20,000 to Botanic Gardens Conservation International (BGCI).
Driving the Global Strategy for Plant Conservation forward and International Biodiversity Conservation Action
The Global Strategy for Plant Conservation (GSPC) is an internationally agreed policy mechanism to save the world’s endangered plant diversity - BGCI worked on the development of an online toolkit to support its implementation by reviewing the resources available from a range of organisations and compiling case studies of best practice. A worldwide survey of botanic gardens was conducted with the University of Bangor, establishing that botanic gardens contribute towards all 16 ambitious targets of the GSPC. An outline framework for this toolkit was then developed for discussion at the Convention on Biological Diversity Conference of the Parties in Nagoya, Japan in October 2010.
A special edition of BGjournal about GSPC was published in June 2010. This focused on the GSPC’s achievements over the past 8 years and the expectations for its development and implementation in the future. A key article reviewed the role of botanic gardens in GSPC implementation. It was distributed to BGCI members, 400 delegates at the 4th Global Botanic Gardens Congress in Dublin and at Nagoya in 2010.
BGCI is promoting the skills and expertise of African botanic gardens in the propagation of endangered, indigenous tree species for the restoration of robust, diverse forests enabling long-term, secure carbon storage. Collaborating with botanic gardens in Uganda and Kenya, BGCI produced a focused report of the research and capacity gaps encountered (Botanic Gardens, Endangered Trees and Reforestation in Africa). A 2011 workshop on the subject will provide the basis for conservation projects involving both threatened African tree species and those with livelihood values.
