Strategy For Plant Conservation Targets Research Articles

Ex situ conservation of threatened species of the flora of Cyprus: current status and future priorities with respect to the Global Strategy for Plant Conservation Target 8

Ex situ conservation of threatened species of the flora of Cyprus: current status and future priorities with respect to the Global Strategy for Plant Conservation Target 8

Ex Situ Conservation of Large and Small Plant Populations Illustrates Limitations of Common Conservation Metrics

Premise of research. Ex situ plant conservation can be improved through genetic analysis. One area of interest is the relative value of conserving smaller or larger populations and how sampling strategies for these might differ. Current practice emphasizes collecting large sample sizes from some populations and limiting sampling from others and aims for the capture of allele diversity exceeding predetermined thresholds at the species level. Evaluating how well botanic garden collections can capture the genetic diversity of populations of different sizes can help refine guidance on conservation efforts. Methodology. A model species, Pseudophoenix sargentii (Arecaceae), was chosen for its disjunct and insular range, variation in population size, and presence in collections. We compared 123 in situ plants from three discrete island populations with 94 ex situ conservation specimens via 10 microsatellite markers. Comparison of allelic diversity among the wild populations and collections allowed for the evaluation of genetic capture. Pivotal results. Genetic distance analysis, fixation indexes, and Bayesian clustering analysis show discrete in situ geographic structure and close affinity between ex situ collections and in situ source populations. Yet collections from just the largest population met the Global Strategy for Plant Conservation Target 9 threshold for conservation success for that source population, for other smaller populations, and for all populations together. Conclusions. Percent of genetic capture thresholds may need revision, as such thresholds overlook important diversity. Efficient genetic capture is maximized by emphasizing unique maternal lineages and limiting half-siblings in a collection, but this selectivity must be balanced against the need for redundancy in living collections. Large and small populations each contribute to meeting genetic diversity goals. We recommend that botanic gardens and their networks develop conservation priorities based on genetic diversity and resources, carefully consider existing thresholds for conservation success, define metrics for ex situ conservation goals, and integrate analysis into ex situ conservation efforts.

Lessons learned as Erica turgida is returned

Erica turgida, a small unassuming pink bushy heath species was listed as ‘Extinct in the Wild’ in 1996. It was last seen in habitat at Kenilworth Racecourse by South African botanist, Elsie Esterhuizen who made an herbarium collection and gave material for propagation to Kirstenbosch Botanical Garden. It once occurred in small patches on the lowlands around the city of Cape Town now commonly known as the Cape Flats. However, colonial agricultural settlements, and more recently industrial development and urban expansion, have led to the decline and ultimate loss of this species in the wild. Erica turgida has since then been kept from extinction by Kirstenbosch horticulturists and the Millennium Seed Bank Project. Fortuitously, a second collection was found in the collections of the Belvedere Palace Garden in Vienna and returned to South Africa in 2001. Its re-introduction to the remaining conserved natural areas of Cape Flats Sand Fynbos, a Critically Endangered vegetation type, proved challenging as it is a relatively short-lived species and no definitive record exists of its preferred niche habitat. Early attempts to reintroduce Erica turgida at Kenilworth Racecourse Conservation Area and Rondevlei Nature Reserve failed however limited success has been achieved at Tokai which is under the management of the South African National Parks. This paper shows how over a period of 30 years this Erica species has been propagated from cuttings, planted in numerous micro habitats and monitored for survival and recruitment. General protocols for placement of plants and timing of restoration have also been developed and are explained in this paper. This work has contributed towards the Global Strategy for Plant Conservation targets 4, 5, 7, 8, 14 and 16 for the South African National Biodiversity Institute and Royal Botanic Gardens Kew.

The use and misuse of herbarium specimens in evaluating plant extinction risks.

Herbarium specimens provide verifiable and citable evidence of the occurrence of particular plants at particular points in space and time, and are vital resources for assessing extinction risk in the tropics, where plant diversity and threats to plants are greatest. We reviewed approaches to assessing extinction risk in response to the Convention on Biological Diversity's Global Strategy for Plant Conservation Target 2: an assessment of the conservation status of all known plant species by 2020. We tested five alternative approaches, using herbarium-derived data for trees, shrubs and herbs in five different plant groups from temperate and tropical regions. All species were previously fully assessed for the IUCN Red List. We found significant variation in the accuracy with which different approaches classified species as threatened or not threatened. Accuracy was highest for the machine learning model (90%) but the least data-intensive approach also performed well (82%). Despite concerns about spatial, temporal and taxonomic biases and uncertainties in herbarium data, when specimens represent the best available evidence for particular species, their use as a basis for extinction risk assessment is appropriate, necessary and urgent. Resourcing herbaria to maintain, increase and disseminate their specimen data is essential to guide and focus conservation action.This article is part of the theme issue ‘Biological collections for understanding biodiversity in the Anthropocene’.

Challenges and Perspectives for Achieving the Global Strategy for Plant Conservation Targets in Brazil

Brazil holds the largest flora in the world, with more than 35,000 described native species. However, a large portion of its flora is poorly known, and more than 2000 species are threatened with extinction. Because similar situations exist in virtually all other countries, the United Nations' Convention on Biological Diversity launched a program called the Global Strategy for Plant Conservation (GSPC). The vision of GSPC is to halt the continuing loss of plant diversity through the achievement of 16 outcome-oriented global targets set for 2020. Here we discuss the challenges ahead for countries committed to achieving GSPC targets and use the experience of the National Centre for Flora Conservation (CNCFlora), in Brazil, as a case study of successes in pursuing some targets, and some perceived failures. We offer information that might help other countries, decision makers, and policymakers to address difficulties and move themselves toward achieving GSPC targets. We also synthesize the main targets upon which CNCFlora acts, their current situation, and the desired improvements necessary to achieve targets by 2020. Finally, we provide recommendations to actors, stakeholders, decision makers, and policymakers in Brazil that could foster conservation actions and strategies in the country.

Contribution of seed banks across Europe towards the 2020 Global Strategy for Plant Conservation targets, assessed through the ENSCONET database

AbstractTo meet the international biodiversity targets of the 2011–2020 Global Strategy for Plant Conservation, it is important to assess the success of coordinated ex situ plant conservation initiatives such as the European Native Seed Conservation Network (ENSCONET), which operated during 2005–2009, and the ENSCONET Consortium, which was established in 2010. In particular, analysis of the ENSCONET database (ENSCOBASE) indicates that ex situ seed banks have been making significant progress towards meeting targets 8 (at least 75% of threatened plant species in ex situ collections, preferably in the country of origin, and at least 20% available for recovery and restoration programmes) and 9 (70% of the genetic diversity of crops, including their wild relatives and other socio-economically valuable plant species, conserved, while respecting, preserving and maintaining associated indigenous and local knowledge) for native European species. However, the infraspecific diversity of threatened species stored in ENSCONET seed banks needs to be increased to meet research and conservation objectives.

Producing a plant diversity portal for South Africa

AbstractTaxonomy provides a universal method to classify biodiversity at different scales locally and globally. Currently, existing taxonomic treatments are scattered, limiting their accessibility and utility. The Convention on Biological Diversity has responded to this challenge by setting the goal of compiling a World Flora Online (Global Strategy for Plant Conservation Target 1, 2011–2020). This can be done by aggregating electronically available information provided by each country, region or specialist group. Developing a Flora or a high‐level monographic product requires time and input from a large pool of taxonomic specialists. Completing a Flora may be difficult to accomplish for phytodiverse countries, such as South Africa, if the 2020 target is to be met. Fortunately, a large number of taxonomic contributions and many electronic tools exist that can enhance progress. Where these are available, efforts have to be made to access and digitise the literature. Here we describe a pragmatic approach to developing an online Flora, involving taking floristic information from multiple, previously published sources, digitising the legacy literature where needed and aggregating the required information into a single portal. South Africa is committed to producing an online Flora (the e‐Flora of South Africa) and contributing the information to the World Flora Online initiative following the aggregator portal approach, a method described here that might be useful for other countries with high phytodiversity.

Toward the Implementation of Global Strategy for Plant Conservation Targets 1 to 3 in Hawai‘i1

Hawai‘i has a unique natural history, ideal for studying the mechanisms of evolution. With over 90% endemism in its native flora of 1300 species, over half are threatened with extinction. This immense challenge requires working collaboratively, effectively, and efficiently. Despite extensive conservation activity, we do not have a unified strategy, and leaders in Hawaiian conservation are discussing the creation of a Hawai‘i Strategy for Plant Conservation (HSPC) based on the Global Strategy for Plant Conservation (GSPC) targets. Here we analyze the effectiveness of the conservation work taking place in Hawai‘i through the lens of the GSPC Targets 1 to 3 that include: (1) the establishment of an online flora of all known plants; (2) the assessment of the conservation status of all known plant species; and (3) the development and sharing of research and methodology related to on-the-ground conservation.

Applying Lessons from the U.S. Botanical Capacity Assessment Project to Achieve 2020 Global Strategy for Plant Conservation Targets1

Abstract Despite the fundamental role plant science plays in addressing global environmental issues, a recent survey of nearly 1600 members of the botanical community in the United States revealed a severe shortage in the nation's botanical capacity or resource capabilities that support the advancement of plant science. The survey and a subsequent published report detailed shortages of botanists at government agencies, a wave of upcoming retirements, and an alarming decline in botanical degree programs and course offerings at the nation's colleges and universities. Private sector organizations are filling gaps in botanical capacity created by declines in academic and government sectors. While this survey was carried out in the United States, its results are internationally relevant and applicable. These declines occur as the need for botanical capacity increases globally to address important plant conservation needs. Recognizing the critical situation facing the world's flora, the Convention on Biological...

How many herbarium specimens are needed to detect threatened species?

The distribution, ecology and conservation status of the majority of plant species are poorly known. One of the challenges ahead is to address this knowledge gap and give more emphasis to this important group of species that represents a critical component of earth’s biodiversity. Full conservation assessments require expert knowledge of the group concerned, but for the majority of plant species, especially those from the tropics, the best source of knowledge is specimens housed within herbaria. Digitisation projects are underway to render information from this important global biodiversity resource more accessible; the next step is to assemble and utilise these data to make better informed conservation decisions. One crucial question is: how many herbarium specimens are needed to detect threatened species? Such information would inform and help to prioritise digitisation efforts. Using 11,461 herbarium records we assessed species geographic range to determine a preliminary conservation status of 661 endemic species of Leguminosae and Orchidaceae from Madagascar, following the IUCN criteria. By capturing 15 georeferenced specimens per species we produced range estimates for use in conservation assessments consistent with estimates based on all known specimens, for more than 95% of species. None of the threatened species were misclassified as not threatened, and less than 3% of species would receive conservation support as a result of being falsely identified as threatened. This approach can therefore help progress towards the Global Strategy for Plant Conservation target of a conservation assessment for each plant species, while reducing digitisation effort by up to half.