Implementing the Global Strategy for Plant Conservation in the UK Judith Cheney PlantNet: The Plant Collections Network of Britain and Ireland

Commitment and partnership UK Government is working with: Joint Nature Conservation Committee (JNCC) Plantlife International Royal Botanic Gardens Kew

Consultation Conference at Royal Botanic Gardens Kew: February 2003 Written consultation: July to September 2003 Response published February 2004

UK response to the GSPC Published in 2004 by: Department for Environment Food and Rural Affairs National Assembly for Wales Department for Environment, Planning & Countryside Department of the Environment, Northern Ireland Scottish Executive Environment and Rural Affairs Department

Plant Diversity Challenge: The UK’s response to the Global Strategy for Plant Conservation Native flora Priorities for current and future action Partnership approach Reporting in 2006, 2008 and 2010 See

Plant and fungal diversity in the UK Approximate numbers of native species Vascular plants2300 Bryophytes1000 Lichens1700 Algae Fungi12 000

In progress already Checklists and floras Biodiversity Action Plans Species recovery programmes Darwin Initiative projects

Examples of progress on targets Target 1: Developing a working list of species Target 8: Linking ex situ and in situ conservation Target 10: Controlling non-native invasive species Target 13: Sustainable livelihoods Target 14: Communicating and educating

PlantNet response Information to all members –16 targets on one A4 page –GSPC booklet –where to find further information How to contribute to consultation Conference on GSPC

PlantNet conference: Implementing the Global Strategy for Plant Conservation University of Reading, January 2004 To facilitate and support the contribution of PlantNet members to the GSPC Brought together botanic and heritage gardens with government and other organisations Nearly 100 attended Members to report on their plans by August 2004

PlantNet GSPC working group Enabling all botanic and heritage gardens to contribute Seeking to engage at national (UK and Ireland), European and international levels, by: –Co-ordinating –Reporting and influencing –Promoting

GSPC: co-ordinating Resource pack to members Threatened native species in ex situ living collections and recovery programmes Trees and ferns Links to biodiversity, habitat and species action plans (BAPs, HAPs and SAPs)

Endangered British flora Woodsia ilvensis Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh

Endangered British flora Sorbus bristoliensis University of Bristol Botanic Garden

GSPC: more co-ordinating Collate information on members’ actions Publish PlantNet Directory of Botanical Collections in Britain and Ireland online Cultivation and propagation database European and global links

GSPC: reporting and influencing Attend meetings and prepare reports on progress by members in attaining targets, in relation to: UK reporting commitments and schedule European Plant Conservation Strategy International activities

GSPC: promoting Date for co-ordinating public awareness activities: Publication of a report on the contribution of UK and Irish collections to GSPC targets Distribution to the public of a leaflet on the GSPC and PlantNet collections Exhibit on GSPC for display at member gardens Media relations

What next? Include GSPC in future PlantNet meetings Keep talking to in situ community Seek funding Conference in spring 2005 on progress in practical conservation

Global Strategy for Plant Conservation To halt the current and continuing loss of biodiversity – by 2010