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The Global Strategy for Plant Conservation: a challenge and opportunity for the international community
Update FORUM: Science & Society
Special Issue: Plant science research in botanic gardens
The Global Strategy for Plant Conservation: a challenge and opportunity for the international community Peter Wyse Jackson1 and Kathryn Kennedy2 1 2
National Botanic Gardens of Ireland, Glasnevin, Dublin 9, Ireland Center for Plant Conservation, PO Box 299, St Louis, MO 63166, USA
In 2002, the United Nations Convention on Biological Diversity adopted a Global Strategy for Plant Conservation. This Strategy provided an important new opportunity to focus on the potential loss of tens of thousands of threatened plant species. Here, we briefly describe the development and implementation of the Strategy.
Plant extinction crisis Worldwide, it is recognised that tens of thousands of plant species are rare or endangered and potentially face extinction this century if current trends continue [1]. In recent years, there is also greater awareness that the growing impacts of climate change on natural systems will increase the potential loss of plant diversity further [2]. Climatechange predictions impacting on plants and their habitats include temperature increases, changes in precipitation patterns, desertification, sea-level rises, shifts in growing seasons of plants, loss of pollinators and seed dispersers, and increasing frequency and intensity of extreme weather events, such as droughts, storms and floods [2]. Biological diversity is already threatened by habitat destruction and other human-caused stresses, and climate change makes the conservation of biodiversity even more of a challenge. Although the potential extinction crisis faced by plants worldwide has been recognised for several decades [3,4], only recently has a coherent plan of action for their conservation been developed to address the potential loss of so much plant diversity of the world. Although it is acknowledged that the conservation of plant resources is fundamental to the future survival of humanity and of many other species that rely on plants to provide the fabric of most terrestrial ecosystems, plant conservation had not received the attention that it needed until recently. Development of the Strategy At the XVI International Botanical Congress held in Saint Louis, MO, USA in August 1999, the President of the Congress, Peter H. Raven, reviewed the current crisis for plant diversity worldwide. He called for the development of urgent new initiatives and actions to address the possible loss of tens of thousands of plant species worldwide during the 21st century. As a result, a resolution was Corresponding author: Wyse Jackson, P. ([email protected]).
578
adopted by the Congress urging the world community to recognise plant conservation as an outstanding global priority. Responding to this resolution, Botanic Gardens Conservation International (BGCI) (http://www.bgci.org) convened a high-level group in April 2000 in Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Spain, which issued an important landmark statement known as ‘The Gran Canaria Declaration’ [1]. The group called for the development of a global strategy for plant conservation and an associated programme for its implementation, within the framework of the United Nations Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD). The Declaration was subsequently submitted to the 5th Meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity (COP5), held in Nairobi, Kenya in May 2000, which agreed to consider such an initiative at its next COP in 2002. In the intervening years, a range of consultations and meetings were held to develop the details of the Strategy. The various stages in the complex negotiations towards its adoption are outlined elsewhere and will not be repeated here [5]. However, in April 2002, the CBD agreed to adopt a Global Strategy for Plant Conservation (GSPC) as part of the suite of international initiatives that must be implemented by the 190+ countries that are Parties to the Convention. Objectives and targets of the GSPC The ultimate, long-term objective of the Strategy is to halt the current and continuing loss of plant diversity (Box 1). It represents a remarkable and innovative framework not only by providing a guide for plant conservation action worldwide but also because it included, for the first time, an agreed series of international outcome-orientated targets on what needs to be achieved for plant conservation by 2010. It also provides a new and unique integration of national and international initiatives and a means to measure progress towards the achievement of a measurable set of goals, against which government programmes and the initiatives undertaken by a range of national and international organisations can be aligned. It is also a document that articulates the multidisciplinary nature of plant conservation activities and the need to integrate scientific, social and economic issues in problem-solving to accomplish its goals. The Strategy includes a series of 16 outcome-orientated targets to be achieved by 2010 (http://www.cbd.int/gspc/ targets.shtml). It was also hoped that the Strategy would
1360-1385/$ – see front matter ß 2009 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved. doi:10.1016/j.tplants.2009.08.011 Available online 24 September 2009
Update Box 1. Scope of the Global Strategy for Plant Conservation
Understanding and documenting plant diversity. Conserving plant diversity. Using plant diversity sustainably. Promoting education and awareness about plant diversity. Capacity building for plant diversity.
provide a framework to promote new harmony between existing initiatives, such as implementation of National Biodiversity Strategies and Action Plans, and the programmes undertaken by national and international nongovernmental and inter-governmental organisations, aimed at plant conservation, to identify gaps where new initiatives are required and to promote mobilisation of the necessary resources. It was also suggested that the Strategy would provide a tool to enhance the conservation of ecosystems, in general, and promote the sustainable use of biodiversity, particularly helping to assure the future of functioning of ecological systems and assure provision of the goods and services that such systems provide. An important aspect of the Strategy was also to provide a pilot exercise under the CBD for the setting of targets that relate to the ultimate objectives of the CBD. Previously, there had been reluctance to formalise measurable outcome targets for the work of the CBD. This was primarily related to recognised disparities in the relative workload, capacity and current status of conservation progress in many nations, and also concern that national sovereignty should not be seen to be undermined by decisions taken at the international level. Some of the goals (targets) that were set by the Global Strategy include: A widely accessible working list of known plant species, as a step towards a complete world flora. A preliminary assessment of the conservation status of all known plant species, at national, regional and international levels. 60% of threatened plant species in accessible ex situ collections and 10% of them included in recovery and restoration programmes. Management plans in place for at least 100 major alien species that threaten plants, plant communities and associated habitats and ecosystems. No species of wild flora endangered by international trade. The decline of plant resources, and associated indigenous and local knowledge, innovations and practices that support sustainable livelihoods, local food security and healthcare, halted. The importance of plant diversity and the need for its conservation incorporated into communication, educational and public-awareness programmes. Networks for plant conservation activities established or strengthened at national, regional and international levels. Shortly after the CBD adopted the GSPC, the World Summit on Sustainable Development was held in Johannesburg, South Africa, where a plan of implementation was
Trends in Plant Science
Vol.14 No.11
adopted by the governments of the world that acknowledged specifically for the first time the link between sustainable development and biodiversity conservation. The Summit adopting a ‘Plan of Implementation’ that included what has come to be known as the 2010 biodiversity target ‘to achieve a significant reduction in the rate of loss of biodiversity by 2010’. The GSPC document incorporating social and economic goals therefore provided a useful model on how this target could be transformed into comprehensive, practical and measurable on-the-ground actions and programmes. Implementation of the GSPC Following its adoption, work began on the implementation of the GSPC. A range of countries have developed and adopted National Plant Conservation Strategies, including China, Colombia, Ireland, Mexico, the Philippines and the Seychelles. Other countries are implementing the Strategy as part of their National Biodiversity Strategies and Action Plans or have adopted specific national targets related to the 16 GSPC targets (although it must be acknowledged that a disappointing number, <10%, of countries have adopted GSPC-related national targets). A range of organisations and institutions have developed specific programmes to address the achievement of its targets, as well as incorporating it into their strategies and policies. A notable example was the ‘Investing in Nature’ programme implemented by BGCI and botanic gardens in countries including Argentina, Brazil, China, India, Indonesia and Mexico, from 2000 to 2006, funded with a grant of US$11.6 million from HSBC bank. Another example is the development of a global checklist of known plant species led by botanical institutions including the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, UK and Missouri Botanical Gardens, Saint Louis, MO, USA [6]. Plantlife International has also led the development of initiatives to identify and safeguard important areas for plant diversity in at least 69 countries (http://www.plantlife-org/reports.asp). A Global Partnership for Plant Conservation (GPPC) was launched in 2004, building on a base of organisations that were active in the original ‘Gran Canaria Group’. The GPPC was subsequently recognised by the CBD as forming a component of a flexible coordination mechanism for the Strategy and now includes 36 member organisations and institutions, all with significant international programmes in plant conservation supporting national GSPC implementation (http://www.plants2010.org). At the same time, the CBD requested countries to nominate national GSPC focal points and, to date, 70 such focal points have been established. Botanic gardens worldwide have continued to be one of the most active groups in working to refine and implement the GSPC. The botanic garden community immediately began to formulate their ongoing role through development and implementation of the International Agenda for Botanic Gardens in Conservation [7]. In addition to the focus of the GPPC and in-country initiatives, regional collaborations among existing organisations with shared interests and challenges have been formed that are expected to bear fruit in coming years, such as the five-way collaboration supporting the development of the North American Botanic Garden 579
Update Strategy for Plant Conservation [8] and ongoing work between the American Public Garden Association (APGA) (http://www.publicgardens.org), Asociacio´n Mexicana de Jardines Bota´nicos (AMJB; http://www.amjb.org), BGCI, The Canadian Botanical Conservation Network (CBCN; http://www.rbg.ca/cbcn) and the Center for Plant Conservation (CPC; http://www.centerforplantconservation.org). In 2007, an in-depth ‘mid-term’ review of progress was begun by the CBD. The review noted that implementation of the Strategy had been ‘patchy’, with good progress achieved for some targets (such as in ex situ conservation, network development, education and the identification of important areas of plant diversity). The review also highlighted limited progress made towards some targets (such as in determining the conservation status of plant species, conserving plant diversity in production lands, control of alien invasive species and building the capacity required to achieve the targets). Nevertheless, a significant success of the GSPC has been the way in which it has been adopted by individual institutions and organisations; the CBD particularly acknowledged that the Strategy has stimulated the engagement of the botanical and plant conservation communities in the work of the Convention (which had not happened previously). Despite this, however, progress remains slow and the widely hoped for new resources for plant conservation have, by and large, not become available, despite some significant successes achieved. Notable examples of international projects where new resources have come to plant conservation include the ‘Investing in Nature’ programme of BGCI, funded by HSBC (http://www.bgci.org/worldwide/1823) and the Millennium Seed Bank Project, led by the Royal Botanic Gardens Kew and its partners worldwide (http://www.kew.org/msbp/index.htm). Although each government has welcomed the GSPC, most countries have still barely addressed the challenge for its achievement. More countries will need to adopt and implement new actions, initiatives and programmes if the goals of the GSPC are to be met. The CBD also endorsed the development of a Plant Conservation Report, prepared by the CBD Secretariat and the GPPC, as a plant conservation communication tool. This was published in May 2009 [9]. The report outlines in detail progress made on each one of the targets, as well as suggesting what must be future priorities for GSPC implementation. The GSPC post-2010 The question remains as to what will be the future of the GSPC after 2010. In 2008, the CBD agreed to consider the further development of the GSPC after 2010 and called for proposals for a ‘consolidated update’ of the Strategy. Since then, meetings, discussions and consultations have been ongoing to review possible proposals for a second phase for the GSPC. These consultations have indicated that there is clear support for its continuation and for the adoption of a series of revised targets, probably for 2020.
580
Trends in Plant Science Vol.14 No.11
The need for a clearer long-term vision for plant conservation has also been highlighted, as well as a more specific focus for the Strategy on safeguarding ecosystem services and plant resources needed for human livelihoods and wellbeing in the future. A challenge will be to make the GSPC more relevant to development agendas and plans of countries. The CBD is also keen to link the GSPC more specifically with its own Strategic Plan that is currently being developed and negotiated (which will include the post-2010 biodiversity target) before it is adopted, along with a new GSPC at the next Conference of the Parties of the CBD in Nagoya, Japan in October 2010. Concluding remarks The international plant conservation scene has undergone a remarkable transformation over the past few years, with the adoption of the GSPC. It has had an important role in stimulating new initiatives and programmes at all levels, particularly among certain sectors, especially botanic gardens worldwide. Indeed, the early impetus and leadership from botanic gardens served as the call to action and provided the early framework. A good start has been made but it is only a start. As the work has progressed, it has become clear that the task faced to safeguard plant diversity is more demanding than had been anticipated, not only because of better understanding of the impacts of climate change but also because it is recognised that the complexities of conservation biology will require a multitude of different approaches to be applied to achieve the conservation of such a wide diversity of plant species and ecosystems. Nevertheless, genuine and enthusiastic support for the GSPC has been a hallmark of its first 7 years. Sustaining and building on that momentum and enthusiasm will be one of the key factors in assuring its success during the coming decade. References 1 Blackmore, S. et al. (2001) The Gran Canaria Declaration, Botanic Gardens Conservation International 2 Hawkins, B. et al. (2008) Plants and Climate Change: Which Future? Botanic Gardens Conservation International 3 World Conservation Monitoring Centre (1992) Global Biodiversity. Status of the Earth’s Living Resources, World Conservation Monitoring Centre 4 Heywood, V.H. (ed.) (1995) Global Biodiversity Assessment, United Nations Environment Programme 5 Wyse Jackson, P.S. (2002) Development and adoption of the Global Strategy for Plant Conservation: an NGO’s perspective. Bot. Gard. Conserv. News 3, 25–32 6 Nic Lughadha, E. (2004) Towards a working list of all known plant species. Philos. Trans. R. Soc. Lond. B 359, 681–687 7 Wyse Jackson, P.S. and Sutherland, L. (2000) The International Agenda for Botanic Gardens in Conservation, Botanic Gardens Conservation International 8 Botanic Gardens Conservation International (2006) The North American Botanic Garden Strategy for Plant Conservation, Botanic Gardens Conservation International 9 CBD Secretariat and the Global Partnership for Plant Conservation (2009) Plant Conservation Report: A Review of Progress in Implementing the Global Strategy for Plant Conservation (GSPC), Secretariat of the Convention on Biological Diversity
1360-1385/$ – see front matter ß 2009 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved. doi:10.1016/j.tplants.2009.08.011 Available online 24 September 2009
Special Issue: Plant science research in botanic gardens
The Global Strategy for Plant Conservation: a challenge and opportunity for the international community Peter Wyse Jackson1 and Kathryn Kennedy2 1 2
National Botanic Gardens of Ireland, Glasnevin, Dublin 9, Ireland Center for Plant Conservation, PO Box 299, St Louis, MO 63166, USA
In 2002, the United Nations Convention on Biological Diversity adopted a Global Strategy for Plant Conservation. This Strategy provided an important new opportunity to focus on the potential loss of tens of thousands of threatened plant species. Here, we briefly describe the development and implementation of the Strategy.
Plant extinction crisis Worldwide, it is recognised that tens of thousands of plant species are rare or endangered and potentially face extinction this century if current trends continue [1]. In recent years, there is also greater awareness that the growing impacts of climate change on natural systems will increase the potential loss of plant diversity further [2]. Climatechange predictions impacting on plants and their habitats include temperature increases, changes in precipitation patterns, desertification, sea-level rises, shifts in growing seasons of plants, loss of pollinators and seed dispersers, and increasing frequency and intensity of extreme weather events, such as droughts, storms and floods [2]. Biological diversity is already threatened by habitat destruction and other human-caused stresses, and climate change makes the conservation of biodiversity even more of a challenge. Although the potential extinction crisis faced by plants worldwide has been recognised for several decades [3,4], only recently has a coherent plan of action for their conservation been developed to address the potential loss of so much plant diversity of the world. Although it is acknowledged that the conservation of plant resources is fundamental to the future survival of humanity and of many other species that rely on plants to provide the fabric of most terrestrial ecosystems, plant conservation had not received the attention that it needed until recently. Development of the Strategy At the XVI International Botanical Congress held in Saint Louis, MO, USA in August 1999, the President of the Congress, Peter H. Raven, reviewed the current crisis for plant diversity worldwide. He called for the development of urgent new initiatives and actions to address the possible loss of tens of thousands of plant species worldwide during the 21st century. As a result, a resolution was Corresponding author: Wyse Jackson, P. ([email protected]).
578
adopted by the Congress urging the world community to recognise plant conservation as an outstanding global priority. Responding to this resolution, Botanic Gardens Conservation International (BGCI) (http://www.bgci.org) convened a high-level group in April 2000 in Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Spain, which issued an important landmark statement known as ‘The Gran Canaria Declaration’ [1]. The group called for the development of a global strategy for plant conservation and an associated programme for its implementation, within the framework of the United Nations Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD). The Declaration was subsequently submitted to the 5th Meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity (COP5), held in Nairobi, Kenya in May 2000, which agreed to consider such an initiative at its next COP in 2002. In the intervening years, a range of consultations and meetings were held to develop the details of the Strategy. The various stages in the complex negotiations towards its adoption are outlined elsewhere and will not be repeated here [5]. However, in April 2002, the CBD agreed to adopt a Global Strategy for Plant Conservation (GSPC) as part of the suite of international initiatives that must be implemented by the 190+ countries that are Parties to the Convention. Objectives and targets of the GSPC The ultimate, long-term objective of the Strategy is to halt the current and continuing loss of plant diversity (Box 1). It represents a remarkable and innovative framework not only by providing a guide for plant conservation action worldwide but also because it included, for the first time, an agreed series of international outcome-orientated targets on what needs to be achieved for plant conservation by 2010. It also provides a new and unique integration of national and international initiatives and a means to measure progress towards the achievement of a measurable set of goals, against which government programmes and the initiatives undertaken by a range of national and international organisations can be aligned. It is also a document that articulates the multidisciplinary nature of plant conservation activities and the need to integrate scientific, social and economic issues in problem-solving to accomplish its goals. The Strategy includes a series of 16 outcome-orientated targets to be achieved by 2010 (http://www.cbd.int/gspc/ targets.shtml). It was also hoped that the Strategy would
1360-1385/$ – see front matter ß 2009 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved. doi:10.1016/j.tplants.2009.08.011 Available online 24 September 2009
Update Box 1. Scope of the Global Strategy for Plant Conservation
Understanding and documenting plant diversity. Conserving plant diversity. Using plant diversity sustainably. Promoting education and awareness about plant diversity. Capacity building for plant diversity.
provide a framework to promote new harmony between existing initiatives, such as implementation of National Biodiversity Strategies and Action Plans, and the programmes undertaken by national and international nongovernmental and inter-governmental organisations, aimed at plant conservation, to identify gaps where new initiatives are required and to promote mobilisation of the necessary resources. It was also suggested that the Strategy would provide a tool to enhance the conservation of ecosystems, in general, and promote the sustainable use of biodiversity, particularly helping to assure the future of functioning of ecological systems and assure provision of the goods and services that such systems provide. An important aspect of the Strategy was also to provide a pilot exercise under the CBD for the setting of targets that relate to the ultimate objectives of the CBD. Previously, there had been reluctance to formalise measurable outcome targets for the work of the CBD. This was primarily related to recognised disparities in the relative workload, capacity and current status of conservation progress in many nations, and also concern that national sovereignty should not be seen to be undermined by decisions taken at the international level. Some of the goals (targets) that were set by the Global Strategy include: A widely accessible working list of known plant species, as a step towards a complete world flora. A preliminary assessment of the conservation status of all known plant species, at national, regional and international levels. 60% of threatened plant species in accessible ex situ collections and 10% of them included in recovery and restoration programmes. Management plans in place for at least 100 major alien species that threaten plants, plant communities and associated habitats and ecosystems. No species of wild flora endangered by international trade. The decline of plant resources, and associated indigenous and local knowledge, innovations and practices that support sustainable livelihoods, local food security and healthcare, halted. The importance of plant diversity and the need for its conservation incorporated into communication, educational and public-awareness programmes. Networks for plant conservation activities established or strengthened at national, regional and international levels. Shortly after the CBD adopted the GSPC, the World Summit on Sustainable Development was held in Johannesburg, South Africa, where a plan of implementation was
Trends in Plant Science
Vol.14 No.11
adopted by the governments of the world that acknowledged specifically for the first time the link between sustainable development and biodiversity conservation. The Summit adopting a ‘Plan of Implementation’ that included what has come to be known as the 2010 biodiversity target ‘to achieve a significant reduction in the rate of loss of biodiversity by 2010’. The GSPC document incorporating social and economic goals therefore provided a useful model on how this target could be transformed into comprehensive, practical and measurable on-the-ground actions and programmes. Implementation of the GSPC Following its adoption, work began on the implementation of the GSPC. A range of countries have developed and adopted National Plant Conservation Strategies, including China, Colombia, Ireland, Mexico, the Philippines and the Seychelles. Other countries are implementing the Strategy as part of their National Biodiversity Strategies and Action Plans or have adopted specific national targets related to the 16 GSPC targets (although it must be acknowledged that a disappointing number, <10%, of countries have adopted GSPC-related national targets). A range of organisations and institutions have developed specific programmes to address the achievement of its targets, as well as incorporating it into their strategies and policies. A notable example was the ‘Investing in Nature’ programme implemented by BGCI and botanic gardens in countries including Argentina, Brazil, China, India, Indonesia and Mexico, from 2000 to 2006, funded with a grant of US$11.6 million from HSBC bank. Another example is the development of a global checklist of known plant species led by botanical institutions including the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, UK and Missouri Botanical Gardens, Saint Louis, MO, USA [6]. Plantlife International has also led the development of initiatives to identify and safeguard important areas for plant diversity in at least 69 countries (http://www.plantlife-org/reports.asp). A Global Partnership for Plant Conservation (GPPC) was launched in 2004, building on a base of organisations that were active in the original ‘Gran Canaria Group’. The GPPC was subsequently recognised by the CBD as forming a component of a flexible coordination mechanism for the Strategy and now includes 36 member organisations and institutions, all with significant international programmes in plant conservation supporting national GSPC implementation (http://www.plants2010.org). At the same time, the CBD requested countries to nominate national GSPC focal points and, to date, 70 such focal points have been established. Botanic gardens worldwide have continued to be one of the most active groups in working to refine and implement the GSPC. The botanic garden community immediately began to formulate their ongoing role through development and implementation of the International Agenda for Botanic Gardens in Conservation [7]. In addition to the focus of the GPPC and in-country initiatives, regional collaborations among existing organisations with shared interests and challenges have been formed that are expected to bear fruit in coming years, such as the five-way collaboration supporting the development of the North American Botanic Garden 579
Update Strategy for Plant Conservation [8] and ongoing work between the American Public Garden Association (APGA) (http://www.publicgardens.org), Asociacio´n Mexicana de Jardines Bota´nicos (AMJB; http://www.amjb.org), BGCI, The Canadian Botanical Conservation Network (CBCN; http://www.rbg.ca/cbcn) and the Center for Plant Conservation (CPC; http://www.centerforplantconservation.org). In 2007, an in-depth ‘mid-term’ review of progress was begun by the CBD. The review noted that implementation of the Strategy had been ‘patchy’, with good progress achieved for some targets (such as in ex situ conservation, network development, education and the identification of important areas of plant diversity). The review also highlighted limited progress made towards some targets (such as in determining the conservation status of plant species, conserving plant diversity in production lands, control of alien invasive species and building the capacity required to achieve the targets). Nevertheless, a significant success of the GSPC has been the way in which it has been adopted by individual institutions and organisations; the CBD particularly acknowledged that the Strategy has stimulated the engagement of the botanical and plant conservation communities in the work of the Convention (which had not happened previously). Despite this, however, progress remains slow and the widely hoped for new resources for plant conservation have, by and large, not become available, despite some significant successes achieved. Notable examples of international projects where new resources have come to plant conservation include the ‘Investing in Nature’ programme of BGCI, funded by HSBC (http://www.bgci.org/worldwide/1823) and the Millennium Seed Bank Project, led by the Royal Botanic Gardens Kew and its partners worldwide (http://www.kew.org/msbp/index.htm). Although each government has welcomed the GSPC, most countries have still barely addressed the challenge for its achievement. More countries will need to adopt and implement new actions, initiatives and programmes if the goals of the GSPC are to be met. The CBD also endorsed the development of a Plant Conservation Report, prepared by the CBD Secretariat and the GPPC, as a plant conservation communication tool. This was published in May 2009 [9]. The report outlines in detail progress made on each one of the targets, as well as suggesting what must be future priorities for GSPC implementation. The GSPC post-2010 The question remains as to what will be the future of the GSPC after 2010. In 2008, the CBD agreed to consider the further development of the GSPC after 2010 and called for proposals for a ‘consolidated update’ of the Strategy. Since then, meetings, discussions and consultations have been ongoing to review possible proposals for a second phase for the GSPC. These consultations have indicated that there is clear support for its continuation and for the adoption of a series of revised targets, probably for 2020.
580
Trends in Plant Science Vol.14 No.11
The need for a clearer long-term vision for plant conservation has also been highlighted, as well as a more specific focus for the Strategy on safeguarding ecosystem services and plant resources needed for human livelihoods and wellbeing in the future. A challenge will be to make the GSPC more relevant to development agendas and plans of countries. The CBD is also keen to link the GSPC more specifically with its own Strategic Plan that is currently being developed and negotiated (which will include the post-2010 biodiversity target) before it is adopted, along with a new GSPC at the next Conference of the Parties of the CBD in Nagoya, Japan in October 2010. Concluding remarks The international plant conservation scene has undergone a remarkable transformation over the past few years, with the adoption of the GSPC. It has had an important role in stimulating new initiatives and programmes at all levels, particularly among certain sectors, especially botanic gardens worldwide. Indeed, the early impetus and leadership from botanic gardens served as the call to action and provided the early framework. A good start has been made but it is only a start. As the work has progressed, it has become clear that the task faced to safeguard plant diversity is more demanding than had been anticipated, not only because of better understanding of the impacts of climate change but also because it is recognised that the complexities of conservation biology will require a multitude of different approaches to be applied to achieve the conservation of such a wide diversity of plant species and ecosystems. Nevertheless, genuine and enthusiastic support for the GSPC has been a hallmark of its first 7 years. Sustaining and building on that momentum and enthusiasm will be one of the key factors in assuring its success during the coming decade. References 1 Blackmore, S. et al. (2001) The Gran Canaria Declaration, Botanic Gardens Conservation International 2 Hawkins, B. et al. (2008) Plants and Climate Change: Which Future? Botanic Gardens Conservation International 3 World Conservation Monitoring Centre (1992) Global Biodiversity. Status of the Earth’s Living Resources, World Conservation Monitoring Centre 4 Heywood, V.H. (ed.) (1995) Global Biodiversity Assessment, United Nations Environment Programme 5 Wyse Jackson, P.S. (2002) Development and adoption of the Global Strategy for Plant Conservation: an NGO’s perspective. Bot. Gard. Conserv. News 3, 25–32 6 Nic Lughadha, E. (2004) Towards a working list of all known plant species. Philos. Trans. R. Soc. Lond. B 359, 681–687 7 Wyse Jackson, P.S. and Sutherland, L. (2000) The International Agenda for Botanic Gardens in Conservation, Botanic Gardens Conservation International 8 Botanic Gardens Conservation International (2006) The North American Botanic Garden Strategy for Plant Conservation, Botanic Gardens Conservation International 9 CBD Secretariat and the Global Partnership for Plant Conservation (2009) Plant Conservation Report: A Review of Progress in Implementing the Global Strategy for Plant Conservation (GSPC), Secretariat of the Convention on Biological Diversity
1360-1385/$ – see front matter ß 2009 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved. doi:10.1016/j.tplants.2009.08.011 Available online 24 September 2009