BG joJournal of Botuanic Gardens Cronservatinon Internationaal l Volume 4 • Number 2 • July 2007

Special 2007 anniversary issue Botanic gardens and climate change

20 YEARS 1987-2007 Contents

02 Editorial – Responding to climate change

Editors : Etelka Leadlay and Sara Oldfield

Co-editor : Suzanne Sharrock 03 The response of botanic gardens to climate change

Cover Photo : Species such as the Quiver Tree ( Aloe dichotoma ) are under threat due to the impact of climate The Millennium Seed Bank Project delivering Target 8 of the change (see page 36) (Photo: Nicholas Wray) 09 Global Strategy for Plant Conservation Design : John Morgan, Seascape E-mail: [email protected]

Submissions for the next issue should reach the editor 13 Chicago Botanic Garden’s conservation and outreach efforts on before 8th October, 2007. Please send text on diskette climate change or via e-mail, as well as a hard copy. Please send photographs as original slides or prints unless scanned to a very high resolution (300 pixels/inch and 100mm in width); digital images need to be of a high resolution for 17 Case studies on the effect of climate change on the flora of printing. If you would like further information, please request Notes for authors . Mexico

BGjournal is published by Botanic Gardens Conservation International (BGCI) . It is published twice a year and is 22 Research on biodiversity and climate change at the Royal sent to all BGCI members. Membership is open to all interested individuals, institutions and organisations that Botanic Garden Edinburgh support the aims of BGCI (see page 32 for Membership application form). Further details available from: 26 The potential impact of climate change on native plant diversity • Botanic Gardens Conservation International, Descanso House, 199 Kew Road, Richmond, Surrey TW9 3BW in Ireland UK. Tel: +44 (0)20 8332 5953, Fax: +44 (0)20 8332 5956 Email: [email protected], www.bgci.org • BGCI-Russia, c/o Main Botanical Gardens, 30 Climate change and Africa: an ecological perspective Botanicheskaya st., 4, Moscow 127276, Russia. Tel: +7 (095) 219 6160 / 5377, Fax: +7 (095) 218 0525, E-mail: [email protected], www.bgci.ru • BGCI-Netherlands, c/o Delft University of Technology 34 Report on the 3rd Global Botanic Gardens Congress Julianalaan 67, NL-2628 BC Delft, Netherlands Wuhan, China Tel: +31 15 278 4714 Fax: +31 15 278 2355 email: [email protected] www.botanischetuin.tudelft.nl • BGCI-Canarias, c/o Jardín Botánico Canario Viera y 36 Biodiversity and climate change: Clavijo, Apartado de Correos 14, Tafira Alta 35017, a resource list Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Gran Canaria, Spain. Tel: +34 928 21 95 80/82/83, Fax: +34 928 21 95 81, E-mail: [email protected] • BGCI- China, 723 Xingke Rd., Guangzhou 510650 China. How to join Botanic Gardens Tel:(86)20-37252692. email: [email protected] www.bgci.org/china Conservation International • BGCI – South East Asia, c/o Registry, Singapore Botanic Gardens, 1 Cluny Road, Singapore 259569. Email: Bian.Tan @bgci.org, • BGCI-Colombia, c/o Jardín Botánico de Bogotá, Jose Celestino Mutis, Av. No. 61-13 – A.A. 59887, Santa Fe de Bogotá, D.C., Colombia. Tel: +57 630 0949, 09 Fax: +57 630 5075, E-mail: [email protected], www.humboldt.org.co/jardinesdecolombia/html/la_red.htm • BGCI-Deutschland, c/o Botanische Gärten der Universität Bonn, Meckenheimer Allee 171, 53115 Bonn, Germany. Tel: +49 2 2873 9055, Fax: +49 2 28731690, E-mail: [email protected]

BGCI is a worldwide membership organization established in 1987. Its mission is to build a global network for plant conservation. BGCI is an independent organization registered in the United Kingdom as a charity (Charity Reg No 1098834) and a company limited by guarantee, No 4673175. BGCI is a tax-exempt (501(c)(3) non-profit organization in the USA and in Russia. 03 22 Opinions expressed in this publication do not necessarily reflect the views of the Boards or staff of BGCI or of its 17 members

BGjournal replaces BGCNews and is published twice a year. BGjournal has been given a new name as the news section of BGCNews and Roots (Botanic Gardens Conservation International Education Review) is now contained in Cuttings which is published quarterly. There are 31 issues of BGCNews published twice yearly from 1987-2003.

26 30

BGjournal • Vol 4 (2) 01 Editorial - Responding to climate change

Climate change is now generally Provision of accurate information on Using the baseline report as a starting accepted to be one of the big the impact of climate change on wild point, BGCI is also planning a web- challenges of our time. Steps to plants will be crucial to guide and based information service on the mitigate and adapt to new and often prioritise conservation action. BGCI is impact of climate change on wild dramatic climatic conditions are being preparing a baseline report on this plants. This will link with our widely debated and encouraged by topic that will be available by the end PlantSearch database, providing politicians and the media. of this year. The baseline report will be information on threatened plants likely Environmentalism is fashionable but made available to policy makers and to be at most urgent risk as a result of still the value of maintaining plant will be used to develop a response to increasing temperatures, rising sea diversity is not given the attention it climate change within the framework of levels, altered hydrological patterns deserves. Explaining the links between the Global Strategy for Plant and other consequences of changing plant diversity, ecosystem functions Conservation (GSPC). climatic conditions. The information and the global climate is a key role for service will be designed to provide botanic gardens. At the same time It is likely that increasing political and clear messages and resources for the safeguarding plant diversity in the face popular attention will focus on education and public awareness work of increased environmental threats is biodiversity and its relationship to of botanic gardens and to highlight ever more important. climate change in the run up to the ongoing activities around the world 2010 Biodiversity Target, “to achieve that people can get involved in. In this issue of BGjournal the impact of by 2010 a significant reduction of the climate change on plant species in current rate of biodiversity loss at the There is much that we can all do to various parts of the world is described global, regional and national level as a decrease our carbon footprints and and the responses that can be made by contribution to poverty alleviation and BGCI is reviewing its own internal botanic gardens are considered. It is to the benefit of all life on earth”. policies to make sure that we minimise vital that we act and demonstrate the We have to ensure that plant diversity our impact. We welcome suggestions actions that are being taken so that the is at the forefront of discussions. and ideas to guide our review and look work of botanic gardens is seen as The successful implementation of the forward to working with all our relevant and part of the solution. BGCI GSPC, building on five years of members in addressing the challenge is developing major initiatives in successful initiatives to promote and of climate change. response to climate change and these implement the targets, will help to are set out in our new Five Year Plan ensure the security of the world’s Sara Oldfield 2007-2012 (see BGCI website). vegetation and thereby reduce the Secretary General, BGCI Facilitating exchange of ideas and amount of carbon emissions expertise between our global significantly. Professor Stephen membership and associated botanic Hopper, Director of the Royal Botanic garden networks remains invaluable in Gardens, Kew has pointed out that delivering the Plan. Climate change was conserving the world’s natural certainly a key topic for discussion at vegetation will reduce carbon the highly successful 3rd Global Botanic emissions by an amount more than Gardens Congress held in April this year equivalent to those generated by the and some of the papers presented here world’s combined transport systems. result from these discussions.

02 BGjournal • Vol 4 (2) Author: David Bramwell

The response of botanic gardens to climate change

During the last 30 years or so, botanic have made a major effort to progress focus on the need to take urgent, gardens have modernized their outlook towards these objectives. However, immediate measures (Stern, 2006). and their fundamental role to become there is concern that now, in the middle However, when the Global Strategy was increasingly active in the conservation period for achieving the targets, a new originally developed, climate change of plant diversity. As a response to the challenge has to be faced, climate was an issue to be resolved and biodiversity crisis as envisaged during change, that was not originally a major reversed by the control of greenhouse the last two decades a considerable element of the Global Strategy . gas emissions and the major emphasis number of gardens have developed was on the Kyoto Accord under which programmes of research, horticulture This new, most alarming threat to plant governments would take the necessary and environmental education particularly conservation, global climate change or measures to limit their emissions. Over dealing with the conservation of rare more popularly “global warming” has the past two or three years, however, and threatened species. Indeed, botanic come on to the scene since the Global the real extent of the problem is gardens now have much to offer the Strategy was developed over five years beginning to be understood and the conservation world not only as the ago. The world is changing and fact that the weak measures that came principal centres for ex situ conservation probably more quickly than at any time out of Kyoto are not sufficient to but also as supporting institutions for in human history and the most prevent changes which potentially will the conservation of plants in situ . Many disruptive and perhaps least be devastating for plant diversity and gardens have developed not only living predictable alteration concerns the biological diversity in general. The collections but also important potentially disastrous effects of a Kyoto measures are, indeed, even if germplasm banks or seed banks for the rapidly changing global climate. There they were fully implemented, not long-term storage of threatened plants has been major governmental activity sufficient to reverse climate change. as an insurance policy against and alarm over the probable The new challenge is, therefore, about extinction. consequences of climate change. how the Global Strategy and national For instance, the Stern Review on the strategies are taken forward for plant With the development of BGCI, Botanic Economics of Climate Change for the conservation in the face of such Gardens Conservation International, the British Government has really helped to potentially devastating change. world’s botanic gardens have also become a major voice for plant Left: Gran conservation in the international forum. Canaria Group This has been demonstrated by the of international lead taken by botanic gardens in the experts who development of The Gran Canaria formulated a Declaration calling for a Global Program second Gran for Plant Conservation (BGCI, 2000) Canaria which resulted in the Global Strategy Declaration on for Plant Conservation (CBD, 2003). Climate Change The Global Strategy proposed a and Plant number of conservation targets to be Conservation in achieved by the year 2010. Many of Las Palmas de which have direct relevance for botanic Gran Canaria, gardens and in many countries gardens April, 2006

BGCI • 2007 • BGjournal • Vol 4 (2) • 03-08 03 The most recent models based on a Box 1. Some examples of the predicted impacts of climate change at the species level temperature rise of 2-3ºC over the next 100 years suggest that up to 50% of A European research group developed a model • Botrychium lunaria (Common Moonwort), a the 400,000 or so higher plant species called “EUROMOVE” which used climate data Dutch red list species with an Atlantic and will be threatened with extinction. from 1990 to 2050 as compiled from the IMAGE northern distribution is predicted to decrease Furthermore, a recent study of six 2 model, and determined climate envelopes for dramatically by 2050 and it is calculated to biodiversity-rich regions of the world about 1400 plant species by multiple logistic remain in only less than half of its current regression analysis. The climate envelopes were area (47%). Hardly any new areas become covering 20% of the land area indicates applied to the projected climate to obtain suitable by 2050, and Botrychium lunaria will that up to 37% of all species in these predictions about plant diversity and retreat into western Scandinavia, Iceland, regions will be extinct by 2050 distributions by 2050. The results indicated that Scotland, and the Alps. including for example up to 40% of the species show differing responses to the South Africa’s Proteaceae (Thomas et forecasted climate change. For some species, • Parietaria judaica is a Mediterranean species their total area will increase while for other growing on walls along the Atlantic and al ., 2004). Models by Carlos Nobre from species their area will decline. Some examples Mediterranean. Its climatically suitable area Brazil suggest that the wet tropical include: will remain largely unchanged (93%); forests of the Amazon Basin will all but calculations predict a potential increase of its disappear with huge losses of • Scleranthus perennis (Perennial Knawel), a current area (128%), primarily extending perennial herbaceous plant of the carnation eastward into Germany and Denmark. biodiversity (2004). In Africa, Lovett and family with a European distribution will Parietaria judaica is predicted to disappear his fellow researchers predict that the potentially undergo dramatic area reductions, from southern Portugal and Spain. tropical forests of west and central with only 59% of its current distribution area Africa will be seriously affected and that remaining. The species will remain only in the Bakkenes, M., Alkemade, J. R. M., Ihle, F., between 50 and 80% of species will centre of Central Europe, and will disappear Leemans, R. and Latour, J. B., 2002. Assessing from large parts of its distribution area in effects of forecasted climate change on the have their range severely reduced, western Europe and western Russia. Its diversity and distribution of European higher many to the point of extinction (Lovett northern distribution area will slightly expand, plants for 2050. Global Change Biology et al ., 2005; McClean et al ., 2006). A mainly in the southern part of Finland. 8: 390-407. recent report on the effects of climate change on the tropical rainforests of northern Queensland, Australia states that “the impact on biodiversity is likely to be very serious and could be same time make sure that the Canaria, 2006). BGCI surveyed its catastrophic under some scenarios” individual components of the member gardens on their response to (Krockenberger et al ., 2004). It goes on ecosystems are not lost, that is the climate change for this meeting and to say that “Research, based on current species. There are no ecosystems the main results are given in Box 2. models, shows that many species of without species! Therefore, botanic animals and plants are at highly gardens need to be very concerned The first major step is to redefine the increased risk of extinction as a result with creating reserve collections ex situ priorities. Current thinking on of climate change, even under the least as an insurance policy for facing the endangered species is anchored to the extreme of scenarios”. Even a 1ºC rise effects and the impacts, on local assignment of IUCN Red List in temperature will cause a decline of human communities of drastic Categories. Thus the principles for 50% of the taxa in the area occupied environmental change and the assessing the conservation status and by the highland rainforests of depletion of their currently available extinction risk for species are based on Queensland. The Queensland report plant resources (Bramwell, 2006). past and current areas of distribution goes on to make a very important and and on the fluctuation of numbers of relevant statement for botanic gardens The challenge for botanic gardens is: individuals and populations. With with respect to the conservation of how do they contribute to this species- climate change, however, plants will be biodiversity under such circumstances, based insurance policy in the coming faced with a whole new series of “consideration of climate change may years and after 2010 when the Global threats and current concepts of what show that ex situ is the only realistic Strategy achievements will be are threatened species and how they tool for some of the most at-risk reviewed? The Global Strategy gives are defined will need to be completely species….”. Some examples of the many of the guidelines needed but in reconsidered and revised! Without predicted impacts of climate change at the light of the new challenge of doubt botanic gardens will have a the species level are shown in Box 1. climate change the members of the major role in adapting both science and Gran Canaria Group of international living collections to the new climate Thus, faced with climate change and experts who produced the first Gran change situation. They form a unique the prospect of mass extinction of Canaria Declaration leading to the international network of over 2500 biodiversity, it is necessary to see Global Strategy have formulated a plant-orientated institutions throughout plants not only as essential second Gran Canaria Declaration on most countries of the world and they components of ecosystems but also as Climate Change and Plant have amongst their numbers some of the most important natural resources Conservation and are currently the world’s leading plant research for the future of mankind. It is engaged in preparing an action plan to centres, for example the Royal Botanic necessary to face up to the major facilitate the adaptation of current plant Gardens, Kew, UK (RBG), the Botanic problems of conserving ecosystems in conservation policies to meet this Gardens Trust, Sydney, Australia and a changing environment and, at the challenge (BGCI & Cabildo de Gran Missouri Botanical Gardens, USA.

04 BGjournal • Vol 4 (2) Many other gardens are also moving very quickly towards becoming important regional and local focal points for conservation-orientated plant research. Botanic gardens are visited by several hundred million people each year making them probably the principal public interface for connecting with plant conservation and for environmental education in general.

Climate change is taking place quickly and the recent meeting of the Gran Canaria Group, leading to the second Gran Canaria Declaration , calls on governments to take urgent action to protect plant diversity from the threats of climate change. The group emphasized, in its discussions and report, the increasing importance of ex situ conservation as a means of saving vital natural resources for the future. European Native Seed Conservation seeds of wild plants on a global scale. Above: Echium The role of botanic gardens as centres Network (ENSCONET) (ENSCONET, This would be a major contribution to wildpretii of ex situ conservation was also 2007). In Spain, there are good conservation and the custody of natural Barcelona recognized, not only as repositories for regional examples, the Andalusian seed resources in the post 2010 climate Botanic Garden, living collections but also through their bank at Cordoba Botanic Garden change circumstances when increasing Spain. Canary historical relationship with seed storage (Hernández Bermejo & Clemente global population and reduced available Island endemic and exchange. Many gardens round the Muñoz, 1996), an inter-regional network natural resources will undoubtedly (Photo: BGCI) world have developed effective seed of Mediterranean Seed Banks sooner or later precipitate a major banks for conserving germplasm of wild (GENMEDOC) (GENMEDOC, 2007) and survival crisis for large parts of plant species and the establishment of the Macaronesian Islands Regional humanity. The building of such a more regional and local seed banks in Seed Bank (BASEMAC) at the “Viera y network should be one of the major botanic gardens is strongly advocated. Clavijo” Garden on Gran Canaria with objectives between now and 2010 and Perhaps the most important one to its partner centres on Madeira and on then beyond. date is RBG’s Millennium Seed Bank, Faial in the Azores (Roca Salinas et al ., a major investment for the long-term 2004; Bramwell, 2007). If adapting to In a future world where vegetation and future of plant diversity (see article in climate change is to be successful, whole ecosystems will be changing this issue of BGjournal ). However, even however, current seed-bank and will generally be depleted by some smaller gardens have important partnerships need to be developed into climate change, such a global reserve regional seed banks and participate in a worldwide network of seed banks of germplasm of wild plants will be vital regional programmes such as the with the objective of conserving the for human adaptation through restoration, reintroduction and even for the total replacement of lost Left: Variations ecosystems. Germplasm banks will of the Earth’s also be a source of plants and genetic surface diversity for the development of new temperature for crops and for the adaptation of old the past 140 ones, for medicinal plants, green years (global) energy sources and other uses. If, as and the past currently predicted, large numbers of 1000 years species do become extinct in the wild (Northern then the world’s seed banks, will Hemisphere) become the only source to humankind Source: of those species and their germplasm Intergovernmen in the future. tal Panel on Climate Change There are schools of thought that (see page 36) consider that in some situations, the migration of plants will mitigate the effects of climate change. However, both the time scale for migration and factors such as natural barriers,

BGjournal • Vol 4 (2) 05 Right: Seed capsules in the seed bank of the Jardín Botánico “Viera y Clavijo” – an insurance policy for the future (Photo: BGCI)

Far right: biology might seem a more exciting Botanic area for research and it doubtless has gardens, the a value in the advancement of science, main interface but its emphasis, even its hegemony to between plants the detriment of whole-plant science, and the public taxonomy and field ecology, will not (Photo: David contribute to the practical future of Bramwell) humanity in the face of global climate dispersal mechanisms, absence of a major role in monitoring change. change. pollinators, absence of available area As more and more research potential for colonization, sea level rise as well and economic resources at universities However, much more accurate and as man-made barriers such as are taken up by molecular studies and refined climate change models on a agricultural zones and urban sprawl as biochemistry, botanic gardens are local or regional scale will be needed poor people migrate to the cities will becoming the only sources (even the because corrective measures for the put severe limitations on both the last bastions) of whole plant biologists, conservation of floras and ecosystems natural movement of plant taxonomists and field ecologists for the will have to be taken at these levels. communities and on the creation of future. This lack of foresight by This implies that the role of botanic major migratory corridors. The universities and research councils in garden taxonomists and field botanists movement of seed and living plants the majority of developed countries will become more and more important through seed banks and botanic can only become an acute problem in for monitoring changes in vegetation gardens has the potential however, to the years to come. Currently, molecular distribution, species composition in become one of the most important Right: Projected man-made “migratory corridors” for the Changes in re-establishment of plant communities Projected changes in global temperature: global in the future (termed an assisted global average 1856-1999 and projection estimates to 2100 temperature: migration process by the author). In Global average temperature in °centigrade IPCC estimate global average many cases it will probably be the only 20° High 1856-1999 and way of moving even the most basic set 19,8 19,6

projection of species for any community 19,4 estimates to restoration and as a source of natural 19,2 2100 resources for adaptation to new 19° 18,8 Source: Climatic circumstances. Certainly the 18,6 Research Unit, experience and skills that botanic 18,4 University of gardens staff have acquired over 18,2 18° East Anglia, several centuries of growing both 17,8 Best (constant aerosol) Norwich, UK. native and exotic plant species will be 17,6 17,4 Best Projections: of vital importance if assisted (increasing aerosol) 17,2 IPCC report 95 migrations are to succeed. 17° (see page 36) 16,8 A second area in which botanic 16,6 16,4 gardens can play a major role is in the 16,2 Low local monitoring of the effects of 16° 1999 climate change. Many gardens have, 15,8 15,6

over the years, accumulated a 15,4

considerable amount of information 15,2 about their local or regional floras. This 15° information will become increasingly 14,8 14,6

valuable as the local effects of rising 14,4 G R I D 14,2 temperatures are observed and, if Arendal UNEP 14° GRAPHIC DESIGN : PHILIPPE REKACEWICZ possible protective measures initiated. 1850 1870 1890 1910 1930 1950 1970 1990 2010 2030 2050 2070 2090 Species distribution, vegetation maps 1900 2000 2100 and plant community data can all play

06 BGjournal • Vol 4 (2) Box 2. Climate change: the botanic garden response plant communities and species distribution on a local scale. This will BGCI undertook a survey of its members in • Olso University Botanic Garden, Norway is November 2005. The following questions were predicting future plant immigrations and provide better data about asked: vegetation changes in Svalbard due to global climatic effects on local • Does your institution maintain meterological warming. plants and communities for or phenological records? • The Royal Botanic Gardens (RBG), modelling the future and • Is your garden involved in any research on Melbourne, Australia is involved with the also by functioning as a plants and the impact of climate change? management of weeds, biosecurity and pest plants threat early warning • Have you modified your planting schemes in management in relation to climate change - Above: Cover response to climate change? the tropical palm disease “pink rot” has system. Furthermore, botanic gardens of The Gran • Is your garden involved in any public made an appearance in the last two years in have a wealth of data on how plants awareness or education activities on this their gardens, growing on the indigenous can tolerate different climatic regimes Canary topic? Archontophoenix spp. through garden records and Declaration II • Are you undertaking any steps to reduce or • Xishuangbanna Tropical Botanical Garden, observations and the experience of on Climate off-set carbon dioxide emissions? China has carried out research on growing plants including exotics. In Change and microclimate changes in the tropical northern Europe tropical plants are not Plant A more recent survey (2007) has indicated that rainforest fragments of the region. Conservation 88% of gardens responding are taking, or plan • The National Botanic Garden of Wales, UK grown under exactly the same to take action related to climate change. has a 3 year study of the potential conditions as in their native habitats evolutionary changes of Senecio cambrensis but in rather varying greenhouse Summary of results induced by climate change. conditions that mimic different climate regimes. This is especially true for Maintenance of meteorological or Modified planting schemes temperature tolerance, rainfall (watering phenological records and monitoring Many gardens (approximately one third of Phenological records are being collected by respondents) reported changes in the plants regimes) and atmospheric humidity so botanic gardens around the world, including they grow in their gardens, with for example, that by studying garden records and gardens in Europe, North America, China, gardens now growing palms outside which calling on the wisdom accumulated by Kazakhstan, Bangladesh, Indonesia, Mexico, could previously only be grown in greenhouses. the gardeners, an estimate can be Malaysia and Russia. Many gardens also The Diomides Botanic Garden in Greece has made of the tolerance range of the maintain meteorological records, often going stopped cultivating some species requiring species grown and of what might back over long periods of time. For example, exposure to low temperatures and Bogor Botanic Garden in Indonesia has kept Mediterranean rather than alpine plants now happen to them in their natural habitat records for more than 30 years as has the thrive at the Landesmuseum Kärnten in Austria. during global climate change. Such Botanic Garden of the Institute of Crop Botany RBG Melbourne is planning its planting and estimates of species tolerance can in Bangladesh. In Austria, the University Botanic management for reduced water availability, contribute important hard data both to Garden, Innsbruck has kept meteorological including C4 grasses for turf while the climate change modelling, ecosystem records at its main Botanic Garden (600m) since Georgetown Botanic Gardens in Guyana stated management and to the selection of 1995 and at the Alpine Garden (1950m) since “we have done a complete new scheme to cater specifically vulnerable species for use 1994. Furthermore, the Landesmuseum Kärnten for our climate change”. In a related response to in Austria stores a series of photos of the climate change, Oxford University Botanic in monitoring climate change effects. Carinthian Alps mountain tops, which clearly Garden has extended its opening season from shows glaciers receding. In addition, the May 20-Oct 31 to April 1-Nov 30, in response to So where does this lead in defining the Regional Botanic Garden of Cadereyta in earlier flowering of bluebells, and later autumn role of botanic gardens in relation to Mexico has observed its local alpine region colours. climate change? The recent realization getting warmer and drier. For example, the at a political level, of the importance of cactus Thelocactus leucacanthus was previously Education and public awareness reported as occurring at a maximum height of About one third of respondents had education the effects of global climate change on 1900m, but has recently been recorded at resources focused on climate change. Some the world’s economy and on biological 2600m. Similarly, the Botanic Garden at gardens had static exhibits on the subject, but diversity will mean that a major Syktyvkar, Russia, has noted a change in tree many undertook lectures to visiting school international effort will be made over the development and life history that was previously children, or to the general public. These next 20 years or so to conserve natural constrained by the long period of extreme cold gardens ranged from those in the UK resources and minimize potential e.g. Quercus robur usually bears fruits only once (EdenProject, Oxford, Wales), to those in every 4-5 years, but this recently occurred in Georgia, USA and Bangladesh. biodiversity loss due to global warming. both 2004 & 2005. From a plants point of view the Global Reducing carbon emissions Strategy will need to be adjusted and its Research About one third of respondents noted measures terms of reference extended well Many examples were cited, including: for improved efficiency, such as better boilers beyond the initial proposal of 2010. • The Argotti Gardens in Malta is involved in and reducing fossil fuel use. Some gardens The role of botanic gardens will become research on the drought resistant conifer noted that they used electric carts in the increasingly important in the period after Tetraclinis articulata . garden, and others suggested that their • Kings Park and Botanic Garden, Australia are plantings contributed to offsetting carbon. 2010 because the effects of climate carrying out research on the drought Chester Zoological and Botanical Garden, UK change will be seen on an increasing tolerance of rare and threatened plants. offset carbon emissions of air travel and the scale. The changing nature of threats • The Forest Research Institute, Malaysia is Eden Project offers a reduced admission rate for and the large numbers of endangered assessing the carbon stocks and public transport users. species including many not currently sequestration potential of the natural and considered to be threatened will be plantation forest in Malaysia. increasingly apparent. Those gardens participating in the international network

BGjournal • Vol 4 (2) 07 of seed banks will be aiming at new References ¬ McClean, C.J., Doswald, N., Küper, targets for the long-term storage of W. et al., 2006. Potential impacts of seed collected from the wild and ¬ BGCI, 2000. The Gran Canary climate change on Sub-Saharan concentrating on saving plant resources Declaration calling for a Global African plant priority area selection. for the future. The same will apply to Program for Plant Conservation . Diversity and Distributions 12 : 645- living collections, especially in the case BGCI, London, UK. 655. of species with recalcitrant seeds. ¬ BGCI & Cabildo de Gran Canaria, ¬ Nobre, C. A., 2004. Climate Change These are predominant in some of the 2006. T he Gran Canary Declaration Scenarios and Impacts on the humid, tropical ecosystems which will, II on Climate Change and Plant Biomes of South America . according to the models, be under Conservation . BGCI, London, UK & WWW.aiaccproject.org/meetings severe threat from climate change. Cabildo de Gran Canaria, Las /Buenos_Aires/Nobre accessed 25th The future of many such species will Palmas de Gran Canaria, Spain. June, 2007 probably depend on what botanic ¬ Bramwell, D., 2006. Los Jardines ¬ Roca Salinas, A., Vilches Navarrete, gardens can do for them in terms of Botánicos y el reto del cambio B., Jardim, et al ., 2004. The cultivation (field gene banks) and even climático. Rincones del Atlantico Macaronesian Seed Bank the possibility of assisted migration 3: 244-249. (BASEMAC). A programme for provided that new habitats are available. http://www.rinconesdelatlantico.com rational conservation of plant /num3/botanicos.html accessed diversity. In 2nd World Botanic Climate change will open up further 25th June, 2007. Gardens Congress, Barcelona 2004 . fields for research such as reproductive ¬ Bramwell, D., 2007. The role of http://www.bcn.es/medciencies/ biology, molecular population genetics, botanic gardens and seed banks in botanicgardens2004/abstracts/pdf_ the ecology of colonization of new biodiversity conservation after 2010. abstracts/Alicia_Roca_final.pdf habitats but they must not be embraced Ensconet Bulletin in press. accessed 25th June, 2007 to the detriment of classical taxonomy. ¬ CBD Secretariat, 2003. Global http://www.bgci.org/barcelona04/ Inventories and classification will still be Strategy for Plant Conservation . postcongress/oral.html accessed needed if knowledge about biodiversity CBD Secretariat, Montreal, Canada. 25th June, 2007 is to be learnt before it is too late. http://www.cbd.int/programmes/ ¬ Stern, N., 2006. The Stern Review Therefore, the capacity for botanical cross-cutting/plant/default.asp on the Economics of Climate exploration must be increased and the accessed 4th July, 2007. Change. Cabinet Office, HM skills required for taxonomic revision ¬ ENSCONET, 2007 Treasury, UK Government. and the description of new species http://www.ensconet.com/ http://www.hm-treasury.gov.uk/ developed. From a biodiversity point of accessed 25th June, 2007. independent_reviews/stern_review_ view, it has been said that Linnaeus ¬ GENMEDOC, 2007. An inter- economics_climate_change/stern_ described about 9000 species. regional network of Mediterranean review_report.cfm accessed 25th Currently, the same number are being seed banks. June, 2007. described each year but in order to http://www.genmedoc.org/default. ¬ Thomas, C.D., Cameron, A., Green, finish the catalogue, of even the most htm accessed 25th June, 2007. R.E., et al ., 2004. Extinction risk conservative estimates of the total ¬ Hernández Bermejo, J.E. & from climate change. Nature biodiversity of the planet, 400 and 500 Clemente Muñoz, M., 1996. 427 :145-148. years will be needed. The enormity of Strategies and ex situ Conservation http://stephenschnieder.stanford. this task should be appreciated and, in Techniques in the Cordoba Botanic edu/Publications/PDF_Papers/ the face of a new phase of rapid mass Garden: the Germplasm Bank. In ThomasEtAl2004.pdf, accessed extinction brought on by climate Proceedings of the Third 25th June, 2007. change, scientists should urge International Botanic Gardens politicians to provide sufficient Conservation Congress , Hobson, C. David Bramwell resources to attend to cataloguing and (ed.). Jardín Botánico “Viera y Clavijo” conserving biodiversity. Indeed, there http://www.bgci.org/congress/ Cabildo de Gran Canaria, El should be a major UN-led programme congress_rio_1992/bermejo.html Palmeral 15 to do this but it will be up to the accessed 25th June, 2007. Tafira Alta, 35017 scientific community to propose it ¬ Krockenberger A.K., Kitching R.L. & Las Palmas de Gran Canaria perhaps through the climate change Turton S.M. (eds.). 2004. Canary Islands, Spain action plan for plants proposed by the Environmental crisis, Climate E-mail: Gran Canaria Group. Botanic gardens, Change and Terrestrial Biodiversity [email protected] as a major world network for plant in Queensland . Report 28. Internet: Right: Lotus conservation, can, if they are given Rainforest CRC, James Cook http://www.step.es/jardcan/ berthelotii sufficient resources in the period University, Cairns, Australia. (Lobster Claw) coming up to 2010 and then beyond, ¬ Lovett, J.C., Midgley, G.F. & Jardín Botánico be important contributors to such a Barnard, P., 2005. Climate “Viera y Clavijo” programme and have a major role in change and ecology in Africa. Canary Island fulfilling the task of understanding and African Journal of Ecology 43 : endemic conserving the biological diversity of the 167-169. (Photo: BGCI) planet in the face of climate change.

08 BGjournal • Vol 4 (2) Authors: Paul P. Smith, Clare Trivedi, Anne Cochrane, Andrew Crawford and Michael Way

The Millennium Seed Bank Project delivering Target 8 of the Global Strategy for Plant Conservation

Introduction preferably in the country of origin, and For the purposes of this analysis, 10 per cent of them included in threatened species include extinct in The Millennium Seed Bank Project recovery and restoration programmes.’ the wild, critically endangered, (MSBP) International Programme is a endangered, vulnerable, near ten year global conservation This paper represents a progress threatened and data deficient taxa, or programme (2000-2010), conceived report, including up to date statistics categories equivalent to these. Least and managed by the Seed on seed banking of threatened species, concern species are not included in the Conservation Department at the Royal problems encountered in achieving this analysis. Botanic Gardens, Kew (Smith et al ., target, and case studies of how such 1998). The two principal aims of the collections are being used for Western Australia is the only Project are to: conservation purposes. state/country to have achieved Target 8 at the time of writing, with both 70% of • Collect and conserve 10% of the Progress towards Target 8 threatened species conserved, and world’s wild seed-bearing flora, amongst MSBP partners 13% of threatened species principally from the drylands, by the reintroduced. The United Kingdom has year 2010. Table 1 shows progress towards achieved the threatened species • Develop bilateral research, training achieving Target 8 of the GSPC conserved target (78%), but not the and capacity-building relationships amongst MSBP partner institutions reintroduction target. MSBP partner worldwide in order to support and where collection and reintroduction of countries that are likely to have to advance the seed conservation threatened species is a central aim of conserved more than 60% of their effort the country programme. threatened flora ex situ by 2010 are

The MSBP currently works with Left: Millennium partners in around 50 countries across Seed Bank five continents, and its main outputs scientist at work and activities are: effective partnerships, high quality collections; removing researchable constraints; technology transfer and public awareness.

The focus of the seed collecting and conservation programmes in partner countries depends on national and institutional priorities. In many cases the emphasis is on the collection of rare and threatened species towards achieving Target 8 of the Global Strategy for Plant Conservation: ‘60 per cent of threatened plant species in accessible ex situ collections,

BGCI • 2007 • BGjournal • Vol 4 (2) • 09-12 09 Problems encountered in specialists and conservation achieving Target 8 assessment officers. This team, working with in-country partners, Absence of a red list or up to digitises specimen information where date, accurate information on no up to date red list assessments are threatened species available in order to produce In MSBP partner preliminary conservation assessments. countries such as In this methodology specimen data Burkina Faso, from rare or threatened taxa are Mali, Lebanon and mapped in a GIS and used to calculate Jordan no national extent of occurrence and area of red list of plants is occupancy. From this a preliminary red available to our list assessment is calculated using a institutional partners. In simple algorithm. Where possible, other countries, such as other information is taken into account, Madagascar, Kenya, such as habitat intactness estimated Botswana and Malawi, from satellite imagery, number of existing red lists have populations inside or outside protected deficiencies. areas etc. In addition, where species are designated data deficient or there For example, Of the are taxonomic problems, the team is 43 taxa on the able to add new information. To date Botswana red list the MSBP herbarium team and (Golding, 2002) 22 are partners have produced 4500 data deficient, 13 have preliminary conservation assessments misspelled author’s or (Target 2 of the Global Strategy ) in 10 Right: species names, and 10 names countries. The taxa that this analysis Seed of are either out of date or have identifies as most threatened are Medicago ambiguous taxonomies (Smith & prioritised by MSBP seed collection polymorpha Balding, 2007). In addition, 14 rare, teams endemic taxa are not on the red list. Absence of accessible data on the Botswana, Namibia and South The MSBP has tackled this problem by locality, phenology and identification of Australia. Most countries are unlikely to employing a team of 12 people in Kew threatened species achieve the second part of the Target - Herbarium, comprising specimen Knowing the names of your threatened 10% of threatened species in recovery digitisers, literature researchers, species doesn’t necessarily make it and restoration programmes. The Geographical Information System (GIS) easy to find and collect seed from reasons for this are discussed below.

The seed conservation programme Table 1: Progress towards Target 8 amongst Millennium Seed Bank Project institutional with INIA Chile is typical of an MSBP partners, where threatened species are the focus of seed collecting programmes partnership. This programme has successfully made over 700 collections Country/state Species No. of Total no. of Percentage of No. of of seed, of which over 70% of the taxa focus* threatened threatened threatened species are endemic to Chile. Amongst the species from species on list species reintroduced which seed collected collections is Menodora linoides collected (Oleaceae), a shrub which was considered extinct, but was recently Australia -Northern Territory R,T 5 1191 0.5 1 rediscovered in the wild (see picture, China R,T 2 234 10 Australia-Tasmania R,T 23 734 30 below). Austalia-Victoria R,T 39 967 45 South Africa R,T,U 147 2683 5.5 4 Other endangered species from which Georgia R,T,U 15 156 10 0 seed has been collected include Dalea Australia-New South Wales R,T 56 572 10 2 azurea (Critically Endangered); Placea Chile R,T 64 402 16 3 Malawi R,T,U 33 206 16 1 lutea (Rare); Tigridia phillipiana (Rare); South Australia R,T 61 356 17 17 Adesmina resinosa (Vulnerable); and A. Namibia R,T,U 8 24 33 7 balsamica (Rare). Reproductive biology Botswana R,T,U 14 39 36 0 trials of Dalea azurea are currently Western Australia R,T 259 372** 70 48 815 2618*** 31 underway to ensure that adequate United Kingdom R,T 219 282 78 5 numbers of seedlings can be re- introduced to the wild in coordination * R= rare; T= threatened; U= utilitarian ** Declared Rare Flora *** Declared Rare and Priority Flora. with local authorities.

10 BGjournal • Vol 4 (2) them. Seed collectors need accurate Constraints associated with using seed reasons for this. Using appropriate locality and phenology information, and in reintroduction programmes ecotypes of the right provenance or they need plant descriptions and The major challenge associated with ensuring adequate genetic diversity in images in order to recognise the plant Target 8 is species reintroduction. reintroduced populations may be when they are in the field. To this end, Few countries carry out species crucial (e.g. see Vilas et al ., 2006). the same specimen information that is reintroduction programmes. This is Microbial symbionts, such as rhizobial used to produce preliminary partly because reintroductions are seen bacteria or mycorrhizal fungi may be conservation assessments can be used as a last resort, but also because they important, as will pollinators, seed to locate and identify species in the can be expensive and may fail for a dispersers and associated plant field. The MSBP herbarium team have wide number of reasons (see below). species. Alternatively, natural attrition produced 26 collection guides covering The first step towards using seeds for through disease, predation or drought 2255 taxa from 10 countries to date. reintroduction is successful may be enough to knock out small For each taxon covered in a collecting germination. The MSB currently carries populations of reintroduced species in guide there is detailed locality data, a out more than 10,000 germination tests the process of acclimation. phenology chart showing when the a year. Every collection of over 500 Western Australia’s Department of plant is likely to be in seed, a detailed seeds that is accessioned into the Environment and Conservation (DEC) description of the taxon, and at least bank is tested for germinability. Threatened Flora Seed Centre (TFSC) one image. These guides enable our However, achieving germination is not currently holds 815 (or 31%) of the seed collectors to be in the right place always straightforward. For most of the extant taxa on Western Australia’s 2006 at the right time and able to identify the species accessioned into the MSB Declared Rare and Priority Flora list target plant. nobody has tried to germinate them (see Table 1 above). This includes 70% before. In addition, some taxa exhibit of the extant taxa on the Declared Rare Absence of infrastructure for dormancy mechanisms that need to be Flora list. These collections have been processing and storage of seed overcome if successful germination is made over a 14 year period from late Seed storage for orthodox species to result. Dormancy may be physical, 1992 to the present. The MSB (about 90% of plant species) is not a morphological or physiological, and not partnership has enabled the Threatened high technology procedure. Seeds only does the mechanism have to be Flora Seed Centre to accession 474 of need to be dried down to 5-7% elucidated, but procedures for breaking these 815 conservation-listed taxa. moisture content then stored in a cold it have to be developed before Since 1998 DEC has established 48 room, usually at 4°C for short term germination can be achieved in the threatened (DRF) plant reintroductions. storage or -20°C for long term storage. laboratory or nursery (Baskin & Baskin, Thirty-three of these have utilised seed The drying stage is particularly critical 1998). from the Threatened Flora Seed Centre. because if a seed is not dry when This amounts to 13% of the Declared Below: frozen it will be killed. The MSBP has If germination can be achieved, Rare Flora being used in recovery. Millennium provided drying and freezer facilities to successful establishment in situ does Although TFSC collections of DRF taxa Seed Bank ca. 30 partner institutions over the past not always follow. There are many exceed Target 8 of the Global Strategy scientist at work seven years. Advice has been provided on seed bank design to 19 institutions in 10 countries worldwide.

Absence of skills enabling collection, handling and storage of seed Having good facilities and equipment is pointless unless you know how to use them. For this reason, the MSBP has expended a considerable amount of time, effort and money on training people in seed conservation techniques. This training has comprised formal courses delivered at the MSB and regionally, exchange technical visits to the MSB and informal training on the job. The main focus areas for training have been seed collecting, seed handling, seed germination and seed storage. To date, the MSBP has trained 1181 people in seed conservation techniques, including 64 exchange visits and 31 PhD programmes.

BGjournal • Vol 4 (2) 11 for Plant Conservation, many of the to use the expertise that does exist in References existing TFSC conservation collections places like Australia to promote best are small, and do not adequately practice throughout the network. ¬ Baskin C.C. & Baskin J.M., 1998. represent the diversity of the taxon. Seeds: ecology, biogeography and In addition, collections are of This paper has concentrated on the evolution of dormancy and insufficient size to meet recovery technical challenges associated with germination . Academic Press, San efforts. Further collection is needed for achieving Target 8. As has been Diego/London. ongoing conservation, maintenance, shown, these are surmountable. ¬ Golding J.S. (ed.), 2002. Southern duplication, distribution and recovery. The biggest constraints to success African Plant Red Data List . remain lack of political will and funding. Southern African Botanical Diversity Conclusions A technical network such as the Network Report Series No. 14. pp. Millennium Seed Bank Project 135-156. National Botanical The examples above show that Target partnership comes at a cost - £50 Institute, Pretoria, South Africa. 8 is achievable. The strength of the million to secure 10% of the world’s ¬ Smith P. P. & Balding S., 2007. MSBP network is in the diversity of flora in safe storage in 10 years. The The taxonomic impediment to experience and expertise of the model is proven, but further funding conservation of biodiversity: an partners. From the increasing number will be needed to extend the network example from Botswana. In prep. of examples of reintroduction further, and to start to tackle the ¬ Smith, R.D, Linington S.H. & programmes in the literature, it is clear technical challenges associated with Wechsberg G.E., 1998. The that for reintroductions to be species reintroductions and habitat Millennium Seed Bank, the successful, a multidisciplinary restoration. The CBD and its signatory Convention on Biological Diversity approach needs to be employed, using governments need to enable the and the dry tropics. In: H.D.V. molecular, ecological and horticultural technicians to get on and achieve the Prendergast, N.L. Etkin, D.R. Harris knowledge to maximise survival and targets that the CBD has set. The & P.J. Houghton (eds), Plants for long term establishment. In most of the GSPC is a test of credibility for the food and medicine , pp 251-261. MSBP partner countries, this kind of CBD – will it ever actually achieve Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. expertise and experience is in short anything useful, or will it remain an ¬ Vilas C., San Miguel E., Amaro R. & supply. The rationale going forward is expensive talking shop? Garcia C., 2006. Relative contribution of inbreeding Right: depression and eroded adaptive Collecting diversify to extinction risk in small Ecballium populations of shore Campion. elaterium , Conservation Biology 20(1) : 229- Lebanon 238.

Paul P. Smith, Clare Trivedi, Anne Cochrane, Andrew Crawford and Michael Way Seed Conservation Department Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew Wakehurst Place, Ardingly West Sussex, RH17 6TN UK E-mail: [email protected] Internet: http://www.kew.org/msbp/

Editor’s Note: This paper was given at the 3rd Global Botanic Garden Congress (3GBGC) held in Wuhan, China in April, 2007.

12 BGjournal • Vol 4 (2) Authors: Kayri Havens, Pati Vitt, Jennifer Schwarz, Barron Orr and Theresa Crimmins

Chicago Botanic Garden’s conservation and outreach efforts on climate change

On January 4, 2007, giant snowdrops documented across the globe using visitors per year) and are particularly Above: (Galanthus elwesii) bloomed at the plant phenology data (Schwartz and appropriate to connect global climate Tetraneuris Chicago Botanic Garden (CBG). This Reiter, 2000, Abu-Asab et al ., 2001, change concepts to potential impacts herbacea . broke the previous record for earliest Cayan et al ., 2001, Schwartz, 2003). on plant species and ecosystems. Species snowdrop bloom date, set in 2006, by These data are observations of monitored by 25 days. Hundreds of calls were logged phenological events (e.g. leaf The Chicago Botanic Garden has Plants of at CBG’s Plant Information Service emergence, first flower, peak flowering) several programmes underway or in Concern regarding the anomalous bloom time. recorded each year over an extended development to introduce the public to programme Ten reporters from local television, period of time. Phenological climate change issues and to engage (Photo: Carol radio and newspapers questioned observations are highly intuitive from them in collecting data relevant to Freeman) Garden staff about the relationship both interpretation and data collection predicting plant responses to climate between global climate change and standpoints and are therefore change. As illustrated by the snowdrop bloom times. The significant public accessible to the general public. example, the public is often aware of response to this event underscores the Nature and science museums, science climate effects, but individuals may not interest in, and need for, public centres, and botanic gardens and consider their observations scientifically education on our changing climate and arboreta are well suited to deliver valuable. The Garden’s projects will its impact on natural systems. critical science and environmental capture the public’s observations and content in an informal, self-directed provide further opportunities to engage Ecological changes connected with manner. US botanic gardens, often in citizen science. While data collection trends in increasing temperatures and with associated natural areas, enjoy a activities in this project are primarily the earlier onset of spring are well broad public audience (50 million designed to educate and involve learners, the data will also contribute to critical climate change research and Left: Susanne prediction tools. There is precedence Masi (left), for the efficacy of citizen collected data manager of in several very valuable phenology and Plants of plant distribution datasets that are the Concern result of hobby or volunteer programme observations (e.g., Beaubien & with a volunteer Johnson, 1994, Bradley et al ., 1999, monitor (Photo: Fitter & Fitter, 2002, Wolfe et al ., 2005, Robin Carlson) Vitt et al ., in review) and each has furthered scientific understanding of the natural world.

Project Budburst

Piloted in 2007, this national project is a collaborative effort developed by several organizations, including Chicago Botanic Garden, and

BGCI • 2007 • BGjournal • Vol 4 (2) • 13-16 13 Right: universities that are members of the 900 observations from 38 states were Platanthera US National Phenology Network (NPN). received, the majority submitted by leucophaea , The NPN is a network of scientists and children under 12. Next year, it is Species educators that collaborate to facilitate planned to expand the website to monitored by collection and dissemination of accept historical datasets (since many Plants of phenological data to support global citizen scientists have volunteered to Concern change research. Project Budburst donate their datasets going back volunteers engages citizen scientists, including decades in some cases) and allow data youth, to record phenological submission year round. observations, such as first flower, first leaf, peak flower and others, on a Global Climate Change website (www.budburst.org). About 60 Monitoring Gardens native wildflowers, shrubs and trees, from Eastern Columbine ( Aquilegia This project, under development for a canadensis ) to California Poppy 2008 launch, consists of “global (Eschscholzia californica ), were climate change monitoring gardens” targeted in the pilot campaign, but which will be planted at 13 botanic people can submit information on any gardens (Table 1), thus creating a plant species. A few commonly used nationwide “ecological antenna” where landscape species, such as Forsythia citizen scientists record climate data (Forsythia x intermedia ) and Lilac and a standard set of phenological (Syringa vulgaris ) and two weeds, events. After piloting the monitoring Dandelion ( Taraxacum officinale ) and gardens at the 13 botanic gardens, White Clover ( Trifolium repens ) are also monitoring gardens will be provided to included, so people could participate community organizations working with gardens will allow inferences about even if they could not get out to a urban and underserved youth how the species might respond to natural area. In the first year, nearly audiences. The monitoring gardens are future climate change. Repeat photos designed to hold genetic variance will be displayed on a project website, constant and standardize growing enabling website visitors to see conditions. Environmental response phenological changes and patterns variables – to be measured by through time, as well as spatially participating community youth, garden across all participating sites. This visitors, and scientists – will include: “ecological antenna” will allow the date of first open flower, peak following conservation research flowering, first fruit ripened, last fruit questions to be addressed: (1) How do ripened, total flowering period, and clones respond phenologically to fecundity. Each garden will contain various bioclimatic zones? (2) Is genetically-identical cloned plants phenologic behaviour different across which will act like a network of climate bioclimatic zones? (3) Can sensors or “phytometers.” The Global observations be related to future Climate Change Monitoring (GCCM) climatic shifts in the region? and, (4) gardens will include native species that Over time, how do the cloned plants are long-lived and exhibit a variety of respond phenologically to the changing breeding systems. Gardens will also climate in each of the bioclimatic zones Above: Card of include both a C3 and a C4 grass; where they are located? Project Budburst these contrasting photosynthetic pathways are expected to respond At eight of the 13 gardens, climate and

differently to elevated CO 2 levels. phenological observations in the Target species, including False Indigo gardens will be interpreted in a regional (Baptisia australis ), Summer Phlox and national context at an (Phlox paniculata ), Bee Balm ( Monarda accompanying public access computer fistulosa ), Indian Grass, a C4 grass kiosk and display, as well as on the Right: (Sorghastrum nutans ), and Western project website available to all. Display Sisyrhinchium Wheatgrass, a C3 grass ( Pascopyrum of these products will be accompanied montanum . smithii ), have wide geographic ranges, by additional evidence that represents Species which allow them to be planted at the the current understanding of how monitored by participating gardens; have flowering climate is changing globally. Figure 1 Plants of times that are initiated by temperature, illustrates the relationships between the Concern as opposed to daylength; are easy to climate change gardens at botanic programme clone; and are attractive in a garden gardens, at associated community (Photo: Carol setting. Plant responses to the different organizations and the programming Freeman) climates of the 13 participating team at University of Arizona.

14 BGjournal • Vol 4 (2) Figure 1. Schematic design of relationships and linkages between monitoring gardens, kiosks, servers, data and the University of Arizona programming team (Diagram: Anne Thwaits, University of Arizona).

Plants of Concern

The global climate change monitoring gardens will provide information on the response of plants in a controlled design to different environments nationally. It is alos interesting to find out how rare and invasive plant species respond, both phenologically and demographically, over time in the wild. Plants of Concern (POC), founded in 2001, is a citizen-science monitoring programme designed to collect these types of data on rare plants in the northeastern Illinois region. To date over 300 volunteers have monitored over 400 rare plant populations For the invasive species monitoring Are there certain population representing 145 species. The component, data on all fields in the characteristics that could help identify volunteer retention rate over the life of North American Weed Management emerging species? the programme is quite high (61%). Association (NAWMA, 2007) standards Far left and left: Volunteer data quality has been verified will be collected, as well as additional Taken together, these projects lead Sorghastrum experimentally, and there were no phenological (flowering and fruiting learners through one or more, loosely, nutans (Indian significant differences between staff times) and demographic (percent of yet systematically, linked informal Grass) a C4 and volunteer collected data (Vitt, plants flowering and fruiting, education opportunities toward an grass and target unpublished data). seedling recruitment, increasing awareness of how individual species for the senescence, etc.) data. behaviour can affect climate change. Global Climate In 2008, it is planned to expand Species selected for Ultimately, it is hoped that individual Change the programme, both this study include well- behaviour will be influenced to reflect Monitoring geographically and established regional both an understanding of climate Gardens Project conceptually, to include invasives and change and to create awareness that invasive plant monitoring. incipient invasives Far left: Taken Of the many factors popular in from Hitchcock, involved in the horticulture. A.S., 1950. endangerment of Aggregate report Manual of the native plants, invasive data will allow grasses of the species rank second conservation United States . only to habitat loss, biology USDA Misc. and issues such as researchers to Publ. No. 200 native plant rarity, answer Left: Taken invasive species, and questions from R.H. habitat destruction such as: How Mohlenbrock, are entwined. Many fast do these USDA SCS. invasive species emerging 1991. Southern thrive in disturbed invasive wetland flora: ecosystems, and species Field office climate change is one spread, and guide to plant type of disturbance does rate of species . South that is predicted to spread National increase for the change as Technical foreseeable future. Thus climate changes? Center, Fort continued invasion may Which non-native Worth. be favoured by climate species are becoming (Courtesy of change (Dukes & Mooney, 1999), while invasive? Do certain regions (such as USDA NRCS rare species are more likely to be urban areas) serve as refugia for Wetland Science negatively impacted. emerging invasive species? Institute

BGjournal • Vol 4 (2) 15 Above and individuals can positively affect this Chicago Botanic Garden and Stuart far right: environmental issue. In addition, these Marsh, Wim van Leeuwen, Michael Pascopyrum projects provide valuable data that the Crimmins, Wolfgang Grunberg, and smithii (Western Garden and others will use to improve Anne Thwaits at the University of Wheatgrass) a predictions about how plant species Arizona and participating gardens (see C3 grass and will respond as the climate changes. Table 1). Plants of Concern is managed target species by Susanne Masi at Chicago Botanic for the Global Acknowledgements Garden and funded by Chicago Climate Change Wilderness, State of Illinois Monitoring The authors would like to thank the Gardens Project collaborators and funders on all of References these projects. Project Budburst ¬ NAWMA, 2007. North American Above: Taken collaborators include Sandra ¬ Abu-Asab M, Peterson, P.M., Weed Management Association. from Hitchcock, Henderson and Kirsten Meymaris Shetler, S.G. & Orli, S.S., 2001. http://www.nawma.org/ accessed A.S., 1950. (National Center for Atmospheric Earlier plant flowering in spring as a 26 June, 2007. Manual of the Research), Carol Brewer and Brooke response to global warming in the ¬ Schwartz, M. D. (ed.), 2003. grasses of the McBride (University of Montana), Washington, DC area. Biodiversity Phenology: An Integrative United States . Susan Mazer and Brian Haggerty and Conservation 10(4) :597-612. Environmental Science . Springer, USDA Misc. (University of California-Santa Barbara), ¬ Beaubien, E.G. & Johnson. New York, USA. Publ. No. 200) Sarah Wright (University of Wisconsin) D.L.,1994. Flowering plant ¬ Schwartz, M.D. & Reiter, B.E., 2000. Far right: Taken and other members of the National phenology and weather in Alberta, Changes in North American spring. from R.H. Phenology Network. Project Budburst Canada. International Journal of International Journal of Climatology Mohlenbrock, was funded in 2007 by the Bureau of Biometeorology 38(1) : 23-27. 20: 929-932. USDA SCS. Land Management and Plant ¬ Bradley, N.L., Leopold, A.C., Ross, ¬ Vitt, P, Havens, K., Kendall, B.E. & 1989. Midwest Conservation Alliance. Global Change J. & Huffaker. W.,1999. Phenological Knight T.M., in review. Community- wetland flora: Monitoring Garden collaborators changes reflect climate change in level management increases the Field office include Jim Ault and Laura Altergott at Wisconsin. Proceedings of the viability of Tomanthera auriculata , a illustrated guide National Academy of Sciences of Rare Prairie Annual. Ecological to plant species . the United States of America 96(17) : Applications . Midwest Table 1 Global Climate 9701-9704. ¬ Wolfe, D.W., Schwartz, M.D. Lakso, National Change Monitoring Garden ¬ Cayan, D.R., Kammerdiener, S.A., A.N. et al., 2005. Climate change Technical Center, project partners Dettinger, M.D., Caprio, J.M & and shifts in spring phenology. Lincoln Peterson, D.H., 2001. Changes in International Journal of (Courtesy of Arboretum at Flagstaff the onset of spring in the western Biometeorology 49: 303-309. USDA NRCS Berry Botanic Garden United States. Bulletin of the Wetland Science Chicago Botanic Garden American Meteorological Society Kayri Havens, Pati Vitt and Institute) Cincinnati Zoo & Botanic Garden 82(3) : 399-415. Jennifer Schwarz Cornell Plantations ¬ Dukes, J.S. & Mooney, H.A., 1999. Institute for Plant Biology and Denver Botanic Garden Does global change increase the Conservation Holden Arboretum success of biological invaders? Chicago Botanic Garden Missouri Botanical Garden Trends in Ecology and Evolution 1000 Lake Cook Road The Morton Arboretum 14(4) : 135-139. Glencoe, IL 60022 New England Wild Flower Society at http://globalecology.stanford.edu/ Email: Garden in the Woods DGE/Dukes/Dukes_TREE1.pdf [email protected] North Carolina Botanical Garden accessed 26th June, 2007. Internet: Santa Barbara Botanic Garden ¬ Fitter, A.H. & Fitter R.S.R., 2002. http://www.chicagobotanic.org/ University of Washington Botanic Rapid changes in flowering time in and Garden British plants. Science 296: 1689- Barron Orr and Theresa Crimmins 1691. University of Arizona

16 BGjournal • Vol 4 (2) Authors: O. Téllez, P. Dávila, M. Ayala, K. Gutiérrez & I. Melchor

Case studies on the effect of climate change on the flora of Mexico

Mexico belongs to a natural biological region that extends from southern USA to northern Central America. This region is called ¨MegaMexico 3¨ (Rzedowski, 1993). It is characterized by rich biological diversity, which is mainly restricted to the Mexican territory. Mexico is considered a megadiverse country, and is probably third in the world with 8-12% of the global biodiversity (Caldecott et al ., 1996; Mittermeier & Mittermeier, 1992). With regard to reptiles, Mexico has the most species in the world, with 717 species (Flores, 1993), with regard to mammals, Mexico takes second place, with 456 species and fourth place with Leguminosae (>2,200 species), the The National Commission of Above: regard to amphibians, with 285 species. endemism rate is also more than 50% Biodiversity of Mexico (CONABIO) has Mammillaria Finally, Mexico has approximately (Sousa & Delgado, 1993). made important efforts to build a napina in the 25,000 plant species (Rzedowski, 1993; system of Priority Conservation Tehuacan- Villaseñor, 2003). In addition, the Unfortunately, this unique biodiversity Terrestrial Regions (RTPs) in the Cuicatlán endemism rate in different plant groups is rapidly being lost. Official reports country (Arriaga et al ., 2000), including Biosphere is usually high. For example, of the 900 point out that more than 500,000 151 areas that cover about 500,000 Reserve Cactaceae species found in Mexico, hectares of natural forest are being lost km 2. However, its biological and (Photo: 687 are endemic. In the Compositae or severely degraded every year, environmental richness representation Oswaldo Téllez- (>3,000 species), the endemism rate is especially in the S-SE of Mexico. Other is inadequate (Cantú et al ., 2004). Valdés) above 50% (Turner & Nesom, 1997; assessments state that the annual Villaseñor et al ., 1998) and in the deforestation rate in the country has So far, the efforts undertaken regarding reached 1.5 million ha (CCE, 2007) or biodiversity conservation, with a few even 75,000 to 2 million hectares per exceptions, have not considered the year (Lund et al ., 2002). The FAO effects of global climate change, assessments, since the 80’s estimated especially regarding plants. It is only the loss of 350,000 to 650,000 ha a recently that research projects have year. A recent assessment of the tried to assess the effects of different Left: Ferocactus deforestation in Mexico indicates that environmental conditions caused by haematacanthus from 1976 to 1993, 29,765 km 2 of global climate change on the current in theTehuacan- forest was lost and from 1993 to 2000, distribution patterns of plant groups. Cuicatlán about 54,306 km 2 disappeared. Biosphere Therefore, the annual deforestation rate Since 2003, the Facultad de Estudios Reserve (Photo: has increased from 175,000 to 775,800 Superiores Iztacala (FES, Iztacala), Oswaldo Téllez- ha (Velásquez et al ., 2002). Universidad Nacional Autónoma Valdés)

BGCI • 2007 • BGjournal • Vol 4 (2) • 17-21 17 Right: future distribution patterns, especially Mammillaria those species that are more sensitive crucigera in the to climate conditions, are being Tehuacan- assessed. This Reserve is unique as it Cuicatlán represents the southernmost semi-arid Biosphere region of North America and is one of Reserve (Photo: the most diverse areas, with almost Ulises Guzman) 3,000 vascular species in an area of 10,000 km 2. As part of this project,

México (UNAM) have undertaken the most drastic one projects related to the conservation of (HHGGAX50) proposes a

the natural resources of the arid and CO 2 increment of 1% semi-arid regions of Mexico. The each year. With this efforts include in situ and ex situ information it is possible conservation and incorporate the goal to generate different of assessing the effects of global scenarios in the country climate change, as a long-term between 2030 and 2100. conservation criterion (Téllez-Valdés & For instance, 1) a Dávila-Aranda, 2003; Villaseñor & conservative scenario Téllez-Valdés, 2004; Téllez-Valdés et that considers an increment of 0.5°C a database of 5,000 records of 82 al ., 2006). Accordingly, three main and annual precipitation reduction of Cactaceae species growing in the projects are currently being developed: 10%; (2) an intermediate scenario with reserve, including 21 that are endemic 1) Sustainable management and a temperature increment of 1-1.5°C is being analyzed. human development; 2) Ex situ and an annual precipitation reduction conservation of the natural resources of 10%; and 3) a drastic scenario with The possible future distribution of the of the arid and semi-arid regions of a temperature increment of 2-2.5°C Cactaceae species in response to Mexico; 3) Conservation assessments. and an annual precipitation reduction global climate change has been of 10%. evaluated. The distribution of the 82 These projects target different aspects species of Cactaceae show different related to the conservation of natural One of the most important in situ responses to climate change, both resources. In particular conservation projects is the assessment of the increase and reduction (Figures 1 & 2). assessments aim to assess different conservation status of endangered or In general terms, only a few species future climate scenarios, based on the threatened Cactaceae of the Tehuacan- extend their distribution area under use of ecological niche models in Cuicatlán Biosphere Reserve. In this climate change. In fact, almost 95% of which the bioclimatic information is the project, the distribution patterns and species drastically reduce their areas main source of information. Thus, the reproductive capacity of these species and 50% seem to have no distribution idea is to evaluate the consequences are being evaluated and their habitat possibly because they will be extinct of future climate change on the and the effects of land use are also by 2100. It is clear also, that most of conservation of the flora and to analyze being studied. Finally, the effects of the habitats associated with the latter the role that the RTPs and the Natural climate change on their survival and species will also be lost. However, in Protected Areas of Mexico are playing to conserve its future biodiversity. 20 Figure 1. Changes in potential distribution after climate 2025 2100 Due to the uncertain magnitude of change scenarios for different widespread species of 0 climate change, a comprehensive Cactaceae in the Tehuacan-Cuicatlán biosphere reserve

study was undertaken to include ) -20 % (

various proposals that suggest different d Taxa from left to right: e n i -40 scenarios. In particular, the model a 1. Pachycereus grandis, 2. Hylocereus undatus, g - t

s 3. Opuntia tomentosa, 4. Opuntia pubescens, o

includes information which emerged l -60 a e from the IPCC studies (Canziani & r 5. Stenocactus crispatus, 6. Pachycereus marginatus, A Diaz, 1998; Giorgi et al ., 1998; Karl, -80 7. Pachycereus weberi, 8. Cylindropuntia kleiniae, 1998; Neilson, 1998) and the Canadian 9. Neobuxbaumia mezcalaensis, general models of circulation (HadCM2 -100 10. Cylindropuntia leptocaulis, 11. Opuntia decumbens

and HadCM2a). A conservative -120 1234567891011 2 scenario (HHGSDX50), assumes a CO Widespread species increment of 0.5% per year, whereas

18 BGjournal • Vol 4 (2) 20 2025 2010 0

) -20 % ( d e

n -40 i a g - t s In the future, it is hoped to include data o -60 l a

e relating to the dispersion rate of the r A -80 species, as an indicator of their

-100 “escaping capacity” to find new and more adequate habitats, under the -120 1234567891011 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 pressure of global climate change. Local endemic species In general, the Cactaceae are characterized by producing fleshy fruits Figure 2. Changes in potential distribution after climate change scenarios for different local and regional endemic species of Cactaceae in the Tehuacan-Cuicatlán Biosphere Reserve that are dispersed by animals (especially insects, birds and bats), which could Taxa from left to right: 1. Cephalocereus columna-trajani, 2. Coryphantha pycncantha, 3. Mammillaria play an important role for the dispersion kraehenbuehlii, 4. Neobuxbaumia macrocephala, 5. Ferocactus haematacanthus, 6. Mammillaria pectinifera, of the seeds to other areas, where they 7. Mammillaria napina, 8. Polaskia chende, 9. Mitrocereus fulviceps, 10. Ferocactus recurvus, 11. Mammillaria supertexta, 1 2. Echinocactus platyacanthus, 13. Polaskia chichipe, 14. Mammillaria crucigera, 15. Ferocactus could probably establish and grow. robustus, 16. Ferocactus flavovirens, 17. Mammillaria discolor, 18. Mammillaria huitzilopochtli, 19. Pachycereus hollianus, 20. Neobuxbaumia tetetzo, 21. Opuntia parviclada, 22. Mammillaria oteroi, 23. Opuntia tehuacana In addition, there is a current project which aims to regionalize the flora of the Baja California Peninsula, on the other cases, the area appears to and can occupy various habitats with basis of the climate and conservation occupy a more protected region at different environmental conditions status of the species. This Peninsula is higher altitudes, where the species can (unpublished Thesis). located in northwest Mexico and find a refuge in the Reserve. This effect represents an arid region with 0-22 mm might already have occurred in the There is also information about the of precipitation. In this project priority Cuicatlán Canyon, where the behaviour of other endemic cacti areas for conservation using distribution of many columnar species with less than 10 currently bioclimatic models are being selected Cactaceae and their pollinators known populations ( Ferocactus that enable the incorporation of coincides very well. haematacanthus, F. macrodiscus, climate-change scenarios, as an Mammillaria huitzilopochtli, M. important tool to assess its long-term The differential response to global kraehenbuellii, M. napina, M. pectinifera conservation value. Within the climate change shows interesting and Stenocactus crispatus ). In these framework of this project two results. There are various species cases the effects of climate change are databases have been analyzed. (Mammillaria crucigera, M. also very interesting. For instance, One includes 40,000 records with huitzilopochtli, M. kraehenbuellii, M. Mammillaria kraehenbuellii, M. napina information on about 3,000 vascular napina and M. pectinifera ) with current and Ferocactus haematacanthus , have plant species. The second has 6,000 restricted distribution patterns that high habitat specificity and very records of 500 endemic species. seem to be less sensitive to climate restricted distribution patterns; the two change by showing lower reduction species of Mammillaria showed an rates, than those with wider patterns increase in their distribution while F. such as Cephalocereus columna-trajani haematacanthus , even in the drastic and Neobuxbaumia tetetzo , which in scenario, only seemed to have a slight theory have a higher genetic diversity reduction (see Figure 3).

Considering possible future scenarios Above and left: in different timeframes based on an Mammillaria increase in temperature from 0.9-1.2ºC pectinifera in the and 1.5-2ºC and decrease in Tehuacan- precipitation of about 5-10%, the Cuicatlán species show different responses to Biosphere these changes. However, in general Reserve (Photo: terms, most of the species seem to Irving Rosas- show a drastic reduction of their Ruiz) distribution (Figure 4).

BGjournal • Vol 4 (2) 19 It is evident that in most cases, the areas where plant species are currently Biosphere Reserve Biosphere Reserve Tehuacan-Cuicatlán Tehuacan-Cuicatlán living will change latitudinally and altitudinally or the species will even disappear. Consequently, these models can help to propose future in situ and ex situ conservation strategies that

Known records Known records assess the long-term role of the Current potential After climate distribution change 2025 protected areas.

Future projects for 2008

In 2008, the effect of global climate change on the areas and distribution Biosphere Reserve Biosphere Reserve Tehuacan-Cuicatlán Tehuacan-Cuicatlán patterns of wild relatives of cultivated plants will be assessed. Mexico is the centre of origin of several plant species that have been domesticated and played an important role as main food

Known records Known records crops for humans. Wild species of

After climate After climate change 2050 change 2100 some families such as the Cucurbitaceae and Gramineae will be studied in order to propose strategies that can mitigate the reduction of their Figure 3. Maps showing the known and potential distribution of Mammillaria kraehenbuellii in and adjacent to the Tehuacan-Cuicatlán Biosphere Reserve, and its distribution after several scenaria of climate change between distribution or avoid extinction by ex 2025-2100. situ conservation.

In addition, conservation priority areas of the drylands of Mexico will be For example, a group of species from 2) adapt to the new environmental studied and selected. In this project, the temperate areas of the Peninsula conditions; or 3) become extinct. FES Iztacala, UNAM will collaborate show an increase in distribution ( Agave Evidently, it is expected that the with the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, deserti, Astragalus orcuttianus, intrinsic capacity of each taxon or UK through the Millennium Seed Bank. Eriogonum elongatum, Eriogonum group of taxa to respond to these This will assess the effects that global hastatum, Garrya grisea, Ipomopsis climate changes, will result in different climate change will have on the effusa, Ipomopsis guttata, Nolina behaviours that can probably be distribution of species that inhabit palmeri and Quercus peninsularis ). assessed by bioclimatic modeling. Mexican drylands and the role that However, others that currently have a Consequently, the results obtained so natural protected areas can play for wider distribution that partially enter the far show that the effects of climate their long-term conservation. The role drier zones show a reduction and under change on the flora of Mexico, of the Seed Bank of Mexico located at a drastic scenario can even disappear. although different, is in general terms the FES-Iztacala in the conservation of negative to the survival of numerous the plant species of the country will The effects that climate change will taxa inhabiting different habitats. also be evaluated. have on the plant species of the drier areas of the Baja California Peninsula are diverse, due to the fact that most 40 of the habitats in which they currently live will change. Some groups of 20 species will have a reduced distribution 0 ) % or disappear, even in the less drastic ( -20 d e

future scenarios. However, those n i a -40 g species inhabiting more temperate - t s o areas will probably be less affected. l -60 a e r

For instance, it seems that the wetter A -80 pine and oak forests, will contract more gradually than the dry habitats. -100

-120 In summary, it is recognized that most 510 15 20 25 30 35 40 45 50 55 60 65 70 73 species have only a few alternatives in Species assemblages the face of climate change. For Figure 4. Percentage ranges of change in potential distribution after climate change scenaria on different instance, they can 1) migrate to assemblages of species in Baja California, Mexico (numbers refer to assemblages of species). appropriate environmental conditions;

20 BGjournal • Vol 4 (2) Finally, it is worth mentioning the ¬ Giorgi, F., Meehl, G.A., Kattenberg, Fa (eds.). Biological Diversity of increased concern of society and the A. et al., 1998. Simulated changes Mexico: Origins and Distribution . academic world in relationship to in vegetation distribution under Oxford University Press, New York. environmental issues, including global global warning. Pages 427–437 In: USA. climate change. In many ways they R.T. Watson, M. C. Zinyowera, R.H. ¬ Téllez-Valdés, O. & Dávila-Aranda, have been supportive and have Moss and D.J. Dokken (eds.). The P., 2003. Protected Areas and financed research activities that are regional impacts of climate change: Climate change: A case study of the needed to provide the necessary an assessment of vulnerability. cacti of the Tehuacán-Cuicatlán information. For example, most of this Special report of the Biosphere Reserve, México. Cons. work has been supported (2007-2008) Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Biol . 17: 846-853. by the FES, Iztacala, other UNAM Change Working Group II. ¬ Téllez-Valdés, O., Dávila-Aranda, P. institutions, the automotive company Cambridge University Press, & Lira-Saade, R., 2006. The effects Volkswagen which through its Cambridge, UK. of climate change on the long-term programme ‘For love of the Planet’ has ¬ Karl, T.A., 1998. Regional trends and conservation of Fagus grandifolia granted US$ 100,000 and the Royal variation of temperature and var. mexicana , an important species Botanic Gardens, Kew contributed US$ precipitation. Pages 411–425. In: of the Cloud Forest in Eastern 50,000.00. Evidently, due to the large R. T. Watson, M.C. Zinyowera, R.H. Mexico. Biod. and Cons. 15: 1095- size of Mexico, more funds are needed Moss and D.J. Dokken (eds.). The 1107. for research to understand and if it is regional impacts of climate change: ¬ Turner, B.L. & Nesom, G.L., 1997. possible, to protect the 25,000-30,000 an assessment of vulnerability . Biogeografía, diversidad y situación Mexican plant species from global Special report of the de peligro o amenaza de Asteraceae climate change. Intergovernmental Panel on Climate de México. Págs. 545-561. In: Change Working Group II. Ramamoorthy, T.P, R. Bye, A. Lot & References Cambridge University Press, J. Fa. (eds.). Diversidad Biológica de Cambridge, UK. México. Orígenes y Distribución . ¬ Arriaga L., Espinoza, J.M., Aguilar, ¬ Lund, H.G., Torres, V., Turner, A. & Instituto de Biología Universidad C. et al . (Coordinadores), 2000. Wood, L., 2002. México. Análisis Nacional Autónoma de México, Regiones Terrestres Prioritarias de crítico de los estimados disponibles México D. F. Mexico. México . Comisión Nacional para el de deforestación . USAID- ¬ Velásquez, A., Mas, J.F., Díaz- Conocimiento y Uso de la SEMARNAT. Gallegos, J.R. et al ., 2002. Patrones Biodiversidad, México. ¬ Mittermeier, R.A. & Mittermeier, y tasas de cambio de uso del suelo ¬ Caldecott, J.O., Jenkins, M.D., C.G., 1992. La Importancia de la en México . Gaceta 62: 21-37. Johnson, T.H. & Groombridge, B., Diversidad Biológica de México. In: Instituto Nacional de Ecología. 1996. Priorities for Conserving Global J. Sarukan, and R. Dirzo (eds.). SEMARNAT, México. Species Richness and Endemism. México ante los retos de la ¬ Villaseñor J.L.,2003. Diversidad y Biod. and Cons . 5: 699-727. Biodiversidad . CONABIO, México. distribución de las Magnoliophyta ¬ Cantú, C., Wright, R.G., Scott, J.M. & ¬ Neilson, R.P. 1998. Simulation of de México. Interciencia 28: 160-167. Strand, E., 2003. Assessment of regional climate change with global ¬ Villaseñor, J.L., Ibarra, G. & Ocaña, current proposed nature reserves of coupled climate models and D., 1998. Strategies for the Mexico based on their capacity to regional modelling techniques. Conservation of Asteraceae in protect geophysical features and Pages 439–456 In: R.T. Watson Mexico. Cons. Biol. 12: 1066-1075. biodiversity. Biol. Cons. 115: 411-417. M.C. Zinyowera, R. H. Moss, and D. ¬ Villaseñor, J.L. & Téllez-Valdés, O., ¬ Canziani, O.F. & Diaz, S., 1998. Latin J. Dokken (eds.). The regional 2004. Distribución potencial de las America . Pages 187–230 In: R.T. impacts of climate change: an especies del género Jefea Watson, M.C. Zinyowera, R.H. Moss assessment of vulnerability . Special (Asteraceae) en México. Anales Inst. and D.J. Dokken (eds.). The regional report of the Intergovernmental Biol. Univ. Nac. México, Ser. Bot. impacts of climate change: an Panel on Climate Change Working 75: 205-220. assessment of vulnerability . Special Group II. Cambridge University report of the Intergovernmental Press, Cambridge, UK. O. Téllez, P. Dávila, M. Ayala, Panel on Climate Change Working ¬ Rzedowski, J. 1993. Diversity and K. Gutiérrez & I. Melchor Group II. Cambridge University origins of the phanerogamic Flora of Laboratorio de Recursos Naturales Press, Cambridge, UK. Mexico. Pages 129-146. In: UBIPRO ¬ CCE, 2007. Consejo Coorindinador Ramamoorthy, T.P., R. Bye, A. Lot, F. Facultad de Estudios Superiores, Empresarial, 2007. Fa (eds.). Biological Diversity of Iztacala (FES, Iztacala) http://www.cce.org.mx Mexico: Origins and Distribution . Universidad Nacional Autónoma ¬ Flores, V.O., 1993. Herpetofauna of Oxford University Press, New York. México (UNAM), Av. de los Barrios Mexico: Distribution and Endemism. USA. 1, Los Reyes, Tlalnepantla Pages 253-280. In: Ramamoorthy, ¬ Sousa, S.M. & Delgado, S.A., 1993. Estado de México, 54090. Ap. T.P., R. Bye, A. Lot, F. Fa (eds.). Mexican Leguminosae: postal 314, Mexico Biological Diversity of Mexico: Phytogeography, endemism and E-mail: [email protected] Origins and Distribution . Oxford origins. Pages 459-512. In: Internet: http://www.iztacala. University Press, New York. USA. Ramamoorthy, T.P., R. Bye, A. Lot, F. unam.mx/index.php

BGjournal • Vol 4 (2) 21 Authors: Christopher Ellis and Mary Gibby

Research on biodiversity and climate change at the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh

The Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh This importance of biodiversity as the providing a base-line for conservation (RBGE) in Scotland holds living natural framework underpinning social strategies (e.g. adaptation and collections of 15,600 species across and economic sustainability is mitigation); however, at a fundamental four gardens, over 2.5 million internationally recognized and was level the impact of climate change on preserved herbarium specimens, and legally ratified by the Convention on biodiversity will be determined by provides expertise in the science of Biological Diversity (CBD Secretariat, population genetic processes (e.g. botanical diversity, e.g. taxonomy, 2007) and its lower-level frameworks metapopulation dynamics and the systematics, evolutionary biology, (Europa, 2007; UK Biodiversity Action ability of species to migrate through population genetics and conservation Plan, 2007); accordingly, biodiversity fragmented landscapes and the biology of plants and fungi. This science provides a fundamental link potential for genetic adaptation to represents a valuable scientific between the physical process of different and possibly novel climates). resource directly relevant to major climate change and subsequent This work is supported by research into challenges posed by climate change. impacts on social and economic well- the effect of past climate change on Human-induced global warming will being (Figure 1). vegetation structure and function significantly threaten levels of (Brncic et al ., 2006. Ellis & Rochefort, biodiversity (Hannah et al ., 2002; Climate change science at RBGE can 2004, 2006). Parmesan & Yohe, 2003; Travis, 2003; be grouped into three interrelated Thuiller et al ., 2005) with concerns over themes: prediction, monitoring and the subsequent loss of ecosystem evolutionary response (Fig. 2). RBGE Monitoring services - biological resources, research uses statistical models to environmental services and ecosystem predict the impacts of climate change function (Hooper et al ., 2005; Diaz et on biodiversity (e.g. the response of al ., 2006; see Figure 1). species to IPCC scenarios) indicating which species or vegetation types may be threatened by climate change and

Climate Change Biological resources: should be closely monitored or genetic variation protected (e.g. by translocation or the medicinal products mitigation of other stresses). food Prediction Evolutionary Response Biodiversity Environmental services: Monitoring seeks to observe the clean air, water etc response of sensitive elements of Ecosystem function: Scottish biodiversity to climate change, Figure 2 Research themes at RBGE land-atmosphere Sustainability chemical flux providing a robust measure of change which provide a base-line for strategies in the flora, and identifying to mitigate the impact of climate or for opportunities for mitigation. However, species to adapt to climate change Figure 1 Biodiversity science is an monitoring is itself an important impact, adaptation and mitigation. essential link between the process of mechanism with which to verify model climate change and future projections and thereby calibrate and A number of individual research projects environmental, social and economic improve the predictive ability of dealing with climate change are now sustainability – it is the natural modelling studies. Prediction and well-developed and others are in the framework supporting ecosystem monitoring thus describe the impacts ‘development stage’ (project planning, processes and services. of climate change on species, grant applications pending etc.).

22 BGCI • 2007 • BGjournal • Vol 4 (2) • 22-25 include research to optimise patterns of habitat structure (e.g. patterns of woodland isolation and connectivity) aimed at ensuring the effective response of Scotland’s internationally important cryptogam communities to future climate change (Ellis & Coppins, 2006, 2007a, 2007b).

Snow-bed ferns : In the UK, the fern Athyrium distentifolium is expected to be threatened by the effects of climate Left: change. It is restricted to areas of late Rhododendrons snow lie in the Scottish mountains and a at Gang Ho Ba, current research monitoring programme Hengduan Mts, has already shown that populations can Yunnan be devastated by reduced snow cover (Photo: RBGE) in winter (McHaffie, 2006). The Scottish Phenology Programme of semi-quantitative rapid-survey endemic Athyrium distentifolium var. methods for monitoring phenological flexile differs in its reproductive capacity Phenology is the study of recurring characters (Harper et al ., 2004; Harper from A. distentifolium (e.g. producing seasonal events, such as flowering and & Morris, 2006). ripe spores earlier in the season), and it leaf-fall in plants and hibernation and may show a different response to the migration in animals. Parameters such The Scottish Forestry Phenology changes in climate (McHaffie et al . as the date and duration of flowering Project aims to establish a network of 2001). can be compared with climatic sites based on RBGE’s climatically parameters such as temperature, rainfall contrasting Scottish gardens (at Species-response: Research using and humidity to see if there is any Edinburgh, Dawyck, Logan and predictive models to examine the correlation. Phenological research at Benmore) and including Dundee projected response of lichen species to RBGE dates back to 1850, when the Botanic Garden. The details of the climate change, including the Curator, James McNab first recorded project remain to be resolved, though it interaction between climate-response the flowering dates of more than 40 is envisaged that it would be and habitat structure (i.e. patch extent, species. The current phenology undertaken in collaboration with key fragmentation and limits to dispersal). programme at RBGE has been running stakeholders in Scottish forestry and This predictive information aims to for the past five years and involves would provide information relevant to guide the decision making process for recording the frequency and duration of the forest industry (i.e. phenology of a long-term conservation strategy. flowering and stages with each material of known genetic stock under Greater understanding of the interaction flowering season and changes in foliage different climatic conditions). between climate and habitat is essential for over a hundred species. These data in developing mitigation strategies for will increase the understanding of the The International Phenology Gardens sustainable forestry projects. mechanism in plants which responds to Project is coordinated by Humboldt climate changes and will enable University (Berlin), with sites Climate indicators: Lichens are scientists to predict how plants will throughout continental Europe. The popularly applied as sensitive respond to climate change. Over the project monitors the phenology of bioindicators. Research currently in the past five years early spring has been cloned material for a range of tree development phase is seeking to set getting warmer and some spring- species. RBGE is currently establishing up a network of monitoring sites, to flowering plants flower more than two a site at its garden at Dawyck which, examine the response of lichen species weeks earlier (see Figure). It is a unique for Scotland, has an unusual cool to changes in climate. Selected experimental opportunity comprising continental climate and will provide species will potentially include sensitive plants from regions across the world, important new data for the project. arctic-alpine elements of Scotland’s growing at a single site, and subject to montane flora. This project will be the same approximate climatic variation. Cryptogam projects established to complement studies in species-response (above), contributing The phenology programme based at A significant body of climate related to calibrating predictive models. RBGE is in collaboration between staff research focuses on monitoring and and research associates in the Science predicting the impact of climate change Snow-bed bryophytes: A new study is and Horticulture Divisions and on Scottish cryptogams. Cryptogam currently setting up long-term volunteers. The programme includes a species (i.e. mosses, liverworts, lichens, permanent plots, aimed at monitoring daily monitoring project, a weekly fungi and ferns) are one of Scotland’s the response to climate change of monitoring project and the special most important contributions to Scotland’s bryophyte-rich snow-bed examination of Rhododendron species. international biodiversity (Mackay et al ., communities. The study is in These studies include the development 2001; Gibby, 2003). RBGE studies partnership with Scottish Natural

BGjournal • Vol 4 (2) 23 Edinburgh Spring Index 0 )

2 -5 0 0

Right: 2 the in situ adaptive capacity of species, have responded to past environmental n i

The Edinburgh n -10

a i.e. can adaptive variation relevant to change. This includes palaeoecological h t

Spring Index r e contrasting climates be dispersed data to examine the response of t a

l -15 takes an average n across a species’ range? vegetation structure and function to o x a t of first-flowering / -20 past human socio-economy and y a d dates for a ( Flora projects climate change, as well as comparing x e

selection of d -25 n reconstructed speciation rates to past I spring flowers. Flora projects contribute principally periods of environmental change. Their -30 This graph 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 towards RBGE’s commitment to projects examine the evolutionary shows the biodiversity research and education. potential of species to adapt and average number Heritage. However, a number of projects have respond to climate change in the long- of days by which Molecular Projects recently adapted this role to provide term (Pennington et al ., 2005). the first- data relevant to climate change flowering dates Molecular ecology at RBGE continues research. China: 1. Professor Yang Yong-ping, are earlier than to make an international contribution to Deputy Director of Kunmimg Institute 2002 biodiversity research and conservation, Socotra: Research on the flora of of Botany, is developing a long-term and this research programme has been Socotra has included student projects monitoring project to examine extended to address genetic to examine the effect of climate change environmental change in the Hengduan adaptation to climate change and on areas of relict woodland (including Mountains of China. The foundation for possible mitigation of the effects of the sites on the Yemen mainland). However, this work is the capture of information changes in climate. the climate of Socotra is strongly on all the plant records from the region, controlled by small-scale topographic through digitisation and databasing of Bluebells: A project examining the variation (e.g. effect of altitude), which herbarium records. With its rich ecology of native and non-native combined with a lack of high resolution collections of plants from Yunnan, bluebells includes experimental work to climatic data make this type of research dating back over 100 years, RBGE will examine the competitive performance especially challenging. The team are be a partner in this project to provide of different species along climatic pursuing opportunities aimed at information from our collections. 2. gradients. The study aims to broaden improving the predictive potential of This work will be underpinned by the debate from a single species- climate-response models, and continue current research on palaeoecology, response to climate change to a greater to work with local communities on vegetation history and climate change understanding of species interactions. issues relating to climate change and from the Quaternary to the present day. It also provides an important practical sustainable land-use. This research is a collaboration of assessment for the potential effects of RBGE with Professor Li Cheng Sen climate change on a threatened native Nepal: The flora of Nepal project has and his students at the Institute of and non-native species. expanded its data collection from Botany, Beijing. 3. Finally, the RBGE taxonomically relevant morphological archive collections of photographs of Gene Flow and adaptation: Existing characters to include additional Yunnan by George Forrest that molecular studies use data to examine species functional traits. These data illustrate past vegetation distributions the potential of species to adapt to are potentially relevant to monitoring and extent of glaciers will also environmental change (i.e. through and predicting the response of the contribute to the project. sexual reproduction and selection). vegetation structure and ecosystem Populations might acquire adaptive function to climate change, and have Other resources variation from elsewhere (i.e. there strong potential for an integrated study might be a potential to introduce with the phenology project (above). The RBGE also provides indirect though genetic variation from other populations team have established strong links in important contributions to climate of the species either artificially or Nepal and they provide botanical change science, for example: naturally if seeds/pollen can travel over expertise to organisations undertaking large distances). Molecular studies can studies to investigate and mitigate the Archives: RBGE photographic archives examine the dispersal ability of species effect of climate change on plants (e.g. have been used by international which will estimate their potential to IUCN Nepal and WWF Nepal). The scientists in time series studies migrate through patchy or fragmented team are working with the British examining landscape change (e.g. the habitats in response to changed Council in Nepal to facilitate altitudinal migration of floristic zones, climate. Recently such studies have educational events that aim to promote focussed on conservation priority climate change awareness, and with Right: species. The current programme is support from Darwin Initiative funding Volunteers examining diversity in species of for 2007/2008 will supervise a Sandra Stewart Scotland’s Caledonian pinewoods in Nepalese MSc student in a climate (left) and Lyn collaboration with the Macaulay change study. Blades monitor Institute and Scottish Crops Research plants each Institute. This addresses the amount of Tropics: The tropical group use week (Photo: climate related genetic variation phylogenetics and population genetics RBGE) between and among populations and to understand how tropical species

24 BGjournal • Vol 4 (2) ¬ Diaz, S., Fargione, J., Chapin, F.S. & ¬ McHaffie, H.S., Legg, C.J. & Ennos, Left: Dracaena Tilman, D., 2006. Biodiversity loss R.A., 2001. A single gene with cinnabari , threatens human well-being. Public pleiotropic effects accounts for the Dragon’s blood or shifts in glacial features). Such Library of Science, Biology 4: 1300- Scottish endemic taxon Athyrium woodland in studies include scientists from the 1305. distentifolium var. flexile . New Socotra (Photo: Joint Nature Conservancy Council (UK) ¬ Ellis, C.J. & Coppins, B.J., 2006. Phytologist 52 : 491 – 500. RBGE) and Lakehead University (Ontario, Contrasting functional traits maintain ¬ McHaffie, H. S., 2006. Alpine Lady Canada), and Kunming Institute of lichen epiphyte diversity in response Ferns: are they suffering with climate Botany. The archives also house a to climate and autogenic succession. change? Pteridologist , 4: 162-164. massive amount of phenological data Journal of Biogeography 33: 1643- ¬ Mackay, E.C., Shaw, P., Holbrook, J. (1906-1939) which has been extracted 1656. et al ., 2001. Natural Heritage Trends: and examined by University of ¬ Ellis, C.J. & Coppins, B.J., 2007a. Scotland 2001 . Scottish Natural Edinburgh researchers. Climate change and historic Heritage, Perth. woodland structure interact to control ¬ Parmesan C. & Yohe, G., 2003. A Diatoms: RBGE undertakes future diversity of the Lobarion globally coherent fingerprint of fundamental research in the systematics epiphyte community in Scotland. climate change impacts across and identification of diatoms. Diatoms Journal of Vegetation Science 18: natural systems. Nature 421: 37-42. are photosynthesising, microscopic 725-734. ¬ Pennington , R.T., Lavin, M., Prado, algae; they have a siliceous skeleton ¬ Ellis, C.J. & Coppins, B.J., 2007b. D.E., Pendry C.A. & Pell, S., 2005. and are found in almost every aquatic Predicted response of the lichen Climate change and speciation in environment including fresh and marine epiphyte Lecanora populicola to neotropical seasonally dry forest waters and soils. Diatoms provide one climate change scenarios in a clean- plants. In: Y. Malhi & O.L. Phillips of the most powerful air region of northern Britain. (eds.), Tropical forests and global palaeoenvironmental indicators and are Biological Conservation 135: 396- atmospheric change . pp. 199-214. used in palaeoclimatic studies as the 404. Oxford University Press, Oxford, UK. basis into knowledge of the climate ¬ Ellis, C.J. & Rochefort, L., 2004. ¬ Thuiller, W., Lavorel, S., Araújo, M.B. system. Principal palaeoresearch Century-scale development of High et al ., 2005. Climate change threats groups both in the UK and Arctic polygon-patterned tundra to plant diversity in Europe. Below: internationally consult with the wetland, Bylot Island (73 oN). Ecology Proceedings of the National Part of James taxonomic work carried out at RBGE, in 85: 963-978. Academy of Science 102: 8245- MacNab’s order to resolve and interpret ¬ Ellis, C.J. & Rochefort, L., 2006. 8250. register of first palaeoenvironmental records. Long-term sensitivity of a High Arctic ¬ Travis, J.M.J., 2003. Climate change flowering dates wetland to Holocene climate change. and habitat destruction: the deadly (extract from Education Journal of Ecology 94: 441-454. anthropogenic cocktail. Proceedings Transactions of ¬ Europa, 2007. Habitats Directive of the Royal Society, London B 270: the Botanical Climate change is a rapidly developing (92/43/EEC) 467-473. Society of theme in RBGE’s programme of http://ec.europa.eu/environment/ ¬ UK Biodiversity Action Plan, 2007. Edinburgh, education and public outreach. With its nature/nature_conservation/eu_natu http://www.ukbap.org.uk/ vol. V, part III, popularity and range of visitors, RBGE re_legislation/habitats_directive/index p. 173) is uniquely placed to engage in wider _en.htm accessed 7th July, 2007. public education and discussion on ¬ Gibby, M., 2003. Overview of Scottish climate change issues. The Gateway plant conservation: problems, Project under development will include research needs and policy issues. as part of its major thematic events and Botanical Journal of Scotland 55: 1-5. exhibitions: ‘Climate Change – ¬ Hannah, L., Midgeley, G.F., Lovejoy, Scotland’ and ‘Climate Change – T., et al ., 2002. Conservation of Global’. biodiversity in a changing climate. Conservation Biology 16: 264-268. References ¬ Harper, G.H., Mann, D.G. & Thompson, R.,2004. Phenological ¬ Brncic, T.M., Willis, K.J., Harris, D.J. monitoring at the Royal Botanic & Washington, R., 2006. Culture of Garden Edinburgh. Sibbaldia 2: climate? The relative influences of 33-45. past processes on the composition ¬ Harper, G.H. & Morris, L., 2006. of the lowland rainforest. Flowering and climate change – part Philosophical Transactions of the I. Sibbaldia 4: 71-86. Royal Society 362B: 229-242. ¬ Hooper, D.U., Chapin, F.S., Ewel, J.J., ¬ CBD Secretariat, 2007. Convention et al ., 2005. Effects of biodiversity on on Biological Diversity. ecosystem functioning: a consensus http://www.cbd.int/default.shtml of current knowledge. Ecological accessed 4th July, 2007. Monographs 75: 3-35.

Christopher Ellis and Mary Gibby Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh 20A InverBleGijtohuRrnoaw l • Vol 4 (2) 25 Edinburgh EH3 5LR UK E-mail: [email protected] Internet: www.rbge.org.uk Author: Peter S. Wyse Jackson

The potential impact of climate change on native plant diversity in Ireland

Right: View of Climate change has become a major National Botanic issue of concern for governments and Gardens of international agencies over the last few Ireland (Photo: years as the realization has grown that BGCI) climate change is becoming a reality, rather than what might have been perceived in the past as an ill considered ‘doomsday’ prediction by some scientists and environmentalists. With this growing concern, public opinion and understanding of climate change issues has heightened too. This is partly as a result of apparently increasingly unpredictable weather patterns in many parts of the world, which are attributed to climate change (although it is often unclear whether this is really always the case). While climate change is now seen as a reality that must be addressed as a common concern of humanity, there is, by and large, still seriously little concern for its impact on biodiversity in general and plants in particular. species, loss of tundra and certain Subsidiary Body on Scientific, forest areas”. In its section on Technical and Technological Advice In a foreword to Ireland’s National Agriculture, Land-use and Forestry, (SBSTTA 12) in Paris in July 2007 will Climate Change Strategy 2007-2012 the Irish Plan recognized that extensive include climate change and biodiversity published this year, the Irish Prime planting of broad-leaved trees and as an agenda item, supported by a Minister (Taoiseach), Bertie Ahern T.D., hedgerows can help to contribute to discussion document prepared by the recognized that ‘Climate change is carbon sequestration, but does not CBD’s Executive Secretary, that among the greatest challenges of our consider whether the species planted proposed the integration of climate time’ (Government of Ireland, 2007). may themselves be impacted by change activities within the Nevertheless the Strategy itself pays climate change in the future. programmes of work of the little attention to the impact of climate Convention, including options for change on Ireland’s biodiversity but At the international level specific mutually supportive actions addressing instead concentrates on issues such proposals and actions are however climate change within each one of the as energy supplies, transport, industry, now being considered to address the Rio Conventions(CBD Secretariat, agriculture and waste – although it threats to biodiversity from climate 2007a). In addition, the Millennium does acknowledge that “ecosystems change. For example, the UN Ecosystem Assessment identified are vulnerable to climate change with Convention on Biological Diversity numerous links between biodiversity the risk of extinction for certain (CBD) at its forthcoming meeting of the and climate change (Millennium

26 BGCI • 2007 • BGjournal • Vol 4 (2) • 26-29 Ecosystem Assessment, 2005). These • Taxa with nowhere to go, such as • Rises in the mean annual initiatives recognized that to integrate mountain tops, low-lying islands, temperatures: between 1890 and biodiversity and climate change actions high latitudes and edges of 2004 mean annual temperatures in it will be necessary to: continents; Ireland rose by over 0.7°C and six of • Plants with restricted ranges such the ten warmest years during this a) Identify vulnerable regions, sub- as rare and endemic species; period have occurred since 1995. regions and ecosystem types, • Taxa with poor dispersal capacity Predicted scenarios suggest that by including the components of and/or long generation times; 2050 there will be an increase of biodiversity within these areas; • Species that are susceptible to January temperatures of 1.5°C in b) Assess the threats and likely impacts extreme conditions such as flood or Ireland and July temperatures of of climate change on biodiversity in drought; 2.5°C. the vulnerable areas identified; • Plants with extreme habitat/niche • Changes in rainfall and precipitation c) Evaluate the climate change specialisation such as narrow patterns: a marked reduction of adaptation and mitigation options tolerance to climate-sensitive between 25% and 40% in summer and measures proposed in relation variables; rainfall is also possible, according to to impacts on biodiversity, and • Taxa with co-evolved or synchronous predictions, as well as perhaps d) Implement and monitor the impact relationships with other species; some winter rainfall increases. on biodiversity of adaptation and • Species with inflexible physiological • More frequent storms: The mitigation plans and measures responses to climate variables; frequency of severe storms coming adopted. • Keystone taxa important in primary to Ireland from the Atlantic Ocean production or ecosystem processes may increase by about 15%. The CBD has also convened several and function; and • Increase in extreme weather events: meetings of an Ad Hoc Technical • Taxa with direct value for humans or such as floods, droughts, heat Expert Group on Biodiversity and with potential for future use. waves etc. Climate Change, which has developed a methodology to evaluate the risks to Internationally, significant efforts are In 2005, work began in Ireland to biodiversity from climate change, continuing to improve and refine the develop and subsequently to results of which are included in the quality of global and regional climate implement a National Plant CBD Technical Series No. 25. The change models. The Irish Climate Conservation Strategy (National CBD has also prepared a further Change Strategy says that sustained Botanic Gardens, Ireland, 2007). This important document in relation to efforts will be required in Ireland to Strategy proposed a set of targets, climate change and biodiversity which maintain and develop climate modeling actions, milestones and indicators for include abstracts of important case and down scaling capacity in order to Ireland to fulfill its obligations under the studies contributed by experts ensure that these improvements inform Global Strategy for Plant Conservation worldwide, to support the SBSTTA decision-making at national and local (GSPC) as part of its commitments to Below: meeting in Paris in July 2007 (CBD levels. To date in Ireland there have not the CBD (CBD Secretariat, 2003). Sustainability Secretariat, 2007b). In that publication been significant high-resolution studies workshop for the United Nations Secretary General, undertaken to measure the potential In order to contribute towards this school children Ban Ki-Moon, noted that it is impact of climate change on plant National Strategy, this author undertook at the National appropriate that the 2007 International diversity, applying the climate change a preliminary qualitative assessment of Botanic Gardens Biological Diversity Day should focus models in a quantitative way to review the possible impact of climate change of Ireland and a on “Biodiversity and Climate Change” likely changes in the Irish flora and on the native Irish flora, with the aim of Child’s as integrating the mutual concerns of ecosystems. obtaining a clearer view of the possible illustration of both will be fundamental to the (or even likely changes) in the Irish flora climate change achievement of the Millennium Predicted changes in Ireland’s climate composition over the next c.50 years from the Development Goals. as a result of climate change include: and to help inform conservation workshop

Despite the above developments, the specific issue of climate change and plant conservation has been little considered to date. However, The Gran Canary Declaration II on Climate Change and Plant Conservation is an important new awareness-raising exercise and call to action, drawing new attention to the urgency of addressing plant loss as a result of climate change (BGCI & Cabildo de Gran Canaria, 2006). The Gran Canaria Declaration II also provides a useful list of taxa that may be most significantly impacted by climate change:

BGjournal • Vol 4 (2) 27 Right: • Species that may be adversely widespread and stable habitats may Killarney Fern affected by related changes to the also be only marginally affected, such (Trichomanes biodiversity in their ecosystems as a as those of hedgerows and grasslands. speciosum ) in result of climate change (such as Species that occur in habitats that are cultivation loss of pollinators, seed dispersal already subject to periodic drought and agents etc). / or inundation may also be relatively adaptable and resistant to climate The spread of new pathogens, such as change, such as submerged aquatics, new insect pests, vectors and species from dry walls and well- diseases, may also be an increasing drained rocky places. consequence of climate change and have an impact on native plant Nevertheless there is a wide range of diversity. However, the prediction of species that are potentially vulnerable what will be the result of these on to the predicted Irish climate changes priorities and measures needed for specific plant species is difficult to and unless specific conservation plant diversity conservation in Ireland. predict and has not been included in measures are put in place, both in situ A total of 850 native plant species were this assessment. and ex situ , it is likely that Ireland could assessed in relation to the list of criteria lose a significant proportion of its native for Climate Change-vulnerable taxa Using these criteria an assessment has plants as a result of climate change. given in the Gran Canaria Declaration II been made as to whether each native The question has to be asked in (above) and the predicted changes in species (vascular plants only) in the relation to these findings – in what ways the Irish climate. The results of this Irish flora is likely to be impacted by must the focus of the plant assessment are given below. It is climate change in a detrimental way or conservation plans and programme of stressed however that this is a not. The impacts on specific species the National Botanic Gardens of Ireland ‘qualitative’ assessment only and the are not listed here and only a summary be changed or adapted to respond to results should be regarded as very of the overall results of the study are an increasingly serious plant preliminary. It is urgent therefore that provided. A list of threatened plants in conservation challenge? A programme an experimental approach to the Ireland provided on the website of the to address national targets for the assessment of climate change- National Botanic Gardens GSPC has already been developed vulnerable taxa is applied in Ireland and (www.botanicgardens.ie) was used for (and through them, to contribute to the elsewhere in order to develop predictive reference to review whether already relevant international targets). That models for specific plants and groups rare or endangered native plants would includes ensuring that by 2010 the of plants. Such models can then be be further threatened by climate Gardens are involved in or contributing used to support and inform better change. No species is currently to the development and implementation decision-making and to guide the plant included in this list on the basis that it of a range of species conservation and conservation measures undertaken. is threatened by climate change. recovery programmes. Our institutional The potential role of botanic gardens in Eleven species (1%) of the Irish native target includes the inclusion of all undertaking such research studies flora are currently either ‘extinct’ or critically endangered plants in an ex situ should also be stressed, utilizing their ‘extinct in the wild’. conservation programme, with the ex situ collections and wide ranging addition of 3 to 4 other species each facilities for scientific study, as well as The assessments revealed that, year. The institution is also involved in for plant cultivation, propagation and conservatively, there are at least 171 several existing and proposed All long-term monitoring. native plant species (20% of the total Ireland Species Action Plans for native flora) that appear to be endangered species, such as for the The situation in Ireland particularly vulnerable to climate orchid Spiranthes romanzoffiana and change during the period 2007 to the Killarney Fern, Trichomanes It is suggested that the plant species 2050. Of a total of 143 threatened speciosum , both of which are protected that will be most heavily impacted by species currently included in the Irish in Ireland under the European Union’s climate change in Ireland are the threatened plants list, 74 species (52%) Habitats Directive (Europa, 2007). The following: may have their situation made institution expects to be increasingly potentially worse due to climate involved in such programmes in the • Species that are already threatened change. In addition, 28 (3%) species future and climate change impacts may in Ireland due to a variety of factors that are currently not threatened in result in more species becoming and reasons Ireland are likely to become so due to priorities. However, be that as it may, • Species that occur in restricted or climate change. the existing critically endangered vulnerable habitats (such as ‘alpine’ species will probably still remain as the type habitats in the mountains, It is also likely that plants of most urgent priorities for action. coastal sites, peatlands and other woodlands, long-lived species (such as Further initiatives that will also need to wetlands, wetland margins etc). trees) and species that are abundant in be developed include specific • Species that are particularly prone Ireland are generally less likely to be measures and continued vigilance in to loss due to competition from threatened by climate change, at least relation to existing and potentially invasive alien plants. not by 2050. Species that occur in invasive species (plants and animals),

28 BGjournal • Vol 4 (2) pests and diseases, so that increased pressure on already hard-pressed natural and semi-natural ecosystems and the species they contain can be managed, hopefully more effectively. The responsibility to help conserve, monitor and raise awareness of these threats to native plants and their habitats from climate change is a considerable challenge for botanic gardens in Ireland, as indeed it is for botanic gardens worldwide. Our efforts to conserve endangered plants ex situ , as a back up to in situ measures, are made even more valid and necessary as a result of climate change, when natural habitats for many threatened plants may no longer be able to support their indigenous species.

References

¬ BGCI & Cabildo de Gran Canaria, 2006. The Gran Canary Declaration Technical Series No. 25. CBD in a Changing Climate . Technical Above: View of II on Climate Change and Plant Secretariat, Montreal, Canada. Series No. 29. CBD Secretariat, National Botanic Conservation . BGCI, London, UK & http://www.cbd.int/doc/publications Montreal, Canada Gardens of Cabildo de Gran Canaria, Las /cbd-ts-25.pdf http://www.cbd.int/doc/publications Ireland (Photo: Palmas de Gran Canaria, Spain. ¬ CBD Secretariat, 2007a. Proposals /cbd-ts-29.pdf BGCI) ¬ CBD Secretariat, 2003. Global for the Integration of Climate ¬ Europa, 2007. Habitats Directive Strategy for Plant Conservation. Change Activities within the (92/43/EEC) CBD Secretariat, Montreal, Canada. Programmes of Work of the http://ec.europa.eu/environment/ http://www.cbd.int/programmes/ Convention . nature/nature_conservation/eu_ cross-cutting/plant/default.asp UNEP/CBD/SBSTTA/12/7. CBD nature_legislation/habitats_directive/ accessed 4th July, 2007. Secretariat, Montreal, Canada index_en.htm ¬ CBD Secretariat, 2006. Guidance for http://www.cbd.int/doc/meeting. ¬ Government of Ireland, 2007. Ireland promoting synergy among activities aspx?mtg=SBSTTA-12 accessed National Climate Change Strategy addressing biological diversity, 4th July, 2007. 2007 – 2012 . Department of desertification, land degradation and ¬ CBD Secretariat, 2007b. Emerging Environment, Heritage and Local climate change . Issues for Biodiversity Conservation Government, Ireland. ¬ Millennium Ecosystem Assessment, 2005. Millennium Ecosystem Left: The Assessment: Ecosystems and curvilinear Human Well-being - Biodiversity glasshouse Synthesis . World Resources range at the Institute, Washington, USA. National Botanic ¬ National Botanic Gardens, Ireland, Gardens of 2007. A National Plant Conservation Ireland (Photo: Strategy for Ireland (Final Draft). Peter Wyse National Botanic Gardens, Jackson) Glasnevin, Ireland. http://www.botanicgardens.ie/gspc/ inspc.htm accessed 7th July, 2007.

Peter S. Wyse Jackson Director, National Botanic Gardens of Ireland Glasnevin, Dublin 9. Ireland Email: [email protected]; Internet: www.botanicgardens.ie;

BGjournal • Vol 4 (2) 29 Author: Jon C. Lovett

Climate change and Africa: an ecological perspective

to stop and think for a moment. Usually hard for a long-lived and slow growing when human impact on vegetation is species such as the Quiver Tree to considered it is in relation to a keep up. Vegetation models of the particular development, perhaps Cape Floristic kingdom by SANBI ploughing a field or felling a forest. scientist Guy Midgley show that this

However, increased CO 2 is different extra-ordinary area of plant diversity will because of the vast scale of the be much reduced under future climate change, which is everywhere. In the scenarios with a huge number of South African example the concern is extinctions predicted (Hannah et al ., that the entire grassed catchment area 2005, Lovett, 2005a, 2005b). Above: Wendy Climate change and ecology of the Drakensberg range will be Foden affected causing substantial changes to Although much of the recent research measuring a By burning fossilised plants for energy South Africa’s water supply. on plants and climate change has been specimen of huge quantities of carbon dioxide have carried out in South Africa, with some Quiver Tree been pumped into the Earth’s The second ecological effect of dramatic conclusions, the impacts will

(Aloe atmosphere. Unlike smoke or smog it increased CO 2 is caused by its role as a be continent-wide (McClean et al ., dichotoma ) cannot be seen, but so much has been ‘green-house gas’. Together with some 2006; McClean et al ., 2005). When

(Photo: SANBI) burnt that the concentration of other gases, such as methane, CO 2 global temperatures increase there are atmospheric carbon dioxide has acts as a planetary blanket that slows huge changes to the world’s weather measurably increased. There are a down the release of the Sun’s warmth systems with all sorts of knock-on number of interesting ecological from the Earth’s surface. The situation effects. For example, Africa produces changes that appear to be related to is complicated by factors such as cloud about half of the world’s dust, much of this increase. Firstly, as any botanist cover, but the general scientific it coming from the Sahara and Sahel. knows, the normal concentration of consensus now is that an observed The dust modifies climate by reflecting carbon dioxide is a limiting factor for increase in global temperatures results solar energy, provides nutrients for photosynthesis. Plants, or at least some from the increase in greenhouse gases, carbon-dioxide absorbing plankton in

plants, can grow faster when there is notably CO 2. Again the vast scale of the ocean and helps fertilize Amazon

more CO 2, a prediction confirmed by changes needed to be considered. soils. If rainfall in the Sahara and Sahel research on native African plants at the Climate determines the extent of the were to increase thereby causing South African National Biodiversity major vegetation formations and in a increased vegetation cover, and there Institute (SANBI, 2007). This increased warmer world whole biomes are on the are indications that this is currently the growth has knock-on ecological effects. move. Not all the plants can keep up; case, then there could be changes in For example, comparison of old research by Wendy Foden on the Right: photographs with modern landscapes Quiver Tree ( Aloe dichotoma ) in Quiver Tree by Professor William Bond of the Namibia shows that populations in the (Aloe University of Cape Town, shows that in northern part of the range are dying as dichotoma ) South Africa at least, woody plants are the area experiences more drought Karoo Desert invading grasslands (pers.comm., conditions (Foden, 2002; in press). National 2006). These changes in vegetation More southerly trees are doing well with Botanical Garden then cause changes in the hydrology of young plants regenerating. However the (Photo: SANBI) water catchments. Now it is necessary change is happening so fast that it is

30 BGCI • 2007 • BGjournal • Vol 4 (2) • 30-33 the amount of dust. More storms in the Sahel are also associated with a higher frequency of Atlantic hurricanes. Extreme weather conditions that can cause great economic damage in countries around the Gulf of Mexico seem to start in the highlands of Ethiopia, travel westwards across Africa and then over the Atlantic to wreak havoc on the sea-board of the USA and Caribbean countries.

However, long-term predictions are for a drier western Africa and expansion of the Sahara southwards into what are now the Congo rainforests (see Figure 1). Interestingly, it appears that this has happened before during previous global climate change as the present-day forests are growing on desert sands. Models of vegetation shifts suggest that forest plants will move southwards into Angola and up into the mountains of the central rift. The wetter parts of Left: Aloe central Africa, which are the coastal dichotoma regions of Cameroon and Gabon, are (Photo: SANBI) predicted to retain more plant diversity than elsewhere, as are the mountains of Pharaohs along the Nile. Collapse of on Climate Change states that Africa is eastern coastal Africa. Compared with the city of Mapungubwe in 1290 AD in the continent most vulnerable to the past, these predictions match southern Africa and subsequent rise of climate change with an increase in both locations of proposed African rainforest Great Zimbabwe can be linked to the frequency and severity of droughts refugia, even though the refugia were drought followed by a wetter climate. and floods. The 1991-1993 drought in during times of a colder, drier climate More recently, drought contributed to south-eastern Africa affected about 100 instead of a hotter one. There are the ecological shocks of cattle disease million people, where-as floods in the several possible reasons for this. Firstly and small pox experienced in eastern region in 2000 reduced Mozambique’s it is rainfall that determines where the Africa at the end of the 19th century, annual economic growth rate from 8% rainforests are. So in times of drought known by the Maasai as the Emutai to 2%. At the same time as World the rainforests will contract in both period. The rains failed completely in leaders have agreed on Millennium hotter and drier climes. Secondly, 1897 and 1898. The Austrian explorer Development Goals to reduce poverty mountains tend to be wetter as they act Dr Oscar Baumann, who travelled in and improve environmental as condensers of moisture; and thirdly, Maasailand in 1891, wrote chilling eye- sustainability, climate change is mountains offer plants the chance to witness accounts of the horror unzipping the fabric of societies caught move to a different climate in a short experienced by the Maasai people: up in its effects. distance. Simply by going up a few hundred metres in elevation a plant can “There were women wasted to Policy responses find a cooler habitat, unlike the poor skeletons from whose eyes the Quiver Tree, which has to move madness of starvation glared ... warriors Scientific investigations of climate hundreds of kilometres. scarcely able to crawl on all fours, and change have been warning for some apathetic, languishing elders. Swarms time that human activities that Climate change and society of vultures followed them from high, increased atmospheric concentrations awaiting their certain victims.” of greenhouse gases could have global Humans live under all kinds of climatic (Baumann 1894, Masailand) effects, leading to a concerted conditions. In Africa people live on high History looks set to repeat itself. The international policy response. The altitude grasslands, in the deep forest world was faced with similar scenes United Nations Framework Convention and driest deserts. But the type of from Eritrea during the 1980s and on Climate Change entered into force climate plays an important role in how recently the UN Secretary General Ban on 21 March 1994; most countries have societies are organised and if the Ki-moon suggested that the Dafur signed up to it, and it has been ratified climate changes then social structures crises was due to drought and conflict by 191 countries. At the first will need to change too. This can be between settled farmers and nomadic conference of the parties in Berlin in seen in African history. Drying of the herders over scarce water supplies – 1995 it was decided that there needed Sahara from about 5300 years ago has problems which he linked to climate to be a stronger protocol containing been associated with the rise of the change. The Intergovernmental Panel detailed commitments for industrialized

BGjournal • Vol 4 (2) 31 Right: Figure 1. Climate change: predicted decrease in plant species diversity by the year 2100

Sommer, et al ., 2005, 2006

countries. This lead to the Kyoto greenhouse gas emissions. This led the accompanied by an analysis of the Protocol being adopted at the third United States senate to pass the Byrd- detailed financial costs and other conference of the parties in Kyoto on Hagel Resolution in July 1997 by 95 impacts on the economy of the United 11 December 1997, which listed the votes to 0: States which would be incurred by the industrialized countries that needed to implementation of the protocol or other take action in an annex, leading them Resolved, That it is the sense of the agreement. to be called the ‘Annex 1 countries’. Senate that— However, the individual needs of (1) the United States should not be a Eventually the Kyoto Protocol entered nations made it difficult for State signatory to any protocol to, or other into force on 16 February 2005, governments to ratify the Protocol as agreement regarding, the United primarily because of ratification by the there was considerable concern about Nations Framework Convention on European Community and Russia. But the economic impacts of limiting Climate Change of 1992, at by this time the fears expressed in the greenhouse gas emissions in negotiations in Kyoto in December Byrd-Hagel resolution had come to economies largely dependent on 1997, or thereafter, which would— pass as some non-Annex 1 countries burning fossil fuels for power and (A) mandate new commitments to limit have become major economic players transport. Moreover there was also or reduce greenhouse gas emissions for and carbon emissions from China look concern about the principle of the Annex I Parties, unless the protocol set to exceed those of the United ‘differentiated but common or other agreement also mandates new States in a few years time. responsibilities’ in which developing specific scheduled commitments to countries (called the non-Annex 1 limit or reduce greenhouse gas Mitigation and adaptation countries) did not have any emissions for Developing Country commitments under the protocol. To Parties within the same compliance Even in the face of the scale and many this might seem fair, after all, why period, or magnitude of climate change there are should developing African nations have (B) would result in serious harm to the things that can be done. The Kyoto to curtail their economic growth to economy of the United States; and Protocol contains a series of measures counter a problem that was not of their (2) any such protocol or other aimed at reducing greenhouse gas making? But not all developing agreement which would require the emissions, known as mitigation, most countries have the carbon footprints of advice and consent of the Senate to notably the Clean Development those in Africa. Of particular concern in ratification should be accompanied by a Mechanism (CDM). The CDM allows 1997 was the potential economic rise of detailed explanation of any legislation or Annex 1 countries to offset their India and China, both non-Annex 1 regulatory actions that may be required emissions by investing in emission counties in the Kyoto Protocol and so to implement the protocol or other reduction projects in developing not subject to any controls on agreement and should also be countries. This flexible approach is

32 BGjournal • Vol 4 (2) regarded as a ‘win-win’ strategy by what botanists have to do to cope with ¬ Lovett, J.C., 2006. Climate and policy-makers as developing countries the present changes. From a policy society, African Journal of Ecology benefit whilst developed countries are perspective an important step is to 44: 421-422. able to meet their Kyoto commitments. integrate the ecology of global climate http://www.blackwell-synergy.com South Africa was the first African change into the Convention on /toc/aje/44/4 accessed 25th June, country to launch a CDM project with Biological Diversity. For example the 2007 approval of the Kuyasa low-cost urban Global Strategy for Plant Conservation , ¬ Lovett, J.C., Midgley, G.F., & housing energy upgrade project in which contains important agreements Barnard, P. 2005a. Climate change Cape Town. This focuses on renewable such as protection of 50% of the and ecology in Africa, African energy and energy efficiency by fitting world’s important plant areas (IPAs) by Journal of Ecology 43: 167-169. solar water heaters, insulated ceilings 2010, needs to include provisions for http://www.blackwell-synergy.com and low energy light bulbs in existing the movement and extinction of plants /toc/aje/43/3 accessed 25th June, low cost houses. Another form of in a warmer world. It will be self- 2007 mitigation that has attracted a lot of defeating if a lot of effort is put into ¬ Lovett, J.C., Barnard, P., & Midgley, interest from conservationists is the protecting areas that are home to G.F., 2005b. National Climate Change potential for obtaining CDM payments plants that will either no longer grow in Conference in South Africa, African to cover the cost of forest conservation the IPA or are dead. So for in situ Journal of Ecology 43: 279-281. on the grounds that carbon lost through conservation it is necessary to focus on http: //www.blackwell-synergy.com deforestation will contribute to the places that will be buffered from /toc/aje/43/4 accessed 25th June, greenhouse gas emissions. From a climate change, protect places where 2007 conservation perspective this is a ‘win- plants will move to and create corridors ¬ McClean, C.J., Doswald, N., Küper, win’ in that forest biodiversity will be to help plants move into safety. Those et al ., 2006. Potential impacts of protected whilst preventing CO2 plants at risk of extinction because their climate change on Sub-Saharan emissions, however this avoided habitat will change and unable to move African plant priority area selection, deforestation policy is a long way from fast enough to find a new home, need Diversity and Distributions 12: 645- gaining acceptance. In addition to to be helped to move and bring them 655. energy reduction projects, as in the into cultivation or seed-banks ready for ¬ McClean, C.J., Lovett, J.C., Küper, Kuyasa example, carbon could be a return to the wild when possible. All W., et al ., 2005. African Plant sequestered in plantations, or biofuels of this will require a major co-ordinated Diversity and Climate Change, could be planted to replaced oil-based effort for which botanic gardens are Annals of the Missouri Botanical transport fuels in developed countries. well placed. Not only for direct Garden 92: 139-152. However, Africa as a continent has not conservation action, but also education ¬ SANBI, 2007. South African National yet taken full advantage of the funds about the effect of global warming and Biodiversity Institute available under the CDM and there is the potential mitigation measures that http://www.sanbi.org/research/climat more that could be done. A everyone can participate in – from echange.htm controversial suggestion for mitigating energy reduction to tree planting. ¬ Sommer, H., Küper, W., Lovett, J. & South Africa’s own emissions, and an Barthlott, W., 2005. The future of approach that is much discussed in References Africa’s plant diversity - potential developed countries, is an expansion of effects of climate change on species nuclear power to replace energy ¬ Foden, W.B., 2002. Mortality of Aloe distributions. Poster at the South derived from coal-fired power stations. dichotoma (the Quiver tree) in the African National Climate Change South Africa has operated a nuclear Succulent Karoo, South Africa - are Conference, 17-21 October 2005 in power plant at Koeberg near Cape the effects of climate change already Midrand, South Africa. Town since 1984 and has substantial apparent? MSc Thesis, University of ¬ Sommer, H., Küper, W. &. Barthlott, stocks of uranium. But the nuclear Cape Town. W., 2006. Implications of climate option comes with its own ecological ¬ Foden, W., Midgley, G.F., Hughes, change on Africa’s plant diversity. problems notably the possibilities of an G., Bond, W.J., Thuiller, W., Talk at the ESSP Open Science accident and disposal of waste. Hoffmann, M.T., Kaleme, P., Conference: Global Environmental Underhill, L.G., Rebelo, A. and Change - Regional Challenges, 9-12 It is also getting a little late for Hannah, L. (in press). A changing November in Beijing, China. completely effective mitigation as climate is eroding the geographical global warming is already upon us. range of the Namib Desert tree Aloe Jon C. Lovett Political impasse on international through population declines and Centre for Ecology, Law and Policy agreements for greenhouse gas dispersal lags. Diversity and Environment Department reductions means that CO 2 levels will Distributions . University of York continue to rise. The world is left with ¬ Hannah, L., Midgley, G., Hughes, G. York YO10 5DD UK adaptation. For Africa, adaptation Bomhard, B., 2005. The view from E-mail: [email protected] means coping with extreme droughts, the Cape: extinction risk, protected Internet: http://www.york.ac.uk floods and a rising sea level. It is areas, and climate change, and Technology and Sustainable necessary to bear in mind the social BioScience 55(3) : 231-242. Development Group impacts of global warming when http://scholar.google.com/ accessed University of Twente, Enschede, discussing ecological adaptation and 25th June, 2007. The Netherlands

BGjournal • Vol 4 (2) 33 Author: Etelka Leadlay

Report on 3rd Global Botanic Gardens Congress Wuhan, China

work. The conclusions were then given at the closing plenary session and can be found on the BGCI website. This review will help provide a framework and guidance for the work of botanic gardens for the period 2007- 2010 and beyond. It has also been included in the in-depth review of the implementation of the GSPC Right: Opening (UNEP/CBD/SBSTTA/12/3) and Ceremony of the presented to the twelfth meeting of the 3GBGC Subsidiary Body on Scientific, (Photo: BGCI) Technical and Technological Advice (SBSTTA 12) to the Convention on The 3rd Global Botanic Garden Government, the Wuhan Municipal Biological Diversity (CBD) in Paris at Congress (3GBGC) held in Wuhan, Government and the State Forestry the beginning of July. BGCI is very China from April 16-20, 2007 was Administration for making the Congress grateful to the volunteers who extremely successful. The Congress such a success. The Congress presented the conclusions for each provided a forum for 954 delegates organization was faultless and everyone theme: Tim Entwisle (Botanic Gardens from botanic gardens in 67 countries to was made to feel very welcome. Wuhan Trust, Australia) Understanding and consider matters of mutual importance was an excellent venue and the documenting plant diversity; Kayri and concern for global plant overseas delegates were very pleased Havens (Chicago Botanic Garden, conservation. The scientific to have the opportunity to visit China, USA) Conserving plant diversity; programme included 4 plenary which for many was their fist visit. Suzanne Sharrock (BGCI) Using plant sessions, 42 symposia with a total of diversity sustainably; Li Mei, (Nanjing 202 oral and 145 poster presentations. The main aim of the Congress was to Botanic Garden Mem. Sun Yat-Sen, The Congress also included many review the contributions of botanic China) Promoting education and spectacular social events such as the gardens to the Global Strategy for awareness about plant diversity and Welcome Reception and the BGCI and Plant Conservation (GSPC) (CBD, Stella Simiyu (BGCI/CBD Secretariat, WBG Anniversary Celebration in the 2003) through the implementation of Kenya) GSPC overview. Wuhan Botanical Garden, the Congress the 2010 Botanic Garden Targets banquet and acrobatic display by the (Wyse Jackson, 2004). There were 12 One of the most valuable aspects of an Wuhan Acrobatic Troupe and a one- plenary addresses which addressed international congress is the day tour of Wuhan. the themes of the GSPC and the opportunity for delegates to meet and parallel sessions were developed to share experiences and develop future BGCI and all those who attended the highlight the contribution of botanic collaboration. This was done informally Congress are extremely grateful to the gardens to the most relevant targets of and also formally through regional hosts of the Congress: the Wuhan the GSPC. The moderator of each network meetings: East Asia Botanic Botanical Garden and the co- session documented the key points: 1) Gardens Network (EABGN) chaired by organizers: the Chinese Academy of the present status; 2) the gaps and/or Yong Shik Kim (Korean Association of Sciences, the Hubei Provincial barriers; and 3) suggestions for future Botanic Gardens and Arboreta

34 BGCI • 2007 • BGjournal • Vol 4 (2) • 34-35 Fund for Europe and Africa for which Far left: BGCI is very grateful. The Congress Sara Oldfield, Secretariat supported 31 scholars from Secretary 16 countries which was a very General, BGCI important contribution. The East Asia (Photo: BGCI) for their work in coordinating the Botanic Gardens Network (EABGN) venues, hotels, congress materials, meeting was generously supported by Left: Professor social event, caterers, transport, tours the Mitsubishi Corporation and through Hongwen and all the many tasks associated with this support two scholars from Huang, Director, a congress and for registering the Mongolia and two from North Korea Wuhan Botanic (KABGA); Asia Pacific Botanic Garden delegates with such efficiency and were able to attend the EABGN Garden Network Meeting chaired by Philip patience. On behalf of the delegates, meeting and the Congress. (Photo: BGCI) Moors (Royal Botanic Gardens, BGCI would also like to thank the Melbourne, Australia); African Botanic smiling and helpful volunteers who BGCI intends to distribute a CD of the Gardens Network (ABGN) chaired by made the Congress such a memorable Proceedings and post them on the Christopher Dalzell (Coordinator, event. BGCI website. ABGN); North American Partnership for Plant Conservation (NAPPC) chaired by BGCI staff are very grateful to the Chair Finally, BGCI are very grateful to all the David Galbraith (Chair, NAPPC); Latin of the BGCI Board, Baroness Walmsley delegates who participated in the American & Caribbean Association of for attending the Congress and meeting to ensure that the Congress Botanic Gardens and Arboreta (ALCJB) speaking on the behalf of BGCI and to achieved its aims and provided a chaired by Alberto Gómez Mejía other Board members Peter Raven, lasting legacy for the botanic garden (President, ALCJB) and the inaugural Steve Hopper, David Bramwell, community through the network links meeting of the South Asia Association Stephen Blackmore, Peter Wyse fostered around the world. for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) Jackson and Julian Stanning for their convened by Chandrakant Salunkhe support. BGCI would like to take this References (Krishna Mahavidyalaya, India). opportunity to thank Anle Tieu (former BGCI China Programme Coordinator) ¬ CBD, 2003. Global Strategy for A congress also provides an who contributed a great deal to the Plant Conservation (GSPC). opportunity to attend training organisation of the Congress. Secretariat of the Convention on workshops and these were very Biological Diversity. popular. Six training workshops were A BGCI International Advisory Council http://www.cbd.int/gspc/default. held on the Sunday before the was held attended by Chin See Chung, shtml accessed 4th July, 2007 Congress attended by a total of 173 Maite Delmas, Timothy Entwisle, David ¬ Wyse Jackson, P., 2004. Developing people on the following topics: Efficient Galbraith, Alberto Gómez–Mejía, international targets for botanic seed preservation, Translocation of Esteban Hernández Bermejo, Hongwen gardens in conservation: a threatened plants, Education for Huang, Angela Leiva, Jan Rammeloo, consultation document. BGjournal sustainable development a step-by- Philippe Richard, Annie Lane and Heiki 1(1): 4-6. step process for botanic garden Tamm. http://www.bgci.org accessed educators, Plant records for the 4th July, 2007. management of ex situ living The Congress was well covered by the Below: collections, New internet local and national press and media. Etelka Leadlay The 3GBGC communication tools and Red listing: Internationally, it was covered by China Botanic Gardens Conservation Welcome why is it important? BGCI is very Dialogue (http://www.chinadialogue. International Reception in the grateful to the facilitators for these net) and news of the Congress was Descanso House, 199 Kew Road Wuhan Botanic useful workshops. posted on the websites of BGCI and Richmond, Surrey TW9 3BW U.K. Garden the Chinese Academy of Sciences E-mail: [email protected] (Photo: BGCI) BGCI would like to thank the staff of our (http://english.cas.ac.cn/eng2003/news Internet: http://www.bgci.org partner organizations particularly /detailnewsb.asp?infono=26509). Professor Hongwen Huang, Director of A personal flavour was given by Wuhan Botanic Garden whose vision bloggers, Pam Allenstein (http:// was translated into such an outstanding publicgardens.wordpress.com/) and Congress. BGCI would also like to Elizabeth Haegele (http://lizstripto thank the Deputy Directors of Wuhan china.blogspot.com/2007/04/3rd- Botanic Garden Tianquan Xu and Junjie global-botanic-gardens-congress.html). Gong and their staff who worked so tirelessly with the co-organizers and Delegates from 12 countries and BGCI National Organizing Committee to make staff were supported to attend the Congress run so smoothly. BGCI is Congress by the HSBC Investing in also extremely grateful to Xuejun Zhang Nature Programme, Rufford Maurice who headed the Congress Secretariat Laing Foundation, Mitsubishi and her staff Yinzhu Tan and Lina Chen Corporation, Mitsubishi Corporation

BGjournal • Vol 4 (2) 35 Biodiversity and climate change: a resource list

This list of references will provide further resources on the topic of climate change and biodiversity. Apart from two books, it only includes references which can be downloadable in full and have been accessed 9-13 July, 2007.

Background reviews historical contributions to greenhouse gas on Biological Diversity (CBD). The investigation was levels, progress in meeting Kyoto commitments, and performed by Netherlands Environmental Assessment Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) local efforts to meet the challenge of climate change. Agency (MNP) at the request of the Executive Secretary http://www.ipcc.ch/ of the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD). It Important website for up-to-date and useful information GRID-Arendal, 2007 includes maps of spatial distribution of biodiversity for with publications and graphics. http://www.grida.no/ 2000 and 2050 by continent. The mission of GRID-Arendal is to provide environmental Summary for Policymakers. In: Climate Change 2007: information, communications and capacity building Ensemble forecasting of species distributions . The Physical Science Basis. Contribution of Working services for information management and assessment. Miguel B. Araújo and Mark New, 2007. Group I to the Fourth Assessment Report of the Established to strengthen the United Nations through its Trends in Ecology and Evolution 22 (1): 42-47. Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change. Environment Programme (UNEP), the focus is to make http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/journal/01695347 Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, United credible, science-based knowledge understandable to Kingdom and New York, NY, USA. the public and to decision-making for sustainable Ecological and Evolutionary Responses to Recent http://ipcc-wg1.ucar.edu/wg1/Report/AR4WG1_ development. GRID-Arendal is an official United Nations Climate Change . Camille Parmesan, 2006. Annual Pub_SPM-v2.pdf Environment Programme (UNEP) centre located in Review of Ecology, Evolution, and Systematics The Working Group I contribution to the IPCC Fourth Southern Norway, with out posted offices in Geneva, 37 :637–69. Assessment Report describes progress in Ottawa and Stockholm. There is a useful collection of http://cns.utexas.edu/communications/File/AnnRev_ understanding of the human and natural drivers of maps and graphics that have been prepared for CCimpacts2006.pdf climate change, observed climate change, climate publications and web-sites from the last 15 years in a processes and attribution, and estimates of projected wide range of themes related to environment and The future of vascular plant diversity under four future climate change. Useful summary for general sustainable development with a section on Maps and global scenarios . Detlef P. van Vuuren, Osvaldo E. Sala aspects of climate change. Graphics on Climate Change. & Henrique M. Pereira, 2006. Ecology and Society 11 (2): 25 Climate Change 2007: Mitigation of Climate Change . The Stern Review on the Economics of Climate http://www.ecologyandsociety.org/vol11/iss2/art25/ Working Group III contribution to the Intergovernmental Change . Nicolas Stern, 2006. Cabinet Office, Panel on Climate Change Fourth Assessment Report HM Treasury, UK Government. Biodiversity hotspots through time: an introduction . http://www.mnp.nl/ipcc/docs/FAR/ApprovedSPM0405re http://www.hm- Katherine J Willis, Lindsey Gillson and Sandra Knapp, v4b.pdf treasury.gov.uk/independent_reviews/stern_review_econo 2007. The Working Group III contribution to the IPCC Fourth mics_climate_change/stern_review_report.cfm accessed Phil. Trans. R. Soc. B 362: 169–174. Assessment Report (AR4) focuses on new literature on 25th June, 2007. http://www.journals.royalsoc.ac.uk/content/aq81225v775 the scientific, technological, environmental, economic Nicholas Stern, 2007. The Economics of Climate 24071/fulltext.pdf and social aspects of mitigation of climate change. Change The Stern Review. Mentions forest-related mitigation options and reducing Cambridge University Press ISBN-13: 9780521700801 Climate Change and Biodiversity in Europe Hannah both loss of natural habitat and deforestation can have (Paperback) Reid, 2006. significant biodiversity, soil and water conservation This Review on the Economics of Climate Change was Conservation and Society 4 (1): 84–101 benefits. commissioned by the British Government during its G8 http://conservationandsociety.org/cs_4_1_84-101.pdf Presidency. The Review marks a watershed in that it Climate Change and Biodiversity. IPCC Technical brings economics squarely into the debate and thus Paper V Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change provides a firm and compelling basis for policy. The Conservation strategies (IPCC), 2007 former World Bank Chief Economist estimates that the ISBN 92 9169 194 7 impact of global warming could cost as much as 20 per Conserving biodiversity in a changing climate: http://www.ipcc.ch/pub/techrep.htm (In English, French cent of the world’s GDP. He urges immediate action guidance on building capacity to adapt . Hopkins, J.J., Spanish) since postponement will only increase the eventual Allison, H.M., Walmsley, C.A. et al., 2007. Department for costs. All countries will be affected by climate change, Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, London, UK. Climate Change and Biodiversity . Thomas E Lovejoy but the poorest countries will suffer earliest and most. http://www.ukbap.org.uk/Library/BRIG/CBCC and Lee Hannah (eds.), 2005. Deeper international co-operation will be required in Guidance.pdf Yale University Press. ISBN-10: 0300104251(hardcover) many areas, most notably in creating price signals and Explains six key strategies that can be used now by land ISBN-10: 0300119801 (paperback) markets for carbon, spurring technology research, managers, to help wildlife adapt to climate change, to This important book focuses on the likely impacts of development and deployment, and promoting conserve biodiversity. The guidance recommends that to climate change on biological diversity. Beginning with adaptation, particularly for developing countries. allow species to find new homes as climate changes, it lessons learned from the fossil record about the will be necessary to manage entire landscapes, not just consequences of past changes in climate, the book the protected sites where species now occur. surveys the climate-related changes in the distribution Impact of climate change on biodiversity and abundance of plants and animals that are already Gardening in the Global Greenhouse: The Impacts of documented, and looks ahead to the acceleration in Plant Growth and Climate Change . Climate Change on Gardens in the UK . Bisgrove, R. extinction rates expected under various assumptions James I.L Morrison and Michael D. Morecroft (eds.), and Hadley, P., 2002 Technical Report, UKCIP, Oxford. about future inputs of greenhouse gases. It concludes 2007. Copies of the report are available form The UK Climate with chapters on conservation and policy responses. Biological Sciences Series, Blackwell Publishing, Impacts Programme, Union House, 12-16 St Michael’s Oxford, UK Street, Oxford, OX1 2DU, U.K. A guide to facts and fictions about climate change. ISBN-10: 1405131926 Tel: +44 01865 432076, Fax: 01865 432077, The Royal Society, 2007. E-mail: enquiries @ukcip.org.uk, Internet: http://www.royalsoc.ac.uk/downloaddoc.asp?id=1630 Climatic conditions are key determinants of plant growth, www.ukcip.org.uk The report or the Executive summary This document examines twelve misleading arguments whether at the scale of temperature regulation of the cell can be downloaded from the main partner websites: put forward by the opponents of urgent action on cycle, or at the scale of the geographic limits for a www.rhs.org.uk, http://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/main/. climate change and highlights the scientific evidence particular species. The climate is changing, due to BGCNews 3(9):43-44. that exposes their flaws. It has been prepared by The human activities - particularly the emission of http://www.bgci.org/worldwide/article/108/ Royal Society, the national academy of science of the greenhouse gases - and therefore the conditions for the http://www.rhs.org.uk/research/climate_change/climatec UK and the Commonwealth. establishment, growth, reproduction, survival and hange.asp distribution of plant species are changing. This volume Climate Change Science—Questions Answered. explores plant growth and anthropogenic climate National biodiversity and climate change action plan Department of the Environment and Heritage, Australian change, and focuses on the features of climate that are 2004 – 2007 . Natural Resource Management Ministerial Greenhouse Office, Australian Government, 2005. important to plants, emphasizing aspects of temporal Council, Department of the Environment and Heritage, Commonwealth of Australia ISBN 1 920840 79 6 pattern, seasonality and extremes. 2004 http://www.greenhouse.gov.au/science/qa/pubs/scienc Commonwealth of Australia. ISBN 0 6425 5051 4 e-qa.pdf Cross-roads of Planet Earth’s Life: Exploring means National biodiversity and climate change action plan A practical and informative guide to climate change. to meet the 2010-biodiversity target . Netherlands 2004 - 2007 (PDF - 2,042 KB) Environmental Assessment Agency (MNP), 2006. http://www.environment.gov.au/biodiversity/publications/ The Atlas of Climate Change: Mapping the World’s MNP report 555050001/2006. nbccap/pubs/nbccap.pdf Greatest Challenge . Kirstin Dow and Thomas E http://www.cbd.int/doc/gbo2/cbd-gbo2-global- Changes to Australia’s climate are already occurring over Downing, 2006. Earthscan, London, UK. ISBN-10: scenarios.pdf and above natural variability (e.g. long-term spatial and 1844073769 New edition due in October, 2007 ISBN- This is a scenario study from 2000 to 2050 to explore the temporal changes in rainfall and temperature patterns) 13: 9781844075225 effects of future economic, demographic and technical and these changes are expected to have an impact on This atlas examines the possible impact of climate developments on environmental pressures and global Australia’s biological diversity. This action plan is a change on our ability to feed the world’s people, avoid biodiversity. Policy options that affect global biodiversity detailed adaptation strategy developed at a national level water shortages, conserve biodiversity, improve health, were analyzed on their contribution to the 2010 for biodiversity. and preserve cities and cultural treasures. It also biodiversity targets agreed upon under the Convention

36 BGjournal • Vol 4 (2) How to join Botanic Gardens Conservation International

The mission of BGCI is to mobilise Institutions can join BGCI for the following benefits: botanic gardens and engage • Membership of the worldwide plant conservation network partners in securing plant diversity • Botanic Garden Management Resource Pack (upon joining)* for the well-being of people and the • Regular publications: planet. It was founded in 1987 and - the regular newsletter, Cuttings now includes over 525 member - BGjournal – an international journal for botanic gardens (2 per year) institutions in 115 countries. - Roots - environmental education review (2 per year) - A wide range of new publications • Invitations to BGCI congresses and discounts on registration fees • BGCI technical support and advisory services

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*Contents of the Botanic Garden Management Resource Pack: The Darwin Technical Manual for Botanic Gardens, A Handbook for Botanic Gardens on the Reintroduction of Plants to the Wild, BGjournal - an international journal for botanic gardens (2 past issues), Roots - environmental education review (2 past issues), The International Agenda for Botanic Gardens in Conservation, Global Strategy for Plant Conservation, Environmental Education in Botanic Gardens, BG-Recorder (a computer software package for plant records).

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New Book published by BGCI and New Holland

The vital role of Botanic Gardens in conservation and their spectacular beauty, explored in one authoritative volume

Great Botanic Gardens of the World is a new work by BGCI Secretary General, Sara Oldfield. This exquisitely illustrated book explores the rich and varied history of botanic gardens and the vital role they play in fields of education, scientific research and conservation.

The book focuses on botanic gardens in every continent Special Introductory Offer of the world, highlighting the fact that these great institutions are as diverse as the collections found within them. The development of gardens in over 30 countries is Great Botanic Gardens of the World examined as are the inspirational people behind them and by Sara Oldfield their important work. New Holland Publishers, UK (2007) ISBN: 978-184537-593-5 The current, global context for the work of botanic gardens is also highlighted. The role of important Offer price £20 (rrp. £24.99) international initiatives such as CITES and the Global plus free postage and packing within the UK* Strategy for Plant Conservation in guiding their efforts is Offer runs from August 2007 until 31st January 2008 explored along side the pioneering work of individual Offer code: NHGBCI/01 gardens.

Telephone: +44 (0)1476 541080 With a foreword by HRH The Prince of Wales , in which Fax: +44 (0) 1476 541075 he describes Botanic Gardens as ‘living laboratories … Simply quote the book title, ISBN and offer code. vital in conserving plant species’, Great Botanic Gardens of the World represents a stunning tribute to the beauty of * European and International postal charges upon request. botanic gardens and their role in building the relationship between people and their environment.