Journal of Botanic Gardens Conservation International

Volume 15 • Number 2 • July 2018

Botanic gardens and their contribution to Sustainable Development Goal 15 - Life on Land Volume 15 • Number 2

IN THIS ISSUE... EDITORS

EDITORIAL: BOTANIC GARDENS AND SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT GOAL 15 .... 02 FEATURES

NEWS FROM BGCI .... 04 Suzanne Sharrock Paul Smith Director of Global Secretary General Programmes HUNTING TALES: COLLECTING IN THE WESTERN CAPE OF .... 06

Cover Photo: Franklinia alatamaha is extinct in the wild but successfully grown in botanic gardens and arboreta FEATURED GARDEN: SOUTH AFRICA’S NATIONAL BOTANICAL GARDENS .... 09 (Arboretum Wespelaar) Design: Seascape www.seascapedesign.co.uk INTERVIEW: TALKING .... 12

BGjournal is published by Botanic Gardens Conservation International (BGCI). It is published twice a year. Membership is open to all interested individuals, institutions and organisations that support the aims of BGCI.

Further details available from:

• Botanic Gardens Conservation International, Descanso ARTICLES House, 199 Kew Road, Richmond, Surrey TW9 3BW UK. Tel: +44 (0)20 8332 5953, Fax: +44 (0)20 8332 5956, E-mail: [email protected], www.bgci.org SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT GOAL 15 • BGCI (US) Inc, The Huntington Library, Suzanne Sharrock .... 14 Art Collections and Botanical Gardens, 1151 Oxford Rd, San Marino, CA 91108, USA. Tel: +1 626-405-2100, E-mail: [email protected] SDG15: TARGET 15.1 Internet: www.bgci.org/usa AUROVILLE BOTANICAL GARDENS – CONSERVING TROPICAL DRY

• BGCI (), South China Botanical Garden, EVERGREEN FOREST IN 1190 Tian Yuan Road, Guangzhou, 510520, China. Paul Blanchflower .... 16 Tel: +86 20 85231992, Email: [email protected], Internet: www.bgci.org/china SDG 15: TARGET 15.3 • BGCI (Southeast Asia), Jean Linsky, BGCI Southeast Asia REVERSING LAND DEGRADATION AND IN Botanic Gardens Network Coordinator, Dr. Cecilia Koo Botanic Conservation Center, AFRICA’S DRYLANDS No. 31, Tongsing Rd., Gaoshu Township, Pingtung County Paolo Ceci Sidi Sanogo, Emily Ambrose, Moctar Sacande, 90646, Taiwan, China. Tel: +886 8 796 0913, Mobile: +886 966484475, Email: [email protected], Lassina Sanou, Maman Adda and Tiziana Ulian .... 19 Internet: www.bgci.org; www.kbcc.org.tw/en

• BGCI (Africa), Kirsty Shaw, BGCI Africa Office, IUCN SDG 15: TARGET 15.4 Eastern and Southern Africa Regional Office (ESARO), ALPINE PLANT CONSERVATION AT BETTY FORD ALPINE GARDENS P.O. Box 68200 - 00200, Nairobi, Kenya, Tel. +254 Nicola Ripley (0)725295632 Skype: bgci_kirsty, Email: .... 23 [email protected], Internet: www.bgci.org

• BGCI (Russia), c/o Main Botanical Gardens, SDG 15: TARGET 15.5 Botanicheskaya st., 4, Moscow 127276, Russia. CONSERVING THREATENED PLANT – Tel: +7 (095) 219 6160 / 5377, Fax: +7 (095) 218 0525, THE ROLE OF EX SITU COLLECTIONS E-mail: [email protected], www.bgci.ru Suzanne Sharrock, Malin Rivers and Katherine O’Donnell .... 28 BGCI is a worldwide membership organisation established in 1987. Its mission is to mobilise botanic gardens and engage partners in securing plant diversity for the well- SDG15: TARGET 15.7 being of people and the planet. BGCI is an independent SAVE OUR CEDAR – WORKING TOWARDS A SUSTAINABLE HARVESTING organisation registered in the United Kingdom as a charity (Charity Reg No 1098834) and a company limited by REGIME FOR ’S NATIONAL guarantee, No 4673175. BGCI is a tax-exempt 501(c)(3) Kirsty Shaw .... 32 non-profit organisation in the USA and is a registered non- profit organisation in Russia. SDG 15: TARGET 15.8 Opinions expressed in this publication do not necessarily SCREENING OF BOTANIC GARDEN COLLECTIONS FOR INVASIVE SPECIES: reflect the views of the Boards or staff of BGCI or of its members. A CASE STUDY FROM GERMANY Ewald Weber and Michael Burkart .... 36

BGCI • 2018 • BGjournal • Vol 15 (2) 01 Malawi’s national tree, the Mulanje EDITORIAL: Cedar. This species is nearly extinct in the wild, BOTANIC GARDENS AND and species recovery efforts combine restoration with livelihoods benefits for SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT local people.

GOAL 15 Species recovery and habitat restoration programmes are not just about planting native species. In many cases, natural habitats and native species are in decline because of pests, diseases and Sustainable income-generating opportunities for invasive alien species that outcompete Development Goal up to 32,000 people. Over 1,000,000 them. Botanic gardens today are very 15 (SDG 15) is in seedlings of selected species have been much involved in identifying potentially many ways the SDG planted in around 200 experimental plots invasive species and implementing most relevant to the and additional techniques have been suitable controls. The work of German work of botanic tested such as assisted natural gardens in identifying species with gardens. With its regeneration of native species, all the actual and potential invasiveness is focus on ‘Life on methodologies and results being presented on pages 36-39, and is a Land’, it provides an rigorously measured to better inform model that national botanic garden important entry point for botanic gardens large scale efforts. associations can follow elsewhere. into the global development framework, linking their conservation work to Equally impacted by climate change Our featured gardens this issue are the internationally agreed goals and targets. are the fragile alpine habitats of North 10 National Botanic Gardens of the In this edition of BGjournal we explore a America. On pages 23-27, Betty Ford South African National number of different activities carried out and Denver Botanic Gardens describe Institute (SANBI). SANBI’s gardens are by botanic gardens that deliver SDG 15 the work they are doing to raise involved in all aspects of SDG 15, targets, including threat assessments, awareness of and conserve the alpine carrying out activities ranging from in ex situ conservation, in situ conservation, habitats and species of the Rocky situ conservation of native habitats to ecological restoration and sustainable Mountains. Their emerging strategy ecological restoration, sustainable development. includes the use of botanic gardens in development and public engagement alpine zones to educate the public and (pp. 9-11). Our plant-hunting story On the Coromandel coast of India (pp. active programmes monitoring, (pp.6-8) also comes from South Africa 16-18), Auroville Botanical Gardens are conserving and restoring alpine habitats and is an inspiring example of how a conserving Tropical Dry Evergreen and rare and threatened species. small garden can achieve significant Forest, the most threatened and reduced impact. habitat in India, which is now largely As well as becoming increasingly confined to sacred groves and cultural involved in in situ conservation efforts, Finally, I would like to welcome Noelia sites. The Garden raises awareness botanic gardens are stepping up their Alvarez to BGCI. Noelia is featured in about the importance of the conservation more traditional activities in assessing our ‘Talking Plants’ section (p 12), and of these sites but is also actively the of plant taxa and has a passion for plants, botanic restoring this and other vegetation types, carrying out ex situ conservation gardens and conservation. With nearly working closely with some of India’s activities. On pages 28-31, Suzanne 20 years of experience as a largest commercial companies. Sharrock and colleagues from BGCI give conservation horticulturist, she brings a useful summary of the contributions an important new dimension to the Crossing the Indian Ocean into Africa, the that the global botanic garden BGCI team as well as Spanish language Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew is working community is making to red listing skills, which will help us support botanic with the Food and Agriculture and seed banking. gardens in Latin America. Organisation of the United Nations (FAO) and Forestry departments in Burkina Botanic gardens are particularly well I hope that you enjoy this edition of Faso, Mali and Niger on the African placed to work at the species BGjournal. If you have any comments Union’s Great Green Wall project (pp. 19- conservation level, preventing critically you would like to make, I encourage you 22) which aims to restore Sahelian endangered plant species from to email us at [email protected]. We would vegetation affected by climate change becoming extinct. An example of this is also like to hear from you with and desertification. In collaboration with given by BGCI’s Head of Tree suggestions and ideas about future local communities, of 55 useful Conservation and Ecological editions of the journal. woody and herbaceous species have Restoration, Kirsty Shaw (pages 32-35), been planted to restore 2,235 ha of who describes an integrated Dr Paul Smith degraded land and create sustainable conservation project focusing on BGCI Secretary General

02 BGCI • 2018 • BGjournal • Vol 15 (2) • 02 Ian Harvey-Brown

FEATURES

NEWS FROM BGCI

PLANT HUNTING TALES: SEED COLLECTING IN THE WESTERN CAPE OF SOUTH AFRICA

FEATURED GARDEN: SOUTH AFRICA’S NATIONAL BOTANICAL GARDENS

INTERVIEW: TALKING PLANTS

BGCI • 2018 • BGjournal • Vol 15 (2) 03 FEATURE

NEWS FROM BGCI

BGCI LAUNCHES BOTANIC GARDEN ACCREDITATION SCHEME

• Botanic Garden Accreditation is aimed at botanical institutions SEED CONSERVATION wishing to establish their DIRECTORY OF EXPERTISE credentials as botanic gardens. • Conservation Practitioner BGCI has recently launched a Directory recognises botanic gardens with a of Expertise on seed conservation. The BGCI has launched an accreditation conservation-oriented approach. Directory contains information on scheme which aims to distinguish • Advanced Conservation individuals, facilities and expertise botanic gardens from other types of Practitioner is for botanic gardens around the world related to seed gardens and parks and recognises that have significant conservation conservation, with a focus on plant achievements in plant conservation. impact and focuses on conservation species of wild origin. The scheme includes three different actions that support local, national accreditations: or global conservation goals. The Directory includes information from over 400 experts and can be searched geographically (by country, region or The first to achieve BGCI Botanic Garden Accreditation multiples of countries), by expertise related to various aspects of seed Gullele Botanic Garden, Ethiopia; conservation, by facilities and by Huntington Library, Art Collections and Botanical Gardens, USA; habitat type. Jardín Botánico Universitario – BUAP, Puebla, Mexico; National Botanic Garden of Wales, United Kingdom; This tool will benefit the global plant Pha Tad Ke Botanical Garden, Laos; conservation community through Stellenbosch University Botanical Gardens, South Africa; expanding seed conservation networks, University Botanic Gardens Ljubljana, Slovenia; facilitating exchange of information and Wollongong Botanic Garden, Australia. ideas, and enable better seed conservation stewardship by supporting Botanic gardens that achieve any of the three accreditations connections, collaborations and will be recognised by BGCI in later issues of BGjournal. exchange. Find out more at: www.bgci.org/accreditation

The Directory is accessible at: www.bgci.org/plant- GROWING ON THE IUCN RED LIST conservation/seedexpertise/ The latest update to the IUCN Red List due to the increased threat from of Threatened Species (2018-1) included overharvesting and habitat conversion new assessments for 699 tree species. over the last decades. These assessments will make an important contribution to the Global Tree Following a successful red list training Assessment. Some assessments are for course hosted by BGCI and Cayes trees that have never been on the red list Botanic Garden in Haiti in October 2017, before while others are reassessments of the first assessments of Haiti’s endemic trees that previously featured on the list. trees can now be found on the IUCN Red List. Over fifty species are assessed The update includes assessments for including eight species of Miconia. agarwoods - in the Aquiliaria. These species are highly threatened by More assessments for Fraxinus and for the fragranced wood Tovomita can now also be found online they produce known as Agarwood. and all species of the family Theaceae Aquilaria malaccensis, is one of the most now have published assessments on the prized agarwoods, and has been IUCN Red List. reassessed as Critically Endangered,

04 BGCI • 2018 • BGjournal • Vol 15 (2) • 04-05 NEW BGCI TRAINING In order to gather it cuts across different ministries and RESOURCES views on the agencies. This new manual clarifies the

The Global Strategy and aims and purpose of species recovery, for Plant Conservation: BGCI has produced a series of training 2011-2020 content of a set out the various steps involved, and materials useful for those working in Global Strategy indicates good practice. This manual is botanic gardens and plant conservation. for Plant aimed specifically at conservation Newly released resources focus on forest Conservation practitioners but also includes restoration, seed conservation and red beyond 2020 and comprehensive bibliographic references, listing for trees: how it might be which enable more in depth reading on integrated into the the topics

• Forest restoration e-learning post-2020 global BGCI and IABG’s covered in this modules: A suite of modules providing biodiversity framework, the CBD Species Recovery Manual publication. The guidance on restoring forests. There are Secretariat has launched a survey – manual includes three modules in the series, which available in English and French. The chapters and explore planning forest restoration and results of the survey will be considered at case studies how to select and source appropriate the forthcoming Conference of the Global from members of native species for restoration. Partnership for Plant Conservation and the Ecological • Red listing e-learning modules: the sixth meeting of the Liaison Group on Restoration A series of four modules on red list the Global Strategy for Plant Alliance of assessments of trees. Together these Conservation (Cape Town, South Africa Botanic Gardens. offer an introduction to tree red listing 28-31 August 2018). for anyone interested in getting involved Download a copy of the manual from the with red listing of tree species. To find out more and complete the resources section of the BGCI website. • Seed conservation video library: survey, visit: www.bgci.org/news-and- A series of videos from around the events/news/1496/ BIG PICNIC world showcasing seed conservation initiative and demonstrating a range of ECOLOGICAL RESTORATION techniques used in seed collecting ALLIANCE – PUBLIC and conservation. SYMPOSIUM As well as in depth research into public To find out more, visit the resources The next public symposium of the opinion on food security issues, BigPicnic section of the BGCI website. Ecological Restoration Alliance of is seeking to carry out a large-scale www.bgci.org/resources Botanic Gardens will be held at the survey to look at what motivates people Royal Botanical Gardens (Ontario, across Europe and beyond to choose the Canada), on 3rd October 2018. The food they eat. This will help us to develop public symposium “Restoration in Urban recommendations to shape the future of Areas” will bring together restoration research and innovation in areas related practitioners and researchers, from to food and food security. across the world to discuss how to deliver effective innovative ecological Find out more and complete the survey at restoration, particularly in the urban www.bigpicnic.net context. A tour of ecological restoration sites within the 1,000 ha of nature PLANT CONSERVATION AND sanctuaries owned by Royal Botanical BIODIVERSITY BENCHMARKING Gardens as well as nearby projects in other protected areas will also be BGCI-US and The American Public organised for ERA members. The tour Gardens Association are proud to will include wetland, prairie-savannah announce the launch of their Plant and other restoration themes, as well as Conservation and Biodiversity a visit to a reclaimed quarry that now Benchmarking site. This provides the hosts a vibrant wetland. most comprehensive look at current plant conservation capacity for all public THE GLOBAL STRATEGY SPECIES RECOVERY MANUAL gardens throughout North America. The FOR PLANT CONSERVATION – tool allows you to access, analyse, and WHAT FUTURE? BGCI and the International Association download reports relevant to your garden of Botanic Gardens (IABG) have and conservation goals – and see how The follow-up to the Global Strategy for published a manual to guide species your activities align with international Plant Conservation 2011-2020 will be recovery projects. Species recovery plant conservation strategies. considered in 2020 as part of the involves many different disciplines and development of a post-2020 global actors, and responsibility for it at a Find out more at biodiversity framework. national level is often unclear, given that www.publicgardens.org

BGCI • 2018 • BGjournal • Vol 15 (2) 05 FEATURE Authors: Robbie Blackhall-Miles and Ben Ram

PLANT HUNTING TALES SEED COLLECTING IN THE WESTERN CAPE OF SOUTH AFRICA

Ben with rupicola at near 2000m asl

reated to tell the story of land genera. We have focussed much of our plant evolution, Fossil Plants is a efforts on understanding the Cback-garden in North Wales that is of , particularly ones that live in a home to a collection of over 1,000 plant temperate climate similar to our own. species and is bolstered by a small Many of the proteas regularly available in nursery facility used for horticultural European horticulture are not suited to research. We (Robbie Blackhall-Miles and growing in our often cool and damp Ben Ram) wanted to expand knowledge climate, preferring a more Mediterranean and understanding of these plants and one. In the wild, however, many proteas aid their conversation, so in 2014 the that grow in the higher altitudes of Chile, garden joined BGCI as an institutional South Africa and Australia do experience member. At only 115m², it may well be similar conditions to our own. We have the smallest botanic garden in the world. compared weather data from our own weather station and historic data from One of the greatest stories of plant nearby long running weather stations to evolution and diversification is that of the find that they are similar to one at 1000m . Colloquially known as above sea level, on a mountain called proteas, this plant family includes the Dwarsberg in the Western Cape of iconic Protea and amongst its 83 South Africa. argenteus

06 BGCI • 2018 • BGjournal • Vol 15 (2) • 06-08 winteri Protea rupicola

This knowledge encouraged us to start ‘Ex situ conservation should be initiated related taxa can serve important planning a seed collecting expedition to only when an understanding of the functions, for example in research and the the highest peaks of the Western Cape of target taxon's biology and ex situ development of protocols, conservation South Africa. With the support of Cherise management and storage needs are biology research…’ Viljoen, Production Nursery Manager at at a level where there is a reasonable Kirstenbosch National Botanic Garden, probability that successful enhancement It was with this in mind that we set out to and Rupert Koopman, Cape Nature of species conservation can be collect both common and vulnerable Botanist, we identified appropriate achieved; or where the development of species (not Endangered and Critically permits necessary to undertake such such protocols could be achieved within endangered) to create cultivation protocols a proposition and with the collaboration the time frame of the taxon's required for the higher altitude Proteaceae; some of of Stellenbosch University Botanical conservation management, ideally which have not been successfully Garden, were permitted to collect seed before the taxa becomes threatened in cultivated in the botanic gardens of South of these higher altitude plants in the wild. Ex situ institutions are strongly Africa due to their low altitude, and hence September 2015 and again in December urged to develop ex situ protocols prior climate. Over a period of three weeks we 2017. On each occasion the planning to any forthcoming ex situ management. visited 5 mountain ranges, each with their process took almost a year but allowed own flavour of the South African climate, us to be confident of achieving our aims. For those threatened taxa for which made 115 separate observations of Although initially motivated by husbandry and/or cultivation protocols Proteaceae, covering 55 distinct species, adventurous botanical exploration, do not exist, surrogates of closely of which we collected seed of 30. we soon realised that there was a real need to obtain a better horticultural understanding of South Africa’s high altitude Proteaceae, as they are little understood from a restoration point of view. Germination is not the end of the road for restoring plants to the wild, either. It is necessary to know how to grow the plants to a size where their numbers can be increased and eventually can be returned to the wild, if needed. It was this conservation focus that was the most integral aspect of our being issued permits.

Our research and expeditions have been led by the IUCN’s Technical Guidelines on the Management of Ex situ Populations for Conservation and the Global Strategy for Plant Conservation’s Target 8. Our 2015 expedition was informed by the statement from the IUCN’s Technical Guidelines: The upper southern slopes of Grootberg where we found nubicola and radiatum

BGCI • 2018 • BGjournal • Vol 15 (2) 07 As part of the terms of our permit we provided location data for all these observations to the Western Cape Nature Conservation Board (CapeNature) and recorded range extensions both in altitude and distribution for several species. The highlight of the 2015 expedition was our observation of Spatalla colorata (EN) in the Boosmansbos Area; a species that had not been seen there for 18 years.

In 2017 we were directed more by the GSPC’s Target 8. After conducting a full gap analysis of South African Proteaceae held in documented ex situ collections (both living and seed) we set out with Robbie and Protea grandiceps targets of specific genera and species in mind. Of most concern to us were the a narrow jeep track. This species is We have been able to collect seed of 5 horticulturally difficult and little-known currently of little conservation concern species of Spatalla, bring into cultivation genera Spatalla, , Mimetes but has an incredibly small area of outside of South Africa several grafted and as well as several species distribution in a mountain range affected plants of Mimetes and plants of a single not held in documented ex situ collections by the ever-present danger of climate species of Vexatorella (Vexatorella alpina). from other genera: Leucospermum change, subsequent increased fire risk Alas we were unable to find any species winteri, Leucadendron rourkii and Protea and has little ornamental merit. It is thus, of Sorocephalus, the majority of which are scolopendriifolia to name just a few. unlikely to be picked up by the radar of threatened and not held ex situ (we shall those interested in the more glamorous have to go back). Beyond the Proteaceae The timing of our month-long expedition members of its family. This made it we discovered an entirely new population was set to coincide with seed being a good target for us to bring into of Gladiolus rhodanthus, previously only available of the species Spatalla cultivation and we are already observing known from a single population (EOO <5 nubicola, a near threatened protea with interesting results regarding its km²) occurring in an inaccessible habitat an area of occupancy of just 34 km² on germination and seedling mortality rates. on a mountain 30km away from our new a small number of mountain tops along Whilst in the Kammanassie we were also population, across the Robertson Karoo. a single ridge line. Potentially threatened able to record observations of many by too frequent fire and almost certainly Altimontane fynbos proteas found on We are now having to come up with being pushed to its limits by climate a 2000m high ridgeline across three some novel methods for cultivating these change, this diminutive species grows peaks, the results of which will help cool growing species. Many of these in cool acid (pH 4) , irrigated by inform future red-listing and methods take inspiration from having moisture laden clouds; a habitat so akin conservation efforts for this little known observed them in their wild habitat. In to North Wales. This species has never and threatened southern ‘alpine’ habitat. March 2018 the first cultivation protocol been cultivated either in South Africa for a member of the Proteaceae grown at or elsewhere, and seed has not been During our December 2017 trip we our nursery was produced and accepted banked, so it seemed appropriate that explored 18 peaks between 1000m and for publication. In time similar protocols we should try to grow it. 2000m in altitude, we observed and will be produced across the wide range recorded 69 species in situ and collected of Proteaceae taxa we are cultivating at We found Leucadendron rourkii, the seed of 43 species; many previously only FossilPlants. scruffiest species in the genus according held in just one ex situ collection to its namesake Dr John Rourke, in the worldwide, 16 being new to us and 6 All images credited to R. Blackhall-Miles Kammanassie mountains on the side of being new to cultivation altogether. and B.Ram.

Protea scolopendriifolia Spatalla colorata in Boosmansbos Wilderness Area Critically Endangered Overberg Sandstone Fynbos

08 BGCI • 2018 • BGjournal • Vol 15 (2) FEATURE Author: Christopher K. Willis

FEATURED GARDENS

SOUTH AFRICA’S NATIONAL BOTANICAL GARDENS AND THEIR CONTRIBUTIONS TOWARDS THE CONSERVATION, RESTORATION AND SUSTAINABLE USE OF TERRESTRIAL AND INLAND FRESHWATER ECOSYSTEMS AND THEIR SERVICES

The Lowveld NBG straddles the Crocodile River and Nelspruit Cascades providing an important natural biodiversity corridor through Mbombela, Mpumalanga. (SANBI Collection)

Introduction South Africa’s indigenous plants. Horticulturists) and tourism. They support The gardens conserve over 7,400 ha national, regional and international he South African National of natural vegetation and associated networks for the conservation, Biodiversity Institute (SANBI) is a biodiversity within their boundaries, and sustainable use and appreciation of the Tparastatal organization under the they promote and raise environmental flora of South Africa, including Kew’s national Department of Environmental awareness at home and abroad. The Millennium Seed Bank Partnership. Affairs (DEA). It is, amongst other NBGs have been supported by the biodiversity-linked responsibilities Botanical Society of South Africa (a non- associated with the country’s National governmental organization established in Environmental Management: Biodiversity 1913) for more than 100 years. Act (NEMBA) No.10 of 2004, responsible for the management, maintenance and The gardens serve as embassies of development of South Africa’s network biodiversity, culture and heritage, playing of national botanical gardens (NBGs). key roles in conservation, research and recreation, and through their displays, SANBI currently manages 10 NBGs educating the general public. These located in seven of the country’s nine gardens serve as refugia for threatened provinces, as well as the Thohoyandou plant species, and serve an important Botanical Garden. This garden is role in climate change adaptation. scheduled to become the country’s The botanical gardens are centres of 11th NBG and the first in the Limpopo excellence for indigenous plants; they Kirstenbosch NBG is located on the eastern slopes Province, situated in the far northeastern provide information and professional of Table Mountain, providing valuable protection to corner of the country. The focus of the skills in horticulture (through a Afromontane forest, fynbos vegetation and their NBGs is to grow, display and conserve SANBI-developed Career Ladder for associated biodiversity (SANBI Collection)

BGCI • 2018 • BGjournal • Vol 15 (2) • 09-11 09 Since becoming a ‘biodiversity’ (rather than a purely ‘botanical’) institute in 2004, SANBI’s national botanical gardens have broadened their scope to focus on documenting, monitoring and showcasing the faunal components of the gardens as well as the plants.

Conservation gardens

Nine of SANBI’s national botanical gardens – Free State, Harold Porter, Karoo Desert, Kirstenbosch, Lowveld, KwaZulu-Natal, Kwelera, Pretoria and Walter Sisulu National Botanical Gardens – are classified as conservation gardens, having a combination of cultivated Succulent karoo and fynbos vegetation is conserved in the Karoo Desert NBG, Worcester. The garden includes collections and areas of natural pristine montane habitats accessible to visitors through a network of trails (SANBI Collection) vegetation within each garden. The Hantam NBG comprises an area of over described) species of long-tongued fly, two biomes occur are being developed in 6,200 ha in the ‘bulb capital of the world’ that has a long proboscis adapted for order to establish botanical/demonstration (so-called because of its rich diversity of nectar-feeding from long tubular flowers, gardens representative of each biome’s naturally occurring bulb species – no is considered endemic to the garden. unique vegetation. fewer than 2,200 species occur in the Several other insect species new to region – many endemic and threatened). science have been discovered by As part of SANBI’s Gardens Expansion The garden is located around the small entomologists in the garden over the Strategy: 2016–2030, SANBI aims to town of Nieuwoudtville in the Northern past few decades. establish a national botanical garden in Cape, and is classified as a ‘natural or every province of South Africa by 2030. wild garden’, conserving representative The national botanical gardens include Also as part of its Strategy, SANBI has sections of the region’s local indigenous natural vegetation representative of seven initiated in recent years a system of flora and fauna. SANBI’s vision for the of South Africa’s nine biome units, namely partnering with other existing Hantam NBG is for it to become a centre forest, fynbos (characterized by the municipal/university/private botanical for long term ecological monitoring and presence of ericas, restios and proteas), gardens through signed Memoranda research. Potential partners include the Albany thicket, grassland, savanna, Nama of Understanding (MoUs). Gardens South African Earth Observation Karoo, and Succulent Karoo. The only associated with SANBI through formal Network (SAEON), Gobabeb Research biomes not represented are the Desert MoUs need to fulfil certain criteria that and Training Centre (Namibia) as well as Biome and Indian Ocean Coastal Belt are aligned with SANBI’s NBGs. tertiary academic institutions. It was Biome. Partnerships with conservation recently discovered that a new (yet to be authorities in the provinces where these Early days – restoration efforts

One of the major projects undertaken by the garden managers and their teams in at least two NBGs, (Kirstenbosch, Cape Town, established in 1913 and KwaZulu- Natal, Pietermaritzburg, established as a NBG in 1969) was to systematically remove and clear extensive areas of exotic trees and alien invasive plants (mainly eucalyptus, oak and pine , as well as , poplars, brambles and invasive acacias) from the estates. Over the past 50 years or more, these areas have been transformed through both natural regeneration from adjacent forest areas and selected plantings of indigenous species. They have become important ‘natural’ areas and the restored habitats, with associated ecological interactions, have improved the water quality of rivers and runoff from Brunsvigia bosmaniae (March Lily) flowering naturally in the natural/wild Hantam NBG, Nieuwoudtville these gardens. Removal of alien invasive (Christopher Willis) plants from the natural estates remains

10 BGCI • 2018 • BGjournal • Vol 15 (2) agreements, including the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). It continues to make active efforts to, amongst others:

• promote the conservation of mountain ecosystems and their biodiversity; • reduce the impact of floods; • limit the spread and reduce the impact of invasive alien species; • reduce the degradation of natural habitats; • conserve and prevent the of endemic and threatened species; • improve the quality of water and rivers flowing through its properties; • promote conservation awareness and Indigenous coastal forests are conserved in the 160 ha portion of the Kwelera NBG, East London, sustainable development amongst Eastern Cape (Christopher Willis) local communities. an ongoing labour-intensive challenge in Monitoring and recording SANBI as an organization, with ongoing many of the NBG estates, particularly biodiversity support from DEA and its many partners, where the main source of seeds (through is committed towards leaving a better wind, animals or water dispersal) comes Since 2004, when the faunal component planet, and more specifically the from land outside the gardens or along of biodiversity was added to the expanding network of unique gardens watercourses flowing through the gardens. organisation’s mandate through the under its management, for future proclamation of NEMBA, SANBI has generations. The words of the late Conserving natural ecosystems made active efforts to record, monitor Prof. Brian Rycroft, a former Director and document faunal diversity in its of the National Botanic Gardens of SANBI’s NBGs serve as important natural NBGs. Publications and field guides have South Africa (1954–1983), are as true refugia in largely urban areas. Several been prepared and made available to today as they were back in 1975: gardens have, over time, become like visitors on the most commonly seen “This is one institution which not only ‘islands’ in a ‘sea’ of urban development, faunal groups (such as birds, butterflies realises the importance of conserving our increasing their value as green lungs of and dragonflies), and databases prepared natural heritage but is doing something the city. Although they also have to of animals recorded across all NBGs active about it”. contend with a multitude of pressures (including mammals, reptiles, amphibians, associated with neighbouring spiders, birds, butterflies, dragonflies and Christopher K. Willis developments, most of them are still damselflies, scorpions, freshwater fishes, South African National Biodiversity linked to adjacent natural areas, whether ants and molluscs). These databases are Institute it be mountains, rivers, wetlands, updated as new records become Private Bag X101, Silverton, 0184 savannah/grassland or karroid habitats. available and faunal records are shared South Africa These linkages provide valuable corridors on the gardens’ web sites. In recent Tel: +27 (0)12 843 5226 for movement of animals between the years, SANBI has documented the E-mail: [email protected] gardens and their adjacent properties. research conducted, as well as research Internet: www.sanbi.org publications produced by its various According to NEMBA, SANBI must (a) NBGs since the early part of the 20th undertake and promote research on century. It has also identified additional indigenous biodiversity and its research and monitoring needs across sustainable use, (b) collect, generate, its NBGs. South Africa’s citizen science process, coordinate and disseminate programmes and virtual museums (see: information about biodiversity and the vmus.adu.org.za) established more than sustainable use of indigenous biological a decade ago, have also contributed resources, and establish and maintain significantly towards creating a greater databases in this regard. Partnerships awareness and interest amongst civil with research institutions, universities society in the monitoring and recording (both national and international) and of species in the various NBGs. provincial and national conservation authorities, as well as SANBI’s own SANBI continues to contribute towards researchers, are critical to enable the conservation and sustainable use of The 200 ha Harold Porter NBG in Betty’s Bay forms research to be conducted, and to assist terrestrial and inland freshwater part of the Kogelberg Biosphere Reserve, conserving managers in effectively managing and ecosystems and their associated valuable coastal and mountain fynbos as well as conserving the natural ecosystems and services, in line with South Africa’s riverine and wetland habitats, extending down to the associated biodiversity on their estates. obligations under international sea. (SANBI Collection)

BGCI • 2018 • BGjournal • Vol 15 (2) 11 FEATURE

INTERVIEW TALKING PLANTS

Noelia, we know you are passionate about In this issue of BGjournal, we talk to Noelia Alvarez, plants and skilled in growing them, but who or what inspired your love of plants? recently appointed as Conservation Projects Manager at BGCI. Noelia has a background in conservation horticulture and before I grew up in a rapidly developing city not far from Madrid in Spain. It was a very joining BGCI, worked at the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. urban environment, but whenever possible my parents took me and my sister walking in the nearby mountains. glasshouses with so many cultural You are originally from Spain. Do you This early exposure to the natural world associations and the wonderful stories think Spanish people have a different instilled in me a love of nature and being behind them. I spent several years attitude to plants and gardens than amongst plants. I studied agronomy at working in the Tropical Plant Nursery – the British? university and was lucky enough to have and it was amazing to see such a range Professor Gómez-Campo as one of my of plants all growing together – plants It is a bit of a paradox in Britain. While teachers. He was a pioneer in the seed you would never normally see in the horticulture and plant cultivation skills conservation of wild plant species and same place at once. are not highly valued, people here have motivated me to want to work in this a real love of plants and gardening. In area. After leaving university I decided to Before leaving Kew, I was responsible for Spain, no-one would think of spending a travel. My first stop was London, where I collecting seeds from the threatened and day visiting a garden centre, or watching visited as a place of respite wild source plants in the Kew Living a gardening programme on TV. In Spain, from my otherwise busy city life. One day Collections following very strict protocols growing plants is more about producing I decided to send my CV to Kew. To my of isolation and hand pollination. The food and self-sufficiency than about astonishment, I was called for an diversity of the collections certainly beauty and enjoyment. I love the way interview two weeks later for a position in presented some challenges. Species that British people value their gardens and the horticultural team. I was offered the were almost unknown to science required the efforts they put into making them job and there I stayed until my recent research to understand their breeding beautiful. I also really enjoy visiting the move to BGCI. systems and plants with very low genetic wide variety of gardens that are open to diversity often did not set seed. the public here. Over the years you have worked with many different plant species, but which is The work of conservation horticulturalists You are very new to BGCI, but what your favourite – and why? is often not give the credit it deserves. aspects of your job here excite you the How do you think we can promote most and what do you hope to achieve I don’t have any special favourite plant. I horticulture as a career and encourage over the next few years? get excited by whichever species, or plant more young people to get involved? group I am working with. During my time I am really excited about the at Kew I worked with many different plant I do agree that conservation horticulture opportunities BGCI provides to work groups, including highly threatened island – and indeed horticulture in general - is with botanic gardens around the world – plants, the Proteaceae and Orchidaceae. undervalued. Salary levels for and the focus on conserving threatened All of these became my ‘favourites’ for a horticulturists are too low and that is one species. If, through a project I help to while. However, I feel that every plant is reason why young people are not set up, I can save a species from interesting in its own way. What excites attracted to the sector. Conservation extinction, I will feel I have done me is the story behind the plant – and horticulturists generally do not get any something really important and there is always a story! specific training but have to learn ‘on- worthwhile. I am also looking forward to the-job’. It takes a lot of skill to travelling and meeting new people – and Before joining BGCI you worked for understand a diverse plant collection being able to share the experiences I several years at RBG Kew – what aspects and know how to grow the plants within gained from my work at Kew. The of the work there did you find most it, but too often conservation training aspect of the job is something I stimulating and enjoyable? horticulturists are considered more as particularly hope I can develop. I have ‘manual labour’ than skilled members of to say, that even in the short time I have I think the one word that sums up what I a scientific team. I believe that the lack been here, BGCI has opened my eyes to enjoyed most at Kew is ‘diversity’. I of career structure and low pay are the world. It is a very small organisation loved the diversity of the people I met important reasons why young people with a wide range of projects and a very and worked with and the diversity of the don’t stay in horticulture. We need to dynamic team. I feel I already have a lot amazing plant collections. I also loved address these issues if we want to of responsibility. This is a little scary – the history and heritage of Kew. The attract more people into the sector. but also very exciting!

12 BGCI • 2018 • BGjournal • Vol 15 (2) • 12 Barney Wilczak

ARTICLES

BOTANIC GARDENS AND SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT GOAL 15

SDG15: TARGET 15.1 AUROVILLE BOTANICAL GARDENS – CONSERVING TROPICAL DRY EVERGREEN FOREST IN INDIA

SDG 15: TARGET 15.3 REVERSING LAND DEGRADATION AND DESERTIFICATION IN AFRICA’S DRYLANDS

SDG 15: TARGET 15.4 ALPINE PLANT CONSERVATION AT BETTY FORD ALPINE GARDENS

SDG 15: TARGET 15.5 CONSERVING THREATENED PLANT SPECIES – THE ROLE OF EX SITU COLLECTIONS

SDG15: TARGET 15.7 SAVE OUR CEDAR – WORKING TOWARDS A SUSTAINABLE HARVESTING REGIME FOR MALAWI’S NATIONAL TREE

SDG 15: TARGET 15.8 SCREENING OF BOTANIC GARDEN COLLECTIONS FOR INVASIVE SPECIES: A CASE STUDY FROM GERMANY

BGCI • 2018 • BGjournal • Vol 15 (2) 13 ARTICLE Author: Suzanne Sharrock

SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT GOAL 15:

Protect, restore and promote sustainable use of terrestrial ecosystems, sustainably manage forests, combat desertification, and halt and reverse land degradation and halt biodiversity loss.

ustainable Development Goal 15 (SDG 15) is in many ways the SSDG most relevant to the work of botanic gardens. With its focus on ‘Life on Land’, it provides an important entry point for botanic gardens into the global development framework, linking their conservation work to internationally agreed goals and targets.

The table below provides a list of the targets which contribute to SDG 15 and an indication of the work of botanic gardens that contribute to each target. The articles which follow provide some case studies of these activities being carried out by botanic gardens around the world.

Goal 15.2: Forest restoration in Kenya (Barnet Wilczak)

14 BGCI • 2018 • BGjournal • Vol 15 (2) • 14-15 Target Botanic garden activities

15.1: By 2020, ensure the conservation, • Conservation of native habitats within the garden restoration and sustainable use of terrestrial boundaries and inland freshwater ecosystems and their • Ecological restoration of degraded habitats services, in particular forests, wetlands, • Identification of important plant areas for mountains and drylands, in line with obligations conservation under international agreements

15.2: By 2020, promote the implementation of • Forest restoration sustainable management of all types of forests, • Forest inventories halt , restore degraded forests and • Tree propagation and supply of plants for substantially increase and restoration globally

15.3: By 2030, combat desertification, restore • Partner in restoration projects for degraded areas degraded land and , including land affected • Identify and propagate relevant plant species for by desertification, drought and floods, and strive such sites to achieve a land degradation-neutral world • Work with local communities on sustainable land management practices

15.4: By 2030, ensure the conservation of • Identify mountain flora mountain ecosystems, including their • Raise awareness of mountain conservation needs biodiversity, in order to enhance their capacity • Propagate and restore threatened mountain species to provide benefits that are essential for sustainable development

15.5: Take urgent and significant action to • Identify species most at risk of extinction reduce the degradation of natural habitats, halt • Take action to conserve threatened species the loss of biodiversity and, by 2020, protect • Reintroduce threatened species to native habitats and prevent the extinction of threatened species

15.6: Promote fair and equitable sharing of the • Develop and implement appropriate access and benefits arising from the utilization of genetic benefit sharing policies resources and promote appropriate access to • Share benefits with local communities from the use such resources, as internationally agreed of local plant species • Raise awareness of ABS issues across the community

15.7: Take urgent action to end poaching and • Work with local communities to develop sustainable trafficking of protected species of flora and harvesting practices for local plant species fauna and address both demand and supply of • Raise awareness of the problem of the illegal trade illegal wildlife products in plant species • ‘Walk the talk’ in all garden retail outlets

15.8: By 2020, introduce measures to prevent • Ensure no ‘escapes’ of potentially invasive species the introduction and significantly reduce the from plant collections impact of invasive alien species on land and • Carry out invasive species risk assessments water ecosystems and control or eradicate the • Raise awareness of invasive species issues with priority species the public

15.9: By 2020, integrate ecosystem and • Work with local / national policy makers, planners biodiversity values into national and local and developers planning, development processes, poverty • Offer ‘biodiversity-friendly’ solutions for planning reduction strategies and accounts and development at local level

BGCI • 2018 • BGjournal • Vol 15 (2) 15 ARTICLE Author: Paul Blanchflower

SDG15: TARGET 15.1 AUROVILLE BOTANICAL GARDENS – CONSERVING TROPICAL DRY EVERGREEN FOREST IN INDIA

TARGET 15.1

By 2020, ensure the conservation, restoration and sustainable use of Ashok Leyland project after 12 months terrestrial and inland freshwater ecosystems and their Through its essential work in conservation and restoration, services, in particular forests, wetlands, mountains and drylands, Auroville Botanical Gardens celebrate the beauty and in line with obligations under diversity of nature. international agreements

Introduction of the area. Due to its narrow range and with many areas devoid of . When human influences over the past 10,000 the project began in the late 1960’s the he Auroville Botanical Gardens are years, in this densely populated coastal area was planted with a mix of trees, situated in the South of India on zone, this forest is now the most both exotic and native and over the next Tthe Coromandel coast, around endangered of India’s vegetation types. twenty years, with constant care and 130 km south of Chennai, close to the The only pristine remnants left are found protection by the early inhabitants, the town of Pondicherry. They are part of the in sacred groves, whose size is rarely area became an emerging forest. After International Township of Auroville that more than one hectare. All of the other this initial success the interest evolved was founded in 1968. This intentional forest areas of this type, protected by and became more focused towards the community, recognized by UNESCO, the government, were cut down a native ecosystem. An extensive research is based on the teachings of the Indian number of times in pre-independence program was initiated to understand the philosopher Sri Aurobindo to promote India for fuel wood and are consequently species make up of the original forest the ideal of Human Unity. secondary growth forests – heavily type. This led to exhaustive surveys of dominated by thorny species and still the sacred groves and to the The Botanical Gardens, which were under constant grazing pressure. identification of over 400 woody species started in 2000, are dedicated to the that constituted the ecosystem conservation of the Tropical Dry The township area of Auroville was components of what is now called the Evergreen Forest - the natural vegetation originally a barren, windswept plateau, TDEF – Tropical Dry Evergreen Forest.

16 BGCI • 2018 • BGjournal • Vol 15 (2) • 16-18 It was within this historical context that the Auroville Botanical Gardens were founded with the specific role of raising awareness about the conservation needs of the TDEF. The gardens cover around 20 hectares, which were also devoid of vegetation when the land was acquired. Now the gardens have 5 hectares of TDEF forest, an arboretum that has specimens of the trees and from the region and a number of thematic areas.

Outreach activities Native tree nursery at Auroville Botanical Gardens Shola Forest at Ooty

Over 100 education programs are forests, utilized in our own outside At their research and development center organised each year for local planting projects, or sold to other in the north of Chennai we designed, built government schools as well as a agencies engaged in planting, such as and planted a Wetland forest park on over numerous other visits from colleges, NGO’s or the Forest Department. 13 hectares of land. Transforming private schools and other institutions. unproductive, seasonally inundated, flat All of which are exposed to the Industrial clients land into a series of canals, ponds and environmental benefits of conserving forest areas. The conditions here were the native forests. Tamil Nadu has a number of large harsh as the ground water and soil were manufacturing industries that are run slightly saline. However, using over 60 However this is not the limit of the by well-established families, the TVS native species of trees and shrubs that gardens’ work. Extensive efforts have group is a good example. This highly are adapted to these conditions such as gone towards encouraging efforts to successful brand was established in the Salvadora persica, Thespesia populnea, restore and replant areas with the TDEF. southern town of Madurai in 1918 and Premna serratifolia, Salacia chinensis and Collaborations with a number of now into its forth generation, the group Clerodendron inerme, we were able to Government institutions, such as the has numerous subsidies and spin offs. achieve remarkable growth rates and Forest Department, are always ongoing. Many branches of the family are create a forest cover in under 18 months Additionally, in order to create a self- engaged in the business and the – The final video of this project is online sustaining income stream, the team at majority of them have a passion for at https://vimeo.com/258575105. the gardens offer consultancies and nature and wildlife. Auroville Botanical turnkey projects to commercial clients Gardens has worked with a number of We have also engaged with Ramco to create environmentally sound them, for example, creating shelter-belts cements, South India’s second largest landscapes utilizing the species of the around their factories with pure cement manufacturer, to establish TDEF. These efforts have been ongoing collections of TDEF species. For this protocols for the restoration of their for the past 10 years and there are group alone we have provided over worked-out limestone quarries. The variety of projects that have been 15,000 native saplings from 120 species potential here is extraordinary as they successfully implemented. over the last years. have land holdings of over 2,000 hectares. However the conditions for To enable the work with indigenous Aside from the TVS group we have also plant growth are harsh due to alkaline species, a native tree nursery was engaged with a number of other soils and the site being in a rain shadow. created at the gardens. On average each industries, most recently and very We are still in the process of trialing year over 50,000 saplings are produced successfully with Ashok Leyland, India’s species, trying to find those that can that are either planted within the Auroville leading commercial vehicle company. withstand the tough conditions.

Education activity at Auroville Botanical Gardens Restoration of Ramco mines

BGCI • 2018 • BGjournal • Vol 15 (2) 17 So far, we have seen good results with wherever possible, to raise awareness in Interpretation plays a big role in our work roxburghii, a number of Ficus the local region about the cultural heritage as well, as we recognize that the scale of species and once again Salvadora persica. that is connected to these species that the projects we can accomplish at this are basically extinct in the local context. point are still very small with respect to Tourism and recreation today’s issues. Each one of our projects Challenges in restoration is in reality a symbolic statement that is Another area where there is tremendous issued jointly between the client and scope for our work is in the hotel and All of these projects carry with them ourselves with respect to the need of resort industry. There are many tremendous challenges, as the climatic society in general to take environmental developments in India and a number of conditions for the Dry Evergreen Forests restoration more seriously. To make this developers have an interest to work with are inherently harsh. The long dry season more effective it is important to include native species. Our first project, in 2008 from January till June, followed by erratic clear and easily understood signage was with the Mahindra group, when they summer rains (the Coromandel coast does materials for each location, for we hope developed a 12-hectare resort, 15 km not receive the SW monsoon that much of that the visitors to each site will be the south of Pondicherry. This was planted India gets in the summer months), means ones inspired for the next round of work. with native coastal cline species such that survival of young saplings on open The Tropical Dry Evergreen Forests are as Callophylum innophyllum, Garcinia ground is next to impossible unless regular inherently beautiful, with flowering and spicata, Eugenia bracteata, Ficus aftercare can be given, and if the project is fruiting events throughout the year. microcarpa and even the main lawns not fenced properly then the impact of The fact that they respond to the erratic were grown with the local, salt tolerant grazing herds can be disastrous. The soils rainfall events in the summer by pushing variety of carpet grass Cynodon are also generally impoverished so the out new , makes it all the more dactylonium. A more recent project is advantage often lies with the leguminous pleasurable to be around these species now in the completion stage on the edge species such as Pongamia pinnata or during the hot summer months. They are of a large wetland that is connected to Acacia species. Thus it is challenging to great friends to have beside you in the the sea. Here we have created a number work towards developing a truly native landscape, providing shade on the of large ponds for the native birds and forest that has representation of all the ground throughout the year and helping planted the entire landscape with native genera that we know should be present the heaviest of monsoon rains to salt tolerant species similar to the set we such as Agalia, Walsura, Diospyros, percolate down to the precious water have planted with Ashok Leyland. Memecylon, Atalantia, Pamburus, table below. Pterospermum, Psydrax, Tricalysia, We have also taken our ethic of working Polyalthia, Mallotus, Eugenia, Garcinia to The environmental benefits of these with native plants and worked in other name some of the major contributors. forests are many. As our national regions and ecozones of India, most economy strengthens, there will notably in the Moist Evergreen Forest of Additionally, growth rates can be slow hopefully be more and more companies the Western Ghats. Here we worked on due to the depleted soils and in the that are able to follow the lead of those a resort project in the Coorg region and commercial world, results need to be who are already aware of their with Shola Forests and Native grass seen. In some cases, such as our project responsibilities towards the environment lands in the Nilgiris Biosphere reserve, with Ashok Leyland, the results were and be able to support this kind of where we have partnered with a local spectacular with some trees reaching restoration activity. NGO – Upstream Ecology - to work with over 3 meters at the end of the second an Indian based architectural firm called year, as the black clay soils were full of All photos credited to Marie Demont Total Environment. nutrients. However, in general we need to build into the aftercare programs, Paul Blanchflower Closer to home we also have a project not only watering, but after two years a Auroville Botanical Gardens running with 55 of the local government nutritional program with vermi-compost Tamil Nadu 605 101 schools to fence their compounds and dressings. Mulching is also very India plant shade trees along the boundaries. important – but a little fraught due to Here again we are using native species a very voracious population.

Ashok Leyland project after 12 months

18 BGCI • 2018 • BGjournal • Vol 15 (2) ARTICLE Authors: Paolo Ceci, Sidi Sanogo, Emily Ambrose, Moctar Sacande, Lassina Sanou, Maman Adda and Tiziana Ulian

SDG 15: TARGET 15.3 REVERSING LAND DEGRADATION AND DESERTIFICATION IN AFRICA’S DRYLANDS

TARGET 15.3

By 2030, combat desertification, restore degraded land and soil, including land affected by desertification, drought and floods, and strive to achieve a land degradation-neutral world

Introduction

n sub-Saharan Africa’s drylands, increasing pressure on fragile Iecosystems has resulted in continued land degradation, leading to increased poverty which, in a vicious cycle, drives further land degradation. The consequences of this desertification Agro-forestry system maintained by the women's association of vegetable producers in Dimbale, Mali severely affect some of the world’s (Paolo Ceci) poorest people, who depend on natural resources and land for rainfed agriculture The knowledge of plant diversity and conservation by and to sustain their livelihoods, while they are on the frontline of climate change (Dia experts at the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, working with & Duponnois, 2010). To address this complex challenge, the Great Green Wall in-country partners in Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger, for the Sahara and the Sahel Initiative supports land restoration and livelihoods enhancement in (GGWSSI) was launched in 2007 by the African Union Assembly, a partnership sub-Saharan Africa. with the aim to restore landscapes and improve livelihoods while contributing to climate change mitigation and Cross-Border Pilot Project in Burkina adaptation. This flagship land restoration Faso, Mali and Niger since 2013. This programme, which consists of a mosaic was developed under Kew’s Millennium of sustainable land management Seed Bank Partnership in collaboration approaches across the breadth of Africa – with FAO’s Forestry Department. The from Senegal in the west to Djibouti in the project, funded by The Dr Mortimer and east – involves more than 20 countries of Theresa Sackler Foundation, aims to the Sahara and the Sahel with impact on build a restoration model, to strengthen millions of people. the capacity of in-country partner institutions and to engage a wide range As part of this large initiative, the Royal of stakeholders to generate Botanic Gardens, Kew (RBG Kew) has environmental and socio-economic Project sign and country partners close to a plantation been coordinating the Great Green Wall benefits and relevant data. of Acacia nilotica in Dori, Burkina Faso (CNSF-BF)

BGCI • 2018 • BGjournal • Vol 15 (2) • 19-22 19 Such data are disseminated to inform larger, regional restoration projects targeting improved ecological functioning and provision of ecosystem services (Alexander et al., 2016). This aims to sustain both biodiversity and human well-being, such as in the FAO-led Action Against Desertification for the restoration of agro-sylvo-pastoral systems in the Sahara and the Sahel region.

The collaborative project, led by RBG Kew, is implemented in strong partnership with national institutions in the cross-border zone between the three countries which is comprised of Bankass in Mali, Djibo and Dori in Burkina Faso and Téra in Niger. Bundled straw in Dimbale, Mali (IER) Additional field activities in Mali are carried out in Kayes. The main in- international organisations such as FAO, – Useful Plants Project (2007 – 2015), country partner institutions are: Centre to support in situ conservation and which involved local communities in National de Semences Forestières in plant-related livelihoods activities. plant conservation activities supported Burkina Faso (CNSF-BF), Institut by plant research and promotion of d’Economie Rurale (IER) in Mali, and Main outputs revenue generation through the Centre National de Semences sustainable use of plants and plant Forestières in Niger (CNSF-Niger). The RBG Kew’s Great Green Wall project products (Ulian et al., 2016). is structured upon five outputs as The project involves a network of follows: i) ex situ conservation of useful Plant prioritisation, seed stakeholders, from local community plant species; ii) propagation and conservation and propagation groups and environmental non- conservation of useful species in governmental organisations to communities; iii) support to in situ A participatory approach has been used government and forestry institutions. conservation and sustainable use; to select useful plant species adapted to In engaging with these parties, RBG iv) use of plant species supported by the local conditions and important to Kew has focused on the scientific and project to boost sustainable economic communities’ livelihoods. In 120 technical aspects of plant conservation activities; and v) dissemination of beneficiary village communities located and land restoration. As a science-based information on project achievements. in the cross-border area, with a total organisation, RBG Kew has the capacity population of over 50,000 farmers, to apply plant research to support The project method combines the including 51% women, participatory project activities through an array of reintroduction of native tree and diagnostic meetings have been experts in plant diversity and seed species in a restoration framework that conducted, leading to the selection of conservation, working in partnership includes the ecological and economic 193 plant species, most of which are with in-country collaborators and rehabilitation of traditional agro-forestry mainly used for food, medicine, fodder, systems. Attention has been paid to the and fuel (Sacande & Berrahmouni, 2016). selection of the most useful species to The most environmentally well-adapted propagate and the techniques that are and economically relevant species have suitable for improved and accelerated been prioritised and authenticated, and restoration (plantations, fencing, assisted seeds have been collected from the wild natural regeneration, etc). In order to and used for ex situ conservation and make the intervention sustainable in the propagation. long-term, local communities have been involved in the demonstration of Project implementation in the three livelihoods benefits through the countries has contributed to long-term establishment of community and conservation of 84 useful woody (72) and individual plots and training in the herbaceous (12) species, which have sustainable use of plant resources. The been collected and stored to international project has allowed an understanding of standards both at Kew’s Millennium Seed what species survive and perform better Bank and in national seed banks. in the harsh Sahel conditions and their Collections have been assessed through potential for household income increase. seed testing, including viability, The strong participatory approach had germination, dormancy and barriers to Supplying baobab plants to a women’s association been previously and successfully tested storage, and resulting scientific in Dori, Burkina Faso (CNSF-BF) by RBG Kew in the context of the MGU information has been disseminated.

20 BGCI • 2018 • BGjournal • Vol 15 (2) A central database has been developed with seeds, seedlings, fencing material by CNSF-BF to store information from and planting, watering and agricultural the three countries on species planted, tools. Training has been delivered in plantation sites with spatial coordinates, composting, bee-keeping, juice quantity of seeds and seedlings preparation from Balanites aegyptiaca, produced, number of plants planted Adansonia digitata, Tamarindus indica and replenished, growth by species and Lannea microcarpa, oil extraction and plots. These types of databases from Carapa procera (which has both are crucially lacking for many plant medicinal and pesticidal properties), reintroduction projects, particularly in gum Arabic production and Acacia Africa (Godefroid & Vanderborght, 2011). senegal planting, which is one of the most preferred species by local people Supporting capacity development of due to its multiple uses. community members in plant propagation techniques, nursery Multi-purpose herbaceous species have management and in situ conservation is been propagated for habitat restoration crucial to the model developed. Over 100 and for supplying fodder, hay and village technicians have been trained and material for mats and roofs. Such supervised in seed collection and species include Alysicarpus ovalifolius, Village nursery in Te-üra, Niger (CNSF-Niger) seedling production in local nurseries Brachiaria ramosa, Andropogon near the demonstration parcels. gayanus, Eragrostis tremula and Research on seed biology and ecology Cenchrus biflorus. has been carried out at RBG Kew to Sustainable use of plants support the conservation and Production and sale of juice has a propagation of species and has led to, The analysis of socio-economic contexts valuable economic potential for inter alia, understanding of seed has provided insight into factors of increasing community wealth. In Mali, germination characteristics driven by success of initiatives promoting plant- the association of environmentalists and fruit and seed morphology of Anogeissus related livelihoods: for instance, planters of Endé can produce 100 litres leiocarpa, a multipurpose tree with women’s associations engaged in of juice in a week and the retail price on important economic and cultural value cultivating vegetables gain better local markets is 1,000 CFA francs each in West Africa (Mattana et al., 2018). revenue for child health care and litre. Members of the cooperative of schooling by preserving traditional agro- nurserymen of Bankass, who have Support to communities for forestry systems and related biodiversity. received technical support from the in situ conservation of useful project, are now able to produce forest species Through in-country partners, technical and fruit tree seedlings in enough assistance and inputs have been quantity to sell them not only in local In collaboration with local communities, provided to farmers’ and women’s markets but also to ongoing seeds of 55 woody and herbaceous associations. They have been supplied environmental development projects. species have been planted to restore 2,235 ha of degraded land and create sustainable income-generating opportunities for up to 32,000 people. Over 1,000,000 seedlings of selected species have been planted in around 200 experimental plots and additional techniques have been tested, such as assisted natural regeneration of native species (e.g. Acridocarpus monodii) and supply of tall bare-root plants of Adansonia digitata. Techniques of soil preparation for planting have included digging of traditional half-moons to harvest rainwater.

Gathering key biotic data from in situ conservation plots, i.e. monitoring twice a year species survival rate and growth (height and diameter) rate, has allowed identification of the useful species with best retake after plantation: in Mali, 13 species have shown a survival rate higher than 50%. Village nursery in Te-üra, Niger (CNSF-Niger)

BGCI • 2018 • BGjournal • Vol 15 (2) 21 being of the population, there is a need , Ulian, T., Sacande, M., Hudson, A., for continued political commitment, Mattana, E. 2016. The MGU – Useful funding and policy support, integration Plants Project: Conservation of with other projects, stakeholders’ indigenous plants to support engagement as well as research, community livelihoods. Journal of innovation and knowledge sharing Environmental Planning and (Berrahmouni et al., 2014). Management 60:4: 668-683

In this framework, RBG Kew can play an Paolo Ceci1*, Sidi Sanogo2, Emily important role through carrying out Ambrose1, Moctar Sacande3, Lassina science-based conservation activities Sanou4, Maman Adda5, Tiziana Ulian1 and providing partners with technical expertise in seed management and 1 Natural Capital and Plant Health germination, seed biology and ecology, Department. Royal Botanic Gardens, and plant propagation. This is very Kew. Wellcome Trust Millennium relevant as propagation of useful species Building, RH17 6TN, Ardingly, West in communities to restore degraded land Sussex, UK. Assisted natural regeneration at Ende-ü, Mali (IER) and their in situ conservation are core to 2 Centre Régional de Recherche the achievement of SDG 15. Agronomique de Sikasso (CRRA), Seedlings are sold at up to 600 CFA Institut d’Economie Rurale (IER), BP francs each depending on the size, References 16 Sikasso, Mali. grafted ones at 1,000 CFA francs each, 3 Forestry Department, Food and and bare-root baobab plants at up to , Alexander, S., Aronson, J., Whaley, O., Agriculture Organization of the United 5,000 CFA francs each. Such activity has and Lamb, D. 2016. The relationship Nations (FAO), viale delle Terme di allowed the cooperative members to between ecological restoration and Caracalla, 00153 Rome, Italy. increase their annual household income the ecosystem services concept. 4 Centre National de Semences by 20%. Ecology and Society 21(1):34. Forestières, 01 BP 2682 , Berrahmouni, N., Tapsoba, F., Berte, Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso. Innovative livelihoods research is being J.C. 2014. The Great Green Wall for 5 Centre National de Semences conducted at RBG Kew to better the Sahara and the Sahel Initiative: Forestières, BP 578 Niamey, Niger. understand the socio-economic Building resilient landscapes in characteristics of the targeted African drylands. Pages 15–18. In: Further information: population that influence plant-related Bozzano, M., Jalonen, R., Thomas, E., For further information visit: practices and knowledge, plant Boshier, D., Gallo, L., Cavers, S., https://www.kew.org/science/projects preferences and uses, and conservation. Bordács, S., Smith, P., Loo, J. (eds) /great-green-wall-cross-border-pilot- Genetic considerations in ecosystem project-burkina-faso-mali-and-niger Conclusions restoration using native tree species. Or email: Dr Paolo Ceci (Africa State of the World’s Forest genetic Projects Coordinator, RBG Kew) @ Sites of RBG Kew’s Great Green Wall resources—thematic study. FAO and [email protected] and/or Dr Tiziana project are located at the edge of the Bioversity International, Rome, Italy. Ulian (Senior Research Leader, desert and have been selected to , Dia, A. and Duponnois, R. 2010. Le Diversity and Livelihoods, RBG Kew) respond to the challenge of halting and projet majeur africain de la Grande @ [email protected] reversing desertification. They are Muraille Verte : concepts et mise en characterised by poor, shallow and œuvre. IRD Éditions, 432 p. sandy soils, low pluviometry, nine-month , Godefroid, S., Vanderborght, T. 2011. long dry season, extreme heat and hot Plant reintroductions: The need for a wind (harmattan). Restoration actions global database. Biological under these conditions face severe Conservation 20:3683–3688. challenges such as difficult access to , Mattana, E., Sacande, M., water resources, inadequate labour, Bradamante, G., Gomez Barreiro, P., plant pests and animals’ encroachment. Sanogo, S., Ulian, T. and Bekker, R. 2018. Understanding biological and Despite constraints, the project has ecological factors affecting seed harvested promising results, which have germination of the multipurpose tree been appreciated by the concerned Anogeissus leiocarpa. Plant Biology population with regards to gradually 20: 602-609. re-established ecosystem services, , Sacande, M. and Berrahmouni, N. soil fertility and local biodiversity. 2016. Community participation and To significantly scale up the geographic ecological criteria for selecting scope and the outcomes of regional species and restoring natural capital actions aimed at combating with native species in the Sahel. Tall baobab plant supplied by the project to a farmer desertification and improving the well- Restoration Ecology 24:479–488. in Bankass, Mali (Paolo Ceci)

22 BGCI • 2018 • BGjournal • Vol 15 (2) ARTICLE Author: Nicola Ripley

SDG 15: TARGET 15.4: ALPINE PLANT CONSERVATION AT BETTY FORD ALPINE GARDENS

TARGET 15.4

Rich local alpine flora of Shrine Pass in the Gore Range By 2030, ensure the conservation of mountain The Betty Ford Alpine Garden is dedicated to the ecosystems, including their biodiversity, in order conservation of high elevation mountain plants and to enhance their capacity to provide benefits that are essential for habitats. It also aims to educate the public about the sustainable development vulnerability of the world’s high alpine flora.

Introduction regard these vast ecosystems as largely At 8,200 ft. (2,500 m), and in clear view of conserved because they are beyond the the Gore Range of the Southern Rockies, he North American alpine reach of human disturbance, they are the idea to establish a garden that would ecosystem (areas above the limit extremely susceptible to change - specialize in alpine plants was an easy Tof tree growth) extends from the and climatic change is happening on decision. Betty Ford’s governing body northern sea-level tundra of Canada and a global scale. has a vision and aspiration beyond its Alaska, at 11,000 feet (3,350 m) and size, and now, thirty years later, it is above on the peaks in and the Betty Ford Alpine Gardens (Betty Ford) comprised of roughly four cultivated southern Sierra Nevada, to the southern in Vail, Colorado, established in 1986, acres, some natural riparian riverfront, a mountains of Mexico and west from the is in a unique position to lead the way new Education Center and Alpine House, coastal volcanic Cascades to the top of for North American botanical gardens a well-respected education curriculum Mt Washington in the East. While many in conserving fragile alpine habitats. and an active conservation program.

BGCI • 2018 • BGjournal • Vol 15 (2) • 23-27 23 Dwarf clover (Trifolium nanum)

models demonstrate alpine plant adaptations to harsh mountain climates, such as hairy stems, extensive root systems and cushion formation. Also presented is the close relationship with native bumblebees. These robust bees can thermoregulate and therefore fly at relatively low temperatures, thus reaching the flowers of many alpine plants. Bees have adapted unique tongue lengths to reach nectaries of specific alpine species. Our research program deals in part with the difficulties Habitat of Penstemon debilis of alpine plant reproduction in such seasonally harsh areas, and such The Vail ski resort helps attract large Betty Ford was accredited with the material is explained in our educational national and international visitation, and National Collection of Colorado’s alpine and interpretive programs. We are the gardens are well positioned to play flora by the American Public Gardens actively expanding this information a leading role in exposing visitors of Association (APGA) in 2010. With over throughout our living collections. all ages and nationalities to this 200 species represented, this is the only extraordinary and fragile world above North American botanical garden with a By narrowly focusing our collection and tree line. This national spotlight and a collection devoted to Colorado alpine programs, we have been able to make sense of urgency due to the evidence plants, mainly with wild origins. Facilitated an important impact locally with a of climate change has inspired a desire by federal seed collecting permits issued relatively small budget (US$1.2 million to play a national role in alpine by the United States Forest Service and annually). Working with federal agencies conservation and to help influence Bureau of Land Management, we have Betty Ford has been active for many public opinion. made the development of this collection years collecting seed for restoration, a top priority. monitoring threatened plants in nature, conducting propagation protocol studies Education and outreach and conducting re-introduction trials. With our new Education Center and With Betty Ford’s mission: increased staffing, we envision “to deepen understanding of alpine plants developing a more ambitious program and fragile mountain environments” over the next few years. the new Education Center provides a perfect place to present information Achieving more through about these matters. In doing so, we partnerships support the North American Botanic Garden Strategy for Plant Conservation To further the overall efforts in alpine plant 2016-2020 (NASPC) objective D, conservation, the team in Vail has “promoting public awareness of the partnered with Denver Botanic Gardens importance of plant diversity” in our area. (Denver). With its three unique locations Interpretation stations include maps of (York Street, Chatfield Farms and Mount the alpine areas of the world, explaining Goliath on Mt. Evans), and large the impacts of latitude and climate on horticulture and research staff, Denver the tree line, as well as a 7x life-size offers a special opportunity to display and diorama of alpine plants. Panels focus work with alpine flora. The central Denver on reproduction in the alpine York Street site holds the largest environment as well as discussing the collection of the world’s alpine plants, 3 D plant display climatic conditions. The large scale 3D with almost 500 species represented.

24 BGCI • 2018 • BGjournal • Vol 15 (2) Penstemon debilis

As such, these collections were accredited by the American Public Gardens Association in 2012; Betty Ford is the only other North American alpine garden that has been similarly accredited. Denver’s satellite locations of Chatfield Farms and Mount Goliath have extensive, and expanding, collections in the suburbs and mountains of Colorado. Mount Goliath, Denver’s mountain site on the scenic byway is a unique partnership with the US Forest Service.

Mount Goliath, the world’s highest rock gardens, showcases native plants of the Mount Evans Massif, and the garden Betty Ford Alpine Gardens in early June surrounding the Dos Chappell Nature Center includes only germplasm In addition to horticultural displays, the biology of individual species are collected on-site. At 11,500 ft., it is the conservation staff at Denver monitor being conducted not only in Colorado only maintained garden and visitor populations of sensitive species in alpine but also in similar habitats throughout center at tree line in North America. regions of Colorado and collect seed of North America and abroad. The studies Initiated in 1954, the partnership with the both common and rare species for are not only helpful in themselves, US Forest Service works effectively to conservation: anticipating that climate they also provide a unique perspective educate the public on alpine change will endanger all of them over on North American and worldwide environments and their native plants. the remainder of this century. Studies of alpine flora.

Climate change monitoring plots with the BLM and USFS on the local Mosquito Range.

BGCI • 2018 • BGjournal • Vol 15 (2) 25 Developing a conservation plant conservation that will be achieved strategy through a set of detailed action items. While still a work-in-progress, once Betty Ford and Denver, with strong alpine completed the strategy will be available collections are now working together on on various websites including both Betty a formalized protection plan for these Ford Alpine Gardens and Denver Botanic fragile ecosystems resulting in the Gardens as well as BGCI. development of the new North American Strategy for Alpine Plant Conservation Following is a first draft summary of the (the Strategy). Based on the original basic assumptions of the strategy and NASPC the document, still in draft form, its targets consists of a series of targets for alpine Objectives

1. Understand and document alpine plant diversity. 2. Conserve alpine plants and their habitats. 3. Promote education and awareness of alpine plant diversity. 4. Build capacity for the conservation of alpine plant diversity.

Draft targets for the above objectives

1. Creation of a widely acceptable working list of known alpine plants of the United States, Canada and Mexico. 2. Completing a working map of all North American alpine areas. 3. Carrying out a preliminary assessment of the conservation status of all known North American alpine plant species. 4. Conducting NatureServe conservation ranking (G1/T1-G3/T3) for the working list of North American Monitoring Penstemon debilis alpine plants.

Box 1: Conserving rare species – the case of Penstemon debilis

Penstemon debilis (Parachute succulent, glabrous gray-green leaves The Gardens has been studying this penstemon) is one of the nation’s and white or lavender flowers. It flowers plant since 2004, in conjunction with rarest plants. It occurs on five oil shale from mid-June to mid-July depending the BLM to gain a better understanding outcrops in Garfield County, near the upon precipitation, on constantly shifting of its population biology, calculating its town of Parachute, habitat of oil shale slopes. mortality and habitat requirements and increased interest to the oil and gas information required to create a drilling communities. With only two of In 2011 it was federally listed as conservation plan for the plant. its five locations on BLM land and three Threatened. It is classified as a G1/S1 on land owned privately by oil and gas species by the Colorado Natural Heritage Propagation protocols have been companies, this plant is extremely Program (CNHP). G1 plants are those that developed to determine germination vulnerable. Penstemon debilis was are “critically imperiled globally because of requirements and possible future discovered in 1986, a perennial extreme rarity (5 or fewer occurrences, or reintroduction. Plants are also held in herbaceous species, and member of very few remaining individuals), or because the Gardens and used for public the family Scrophulariaceae. It is a of some factor of it’s biology making it education purposes. soboliferous plant (produces shoots especially vulnerable to extinction.” S1 from the base of the plant) with thick, plants are critically imperiled in the state.

26 BGCI • 2018 • BGjournal • Vol 15 (2) 5. Developing protocols for alpine plant conservation based on research, practical experience and existing methodologies. 6. Assuring the protection of 50 percent of the most important areas for alpine plant conservation. 7. Conserving 60 percent of threatened alpine plant species in situ. 8. Ensuring that at least 75 percent of threatened alpine plant species are held in accessible ex situ collections preferably in the country of origin, and 10 percent included in recovery and restoration programs. 9. Incorporating the importance of alpine plant diversity, the threats to them, and the need for their conservation into communication, educational and public awareness programs. 10. Increasing the number of trained people working on alpine plant conservation, with appropriate facilities, according to national, regional and local needs. Rock Garden 11. Establishing and strengthening networks for alpine plant Abroad, the Alpine Seed Conservation conservation activities at regional, and Research Network, a consortium in national and international levels. the European Alps, has already made great strides in banking seeds of alpine Attainment dates for each target will be flora. The network was established by determined as well as more detailed RBG Kew “to conserve European alpine action items required for completion. flora and to raise awareness of its While this particular document focuses increasing vulnerability”. Their efforts on alpine flora, it can be used as a focus on seed conservation, research template to adopt similar strategies for and public awareness with an emphasis other regional plant groups. on the alpine grassland communities of the Alps. For more information, please visit www.alpineseedconservation.eu.

What should the role of botanic gardens be?

Botanic gardens in the United States are perfectly positioned to play a unique role in alpine plant conservation. The increased public interest in conserving natural resources generally provides a Survival of the Fittest display much-needed opportunity to raise awareness about the effect climate Nicola Ripley change is having on alpine ecosystems. Executive Director With some 140 million visitors annually, Betty Ford Alpine Gardens botanical gardens in the U.S. and Canada 522 South Frontage Road, host nearly as many people as all East Vail, CO 81657 professional sporting events combined. USA Gardens have an enormous opportunity to advocate on behalf of threatened ecosystems, and a substantial opportunity to influence public opinion in favor of conserving them.

BGCI • 2018 • BGjournal • Vol 15 (2) 27 ARTICLE Authors: Suzanne Sharrock, Malin Rivers and Katherine O’Donnell

SDG 15: TARGET 15.5: CONSERVING THREATENED PLANT SPECIES – THE ROLE OF EX SITU COLLECTIONS

Camellia azalea, globally threatened Theaceae species. (Tom Hannink) Botanic gardens – through their living collections and TARGET 15.5 increasingly, seed banks, are playing a vital role in Take urgent and preventing the extinction of threatened plant species. significant action to reduce the degradation of natural habitats, halt How many threatened plants global, regional and national red list the loss of biodiversity and, by 2020, are there? assessments for plants, derived from protect and prevent the extinction of a variety of published sources. threatened species n the face of ever-growing threats to The database presently includes over plant diversity, conservation 263,000 assessments representing more Iassessments provide an essential tool than 123,000 accepted land plant in priority setting and the planning of species (vascular plants and bryophytes, conservation interventions. In the past, not algae). One of the greatest This represents some 26% of known such assessments were scattered in the challenges in developing ThreatSearch plants. Of these species at least literature and held in a range of different was matching the plant conservation 32,500 are threatened with extinction. databases, making prioritisation difficult. assessments to accepted plant species The analysis has revealed wide gaps in To overcome this problem, BGCI with names and reconciling the different taxonomic coverage, with some families partners, such as the National Red List, assessments that might have been such as Zamiaceae and Magnoliaceae NatureServe and the Royal Botanic made for the same species. being almost completely assessed, Gardens, Kew – have developed a whereas other families such as comprehensive database of plant Analysis of the data shows that about Orchidaceae, Asteraceae, and conservation assessments - 90,000 plant species have been Rubiaceae are under-assessed relative ThreatSearch1. This database lists assessed at the global scale. to the average (Bachman et al., 2017).

28 BGCI • 2018 • BGjournal • Vol 15 (2) • 28-31 1www.bgci.org/threat_search.php Red List Key facts Date

Filling the data gaps The Red List of Fraxinus 53 species assessed; 2018 11 threatened with extinction It is clear that much work remains to The Red List of Theaceae 254 species assessed, 2017 complete threat assessments for all 85 threatened with extinction plant species. One initiative that The Red List of US Oaks 91 species assessed, 2017 addresses this is the Global Tree 16 threatened with extinction Assessment (GTA)2, which aims to The Red List of 304 species assessed, 2016 complete assessments for all tree Magnoliaceae (updated) 147 threatened with extinction species by 2020.

The Red List of The Red List of The Red List of The Global Tree Assessment is already Fraxinus Theaceae US Oaks

Megan Barstow, Sara Oldfield, Murphy Westwood, Emily Beech, Megan Barstow & Malin Rivers Diana Jerome, Emily Beckman, Lisa Kenny, Katherine Wenzell, under way. The first step was to assemble Diana Jerome, Emily Beech & Malin Rivers Chai-Shian Kua, Murphy Westwood information on the world's trees to produce a global tree checklist with country distributions. In April 2017, GlobalTreeSearch3 was published, containing the names of 60,065 species and their distributions. This forms the backbone to GTA. The identification of widespread and common species of low conservation concern began in November Table 1: Recent progress in BGCI’s tree red listing 2016. A process to identify and assess these species has been designed and is Conservation in the living threatened plant species (Mounce et al., now being implemented. collections in botanic gardens 2017). However, the study also showed and arboreta that just 10% of the global network GTA has identified the major gaps in red capacity is devoted to threatened listing efforts and is currently working with Botanic gardens play an important role species. Of the 1,330,829 records in several groups to encourage and assist in in the conservation of wild plant PlantSearch at the time, 134,771 or the production of tree assessments. Table diversity, with their living collections about 10% related to threatened 1 provides some details of recent including many of the rare and species, with 90% of ex situ collections progress in tree red listing. The red list threatened species identified through devoted to species not yet identified to publications are available to download the red listing process. be at risk of extinction. It therefore from BGCI’s website.4 follows that if the network can hold 42% BGCI’s PlantSearch database5 provides of threatened species, with just 10% of Data from the GTA shows that 34% a record of the combined plant current network capacity, there is of trees now have a conservation collections of over 1,300 botanic potential to hold a greater proportion of assessment and these are listed on gardens around the world. The threatened species. Furthermore, ThreatSearch (including national, regional database contains over 1.3 million the study revealed that botanic garden and global assessments). Around 42% of records, relating to at least 105,000 collections are disproportionately all assessed trees are threatened globally. species (approximately 30% of all known temperate, with 93% of species held in Taking unassessed trees into account, we plants). A recent study comparing the Northern Hemisphere. Consequently, can say that at least 14% of all tree PlantSearch data with an early version an estimated 76% of species absent species are threatened with extinction of ThreatSearch, revealed that these from living collections are tropical globally (Figure 1). collections include some 42% of known in origin.

60,065 tree species

20,422 assessed tree species

8,614 globally threatened tree species

Figure 1: Number of threatened tree species Threatened plant nursery at the Eötvös Loránd University Botanic Garden, Budapest

2www.globaltreeassessment.org 3www.bgci.org/global_tree_search.php 4www.bgci.org/plant-conservation/redlisting/ BGCI • 2018 • BGjournal • Vol 15 (2) 29 5www.bgci.org/plant_search.php SDG 15.5 links closely to Target 8 of the of a species across the network might Global Strategy for Plant Conservation, buffer against loss of the species, and which calls for 75% of threatened plants could potentially provide genetic diversity to be held in ex situ collections by 2020. for ecological restoration efforts, the ex Presently, of the higher level situ surveys carried out by BGCI indicate phylogenetic lineages, only that many threatened species are held in gymnosperms meet this target, with 89% just one or a few collections7. of threatened species being held ex situ. As noted by Mounce et al. (2017), Seed banking for security gymnosperms are a successful ex situ and use conservation story as: they are the least speciose of the major plant lineages, With the increasing recognition that living rendering the percentage-based GSPC Plant label in Kirstenbosch National Botanic Garden, collections do not include sufficient intra- Target 8 more feasible; there is a specific South Africa (BGCI) specific genetic diversity for conservation international conservation and restoration purposes, there is a programme; like most botanic gardens, they are broadly temperate; and they growing interest in seed banking amongst have horticultural value as evergreen the botanic garden community. Seed collections. In stark contrast, the banking offers a type of ex situ bryophytes, which have the poorest conservation that can, if the correct overall assessment rate of 12.2%, are protocols are followed, maintain high similarly impoverished with respect to ex genetic diversity and high longevity at a situ conservation, such that only 2.6% of relatively low cost. A growing number of threatened bryophytes are documented botanic gardens are now establishing in the botanic garden network. As seed banks – with the Millennium Seed indicated in Table 2, representation in Bank of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, ex situ collections varies considerably playing a key role in this respect. Over across plant families, with factors such 370 botanical institutions in 74 countries as horticultural value and ease of around the world now collect and bank cultivation playing a key role. seed of wild species (O’Donnell and Sharrock, 2017) and BGCI has While maintenance of species in living established the Global Seed collections provides some level of Conservation Challenge8 to promote and insurance against extinction, such support seed banks in botanic gardens. collections often consist of only a few individuals. These generally do not Lists of species conserved in seed represent the genetic diversity of the banks are compiled in BGCI’s species as a whole, and are vulnerable to PlantSearch database and analysis of loss. Such collections are also of limited this data shows that 56,987 distinct value for the reintroduction of species plant taxa are conserved in botanic Collecting seed of Aloe suzannae in Madagascar into the wild or for use in restoration garden seed banks. Seed bank (Paul Smith) programmes. While multiple accessions collections within an institution range in size from 18 to over 37,000 species. If seed collections are to be of Plant family Percent of taxa in Publication conservation value and use, the /group ex situ collections date protocols used for banking must be of a high standard. While the conservation European trees 454 species, 87% in ex situ collections, in press quality of the seed bank collections including 81% of 136 threatened species found in PlantSearch has not been 879 taxa, 84% in ex situ collections 2014 analysed, one standard is for seed including 81% of 292 threatened taxa collections to be duplicated at a second, Betulaceae 240 taxa, 63% in ex situ collections 2015 geographically separate, facility (MSBP, including 75% of 16 threatened taxa 2015). Therefore if one of the collections Ebonies 806 taxa, 25% in ex situ collections 2016 is destroyed, a back-up is available. including 25% of 101 threatened taxa Results from our analysis suggest that Magnoliaceae 304 species, 50% in ex situ collections, 2016 two thirds of seed bank collections are including 45% of 147 threatened species only stored in one institution, therefore Theaceae 253 species, 50% in ex situ collections, 2017 not meeting this particular standard including 51% of 85 threatened species (O’Donnell and Sharrock, 2017) (Fig. 2). Fraxinus 53 species,85 % in ex situ collections, 2018 Further analysis is required to determine including 91% of 11 threatened species what percentage of seeds held in botanic garden seed banks meet full Table 2: Percentage of taxa in ex situ collections for selected plant groups and families6 conservation standards.

30 BGCI • 2018 • BGjournal • Vol 15 (2) 6For further information, visit: www.bgci.org/plant-conservation/exsitu/ Are botanic garden seed banks conserving threatened species?

Of the species represented in botanic garden seed bank collections, 50% (28,735) have a conservation assessment either at the global or national/regional level. Of the species that have a conservation assessment, 34% (9,696 taxa) of these are threatened at some level (Fig. 3) (BGCI, 2017). If conservation assessments were available for all the species conserved Selection of seeds collected during a seed conservation training course in Nepal (BGCI) in seed banks the total proportion of threatened taxa could range from 17% (if all remaining species are not threatened) to 67% (if all remaining species were threatened). In addition, 499 species held in seed banks are regionally or globally extinct in the wild. 34% Conclusions 50% 50% Threatened Species with no Species with species conservation conservation Despite the fact that over one-quarter of assessment assessment 66% Species not a million plant assessments have been threatened compiled to date, the challenge remains that the majority of plant species are still unassessed. Lack of assessments hampers prioritisation of conservation action as well as constraining the monitoring of progress towards targets. Figure 3: Status of species in seed bank collections While it is clear that botanic gardens are playing an important role in the ex situ data is unavailable and species are found conservation of threatened plant species in remote areas. Institutional funding may both through their living collections and be dependent on the number of species seed banks, there are still large gaps to collected rather than the conservation be filled, and the majority of species in priority of the species. Opportunistic ex situ collections are not threatened. collection, where species may not be the priority for collection but are collected The lack of threatened species in anyway as they are available, may also collections may be the result of play a role. information on threat status not being available, but other constraints probably References also play a part. These include lack of resources for fieldwork, especially when , Bachman, S., Nic Lughadha, E and , MSBP Seed Conservation Standards population fruiting time is sporadic or Rivers, M. 2018. Quantifying progress for ‘MSB Partnership Collections’ 2015 toward a conservation assessment for http://www.kew.org/sites/default/files/ all plants. Conservation Biology 32 (3): MSBP%20Seed%20Conservation%2

40000 516-524. DOI: 10.1111/cobi.13071 0Standards_Final%2005-02-15.pdf, , 35000 BGCI, 2017. ThreatSearch online Accessed 21st March 2018 , 30000 database. Botanic Gardens O’Donnell, K and Sharrock, S. 2017. 25000 Conservation International. Richmond, The contribution of botanic gardens to 20000 UK. Available at https://www.bgci.org/ ex situ conservation through seed 15000 threat_search.php Accessed on banking. Plant Diversity. 39 (6): 373- (01/03/2017). 378. DOI: 10.1016/j.pld.2017.11.005

Seed banked species 10000 , 5000 Mounce, R., Smith, P. and 0 Brockington, S. 2017. Ex situ Suzanne Sharrock, Malin Rivers, 1 2 3 Institutions conservation of plant diversity in the Katherine O’Donnell world’s botanic gardens. Nature Plants BGCI Figure 2: Number of seed banked species 3: 795-802. DOI: 10.1038/s41477-017- 199 Kew Road, Richmond held at one, two and three institutions. 0019-3 TW9 3BW. UK

7http://bgci.org/plant-conservation/exsitu/ 8www.bgci.org/plant-conservation/seedconservation/ BGCI • 2018 • BGjournal • Vol 15 (2) 31 ARTICLE Author: Kirsty Shaw

TARGET 15.7

Take urgent action to end poaching and trafficking of protected species of flora and fauna and address both demand and supply of illegal wildlife products

SDG15: TARGET 15.7 SAVE OUR CEDAR – WORKING TOWARDS A SUSTAINABLE HARVESTING REGIME FOR MALAWI’S NATIONAL TREE

Mulanje Cedar seedlings ready for planting

Over-harvesting has had a devastating effect on the populations of Mulanje Cedar in Malawi, with very few individuals remaining in the wild. Efforts are now underway to establish a new demand and supply system to secure a future for this important species.

of harvesting programmes in Malawi This article explores the history of since colonial times. Excellent for carving, Mulanje Cedar harvesting, the it has long been used for making intricate unsustainable exploitation that has led to boxes, doors and frames. Mulanje Cedar the extinction of this species in the wild, is also unique as it occurs naturally only and introduces an initiative to establish on Mulanje Mountain in South East a new demand and supply system to Malawi at altitudes ranging between 1800 secure a future for this important species. and 2300m. It was declared as Malawi’s national tree in 1984. Mulanje Cedar - a history of harvesting Introduction Recent years have seen a crash in Mulanje Cedar populations, with Alexander Whyte first publicized Mulanje or decades, Mulanje Cedar harvesting taking place at an Cedar. Whilst serving as Head of the ( whytei) has been uncontrollable rate. As a result, no Scientific Department in the British Fprized for its timber. Strong and mature individuals remain standing on Central Africa Administration, he spent termite resistant, it has been the focus Mulanje Mountain. two weeks botanizing on Mulanje

32 BGCI • 2018 • BGjournal • Vol 15 (2) • 32-35 “the supply of timber yearly might be Supervision of operations was no longer Mulanje Cedar, Widdringtonia considerable” without having to adequate and despite a law in place whytei Rendle “materially affect the forests for many allowing only dead trees to be years” (McClounie, 1896). harvested, this was not adhered to and The genus Widdringtonia is named wastage rates were high. after Captain Widdrington, who Over the following decades, sawpits and published a book on European operations expanded across the Pines in 1843. The species whytei mountain. Until the 1950s, all timber was Properties of Mulanje is named after Alexander Whyte, still being sawn and transported down Cedar wood who promoted this species and its the steep mountain slopes without potential value as a timber tree. The machinery. It became evident that if • Heartwood: a uniform light brown genus Widdringtonia is in the family increased timber demands were to be colour; Cuppresaceae, but was previously met, machinery would have to be used, • Scent: strongly pronounced thought to be more closely related so in 1951 a skyline timber extraction cedar-like; to cedar trees, hence the common cableway was installed. • Planed surfaces assume a satiny name Mulanje Cedar. The species sheen; is also locally known as Nkunguza By 1965, all the accessible forest on • Excellent construction timber that or Sida. There are four species in Mulanje Mountain had been logged. In is light to moderately heavy (38- the genus Widdringtonia, all native response, commercial operations scaled 40lbs per cubic foot air dry); to Southern Africa. Widdringtonia down. Pitsawing continued on a small • Impervious to and whytei is the tallest and produces scale by the Department of Forestry, but woodborers; the best timber. use of the skyline stopped. In the 1970s, • Strongly resistant to fungal attack; pitsawing licences were again issued by • Suitable for boat building and the Department of Forestry to private strong roof timbers; operations, but rates for licenses were • Easily workable and well suited Mountain in 1890. Whyte’s report of this maintained at historic levels meaning that for interior finishing and furniture expedition was published the following Mulanje Cedar timber could be obtained making; year in Kew Bulletin (Whyte, 1891) and and sold at a price less than pine from • “Mulanje Tar”, an oil distilled from then in Transactions of the Linnean local plantations and imported sawdust and waste wood, can be Society of London, alongside a construction wood. This undermined the used as a preservative against botanical description of the cedar as value of Mulanje Cedar and led to a huge termites. a new species, in 1894 (Whyte and expansion of cedar cutting, largely from Rendle, 1894) areas previously deemed inaccessible.

In efforts to safeguard what was recognized by the Administration and Protectorate Government as having potential to “form a valuable timber supply for the country” (Sclater, 1893), early measures were taken to protect the cedars from fires that regularly occurred on the mountain.

The first published reference to the value of Mulanje Cedar timber appeared in Kew Bulletin in 1895, when Whyte described the timber as “equal to the finest yellow pine” and noted that it was already in use for construction of residences in Zomba and was also in demand in Blantyre (Whyte, 1895).

Sawing operations by the Botanical and Forestry Department began on Mulanje Mountain in 1895 under the supervision of John McClounie, the then Government Forester. In his first report, he estimated the total number of cedar trees on the mountain to be 150,000 with an average of 40 cubic feet of timber per tree. Initially only dead wood was cut and projections were that Cut Mulanje Cedar at Sombani on Mulanje Mountain, 2017

BGCI • 2018 • BGjournal • Vol 15 (2) 33 Due to the scale of harvesting and the large numbers of people involved in this illegal activity, the mountain became an unsafe place for the Department of Forestry and other organisations to carry out conservation activities to preserve the remaining cedar stands.

A survey carried out in early 2017 reported only seven mature individuals standing on the mountain. All of these have subsequently been cut.

The extinction of this species from its natural habitat represents the loss of the largest seed stand for future planting efforts. Some of the Mulanje Cedar trees Kazembe nursery group with Mulanje Cedar seedlings ready for planting, Jan 2018 planted elsewhere by the Department of Forestry could provide a source of seed In the early 1980s, the Department of Management Plan calling for a ban on for restoration, but these stands were Forestry regained control. Sawyers had timber harvesting for five years and for grown from seed selected from tall and to pay for the actual volume of wood replanting efforts on Mulanje Mountain straight mother trees, with the aim of being harvested. Forestry staff were in to the scale of 500,000 seedlings per producing the best timber. They charge of selecting which trees should year for five years (2014 – 2019). therefore likely represent less genetic be taken and only dead wood was diversity than the original populations on allowed to be harvested. The value of Despite this plan and efforts to prevent Mulanje Mountain. This lack of diversity Mulanje Cedar timber increased, extraction, the is a large may impact the resilience of future bringing harvesting levels to a controlled and difficult mountain to police, with restoration efforts. rate. This change was unpopular locally, multiple entry points. The steep access and many cedar stands were points to the mountain and inaccessible Towards sustainability intentionally burned in protest, but sites where many cedars grew, was not enforcement was eventually accepted enough to prevent harvesting. In 2016, BGCI, the Mulanje Mountain and Mulanje Cedar regained its position Conservation Trust (MMCT) and the as a high value timber. Although there was little sign of Malunje Forestry Research Institute of Malawi Cedar being used locally, the extent of (FRIM) launched a new project, funded Planting practices harvesting indicated that the timber was by the UK government’s Darwin Initiative being used to supply national and to domesticate Mulanje Cedar. The Mulanje Cedar is harvestable when it international markets. Mulanje Mountain project is providing an alternative and reaches around 50 years old. Since is very close to the border with sustainable livelihood source for 1895, Mulanje Cedar has been planted Mozambique and, despite a lack of communities living around the mountain in Malawi, including on other mountains, evidence of exports into or out of who previously depended on illegal as a forestry operation for timber supply. Mozambique, it was strongly suspected harvesting of Mulanje Cedar for income. Seeds were also transported to other that this was the main international countries for planting and protection. trafficking route for Mulanje Cedar timber – with operations being managed Replanting also occurred on Mulanje at considerable scale. Mountain. Although planting efforts were not always successful, including Lack of other income-generating due to fires and attack from pests and activities meant that many local people pathogens, such efforts did help to some were involved in these harvesting extent to ensure a continued supply of activities. However, with low pay rates, Mulanje Cedar to replace stocks that the exploitation of what was once were being harvested. envisaged as an important timber resource for the country, has in reality Extinct in the wild brought little benefit to the Malawian people. Furthermore, over-harvesting of By the beginning of this century, cedar forests has had a number of other harvesting had become increasingly negative consequences, including flash unsustainable, including felling of floods due to increased run-off from the planted trees from Mulanje Mountain. denuded mountain slopes. This has led As a result, the Forestry Department to loss of crops, and in severe cases Mulanje Cedar Malawi’s national tree being developed a Mulanje Cedar even loss of life. reintroduced by the Global Trees Campaign

34 BGCI • 2018 • BGjournal • Vol 15 (2) Ten community nurseries have been Alongside cultivation in the nursery, set up around the base of Mulanje a national public outreach campaign Mountain, with 150 people growing is highlighting: seedlings to restore mountain populations. Nursery groups have been • the current status of Mulanje Cedar; trained in propagation, nursery • the responsibility the nation has to management techniques and business protect its national tree; skills. In the first growing season, more • the restoration programme on Mulanje than 330,000 seedlings were grown Mountain; and planted on Mulanje Mountain. • the commercial value of planting this species for future generations. Optimal growing conditions for Mulanje Cedar are being identified through A nursery certification scheme is being horticultural research carried out by developed, that will assure people that Project launch with traditional leaders Bedgebury Pinetum in the UK and the seedlings they purchase are of good research into mycorrhizal associations quality, from a sustainable source and the next generation of harvestable and pathogens is being carried out by that sales directly benefit community timber will not be available for a few Chicago Botanic Garden. Trials are being groups. decades. The forced hiatus in logging established in the community nurseries activities, as unfortunate as it is, may to test performance in the current Demand and supply actually assist the restoration of growing season. This aims to improve populations on the mountain. It is hoped growth and survival rates in the nursery, Rather than reducing demand, this that this, coupled with domestication of as well as identify the best areas and project represents a marketing initiative the species and reduced reliance on wild conditions for planting Mulanje Cedar aimed to shift demand away from populations, will ensure a secure future to ensure faster growth rates. illegally harvested timber, and drive for Mulanje Cedar. demand towards purchase of seedlings Nursery groups are not only growing a that can be grown for commercial gain. References supply of seedlings for restoration on The supply of seedlings is not only Mulanje Mountain. The aim is to develop sustainable, but is also providing local , McClounie, J. 1896. In Commissioner a national market for Mulanje Cedar; benefits, while taking the pressure off the Johnston to the Marquess of a market that demands sustainably- next generation of Mulanje Cedar being Salisbury, Zomba. Kew Bulletin sourced seedlings from certified seed planted on Mulanje Mountain. DXXXVII. and nurseries. These seedlings can be , Sclater, B.L. 1893. Routes and planted and the timber used for personal As Mulanje Cedar is a relatively slow Distances in Southern Nyasaland, or commercial use, without having to rely growing species, and Mulanje Mountain Geography Journal 2. 414-417. on a supply from wild sources. has been stripped of mature individuals, , Whyte, A. 1891. Botany of Milanji, Nyassa-land, in: Whyte to Commissioner Johnston, Zomba: Kew Bulletin CCSLIV. , Whyte, A. and Rendle, A.B. in Carruthers, W. 1894. Introduction to the Plants of Milanji, Nyasaland, collected by Mr. Alexander Whyte, F.L.S. Transactions of the Linnean Society London Bot. 4:1-4, 60-61. , Whyte, A. 1895. Botanical Enterprise in British Central Africa. Kew Bulletin CCCCLXX.

For more information about this project visit: http://globaltrees.org/projects/ save-our-cedar-malawis-national-tree/ #SaveOurCedar

Kirsty Shaw Head of Ecological Restoration and Tree Conservation / Head of Africa Office Botanic Gardens Conservation International – Africa Office IUCN Eastern and Southern Africa Historic stand of Mulanje Cedar on Mulanje Mountain 1998 (Jeffrey Juwawo, MMCT) Regional Office, Nairobi, Kenya

BGCI • 2018 • BGjournal • Vol 15 (2) 35 ARTICLE Authors: Ewald Weber and Michael Burkart

SDG 15: TARGET 15.8 SCREENING OF BOTANIC GARDEN COLLECTIONS FOR INVASIVE SPECIES: A CASE STUDY FROM GERMANY

A field with Goldenrod (Solidago canadensis). This plant is considered as highly invasive in Europe because it grows in dense monocultures.

TARGET 15.8 Botanic gardens, with their large and diverse plant collections have an important role to play in the control of By 2020, introduce measures to prevent invasive plant species – through their actions they can the introduction and significantly reduce become part of the solution and not a cause of the problem. the impact of invasive alien species on land and water ecosystems and control or eradicate In the past a number of plant species Here we present an evaluation of the the priority species have escaped botanic garden collections invasiveness of plant species grown and became naturalized in the wild outdoors in 20 German botanic gardens (Hulme, 2011; 2014). In order to reduce and two in neighbouring countries. the threats from invasive species becoming naturalized outside botanic Introduction gardens Heywood and Sharrock (2013), through the Council of Europe, published otanic gardens play an important a European Code of Conduct for Botanic role in plant conservation, research Gardens on Invasive Alien Species; this Band public outreach. Living document is not legally binding but collections of botanic gardens may also suggests voluntary measures. Among provide a source of invasive species them it proposes to “undertake an audit because they harbour a high number of of the existing collections in the botanic wild plants originating from all over the garden for invasion risk”. Reichard (2011) world. In European botanic gardens for recommends that all botanic gardens example the current number of cultivated should implement such Codes of Kudzu (Pueraria montana), an invasive species that species is estimated to be c. 80,000 Conduct to reduce the spread of easily could become established in Germany (Forest (Heywood and Sharrock, 2013). invasive species. & Kim Starr)

36 BGCI • 2018 • BGjournal • Vol 15 (2) • 36-39 The proportion of invasive species among gardens varied considerably (Figure 1), ranging from 5.2% to 75.9%. Overall, gardens had 2,550 invasive species corresponding to a proportion of 18%.

Not all of the invasive species identified so far would be able to establish in Germany and spread, as there were species on the lists which originate in warm temperate and subtropical climates. Therefore, secondly we Figure 1: Relationship between number of cultivated examined the species further and species (outdoor) from 22 botanic gardens in subjected them to a risk analysis to Germany and adjacent countries and the proportion identify species that could establish in of invasive species as listed in the Global Germany based on their hardiness zones Compendium of Weeds. and for which information on ecological Japanese (Lonicera japonica) - impacts exist. This was based on a potentially invasive species in Germany The aim was to (i) identify those species original research articles, books on (Forest & Kim Starr) that are known as invasive in whatever invasive plant species and online region of the world, and (ii) to identify reources giving detailed information on established and spreading in other amongst these, species that do not grow the ecology of the species. Besides European countries. Among forbs, wild in Germany but which have a research articles, the major sources were Nootka lupin ( nootkatensis) is climatic match between their native GISD (2018), Invasive Species of particular concern because it has ranges and Germany, thus are likely to Compendium (2018), NOBANIS (2018), a similar ecology as the already be able to spread into suitable habitats. Weber (2016) and references therein, established Lupinus polyphyllus and is These can be considered as species and Weeds of Australia (2018). This step able to build dense monocultures. potentially invasive to Germany and was necessary as listing in the GCW is requiring special attention. not sufficient to demonstrate negative During the course of the study, ecological impacts of a given species. information on invasive species in The screening collections was fed back to the This step yielded 30 species that could participating gardens and a list of Lists of plant species grown outdoors be considered potentially invasive to potentially invasive plants in collections were obtained from 22 botanic gardens Germany (Table 1). Among them are well has been made available on the website (20 in Germany, 1 in Switzerland, 1 in known and troublesome invaders such of the Botanical Garden of Potsdam Poland). These lists were kindly provided as the lianas Japanese honeysuckle (www.uni-potsdam.de/botanischer- by the custodians of the respective (Lonicera japonica) and kudzu (Pueraria garten/ueber-uns/naturschutz/botanisch botanic gardens. Plant names were first montana var. lobata). Both species are e-gaerten-und-invasive-pflanzenarten). checked for correctness according to (2013). Hybrid taxa and cultivars were excluded. All revised lists were merged to a single species by garden table and subjected to further analyses.

In total 14,076 species were recorded, of which 73% are not present as natives or established aliens in the German flora. The number of cultivated species among gardens ranged from 277 to 5,377.

Invasive species

We first identifyed species that are listed in the Global Compendium of Weeds (GCW 2018). This database contains more than 28,000 taxa that are weedy or invasive somewhere. We considered a species invasive if it has the attribute “agricultural weed”, “noxious weed” or “environmental weed” in the GCW. Mandarin (Rosa moyesii) does not appear on any list of invasive plants or weeds and can be cultivated without risks. (Ewald Weber)

BGCI • 2018 • BGjournal • Vol 15 (2) 37 At the present time, few gardens in Germany are taking active steps to prevent the unintentional spread of invasive species; exceptions being the Botanical Garden of Potsdam which highlights such species on seed lists and Bonn and Tübingen Botanic Garden which do not distribute such species at all. This study represent the first attempt to identify the scale of the issue and focus attention on invasive species in German botanic gardens.

Conclusions

Screening procedures to identify invasive species are important steps towards developing best practice policies and guidelines to prevent the spread of such species. As Heywood (2011) pointed out, botanic gardens will continue to introduce new plant species and evaluating the risks is essential. Changing environmental conditions in the landscape due to land use changes and global warming will increase the likelihood of plant species becoming naturalized and eventually invasive. Therefore botanic gardens need to develop proper biosecurity management, which ideally all botanic gardens follow. Among the measures that have been proposed are information sharing, increasing awareness, educating the public and taking care that invasive plants in the garden collections do not naturalize (Heywood and Sharrock, 2013; European Botanic Gardens Consortium, 2018).

The species listed in Table 1 require special attention because they include widespread and well known invasive species. Our study showed that screening the collections in botanic Above: Impatiens parviflora has become widespread in Central Europe and invades disturbed forests gardens is feasible and worth Top: Goldenrod (Solidago canadensis) conducting in order to help reduce the threats by invasive plant species. Such References , Heywood, V.H. 2011. The role of an approach also helps to highlight that botanic gardens as resource and the majority of cultivated species do not , European Botanic Gardens introduction centres in the face of have the risk of becoming invasive. Consortium. 2018. Invasive Alien global change. Biodiversity Plants. URL: http://www.botanic Conservation 20: 221–239. Acknowledgements gardens.eu/aliens.htm [accessed , Heywood, V.H., Sharrock, S. 2013. 5 June 2018]. European Code of Conduct for Botanic We thank all custodians who provided , GCW. 2018. Global Compendium of Gardens on Invasive Alien Species. species lists, and Conrad Blanck and Weeds. URL: http://www.hear.org/gcw Council of Europe, Strasbourg, Botanic Steffen Wolff for technical assistance in [accessed 5 June 2018]. Gardens Conservation International, the data management. This project was , GISD. 2018. Global Invasive Species Richmond, 62 p. funded by the Deutsche Bundesstiftung Database. URL: , Hulme, P.E. 2011. Addressing the Umwelt DBU (German Federal http://www.iucngisd.org/gisd threat to biodiversity from botanic Environmental Foundation). [accessed 5 June 2018]. gardens. Trends in Ecology and Evolution 26: 168–174.

38 BGCI • 2018 • BGjournal • Vol 15 (2) Species Native range Invasive range Habitats where invasive

Akebia quinata (Houtt.) Decne. Asia New Zealand, USA Forests, forest edges Alstroemeria aurea Graham South America Australia, New Zealand Forests, shrubland, riparian habitats Ampelopsis glandulosa (Wall.) Asia Northeastern America Forest edges, river banks Momiy. Baccharis halimifoliai L. North- and Southern Europe, Australia Coastal swamps, forests, woodland, pastures Central America Berberis darwinii Hook. South America Australia, New Zealand Forests, woodland, pastures Carex kobomugi Ohwi Asia Northeastern America Coastal beaches, sand , coastal flats Clematis terniflora DC. Asia Northeastern America Forests, woodland, forest edges Cortaderia selloana (Schult. & South America Southern Europe, western North Grassland, heath- and shrubland, woodland, Schult.f.) Asch. & Graebn. America, Australia, New Zealand riparian habitats, coastal dunes Cotoneaster pannosus Franch. Asia Australia, California, South Africa Grassland, coastal beaches, coastal scrub Elaeagnus pungens Thunb. Asia British Isles, New Zealand, USA Forests, riparian habitats Fuchsia magellanica Lam. South America Australia, New Zealand Forests, forest edges, scrub, woodland, riparian habitats Juncus acutus L. Southern and Australia, New Zealand Grassland, riparian habitats, edges of salt marshes, western Europe pastures Lespedeza juncea (L.f.) Pers. Asia Northeastern America Forest edges, grassland, wetland edges Leycesteria formosai Wall. Asia Australia, New Zealand Forests, forest edges, woodland, riparian habitats, moist gullies Ligustrum lucidumi W.T.Aiton Asia Australia, New Zealand Grassland, woodland, forests, forest edges, riparian habitats Ligustrum sinense Lour. Asia Australia, New Zealand, Forests, forest edges, woodland, riparian habitats, southeastern USA edges of wetlands Lonicera japonica Thunb. Asia Europe, Australia, New Zealand, Forests, forest edges, riparian habitats North America Lupinus nootkatensis Sims North America Iceland, Norway Sandy beaches, heathland, riparian habitats, grassland Nymphaea odorata Aiton North America North America Ponds, slow rivers Paederia foetida L. Asia Southeastern USA Forests, forest edges, tropical hammocks, woodland Passiflora caerulea L. South America Australia, New Zealand Forests, forest edges, coastal scrub Pennisetum macrourum Trin. South Africa Australia, New Zealand Grassland, woodland, pastures, riparian habitats, disturbed sites Pinus banksiana Lamb. North America New Zealand Grassland, heathland, woodland, forest edges Pinus contorta Douglas North America Australia, New Zealand Grassland, woodland, forest edges ex Loudon Polygonum perfoliatum L. Asia Southeastern USA Forest edges, woodland, riparian habitats, pastures Pueraria montana var. lobata Asia USA, Southern Europe, Forests and forest edges, woodland, riparian habitats (Willd.) Sanjappa & Pradeep South Africa Rubus cuneifolius Pursh North America Australia, South Africa Grassland, heathland, woodland, riparian habitats Tamarix ramosissima Ledeb. Russia, Asia Australia, North America, Salt marshes, riparian habitats, woodland South Africa Wisteria sinensis (Sims) Sweet Asia Eastern USA Forest edges, woodland Zizania latifolia (Griseb.) Turcz. Asia New Zealand Freshwater wetlands, wet meadows, riparian habitats ex Stapf

Table 1 Plant taxa that are not established in the wild in Germany and that are invasive in other parts of the world. These taxa are being cultivated in German botanic gardens and are potentially invasive if they become naturalized. Many of these species are also being sold in the horticultural trade.

, Hulme, P.E. 2014. Resolving whether , Reichard, S. 2011. Codes of Conduct Queensland Government. URL: botanic gardens are on the road to to reduce the threat of invasive species http://keyserver.lucidcentral.org/weed conservation or a pathway for plant introduction and spread through s/data/media/Html/index.htm#B invasions. Conservation Biology 29: botanic gardens. BGjournal 8: 23–25. [accessed 5 June 2018]. 816–824. , The Plant List. 2013. ThePlantlist. , Invasive Species Compendium. 2018. Version 1.1. URL: Ewald Weber1 and Michael Burkart2 Invasive Species Compendium. CAB http://www.theplantlist.org [accessed International. URL: 5 June 2018]. 1 Biodiversity Research, University of https://www.cabi.org/isc [accessed 5 , Weber, E. 2016. Invasive Plant Potsdam, Maulbeerallee 2, 14469 June 2018]. Species of the World: A Reference Potsdam, Germany, 2 Botanic Garden , NOBANIS. 2018. European Network Guide to Environmental Weeds. CAB of the University of Potsdam, on Invasive Alien Species. URL: International. Wallingford, 581 p. Maulbeerallee 2, 14469 Potsdam, http://www.nobanis.org [accessed 5 , Weeds of Australia. 2018. Weeds of Germany June 2018]. Australia. Biosecurity Queensland,

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