Planning Future NACPEC Exploration: Challenges and Opportunities

Kunso Kim, Kris Bachtell, and Kang Wang

he North America–China Plant Explora- ducting any plant exploration in China rests tion Consortium (NACPEC) is an innova- upon consent from the host country based on Ttive partnership formed in 1991 between mutually agreed terms. As a consequence, the American and Chinese institutions to organize consortium may see increasing restrictions and conduct plant explorations in China. Since imposed by the Chinese government on cer- its inception, this collaborative effort has been tain collecting areas including national parks successful in collecting many botanically and and reserves that are often biologically rich. horticulturally important including Described in the same article is another provi- paperbark maple (Acer griseum), Farges filbert sion called “Access and Benefit Sharing” that (Corylus fargesii), and Chinese stewartia (Stew- requires the consortium to establish a clear artia sinensis). During the two decades of its understanding of how the benefits should be existence, NACPEC has witnessed dramatic shared. Participating countries are required to changes occurring around the globe that have share with the host country any benefits arising profoundly affected the consortium’s collecting from commercialization or other utilization of efforts, most notably the Convention on Biolog- the genetic resources. In the past, NACPEC has ical Diversity, the complexity of ex situ plant made good faith efforts to honor this provision conservation, the impacts of climate change, by training Chinese students in plant curation the spread of invasive , and the tighten- and database management, hosting a number ing of import/export regulations. These issues of Chinese scientists during their extended have challenged us to rethink the way we plan visits to the United States, supporting BG-Base and organize plant explorations as the consor- and BG-Map at the Beijing Botanical Garden tium moves forward into the next decade. (IBCAS), supporting field work inside China by a number of Chinese botanists, and by Current Issues and Challenges sharing a portion of the royalties from the sale Convention on Biological Diversity of plants through the Chicagoland Grows® The Convention on Biological Diversity Plant Introduction Program. (CBD) is an international treaty signed at the United Nations Conference on Environment Ex Situ Plant Conservation and Development (also called the “Earth Sum- Conserving rare species has always been one mit”) in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, in 1992. The of the objectives in the consortium’s collecting key component relevant to NACPEC activi- trips (Meyer 2000). Despite the high priority ties is Article 15, Access to Genetic Resources given to horticulturally important plants, the (CBD 1999). This provision endorses the sov- consortium’s annual inventory survey includes ereign rights of countries over their biological 52 accessions that are on the current IUCN Red resources. The article not only offers countries List of Threatened Species. Should future explo- an opportunity to revamp their efforts in con- rations emphasize collecting red-listed plants servation of biodiversity and sustainable uses, as the major goal? As habitat loss in China con- but also gives them leverage over their natural tinues to increase and more public gardens are resources. In essence, the possibility of con- responding to the plea to participate in ex situ

Facing page top: Farges filbert (Corylus fargesii), a promising tree species for landscape use, was collected in this river terrace habitat in Gansu. Bottom: A temple within the Lingkongshan Chinese pine (Pinus tabuliformis) national preserve, one of a number of botanically rich national preserves in China. Photos by Kris Bachtell.

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When human development encroaches on the habitat of threatened plant species, ex situ conservation may be the key to prevent- ing species extinction. Here, the “suburbs” of a village in Hubei expand up a steep terraced slope. Photo by Peter Del Tredici.

plant conservation, there is an opportunity for y er the consortium to renew its efforts and play a more active role in acquiring threatened species

and sampling species from different populations M a R obert to get a better representation of genetic diversity. The consortium is uniquely positioned to expand its ex situ conservation role. It has established successful collaborations with Chinese institu- tions, gained invaluable field experience, and established a high standard of documentation that holds important information for breeding, evalu- ation, and conservation purposes (Bachtell 2000). Capitalizing on its experience and collaborations, future explorations can contribute to advancing the goal of preserving 60% of threatened plant species in accessible ex situ collections as laid Some widely grown landscape plants of Asian origin have become invasive in parts of North America. One out in the Global Strategy for Plant Conservation example is winged (Euonymus alatus), a Target 8 (CBD 2005). Future plant exploration popular also known as burning bush because of with conservation in mind will need to priori- its bright carmine red fall color. Future NACPEC Plant Exploration 43

tize species by conservation concern and sam- While the above criteria are still valid, bio- ple multiple populations in order to maximize logical invasiveness has emerged as an area of genetic diversity. When sampling from within concern. The need to screen introduced plants populations, care must be taken to collect suf- for non-invasive characteristics has become ficient germplasm to maximize the capture of a high priority for the consortium, which has genetic diversity for long-term seed storage, or stepped up its efforts by excluding from expedi- clonal stands for taxa that have recalcitrant seeds. tion target taxa lists any potentially invasive species. At the same time, participating gar- Introducing Horticulturally Superior Plants dens need to develop vigorous risk assessment This was at the heart of initial NACPEC plant protocols to determine the invasive potential exploration efforts and remains an important of lesser known species from the pool of plants goal for the consortium. The definition of a that are maintained in living collections before superior plant in the early days of NACPEC they reach reproductive stage. Use of reliable plant exploration often meant that a plant predictive modeling to assess invasive risk can should have increased cold hardiness, tolerance allow the consortium to avoid time-consuming to stressful conditions (including urban land- screening and expensive processing in the field scapes), and resistance to pests and diseases. (Widrlechner 2009). Exciting plants with such traits are in the pro- cess of being introduced and others are being Climate Change developed through breeding and selection pro- Climate change has a huge implication for bio- grams utilizing the rich germplasm of plants diversity and consequently on the consortium’s the consortium has assembled. future collecting initiatives. Major vegetation au l M e y er P

Large expanses of forest in China have been cut down and burned to make way for ginseng cultivation. 44 Arnoldia 68/2 P eter D e l T redici P eter D e l T redici

Ginseng requires shade to grow, so the forests are replaced with vast expanses of low shade structures, seen here in the Changbai Shan area.

shifts are predicted by various climatic models. the collecting zones towards warmer regions Hawkins (2008) states three different possibili- or lower altitudes and latitudes in response to ties: (1) some plants will adapt to new climate anticipated vegetation shifts? conditions through selection or plasticity; (2) Import/Export Regulations some plants will move to higher latitudes or alti- tudes; or (3) other plants may become extinct. It NACPEC members who participated in past is predicted that continued climate change will plant explorations are familiar with the com- ultimately drive many plants to extinction. An plexity of obtaining collecting permits in average world temperature rise of 2 to 3°C over China. Compliance with rules governing col- the next 100 years will result in up to 50% of the 400,000 or so higher plants being threatened with extinction (Hawkins 2008). How should NACPEC’s future plant explorations respond to climate change? Studying climate analogues has provided the most useful information to NACPEC in planning the potential target areas in China. The consortium considers seasonal rainfall, mean seasonal temperatures, and sum- mer high and winter low temperatures to iden- tify the target areas (Meyer 2000). Will it be Emerald ash borer (Agrilus planipennis). Photo by David necessary for NACPEC to reconsider expanding Cappaert, Michigan State University, Bugwood.org. Future NACPEC Plant Exploration 45

The 2008 NACPEC expedition focused on collecting Chinese ash species. This large specimen of Fraxinus insularis grows near a country house in Shaanxi. Photo by Kris Bachtell.

lecting permits and germplasm importation is the exporting country (USDA 2008). In view absolutely necessary, yet it is one of the most of recent insect and disease outbreaks such as cumbersome aspects of any plant exploration. emerald ash borer (Agrilus planipennis), Asian With the CBD recognition of countries’ sov- longhorned beetle (Anoplophora glabripennis), ereign rights over their natural resources, it and sudden oak death (Phytophthora ramorum), is possible that the consortium will see more it is understandable that the USDA is increas- limited issuance of collecting permits and ingly tightening the rules. The threat posed by increased restrictions on collecting in special invasive plant species is another issue that has areas. Adding to the challenges, there are new contributed to stricter importation rules. rules on importation of plant germplasm into the United States. Even clean seeds with phyto- Strategic Planning for Future sanitary certificates attached do not guarantee Collecting Efforts an easy entry. Some people mistakenly think Past plant exploration efforts focused on col- that the possession of an import permit issued lecting a broad range of species and a large num- by USDA APHIS for small lots of seeds means ber of accessions. Priority taxa lists are carefully free passage, but it only eliminates the require- developed during the trip planning process, but ment to obtain a phytosanitary certificate from inevitably non-target taxa are added to the list 46 Arnoldia 68/2

along the way, resulting in increased collec- sortium to focus future plant explorations on tions. This practice of collecting a broad range collecting a more narrowly defined list of target of species will need to change. The current plants, paying particular attention to prevent- issues and challenges described above necessi- ing accidental introduction of plants with tate that future plant explorations become more invasive potential. NACPEC has succeeded sharply focused. This can be accomplished by largely through the close collaborative work the annual survey inventory which examines between the American and Chinese member total living accessions accumulated over the institutions. The issues listed above present last two decades and shows which institutions opportunities for NACPEC to help meet the hold what accessions. The survey results have challenges presented by our changing world. helped NACPEC understand gaps in its col- lections and will help with planning future Literature cited: trips. Based on an analysis of past results, a Bachtell, K. 2000. Documenting your collections. In: J. R. trip could target a single genus or a few gen- Ault (ed.) Plant Exploration: Protocols for the era depending on the purpose or priority of the Present, Concerns for the Future (Symposium taxa. More focused collecting trips allow the Proceedings). Chicago Botanic Garden, Chicago, Illinois. pp. 52–57. initiation of new research projects in response to rapidly changing environmental conditions Convention on Biological Diversity. (2 November, such as those posed by invasive species. The 1999). Article 15. Access to Genetic Resources http://www.cbd.int/convention/articles. 2008 Shaanxi expedition was an example of a shtml?a=cbd-15 goal-driven and therefore more focused collect- Convention on Biological Diversity. (27 July, 2005). ing trip. This USDA-funded trip was specifi- Global Strategy. Target 8. http://www.cbd.int/ cally for collecting ash (Fraxinus) species that gspc/future.shtml#8 are not well represented in American botanic Hawkins, B., S. Sharrock, and K. Havens. 2008. Plants and gardens and arboreta. A percentage of the seeds climate change: which future? BGCI, Surrey, UK. collected were seed banked within the USDA’s National Plant Germplasm System. The result- Meyer, P. W. 2000 Plant Collecting Expeditions: A Modern Perspective. In: J. R. Ault (ed.) Plant Exploration: ing progenies are to be incorporated into a feed- Protocols for the Present, Concerns for the ing preference study to test the ash species’ Future (Symposium Proceedings). Chicago resistance to the emerald ash borer. Botanic Garden, Chicago, Illinois. pp. 7–12. USDA. APHIS: Plant Import. (14 July, 2008). On small lots Towards Greater Collaboration of seeds. http://www.aphis.usda.gov/import_ Modern day plant explorers are facing a dif- export/plants/plant_imports/smalllots_seed. ferent set of challenges than did earlier plant shtml explorers. The impact of climate change on Widrlechner, M. P., J. R. Thompson, E. J. Kapler, K. vegetation is one obvious reason for the con- Kordecki, P. M. Dixon, G. Gates. 2009. A sortium to take a more active role in conserving Test of Four Models to Predict the Risk of Naturalization of Non-native Woody Plants in plants. The CBD has helped focus our atten- the Chicago Region. Journal of Environmental tion on how to balance the needs for access Horticulture. 27(4): 241–250.� to genetic resources and benefit sharing, with the ultimate goal of conservation of biologi- cal resources through preservation and sustain- Kunso Kim is Head of Collections and Curator, and Kris Bachtell is Vice President of Collections and Facilities, able use. In spite of the tremendous success both at the Morton Arboretum in Lisle, Illinois. Kang NACPEC has experienced in collecting and Wang is a Research Horticulturist at the Beijing Botanical introducing plants, there is a need for the con- Garden in Beijing, China.

Facing page: A view across the Wudang Mountain range from atop Wudang Mountain in Hubei. The building in the foreground is part of the Taoist monastery and temple complex for which this mountain is famous. Photo by Paul Meyer.