Technical background document for the mid-term review of the GSPC Technical background document in support of the mid-term review of the Global Strategy for Plant Conservation (GSPC) Compiled by Botanic Gardens Conservation International (BGCI) in association with the Global Partnership for Plant Conservation (GPPC) and the Secretariat of the Convention on Biological Diversity 1 Technical background document for the mid-term review of the GSPC Contents Introduction ......................................................................................................................................5 Section 1: Progress in national / regional implementation of the GSPC ................................................6 The GSPC and National / Regional Biodiversity Strategies and Action Plans ........................................... 6 Progress in plant conservation as reported in 5th National Reports to the CBD ...................................... 7 Reviews from regional workshops ............................................................................................................ 8 Progress in China ....................................................................................................................................... 8 Progress in Brazil ....................................................................................................................................... 9 Progress in Europe .................................................................................................................................. 10 The development of national / regional plant conservation strategies ................................................. 11 South Africa ......................................................................................................................................... 11 Mexico ................................................................................................................................................. 11 A Regional Strategy for the Caucasus ................................................................................................. 12 Section 2 Progress in implementing the GSPC targets ........................................................................ 13 Target 1: An online flora of all known plants ..................................................................................... 13 Progress towards the target ................................................................................................................... 14 The Plant List ....................................................................................................................................... 14 Developing a World Flora Online Initiative ......................................................................................... 14 e-monocot ........................................................................................................................................... 16 The Global Plants Initiative (GPI) ........................................................................................................ 16 Working towards national floras ........................................................................................................ 17 Partnership projects ............................................................................................................................ 17 Target 2: An assessment of the conservation status of all known plants as far as possible, to guide conservation action ......................................................................................................................... 20 Progress towards the target ................................................................................................................... 21 The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species™ ........................................................................................ 21 IUCN SSC Specialist Groups ................................................................................................................. 23 Other global initiatives ............................................................................................................................ 24 National and regional initiatives ............................................................................................................. 25 Target 3: Information, research and associated outputs and methods necessary to implement the Strategy developed and shared ........................................................................................................ 28 Progress towards the target ................................................................................................................... 29 Global initiatives: A Toolkit for the GSPC ........................................................................................... 29 Sibbaldia Horticultural Journal ............................................................................................................ 29 Conserving Crop Wild Relatives .......................................................................................................... 29 Progress at the national level ................................................................................................................. 29 Target 4: At least 15% of each ecological region or vegetation type secured through effective management and/or restoration ...................................................................................................... 31 Progress towards the target ................................................................................................................... 32 The Ecological Restoration Alliance of Botanic Gardens .................................................................... 32 2 Technical background document for the mid-term review of the GSPC Supporting national implementation ..................................................................................................... 32 Target 5: At least 75% of the most important areas for plant diversity of each ecological region protected, with effective management in place for conserving plants and their genetic diversity ....... 36 Progress towards the target ................................................................................................................... 36 National initiatives .................................................................................................................................. 37 Target 6: At least 75% of production land in each sector managed sustainably, consistent with the conservation of plant diversity ......................................................................................................... 40 Progress towards the target ................................................................................................................... 41 Sustainable Crop Production .............................................................................................................. 41 Sustainable forestry ............................................................................................................................ 42 Target 7: At least 75 per cent of known threatened plant species conserved in situ ........................... 42 Progress towards the target ................................................................................................................... 43 Target 8: : At least 75 per cent of threatened plant species in ex situ collections, preferably in the country of origin, and at least 20 per cent available for recovery and restoration programmes .......... 46 Progress towards the target ................................................................................................................... 47 Global monitoring ............................................................................................................................... 47 National and regional progress ........................................................................................................... 47 On-going activities .............................................................................................................................. 49 Target 9: 70 per cent of the genetic diversity of crops including their wild relatives and other socio- economically valuable plant species conserved, while respecting, preserving and maintaining associated indigenous and local knowledge ...................................................................................... 55 Progress towards the target ................................................................................................................... 56 Seed conservation ............................................................................................................................... 56 On-farm and in situ conservation ....................................................................................................... 56 Activities of GPPC members ................................................................................................................ 57 Target 10: Effective management plans in place to prevent new biological invasions and to manage important areas for plant diversity that are invaded ......................................................................... 59 Progress towards the target ................................................................................................................... 60 Activities by GPPC