The effectiveness of botanic garden collections in supporting plant conservation: a European case study

Europe has the greatest concentration of botanic gardens in the world, they cultivate extensive collections of plants that include samples of European threatened plant species. This study looks at the effectiveness of these c ollections in supporting species conservation. A three part study is presen ted: (1) the results of a survey and assessment of threatened plants in bot anic gardens, as defined by the Bern Convention; (2) case studies illustrat ing current issues in the ex situ management of European threatened plant s pecies; and (3) presentation of policy recommendations on further improving botanic garden contributions to European plant conservation. The survey in dicated that of 119 European botanic gardens in 29 European countries, 105 are cultivating 308 of the 573 threatened plant species listed by the Bern Convention. The survey identified 25 botanic gardens in 14 countries undert aking 51 conservation projects focused on 27 Bern listed species. In partic ular this survey has established that the majority of taxa are held in a sm all number of collections, dominated by non-wild origin accessions, and are not adequately documented. The majority of specimens in botanic gardens ar e cultivated out of the range country and not contributing to a specific co nservation project. We review the genetic representation and documentation of origin in collections. Existing plant collections contain representative s of populations, now lost in the wild and maintain samples of at least nin e European plant taxa identified as 'Extinct in the Wild'. However, inadequ ate standards of record keeping has compromised the conservation value of m any collections. We highlight the dangers of hybridisation and disease in e x situ collections. The results suggest that botanic garden collections are skewed towards horticulturally robust and ornamental species and do not fu lly reflect priorities as defined by the Bern Convention. Recognising the l imitations of traditional botanic garden collections we propose that botani c gardens more effectively utilise their two core competencies, namely scie ntific horticulture and public display and interpretation. The unique horti cultural skills resident in European botanic gardens could be more effectiv ely utilised through the application of horticulture to the management of w ild populations.