CONSERVATION

Conservation at the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew

• Conservation Co-ordinating Committee
• Gene Banking
• CITES
• Site Management at Kew
• Ex Situ Conservation
• In Situ Conservation
• Training
• Research
• Departments

• Botanic Gardens Conservation International (BGCI)
• IUCN/SSC Plant Conservation Home Page

RBG Kew is widely recognised as one of the leading centres for advice and action on aspects of plant and fungal conservation. Conservation programmes are undertaken on a wide range of endangered and threatened plants and their habitats. An advanced range of techniques, including storage and cryopreservation of seeds, embryos and pollen and micropropagation, are used to support both ex situ and in situ conservation projects.

In the context of the Biodiversity Convention and Agenda 21, Kew is increasingly called upon for advice and to help with the development of international conservation strategies.

The scope of Kew's activities ranges from acting as the UK Scientific Authority for plants for CITES (Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora), co-operating in the recovery and re-introduction of endangered species, and collaborating in the production of management plans for sustainable development and protected areas.

Management of the Kew estates will secure an increase in the faunal and floral diversity at Kew and Wakehurst. The maintenance of an environmentally sympathetic ethic will ensure that resources are effectively utilised throughout Kew.

The objectives of the Conservation Programme are:

• To research threatened species and habitats to enable direct conservation strategies to be implemented.

• To participate actively in research, application, and interpretation of national and international conservation initiatives.

• To maintain an "environmentally sympathetic ethic" for the organisation.

• To maintain representative and well documented preserved and living collections of threatened plants at Kew and keep endangered or species extinct in the wild secure in cultivation.

• To maintain and develop ex situ programmes of research in support of overall conservation targets.

• To maintain and develop research areas linked to conservation of selected British and UK Dependent Territories flora in line with the UK National Action Plan on Biodiversity and Sustainable Development.

• To encourage research and commitment to the establishment and management of in situ reserves and overall habitat management.

• To provide an integrated programme of services to fulfil statutory needs and to advise Government, the European Union and international organisations as appropriate.

• Develop plant conservation and micropropagation bibliographic databases and databases for plants at high risk.

• To use our scientific information and management expertise to help build up local capacity in developing countries and so further the cause of conservation.

We will achieve these objectives through four sub-programmes:

• Policy: Continuing development by the Conservation Co-ordinating Committee of an integrated and focused programme for plant conservation work at Kew. The maintenance of an environmentally sympathetic ethic.

• Ex situ conservation: Developing and maintaining collections of selected threatened plants for conservation purposes; conducting research on selected threatened plants and their habitats actively leading to species' recovery programmes, conservation awareness and the application of the resultant methods and policy at national and international level.

• In situ conservation: Promoting research and commitment to the establishment and management of in situ reserves worldwide, collaborating with other organisations wherever there is mutual interest; ensuring effective habitat management of Kew's estates to increase plant, fungal and animal diversity.

• Information and technology transfer: Providing an integrated programme of advisory services to fulfil statutory requirements; to advise Government, the European Union and international organisations on plant conservation matters. Establishment and maintaining conservation and micropropagation bibliographic databases. Transfering appropriate technology including advise on the development of local seed banks, botanic gardens, dry woodland management and conservation facilities.