CBCN Newsletter
Incorporating Plant Collections
Newsletter: Canada
ISSN 1480-8218
Volume 4, Number 1+2, May, 1999
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A Biodiversity Action Plan for Canadian Botanical Gardens
David Galbraith, Coordinator
Canadian Botanical Conservation Network
The Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) has emerged as a defining theme for individuals and organizations interested in conservation and sustainable development. Seven years after the Rio Earth Summit where the Convention was opened for signature, responding to the CBD remains a challenge.
The Biodiversity Convention is an international treaty among governments and other entities (such as the European Union) at the international level. As such, formal Canadian responses to the convention have been coming from the federal government.
The 1995 Canadian Biodiversity Strategy (CBS) was Canada's first formal response to the CBD. The CBS recognized that the many multifaceted activities in Canada that support the Convention on Biological Diversity cannot all be carried out by government.
Instead, the CBS seeks to encourage non-governmental participation in its many strategic directions by as broad a cross-section of Canada's society as possible.
The launch of CBCN itself was an early response to the Biodiversity Convention, arising out of the process of creating the Canadian Biodiversity Strategy.
How can a non-governmental sector respond to the challenges put forward by the 1995 Canadian Biodiversity Strategy? Individual institutions can do a great deal to review their activities relative to the Convention (such as a "CBD Audit" recommended by Botanic Gardens Conservation International; see CBCN Newsletter 1(4):1-6 or visit our Web site).
Although individual institutions are best placed to understand their own capacities and develop programs that fit their missions and capacities, I remain convinced that we can achieve more as a networking community than we can as individuals.
Biodiversity Action Plans are effective tools for identifying priorities and opportunities. Most frequently, Biodiversity Action Plans have been developed by national governments in response to the Biodiversity Convention itself.
Sectoral action plans provide an opportunity to gather background information on national and regional priorities, reference material on the CBD and related agreements and programs, and case-studies of the practical application of biodiversity principles and programs in action. Once assembled, biodiversity action plans are very useful for finding the support necessary to achieve more as a community.
An excellent example of a biodiversity action plan for a botanical garden community has recently been produced by Botanic Gardens Conservation International on behalf of the botanical gardens of the Caribbean. The "Conservation Action Plan for Botanic Gardens of the Caribbean Islands," was edited by Brinsley Burbridge of Fairchild Tropical Garden in Miami and Peter Wyse Jackson of BGCI. The Conservation Action Plan is available from Botanic Gardens Conservation International, Descanso House, 199 Kew Road, Richmond, Surrey TW9 3BW, UK.
The Canadian Botanical Conservation Network, Royal Botanical Gardens (Hamilton/Burlington, Ontario) and Environment Canada have undertaken to develop and implement just such an action plan on behalf of the Canadian botanical garden and arboreta community.
An action plan is of no use if it doesn't emerge out of wide consultation within our community and also among our stakeholders. Throughout May and June, I will be contacting individuals and institutions to further flesh out the priorities and opportunities represented by this plan. The draft action plant will be revised through wide circulation this summer.
A discussion paper, "Toward a Biodiversity Action Plan for Canadian Botanical Gardens," is available from the Canadian Botanical Conservation Network. Drop us a note if you would like a printed copy, or visit the CBCN Web site (http://www.rbg.ca/cbcn).
A draft biodiversity action plan will be available at the 1999 annual meeting
of the American Association of Botanical Gardens and Arboreta (AABGA) in
Vancouver, BC, June 30-July 3. The draft plan will also be available on the CBCN
Web Site prior to the meeting. A portion of a symposium session at the AABGA
meeting will be devoted to the action plan.
Endangered Plant Species Listing In Canada: an update
David Galbraith
The Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada (COSEWIC) held its annual meeting in Ottawa in April. Changes to the COSEWIC list of species-at-risk for Canada this year include new listings for 7 plant species, downlisting of 2 species, and uplisting of 5 species. The statuses of 18 more species were examined in 1999 and not changed.
Only those species with a change in status as of April, 1999 are listed here:
Endangered:
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Scarlet Ammannia (Ammannia robusta; British Columbia and Ontario; not previously listed)
- American Ginseng (Panax quinquefolium; Ontario and
Quebec; uplisted in 1999)
- Showy Goldenrod (Solidago speciosa var.
rigidiuscula; Ontario; not previously listed)
- Red Mulberry (Morus rubra; Ontario; uplisted in
1999)
- Nodding Pogonia (Triphora trianthophora; Ontario;
uplisted in 1999)
- Juniper Sedge (Carex juniperorum; Ontario; not
previously listed)
- Pitcher's Thistle (Cirsium pitcheri; Ontario;
uplisted in 1999)
- Toothcup (Rotala ramosior; British Columbia and
Ontario; not previously listed)
- Purple Twayblade (Liparis liliifolia; Ontario; uplisted in 1999)
Threatened:
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Water-pennywort (Hydrocotyle umbellata; Nova Scotia; downlisted in 1999)
Vulnerable:
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Crooked-stemmed Aster (Aster prenanthoides; Ontario; not previously listed)
- Willow Aster, Willow (Aster praealtus; Ontario; not
previously listed)
- Mackenzie Hairgrass (Deschampsia mackenzieana;
Saskatchewan; not previously listed)
- Athabasca Thrift (Armeria maritima interior; Saskatchewan; downlisted in 1999)
Not At Risk:
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Short's Aster, Short's (Aster shortii; Ontario; not previously listed)
- Tyrrell's Willow (Salix tyrrellii; Saskatchewan; downlisted in 1999)
The complete list of Canada's endangered species can be viewed on the
official COSEWIC Web site (http://www.cosewic.gc.ca). Dr Erich Haber, the chair
of The Vascular Plants, Lichens and Mosses Subcommittee of COSEWIC maintains a
Web site for that Subcommittee (http://infoweb.maji.com/~ehaber/).
Plant and Microbial Genetic Resources
Campbell G. Davidson, AAFC-Morden
The Expert Committee on Plant and Microbial Genetic Resources was established by CASSC in 1971 and is responsible for the general policy and direction of programs for the recording, utilization and conservation of Canadian genetic resources. The CSHS holds a seat on this committee as do a number of other organizations and interest groups including representatives from industry, universities, provincial authorities civil societies and researchers. The following report provides an outline of the discussions held during the most recent committee meetings.
The committee:
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discusses and advises on activities of Plant Gene Resources Canada (PGRC)
- makes recommendations to CCC / CARC on issues relating to
plant and microbial genetic resources and
- participates in the formulation of national plant and microbial genetic resource policy and relationships to international programs.
Committee Activities
The ECPMGR met on January 28 and 29, 1999 in Saskatoon with Dr. Campbell Davidson, chairing and Dr. Ken Richards as secretary. Reports and briefings were presented by Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, scientific societies, regional jurisdictions, industry and civil society organizations and associations. In addition, a special report was presented on the proposed endangered species legislation by Carrie Spencer.
The following are a brief summary of the deliberations of the ECPMGR:
Plant Gene Resources Canada (PGRC)
In general, 1998 continued to be a year of change, similar to the previous three years with the operation in Ottawa coming to a close while in Saskatoon the new facility came on stream. The collection was split so that some came via air (Department of National Defence - Hercules aircraft) while the other part came via ground. An official opening of the new PGRC facility was held during the rededication of the Saskatoon Research Centre in early June, 1998 with the federal Minister of Agriculture, Minister Vanclief in attendance.
Two new key staff were hired (Dr. Axel Diederichsen and Dr. Yong-Bi Fu) to support activities at the Centre. The collection database continued to be converted to GRIN-CV, as well checking and modifying code to ensure Y2K compliance. Progress has been slower than anticipated due to staff changes. A total of 1526 accessions were involved in 38 exchanges with 11 countries from January 1, 1998 to December 31, 1998.
Germplasm Nodes: The five node collections located at Fredericton (potato), Winnipeg (cereal), Morden (special crops), Saskatoon (crucifer and forage) continued to operate during the past year. Several of the nodes began specific research projects to acquire specific germplasm and to characterize it.
Clonal Repository: The total collection at the Clonal repository now totals nearly 3000 accessions, representing the major fruit species utilized in Canada (5.9 ha). A number of new accessions (19) were added including the "Mission Pears" brought to Canada by earlier settlers. Cryopreservation is progressing slowly. A national inventory of sources of tree fruit cultivars is being developed (11 institutions to date) with exact location, virus status and other characters now known. Virus indexing continues with major emphasis on the Malus and Fragaria collections.
Microbial Collections
Carolyn Babcock provided an overview of the microbial collection at ECORC. The Directory of Canadian Culture Collections, originally available in 1994 is now available on the Internet. Linkage to other collection sites ( e.g. U of Alberta) is planned. AAFC and the CFIA still maintain about 25% of the culture collections across Canada. Clients are researchers seeking disease resistance in plants and for bio-control projects; there is an increased interest in proprietary materials.
Biocontrol collections: As a follow-up to the resolution made last year by CCC regarding bio-control (resolution 4), the Canadian Phytopathological Society has started to build a database of bio-control organisms. The interest in this broad group of organisms is significant and a well managed system is needed to better gather data regarding the location, security and potential for utilization.
Virus collections: Dr. Chris French has taken of the
responsibility of the Vancouver virus collection. Rejuvenation of the collection
have been initiated and plans are underway to list the collection on the
Summerland Research Centre Web. (Note: The virus collection was an issue raised
during the 1997 report by the Expert committee and the re-activation of this
collection is welcomed).
Forest Genetic Resources
The Forest Biodiversity Network (FBN) of the Canadian Forest Service (CFS) has three main research program areas in biodiversity related to conservation of forest genetic resources (FGR):
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developing baseline measures of genetic diversity in natural populations,
- monitoring human impacts on FGR,
- developing and promoting means for the in situ and ex situ conservation of forest genetic resources.
These objectives are met through research programs on:
-
basic seed science aimed at developing seed and tissue storage protocols for rare, threatened, and endangered species and populations,
- description of genetic variation in fitness components that
contribute to forest responses to the environment,
- assessment of genetic diversity in tree species based on
analyses of variation in quantitative and molecular traits,
- development of conservation strategies for forest genetic
resources,
- quantifying human impacts on FGR,
- population viability assessment, and by maintaining
facilities for ex situ tree germplasm storage at the National
Forest Genetic Resources Centre located in Fredericton, and ex situ
gene banks at CFS Research Forests.
In the past, CFS research in these areas has focused on tree species of major commercial importance. The current research program emphasizes conservation of species and populations at risk or of special interest.
The National Tree Seed Centre continues to be provided for research purposes but the mandate of the Centre is now focused on ex situ conservation of native Canadian tree and shrub species, and to assist as a national clearinghouse for international tree seed transfers to research organizations. The long-term goal is to store representative samples from throughout the natural ranges of all Canadian tree and shrub species. Over the past year, the Centre has acquired over 350 new seedlots (mostly native species). The Center has filled 63 requests (615 seedlots) to researchers in seven countries. Approximately 1,000 seedlots were tested for viability (germination) in 1998. Our new seed bank facilities in Fredericton, New Brunswick include a modern seed research laboratory with capabilities in molecular genetic analyses, cryopreservation, tissue culture, etc.
International Genetic Resource Activities
A number of major meetings were held on the international stage. PGR remains a concern in many areas:
Biodiversity and AAFC's Action Plan
C. Spencer and B. Fraleigh provided an overview of the current issues in biodiversity and the status of AAFC Action Plan.
-
The Council of Parties on Agriculture Biodiversity was low key, as countries are waiting for the gap analysis.
- Technology protection systems (terminator technology system)
is receiving considerable debate.
- A SBSTTA committee has been requested to look at the issue
and assess the implications on biodiversity.
- The biosafety protocol addresses several issues; positions
were finalized in February for meetings in Colombia. (Post meeting reports
suggest progress was limited).
- The standing committee on biodiversity held hearings on how
far we have moved on our commitments to the CBD. Biosystematics is a key
area.
- Material transfer agreements from CG centres, now use a
common form. There is still some confusion on how to apply this form.
- Vavilov Institute review: There is still a need for international assistance; CIDA has been approached to assist with the first phase.
FAO International PGR Activities
Dr. B. Fraleigh provided a summary of the past year's discussions regarding the FAO Commission and the International Undertaking (IU; 5 years of negotiations). The ECPMGR assisted in consultation with the provinces and discussions were on the agenda of the provincial and federal ADM's last April. The ECPMGR named 2 members to the negotiating team and assisted with the preparation of the briefing book.
-
At the June meeting (June 8-12, 1998) little to no progress was made; the meeting in the fall was called off by the chair and he sought opinions from a number of countries on how best to proceed. A smaller unofficial meeting was held in Switzerland to try to develop mechanisms and wording to overcome this (January 18-22, 1999).
- Key issues on the table were: access to material (minimize cost, tracking and appropriate recognition); usage of collections (research, education and training and other applicable uses as provided under the CBD); farmers' rights and financial concerns (benefit sharing).
The International arena continued to be a challenge in the area of plant genetic resources.
Note: CBCN Coordinator David Galbraith has been
participating in a project on access to genetic resources in botanical gardens'
collections since the fall of 1997. A preliminary note on this project appeared
in CBCN Newsletter 3(1): March, 1998. This longer report updates CBCN
Newsletter readers on the status of the project and provides more background
information.
Access to Genetic Resources in Botanical Gardens
David Galbraith
Botanical gardens are particularly concerned over the implications of the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) for a simple reason: they hold collections of living plants in trust and believe that they act for the common good by promoting the study, use, conservation and appreciation of their collections. This role places the interests of botanical gardens and the Convention on Biological Diversity together at several key points, including plant conservation and educational programs.
Three other areas where the CBD and the activities of botanical gardens come together are in issues relating to access to genetic resources by botanical gardens for the management of their collections, supply of genetic resources by botanical gardens to third parties for commercial development, and sharing benefits from the use of genetic resources equitably with the country of origin of the resources.
1. Access to genetic resources by botanical gardens
Botanical gardens have traditionally exchanged living plant specimens, seeds or cuttings among themselves, nationally and internationally, and have made specimens available for both scholarly study and commercial development. In addition, many larger botanical gardens maintain research herbaria which exchange dried plant specimens with similar institutions around the world. The regulation of exchange of both living plant material and herbarium specimens across international boarders is increasing because those materials can be classed as "genetic resources" for the purposes of the CBD and the resulting national programs for its implementation. New national regulatory regimes dealing with removing genetic resources from their countries of origin (such as the Andean Pact Decision 391) place the removal of genetic resources for research, education or the conservation of endangered species under ex situ conditions in the same category as removal for commercial exploitation.
The development of national access regimes may make access to new plant specimens by botanical gardens more complex in the future, or in some cases, impossible. This consequence of the CBD is unfortunate and is of considerable concern to the managers of collections of living plants and also may affect the academic use of herbarium specimens. Furthermore, transfer of living specimens among botanical gardens in different countries raises unanswered questions about the ownership of the plants if they are considered as genetic resources.
2. Supply of genetic resources by botanical gardens
Article 15 of the CBD, which discusses access to genetic resources at length, explicitly recognizes that collections of genetic resources made prior to the Convention coming into force for each ratifying Party are not subject to the provisions of the Convention. The majority of existing collections within botanical gardens were made prior to the CBD, and are thus not directly subject to its conditions. The reasons for this exemption are technical, having to do with the convention in law that prohibits retroactive application of new laws. The consequence is that it is not against the letter of the CBD for collections of botanical specimens in gardens to be used by commercial interests to develop consumer products. There are no legal requirements for any benefits of the use of the genetic resources represented by the collections to be shared with the countries of origin of the specimens. This "gap" has lead some vocal critics to contend that botanical gardens are "ripping off" developing countries by a wholesale selling of their collections for pharmacological development. Actual cases of such exploitation have occurred but appear to be rare. Furthermore, although their collections may not be covered by the letter of the CBD, there is considerable interest in adhering to the spirit of the Convention within the international botanical garden community.
It should also be noted that although there has been considerable attention focused on pharmacological development, many industrial and commercial sectors make use of genetic resources of the kinds found in botanical gardens. The ornamental, horticultural and landscape plant trades, pulp and paper, timber, textile fibre industries, agricultural, rubber and chemical industries are among those sectors of the economy that are dependent on plants or plant products that might be derived from genetic resources already within botanical gardens, arboreta and related institutions.
Whether or not a particular specimen was acquired by a botanical garden before or after the CBD went into effect for the supplying country, there remains new concerns over the ownership of the genetic material within the specimens. The Convention on Biological Diversity recognizes that States have sovereign rights over genetic resources, but this does not mean States have ownership of those resources. Whether a State claims ownership of genetic resources is a matter of the particular historic legal tradition. Some States are now claiming ownership, while others insist that State ownership of genetic resources is not appropriate. Thus, botanical gardens are increasingly going to have to consider rights of ownership of the genetic material within plants in their collections, especially when third parties request such material.
3. Equitable sharing of benefits from the use of genetic resources
A central premise of the Convention on Biological Diversity is that the economic use of genetic resources results in benefits, and that these benefits should be shared with the counties-of-origin of the resources. Botanical gardens have historically generated benefits to their local stakeholder communities in the form of educational and recreational opportunities, research and conservation. In some cases, botanical gardens have engaged in assisting similar institutions in developing countries with education, research and other activities.
Sharing benefits from the use of genetic resources has developed into a broad concept in which many kinds of interactions between developing and developed nations are now classified as beneficial. The CBD itself calls for expanded research ties and the direct involvement of institutions in developed nations training researchers in developing nations, providing research equipment and the detailed sharing of research results, each of which is now among the identified "benefits."
Direct financial assistance through royalties on developed products or fees licensing exploration for genetic resources are only one form of benefit, but there is a clear expectation on the part of developing countries that such financial aid will come about as a result of the CBD.
What are Botanical Gardens doing about it?
Botanical gardens in different jurisdictions and with different programs for plant research and exploration are approaching the questions of plant genetic resources differently. The first response that many adopt is the use of a Plant Material Transfer Agreement, or PMTA. Plant Material Transfer Agreements are short forms that accompany the exchange of living or herbarium specimens among botanical gardens or between gardens and other institutions (Box 1). Their use is not restricted to the botanical garden community, as evidenced by the reference to such agreements toward the end of the article on Plant Genetic Resources by Dr Campbell Davidson earlier in this issue.
Plant Material Transfer Agreements provide recognition that the participating institutions are respecting the provisions of the Convention on Biological Diversity regarding access to genetic resources. However, many such agreements don't go far enough to address many of the questions raised by the Convention. The use of PMTAs or similar agreements should form part of an institution's overall policies or management guidelines toward genetic resources. Furthermore, individual institutions cannot hope to have such agreements respected if they operate in a vacuum. Similar institutions as well as the larger community of sources and recipients of plant materials covered by such agreements should be part of the process of their adoption and use.
Recognizing the need for a community-based response to the "Article 15" issues, Royal Botanic Gardens (Kew), led by Kerry ten Kate, organized a Pilot Project on Access to Genetic Resources and the Sharing of Benefits Arising from Their Use. Representatives from 15 botanical gardens from around the world were invited to enter into a two-year workshop process to draft a policy for their respective institutions. The draft policy provides a harmonized framework for ensuring that institutions working with collections of plants address these issues and develop harmonized responses that work at the level of their own policies and procedures.
The third workshop was held in Beijing, China, May 17-19, 1999. Results from the workshop will be presented in the next issue of CBCN Newsletter.
Millennium Projects of Note
Kate Zavitz
CBCN Research Assistant
The Government of Canada, through its Millennium Bureau, is encouraging celebrations of Canadian heritage and culture, including many individual projects on natural lands, nature conservation and interpretation. Here are notes on a few of the projects in Phase 2 according to the Bureau's Web site.
Bay Point Lands and Bayer Environmental Science Centre
Sarnia Bay, Ontario
This 8 acre former industrial area will showcase examples of ecosystems,
including a native forest and a gathering and teaching area.
For more information, please contact: G. Peter Henderson, (519) 383-8472
Sarnia-Lambton Centre for the Arts & the Environment Inc.
An Arboretum for the Year 2000
Ville de Saint-Georges, Quebec
This heritage site in St. Georges, PQ, will showcase Laurentian region native
species and provide a green space to the community.
For more information, please contact: Roger Carette, (418) 228-5555
The Town of St. George
Cascades Conservation Area Legacy Project
Thunder Bay, Ontario
Thunder Bay's project will encompass 390 acres of forest land in the Current
River Watershed. Project leaders plan to incorporate hiking, birding,
conservation and eco-forestry into this new public conservation ground.
For more information, please contact: Mervi Henttonen, (807) 344-5857
Lakehead Region Conservation Authority
Carolinian Habitat Restoration
Chatham, Ontario
Approximately 20 hectares of near-extinct Carolinian zone habitat and corridors
will be restored. The project will include land owner education on such topics
as wind rows, fences and riparian corridors. If successful, this land will be
more biologically diverse and the wildlife populations will recover.
For more information, please contact: Mark Danielski, (519) 674-2794
Rondeau Bay Watershed Rehabilitation Program
Conservation for a New Century
North York, Ontario
The Federation of Ontario Naturalists is using model conservation sites to
educate the public on conservation issues. This will be an effort to teach
volunteers how to restore their own local sites. The four sites (and
corresponding initiatives) are:
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Misery Bay Millennium Nature Site on Manitoulin Island (Nature Interpretive Centre and boardwalk)
- G.G. Newton Millennium Nature Site in Huron County (Seed
Bank and reinforced biodiversity)
- Trent Wildlife Sanctuary Millennium Nature Site (Trail
building)
- Stone Road Island Millennium Nature Site (Trails and education to lessen impacts of eco-tourism).
For more information, please contact: Graham Bryan, (416) 444-8419
Federation of Ontario Naturalists
Community Protection and Preservation of the Environment
Knowlesville, New Brunswick
This education and restoration project will have three stages on which they will
preserve their maritime environment: Acadia Forest Restoration Nursery to
restore biodiversity and indigenous species; the Maritime Heritage Seed Garden
to supply native seed; Climate Change Maze to educate about its effects.
For more information, please contact: Falls Brook Centre, (506) 375-8143
Grounds for Celebration 2000
National Scope
Grounds for Celebration 2000 (formerly called "Greening Canada") is a
partnership project led by the Evergreen Environmental Organization (formerly
called "Evergreen Foundation"). The goal of Grounds for Celebration
2000 is to encourage the naturalization of degraded urban landscapes across
Canada. The program includes information resources, networking tools and awards
for successful projects.
For more information, please contact: Geoff Cape, (416) 596-1495
Little Rouge River Restoration Project
Scarborough, Ontario
This group of volunteers from the community will use the CMPP grant to
rehabilitate 20 sites in the Little Rouge River region and educate an estimated
150 new landowners about the importance of ecological integrity. It is hoped
that some native wildlife and plants will return to the area through habitat
restoration and selected plantings.
For more information, please contact: Kim Mandzy, (416) 282-9983; Save the Rouge
Valley System Inc.
Carleton Oxbow Park Naturalization Project
Ottawa, Ontario
Students from Carleton University will restore Oxbow Park to use as a model for
restoration of urban parks and a means to 'environmentally' educate the public.
For more information, please contact: Valerie Bernard, (613) 520-2757
Ontario Public Interest Research Group
Naturalising the Banks of the Riviere Saint-Charles
Quebec City, Quebec
Quebec City plans to revegetate the banks of the Saint Charles River in an
effort to improve water quality, attract birds and wildlife and enhance
aesthetics.
For more information, please contact: Madelaine Poulin, (418) 691-7564
Ville de Quebec
Muskies, Frogs and Mayflies, Restoring the Rideau River for the
Coming Millennium
Ottawa's Rideau Valley, Ontario
This project will include a nature interpretive centre, community or
volunteer-based habitat improvement and a permanent Rideau River Management
Group to continue the restoration and education efforts beyond the millennium.
For more information, please contact: Mike Lascelles, (613) 737-6480
The Environmental Committee of Ottawa South (ECOS)
Saint-Jean-Vianney Site Rehabilitation Plan
Shipshaw, Quebec
The site of the 1971 landslide that took 38 lives will undergo massive
restoration efforts, including a nature interpretive centre, tree plantings and
trails.
For more information, please contact: City of Shipshaw, (418) 542-4533
Secwepemc Ethnobotanical Garden and Native Heritage Park
Kamloops, British Columbia
This display of 5 ecosystems will incorporate traditional elders' knowledge with
extensive trails, interpretive signs and cultural heritage.
For more information, please contact: Lori Pilon, (250) 828-9778
Secwepeme Cultural Education Society
Natural Legacy 2000
Nation-Wide
A very large project that lists the following objectives:
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the completion of a network of protected areas representing all natural regions of Canada
- establishing new marine conservation areas in Canada's three
oceans and the Great Lakes
- conserving and enhancing over 50,000 acres of wetlands and
associated upland habitats
- increasing protection for close to 100 Canadian Important
Bird Areas
- securing commitments from 400 landowners to protect 20,000
hectares of privately held lands
- preparing recovery plans for the back-log of threatened and
endangered species in Canada
- protecting critical calving grounds for barren ground caribou in the North, and ensuring that their migrating/wintering grounds are safeguarded.
For more information, please contact: Don Young, (204) 467-3205 or visit:
http://www.ibacanada.com/
Canadian Nature Federation, World Wildlife Fund Canada, Nature Conservancy of
Canada, Ducks Unlimited
Millennium Wetland Event
Sainte-Foy, Quebec
The International Peat Society, the Society of Wetlands Scientists, the
International Association of Ecology, and the International Mire Conservation
Group will meet in Sainte-Foy to discuss the past, present and future
conservation, protection and rehabilitation efforts of wetlands across Canada.
They will examine the science, policy and management of wetlands in an effort to
move wetland protection higher in government priorities.
For more information, please contact: Elizabeth Mackay, (418) 657-3853
Millennium Wetland Event/Quebec 2000 Corporation
Revitalization of the Dominion Arboretum
Ottawa, Ontario
Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada will restore the Dominion Arboretum to provide
habitat for examples of all native and naturalized trees and shrubs in Canada as
well as hedges, flowers, grasses and herbs. When completed, the Dominion
Arboretum will interact with international arboreta and provide a place of study
for the scientific community.
For more information, please contact: Yves Saint- Germain, (613) 759-6604, AAFC
International Plant Conservation Networking
Botanic Gardens Conservation International is an international non-governmental organization consisting of over 460 botanical gardens around the world, dedicated to developing the role of botanical gardens in conservation and biodiversity programs. In 1996, CBCN and BGCI formed a relationship recognizing our many common interests and goals. This article, on the development of the new International Agenda for Botanic Gardens in Conservation, is presented by CBCN's Newsletter in that spirit of cooperation.
A new International Agenda for Botanic Gardens in Conservation
Peter S. Wyse-Jackson
Botanic Gardens Conservation International
Botanic Gardens Conservation International invites you to help revise and update the Botanic Gardens Conservation Strategy.
In 1989 the Botanic Gardens Conservation Strategy was published by BGCI, IUCN and WWF to outline the ways in which botanic gardens worldwide can contribute to the implementation of the World Conservation Strategy. Since then, the Strategy has been influential and widely used to help promote and guide the development of plant conservation programmes and priorities of many botanic gardens. The Strategy has also been published in seven languages (Bahasa Indonesia, Chinese, English, Italian, Portuguese, Russian, Spanish).
Although the Strategy is still an extremely important and useful document, for some time Botanic Gardens Conservation International has been concerned that it needs to be re-evaluated, updated and strengthened. Much has changed in the world during the last decade and the practice of plant conservation itself has moved forward considerably. Also, in the 1980s the botanic garden community was much less organized, motivated and coordinated than it is today and BGCI itself had only just been established. There were also relatively few national and regional botanic garden and plant conservation organizations operating effectively.
Today, more and more botanic gardens recognize that they share a common purpose and can play a great range of diverse roles in conservation and environmental education. Such roles are now well acknowledged, and should be linked to the implementation of international instruments such as the Conventions on Biodiversity, Desertification and Climate Change Conventions, CITES and Agenda 21, as well as to national biodiversity conservation strategies and action plans that are being developed in so many parts of the world.
BGCI recently began to give thought to how the Strategy should be renewed. We considered that it would be a mistake simply to rewrite and redraft the existing text but that a fundamental revision involving many partners throughout the world should be undertaken.
We also believe that it is important to begin an initiative whereby the botanic garden community itself drives the process of renewing the Strategy to ensure that it is relevant and applicable in all parts of the world.
We would like the new Strategy to become an action-based document, outlining priorities for botanic gardens in the implementation of specific tasks, as well as in defining general principles. It needs to incorporate botanic garden commitments to the implementation of, for example, the new international Conventions and towards playing enhanced roles in national sustainable development and environmental sustainability. We also hope that it can become a document that individual botanic gardens can formally accept and ratify. In this way we will be able to:
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measure whether we are being successful,
- measure what institutions are involved, active and
effective, and
- judge whether these actions are sufficient to stem the loss of biodiversity throughout the world.
Ultimately, we hope that through the ratification of such a strategy, individual botanic gardens can gain the benefit of being part of the implementation of a clearly defined international plan but also find new direction through accepting real commitments and sharing new responsibilities.
In an opening address at BGCI's 5th International Botanic Gardens Conservation Congress held in Cape Town, South Africa (14-18 September, 1998) my proposal to launch a process to revise the Strategy was welcomed by the delegates. Plans for wide consultation with botanic gardens and their network organizations throughout the world were outlined. A special workshop was also held to consider the proposed content, scope and purpose of the new Strategy was held.
Throughout the Congress a wide range of workshops were held where recommendations were formulated to help highlight priorities for botanic gardens for inclusion in the Strategy. At the close of the Congress I announced that I would write to each one of the member organizations of BGCI and to all botanic garden network organizations throughout the world to invite their participation in this process.
We invite you, your garden and your network organizations to become an active participant in this process.
We have prepared an outline of the questions that you may wish to consider in preparing a response and to guide your deliberations. The outline and guide to the process of consultation is available on the CBCN Web site (http://www.rbg.ca/cbcn/en/library/bgci001.htm), or by request from David Galbraith at CBCN or my address below. We will keep you informed of the progress of the new Strategy through our newsletters and Web sites, and by mail if we are in direct contact with you. We also urge you to consult with non-botanic garden partners and other sectors so that this process involves as wide a consultation as possible and to ensure that the new Strategy helps the botanic garden community to find is most effective role in meeting global priorities in conservation and sustainability.
It is our aim to complete the new Strategy according to an ambitious and tight deadline over the next two years before the next International Botanic Gardens Congress meets in Asheville, North Carolina, U.S.A. in June, 2000.
Please note that we wish to receive all draft responses from you no later than 30th June, 1999.
We look forward to having your collaboration in this important and exciting initiative.
With thanks and good wishes,
Yours sincerely,
Dr Peter S. Wyse Jackson
Secretary General
4th ANPC National Conference and Annual General Meeting:
Promotion, Practice and Partnerships
Jeanette Mill
Australian Network for Plant Conservation
Dates: 25 - 29 November 1999
Location: Lake Hume Resort, Albury/Wodonga, Australia.
Themes:
-
Conservation and restoration of ecological communities
- Regional conservation - an ANPC regional plant conservation
strategy?
- In situ conservation
- Education - does ANPC need an education strategy?
- Integration of plant and animal conservation
- Conservation of non-vascular plants
- Conservation policy
Abstracts:
Abstracts from Australia and the surrounding region are invited:
If you are interested in presenting a paper, poster, workshop, practical workshop or field trip, please send an abstract of no more than 250 words by July 31, 1999. Please also include full contact details.
Submit abstracts in Word 6 or Rich Text Format, electronically if possible, as an email attachment or on diskette. Otherwise send by fax or post.
Please direct abstracts to:
ANPC National Office
GPO Box 1777
Canberra, ACT, 2601.
International Ph: +61-2-6250 9509
Fax: +61-2-6250 9599
Email:
Registration enquiries to:
Bradley Hayden Ph: +61-2-6040 1064
For more information: Check the ANPC website at http://www.anbg.gov.au/anpc/4thconf.html
Milestones
Laura Touche
Laura Jefferson Coolidge Touche (née Coolidge) died on Monday, February 15, 1999, at the age of 31 years. Laura was an American lawyer working with Kerry ten Kate, Biodiversity Conventions Officer of the Conventions and Policies Section of Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, in England.
Laura worked for several years on the relationships among botanical gardens and the United Nations Convention on Biological Diversity. She was responsible for organizing much of the international pilot project on access to genetic resources and sharing of benefits from the use of genetic resources described elsewhere in this issue of CBCN Newsletter.
Laura is survived by two infant sons, Alexander and Charles, and her husband
Peter Touche. Her twins were born just a week prior to her death. Her family has
asked that any expressions of sympathy be made toward sponsoring a Siberian
Tiger, Laura's favourite animal. Any donations payable to Howletts and Port
Lympne Estates Ltd. and sent to the Laura Touche Fund, Howletts and Port Lympne
Wild Animals Parks, Lympne, Hythe, Kent CT21 4PD, United Kingdom, would be
appreciated.
Announcements
CBCN Newsletter Changes
CBCN's newsletter will undergo a significant change in 1999 with a heightened use of electronic publication. Paper copies of CBCN Newsletter will still be produced, but will only be mailed on request to non-members of CBCN. Members will continue to receive paper copies of each issue.
We encourage all readers of CBCN Newsletter to subscribe to CBCN's list-server, our email system for keeping in touch. Hosted by McMaster University, CBCN-L currently has over 100 subscribers. If you have electronic mail, subscribing to CBCN-L is fast, easy and free. Just send an email message to:
containing only the message: "subscribe CBCN-L Your Name" (with no subject line).
Exchanging the "Your Name" in the message with your actual name, of course. You will then receive a message from the Listserv system telling you how to use CBCN-L effectively.
The changes in our publication are intended to minimize the cost of producing CBCN Newsletter and increasing its effectiveness. The key changes are:
-
Regular notices will be sent out on the CBCN List-Server (CBCN-L). These will include calls for submissions (notices, announcements and articles) for upcoming issues as well as notification as to when current issues are available on CBCN's Web site.
- Each issue of CBCN Newsletter will continue to be
freely be available on our Web site, in formats that allow paper copies to
be printed directly from your Web browser in addition to having the added
advantage of being edited with active Hypertext links.
- If you wish to continue to receive paper copies of CBCN Newsletter, please complete the attached reply form and return it to David Galbraith at the address listed on the form.
New CBCN Logo
In 1998, CBCN members and readers of CBCN Newsletter were invited to submit designs for a logo for CBCN. Unfortunately, no submissions came in!
CBCN Coordinator David Galbraith designed the maple-leaf logo we are now using.
