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Plant Conservation
Conserving plants internationally and nationally through partnerships and research
Research and Conservation
University of British Columbia Botanical Garden and Centre for Plant Research has a dual role in conservation. First, it contributes to the knowledge underpinning biodiversity science and ecosystem conservation. Phylogenetic studies of biodiversity and studies of the variation patterns of rare and endangered taxa are part of that process. Secondly, the UBC Botanical Garden and Centre for Plant Research contributes to conservation by maintaining ex situ living material of wild-sourced material of rare plants.
Global and National Outlook
Although the UBC Botanical Garden and Centre for Plant Research has an international (particularly Asian) remit, it is also active in national conservation efforts. UBC Botanical Garden is a member of the Canadian Botanical Gardens Consortium for Biodiversity. This national initiative is a cooperative effort among Canada's major research-oriented botanical gardens to identify, study, preserve and restore Canadian rare plants. The consortium also fosters sustainable management of Canadian plant biodiversity.
Currently, the UBC Botanical Garden & Centre for Plant Research is assisting in the planning and development of a national seed bank with other consortium member institutions. The national seed bank project will aid Canadian conservation efforts by helping to preserve the genetic diversity of Canadian plants, through storing a documented collection of plant germplasm.