ensconet - the e uropean n ative s eed co nservation net work

ENSCONET - the European Native Seed COnservation NETwork

Steve Alton, Millennium Seed Bank,

Royal Botanic Gardens Kew

Target 3 – Development of models with protocols for plant conservation and sustainable use, based on research and practical experience

Target 8 – 60% of threatened plant species in accessible ex situ collections, preferably in the country of origin, and 10% of them included in recovery and restoration programmes

Target 14 – The importance of plant diversity and the need for its conservation incorporated into communication, education and public awareness programmes

Target 16 – Networks for plant conservation activities established or strengthened at national, regional and international levels

The Global Strategy for Plant Conservation

Target 3 – Development of models with protocols for plant conservation and sustainable use, based on research and practical experience

Target 8 – 60% of threatened plant species in accessible ex situ collections, preferably in the country of origin, and 10% of them included in recovery and restoration programmes

Target 14 – The importance of plant diversity and the need for its conservation incorporated into communication, education and public awareness programmes

Target 16 – Networks for plant conservation activities established or strengthened at national, regional and international levels

The Global Strategy for Plant Conservation

Target 3 – Development of models with protocols for plant conservation and sustainable use, based on research and practical experience

Target 8 – 60% of threatened plant species in accessible ex situ collections, preferably in the country of origin, and 10% of them included in recovery and restoration programmes

Target 14 – The importance of plant diversity and the need for its conservation incorporated into communication, education and public awareness programmes

Target 16 – Networks for plant conservation activities established or strengthened at national, regional and international levels

The Global Strategy for Plant Conservation

Target 3 – Development of models with protocols for plant conservation and sustainable use, based on research and practical experience

Target 8 – 60% of threatened plant species in accessible ex situ collections, preferably in the country of origin, and 10% of them included in recovery and restoration programmes

Target 14 – The importance of plant diversity and the need for its conservation incorporated into communication, education and public awareness programmes

Target 16 – Networks for plant conservation activities established or strengthened at national, regional and international levels

The Global Strategy for Plant Conservation

Target 3 – Development of models with protocols for plant conservation and sustainable use, based on research and practical experience

Target 8 – 60% of threatened plant species in accessible ex situ collections, preferably in the country of origin, and 10% of them included in recovery and restoration programmes

Target 14 – The importance of plant diversity and the need for its conservation incorporated into communication, education and public awareness programmes

Target 16 – Networks for plant conservation activities established or strengthened at national, regional and international levels

The Global Strategy for Plant Conservation

A baseline inventory of species represented in European seed banks, and their conservation status in the wild

From this, a ‘gap analysis’ to identify the priorities for future seed collecting programmes

Priorities

A co-ordinated division of effort, to avoid excessive duplication of material in storage

Agreed protocols for seed collecting, processing, storage and testing

Priorities

Priorities

•A programme of exchange visits for staff, to facilitate technology transfer

A means to publicise the work being carried out by European seedbanks

European Funding OptionsOctober 2001

‘THE FIFTH FRAMEWORK PROGRAMME

The Fifth Framework Programme focuses on Community activities in the field of research, technological development and demonstration (RTD) for the period 1998 to 2002’

PROPOSAL FULL TITLE:

EUROPEAN NATIVE SEED CONSERVATION NETWORK

PROPOSAL ACRONYM: ENSCONET

PART OF WORK PROGRAMME ADDRESSED:

Key Action 2 ‘Global Change, Climate and Biodiversity; Assessing and Conserving Biodiversity 2.2.3.

Call identifier EESD-ESD-3

Outcome:

UNSUCCESSFUL!

Austria

Belgium

Canary Islands

Crete

Hungary

Ireland

Italy

Poland

Spain

June 2002 Meeting

19 institutes

from 8 Member States and 4 Candidate Countries

covering 5 of Europe’s 6 biogeographical regions

Framework 6 -

‘Co-ordinated Action’ bid

• Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, UK• National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Greece• Institute of Botany, Slovak Academy of Sciences, Bratislava, Slovakia• Budapest Zoo & Botanical Garden, Budapest, Hungary• Mediterranean Agronomic Institute of Chania, Crete, Greece• The Fundaciόn Pública Municipal Jardin Botánico de Cόrdoba, Spain• Trinity College Dublin, Eire• Jardin Botanico Viera y Clavijo, Gran Canaria, Spain• Agricultural Research Institute, Lefkosia, Cyprus• Universidad Politecnica de Madrid, Spain• National Botanic Garden of Belgium, Meise, Belgium• Museum National d'Histoire Naturelle, Paris, France• Dipartimento di Ecologia del Territorio, Universita di Pavia, Italy• Dipartimento di Scienze Botaniche - Orto Botanico, Universita di Pisa, Italy• Jardí Botànic de Sóller, Mallorca, Spain• Museo Tridentino di Scienze Naturali, Trento, Italy• Universitat de Valencia Estudi General, Valencia, Spain• Institute of Botany and Botanical Garden, University of Vienna, Austria• Botanical Garden - Center for Biological Diversity Conservation of the Polish

Academy of Sciences, Warsaw, Poland

Outcome:

SUCCESSFUL!

Proposal approved in principle

Activity Group 1 - Collecting

Development of integrated seed collecting programmes for all European biogeographical regions for native species of conservation and sustainable use value.

Objectives:

1. Preparation of a co-ordinated and prioritised seed collection programme which meets the time bound targets identified in the Global Strategy for Plant Conservation

2. Promotion of a common, high standard of seed collecting which maximises the genetic diversity and longevity of the collected seed.

Activity Group 2 - Curation

Enhancement of the quality and security of the seed conservation for native species within the bioregions of Europe through improved curation achieved by sharing of expertise and facilities.

Objectives:

1. Inventory the seed conservation facilities and resources available within the network

2. Identify the current best curation practices within ENSCONET and cascade to all participants

3. Assess the capacity of these resources and skills to meet the needs of the seed conservation programme.

4. Identify the research needed to further enhance the value of seed banking for the conservation, restoration and sustainable use of the native European flora

Activity Group 3 – Data Management

Provision of a virtual European seed bank for native species through the integration of the data associated with each seed collection held by an ENSCONET partner.

Objectives:

1. Use common data standards to bring about the integration of the collection data held by partners in ENSCONET. 2. Seek the further integration of these data into other parallel EU initiatives such as EPGRIS. 3. Deliver both easier access to the collections by researchers and facilitate the improved use within Europe of electronic data relevant to seed conservation e.g. Geographical Information Systems

Activity Group 4 - Dissemination

Dissemination of information on ENSCONET’s work and its results both to researchers in the different fields addressed by the project, managers and policy-makers, and the general public.

Objectives:

1. To establish an open communication route for the exchange of specialised information between all ENSCONET participants.

2. To provide information on ENSCONET and its products to the wider scientific community, including users of seed banks, decision makers and policy makers.

3. To give plentiful information about ENSCONET and its participants to the general public.

ENSCONET - the European Native Seed Conservation Network

STEVE ALTON - s.alton@rbgkew.org.uk