Head of Restoration Ecology announced

Press release, 2 December 2009

Professor Stephen Hopper, Director, the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, is pleased to announce that following a global search, Dr Bruce Pavlik has been appointed Head of Restoration Ecology.

Restoration ecology is a relatively new science focussed on repairing and reinstating damaged or destroyed wild vegetation. Restoring the world's plant cover is critical for moderating climate change, reducing global warming and averting extinction of plants and animals. It is also vital for enhancing the future options and quality of human life.

Says Professor Stephen Hopper, “At no other point in history have plant diversity and restored habitats been more important for human welfare. This is why the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew is focussed on making a significant contribution with its partners around the world towards helping repair and restore the rapidly disappearing plant diversity on which all our lives depend.

“With its leadership in plant knowledge and expertise in plant diversity RBG Kew is uniquely positioned to be the world's partner for plant conservation, ensuring plant communities are resilient moderators of climate change.”

Dr Pavlik is currently professor at Mills College , California and has an international reputation in restoration ecology, with achievements through an active, diverse, externally-funded research programme as well as an extensive publication record, inspirational teaching and consulting.

Adds Professor Stephen Hopper, “We are confident that Dr Pavlik's skills and experience will make him an outstanding leader for the groundbreaking restoration ecology programme recently established at RBG Kew though the generous support of the Man Group plc Charitable Trust. On behalf of all staff I congratulate Dr Pavlik on his appointment.”

Dr Pavlik will work with colleagues across RBG Kew to develop an exciting new programme to support the delivery of RBG Kew's mission to increase understanding of the importance of plant diversity and play a central role in biodiversity conservation around the world. He will be visiting RBG Kew in November 2009 to initiate the new phase of restoration ecology at RBG Kew before joining the organisation fully in June 2010.

RBG Kew's restoration ecology programme will deliver on international policy such as the Global Strategy for Plant Conservation targets and the organisation's Breathing Planet Programme.

Ends

For further information please contact Anna Quenby or Bronwyn Friedlander in the RBG Kew press office on +(44) 0208 332 5606 or email pr@kew.org

Notes to editors

The Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew is a world famous scientific organisation, internationally respected for its outstanding living collection of plants and world-class Herbarium as well as its scientific expertise in plant diversity, conservation and sustainable development in the UK and around the world. Kew Gardens is a major international visitor attraction. Its landscaped 132 hectares and RBG Kew's country estate, Wakehurst Place, attract nearly 2 million visitors every year. Kew was made a UNESCO World Heritage Site in July 2003 and celebrates its 250th anniversary in 2009. Wakehurst Place is home to Kew 's Millennium Seed Bank.

RBG Kew is well-placed to be a leading institution in advancing the relatively new science of restoration ecology. The organisation has key strengths in systematics and taxonomy, seed science and banking, plant genetics and horticulture: scientific knowledge and expertise that is the foundation for the successful repair and restoration of wild vegetation.

The Society for Ecological Restoration (SER 2004) defines restoration ecology as: The science that underpins ‘the process of assisting the recovery of an ecosystem that has been degraded, damaged, or destroyed'.