Specialist training outside the UK

As part of its commitment to meeting the goals of the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) and Global Strategy for Plant Conservation (GSPC), Kew works with partners around the world to develop regional training courses covering many different aspects of plant conservation.

Colin Clubbe and Martin Hamilton field training in Montserrat

Kew staff Colin Clubbe and Martin Hamilton carrying out field training in Montserrat in 2005 (Image: RBG Kew)

These courses are designed specifically to address the needs of a particular region or country. They concentrate on local issues and bring together people who are likely to encounter similar problems, so that they can share ideas and experiences. The courses can also provide a forum for the development of new regional networks (GSPC target 16: Networks for plant conservation activities established or strengthened at national, regional and international levels).

For each regional training activity, RBG Kew collaborates with a host institution to ensure that the course is specifically tailored to meet local needs. Each course can address many of the GSPC targets by covering a range of activities from herbarium techniques to engaging the public and from international conventions to seed collecting field work, based on Kew’s areas of expertise and those of regional specialists.

Kew’s Millennium Seed Bank offers practical training in seed conservation to institutes within its partnership and to other invited organisations. The objective of this training is to address restraints to conservation across the seed bank network and to deal with problems faced by partners in banking the seeds of their native flora.

Read about recent courses in