Plant Conservation Strategies course

Wild plant resources face an ever-increasing array of threats. To counter these, plant conservationists must adopt a range of approaches to conserve plant diversity at habitat, species, population and gene levels. The International Diploma course in Plant Conservation Strategies (PCS), hosted by Kew's Higher Education and Conservation team, reviews the options available, from protected area management to botanic gardens, seed banking and cryopreservation. The course consists of a five-week taught module followed by a three-week project, which provides a practical focus for the taught element and acts as a basis for the eventual application of skills and knowledge obtained from the course.

Staff from the Seed Conservation Department teach the one-week seed banking and cryopreservation module, based at the Millennium Seed Bank at Wakehurst Place. Several MSBP partner staff have completed the PCS course, including James Mathenge and Edwin Kathumba:

James Mathenge

James Mathenge works with the Kenya Wildlife Service, one of the Kenya Seeds for Life Project (SfLP) partners. He writes that "I am responsible for generating and making available, in an easy-to-understand format, scientific information which will enhance the management of Kenya's natural resources, both fauna and flora. Currently, among other partnerships, we have a partnership with RBG, Kew in implementing the MSBP. The SfLP aims to conserve Kenya's indigenous plants, primarily from arid and semi-arid lands. This involves collecting seed and corresponding herbarium material in an ecologically sustainable manner, storing them for long-term safe-keeping and establishing community seed centres and indigenous species demonstration plantings in three focal districts. The PCS course has really widened my skills. The global approach to the course has realy transformed me. Back home, I will apply the skills I acquired to enhance the management and conservation of plant genetic resources and their sustainable utilization.

Edwin Kathumba

Edwin Kathumba is a Senior Herbarium Technician at the National Herbarium and Botanic Gardens of Malawi. He writes "I really enjoyed the PCS course and have learnt different strategies to conserve plants. Kew is a very special centre and an inspiring place in the world where different plant science technologies can be obtained. The broadly based course content offers important skills for herbarium and botanical management. Finally, in short, I have acquired a lot of skills which will be imparted to my institute for ex situ and in situ conservation, for example in reintroduction and restoration activities in degraded riverine habitats of Malawi."

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Kew's International Diploma courses