Press Release
Top UK Conservationists Gather to Save World's Plants
EMBARGOED UNTIL 00.01 5 FEBRUARY 2003
THE UK will today (Wednesday 5 February 2003) lead the way in implementing
a worldwide environmental rescue plan, as experts from major conservation
organisations gather at Kew Gardens to take forward the Global Strategy
for Plant Conservation (GSPC).
In the face of statistics suggesting that two-thirds of the world's flowering
plants are in danger of extinction before the end of the century, over
100 specialists from 84 of the UK's top conservation bodies will begin
to formulate specific plans at the Plant Diversity Challenge Conference.
These will ensure that the 16 clear and measurable targets contained in
the GSPC are achieved in the UK by 2010.
The GSPC was adopted at the sixth Conference of the Parties of the Convention
on Biological Diversity, which originated at the 1992 Earth Summit in
Rio, and will help meet the Hague Ministerial Declaration of 2002 to halt
the loss of biodiversity by 2010.
This means the world community has pledged to halt the continuing loss
of plant diversity by 2010. For the first time, it will be possible to
judge how effectively the nations of the world look after wild plants,
as the clear targets of the strategy must be achieved in the next seven
years.
These targets are arranged under the five objectives of the GSPC, which
are: understanding and documenting plant diversity; conserving plant diversity;
using plant diversity sustainably; promoting education and awareness about
plant diversity; and building capacity for the conservation of plant diversity.
Dr Jane Smart, Plantlife International‚s Executive Director said:
"The Global Strategy for Plant Conservation is one of the outstanding
achievements of the worldwide conservation movement. However, it is now
essential that the countries of the world do their utmost to hit the targets
they've committed themselves to. And we are here to see that we get it
right in the UK."
Professor Peter Crane, Director of The Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, will
give the welcome and opening presentation.
He is currently chairing a Royal Society working group measuring biodiversity
for conservation and other purposes.
The Plant Diversity Challenge Conference is organised by Plantlife International,
the Joint Nature Conservation Committee (JNCC) and The Royal Botanic Gardens,
Kew, and is being attended by a range of other Government, industry and
conservation organisations.
For more information, contact the Plantlife International press office
on 020 7808 0109 or 07885 289028
Notes for Editors
Plantlife International is the UK's only national membership charity dedicated
exclusively to conserving all forms of plant life in their natural habitat.
Plantlife International acts directly to stop common wild plants becoming
rare in the wild, to rescue wild plants on the brink of extinction and
to protect sites of exceptional botanical importance. More information
about Plantlife International's work can be found at www.plantlife.org.uk.
The JNCC advises the UK Government on national and international wildlife
and conservation issues on behalf of English Nature, the Countryside Council
for Wales, Scottish Natural Heritage and the Environment and Heritage
Service, Northern Ireland. The implementation and reporting of the UK's
Plant Diversity Challenge will be coordinated by JNCC working to DEFRA
with Plantlife International and The Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. More
information about the JNCC can be found at www.jncc.gov.uk.
The Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew plays a major international role in plant
research. Drawing on its extensive collections and strong scientific expertise,
Kew's work includes a major focus on the sustainable utilisation and conservation
of plant diversity. More information about Kew can be found at www.rbgkew.org.uk
For further Press information please contact:
|
Kew: Public Relations Tel: +44 (0)20 8332 5607/5619 |
Wakehurst Place: Public Relations Tel: +44 (0)1444 894018 |
