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Collecting and Conserving Threatened and Useful Wild Species from Botswana and Building Seed Conservation Capacity

Seed collections drying in a controlled room at the MSB at Wakehurst Place before their banking at -20­°C

Botswana possesses a flora of c. 2,300 higher plant species which, given the country's susceptibility to drought and desertification (the Kalahari desert), are under increasing threat. This MSB project aims at enhancing conservation of threatened and useful wild plants in Botswana through the design and implementation of an ex situ long term conservation programme in Botswana; and at improving their seed banking facilities, testing protocols, and train their staff (1 PhD ongoing). The project, in partnership with four government and NGO organisations in Botswana, targets collection of seeds from up to 400 threatened and useful species over five years. Seeds are stored for the longer term, in duplicate collections in Botswana and the UK. Germination protocols are being developed for all species collected under this project, and propagation protocols are being devised for a proportion of these species.

The project is making a major contribution to meeting the objectives of the UN Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD), in the country; also meets objectives of the Global Plant Conservation Strategy (Targets 8 and 15). By 2007, the project will achieve:

·           The collection and conservation of about 300 important wild species of Botswana, including many of the 43 red data listed plant species out of the over 400 plant species recorded as being useful to man;

·           The development of ex situ conservation capacity in Botswana through networking and provision of essential equipment, technical support in the form of advice and equipment, vocational training of project staff, and development of applied research through higher degrees; and

·           Botswana scientists will be trained and best practices transferred, regarding seed banking, laboratory research handling and data management for a better conservation and germination of wild seeds. 

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