United Kingdom
Future Plans
Collections (2006 onwards)
The UK DNA Bank will continue to increase in size and will as a result become an increasingly useful resource in conservation genetics. The rate of expansion will depend on the level of external funding obtained.
We will enhance holdings of British fungi in the new Mycology Herbarium in the Jodrell extension by targeted collection and exchange.
Baseline Plant Diversity Research (2006 onwards)
We will complete a book on British clavarioid and ramarioid fungi (club and coral fungi).
We will produce a web version of Checklist of British and Irish Basidiomycota.
We will research and prepare a volume on British Ascomycota (from 2008).
Comparative Plant Biology (2006 onwards)
We are planning to barcode the flora of the UK in collaboration with the Natural History Museum, London and the Royal Botanic Garden, Edinburgh. Kew would be the lead partner for angiosperms (subject to funding).
We will continue to carry out DNA barcoding of British macrofungi from herbarium specimens (subject to funding).
Sustainable Utilisation of Plant Resources (2006 onwards)
Kew will continue to gather data about the diversity of plants being used commercially in Britain and the methods used to harvest the plants. This information contributes to Target 12 (Managing plant products sustainably) and Target 13 (Support the sustainable livelihoods dependent on plant resources) of the Plant Diversity Challenge.
Information will continue to be collated about the traditional uses of British plants and especially data gathered as part of the collaborative project Ethnomedica.
A study of the chemistry and biological activity of 300 species of British plants will be completed by the end of 2008.
Kew will increase the information on the Kew website about the traditional and current uses of British plants. This will support Target 14 of the Plant Diversity Challenge to increase understanding about the importance of plant diversity in our lives.
Conservation and Environmental Monitoring (2006 onwards)
Conservation genetics studies will continue, although the exact manner in which they will be carried out will be affected by the current reorganisation in the statutory conservation agencies, notably English Nature, who support some of this work.
Propagation of native orchids and bryophytes will also continue, but this may be affected by the reorganisation referred to above.
We will continue to host and participate in the Biodiversity Action Plan Technical Committee and the Fungus Conservation Forum.
We will collate and database records of fungi of the Kew site and will prepare an account of these fungi for publication.
A scheme will be launched at Wakehurst Place to involve visitors in monitoring of wildlife on the estate for incorporation into the Wildlife Database.
We will edit and support the publication of a book on Sandstones of Europe, which will cover their biodiversity, ecology, geology, geomorphology and conservation.
A five-year management plan for the Natural Areas at Kew will be written with completion forecast for October 2006.
A viability study for the introduction of water voles (Arvicola terrestris) to the main lake at Kew will be started, in support of the London Species Action Plan (London SAP). This will attempt to establish genetic exchange between local breeding populations (Syon Park).
Kew will continue to work in partnership with the London Stag Beetle focus group through monitoring of sightings of Lucanus cervus, public awareness and promotion of decaying wood habitats for saproxylic invertebrates.
A five-year monitoring and control programme of Smyrnium perfoliatum, an invasive species at Kew will continue. Completion is expected in 2009.
The Wildlife Database will continue to grow as new and historical records are added for both Kew and Wakehurst Place.