Progress in implementing China’s Strategy for Plant Conservation (CSPC) reviewed
In late 2011, the three CSPC focal agencies (Chinese Academy of Sciences, State Forestry Administration, Ministry of Environmental Protection) agreed to carry out a review of China's Strategy for Plant Conservation in collaboration with BGCI.
The aim of this initiative was to establish progress made in the implementation of CSPC, identify challenges and gaps, and provide suggestions for the way ahead.
Focussing on the implementation of CSPC Targets pertaining directly to in and ex situ conservation (Targets 7 and 8), this analysis also considers progress made in interrelated CSPC objectives including Targets 1, 2, 14, 15 and 16.
Tremendous and commendable efforts to safeguard the country's extraordinarily rich and diverse botanical wealth have been undertaken by numerous CSPC stakeholders These include an enhanced network of sites and people dedicated to in situ and ex situ conservation and a multi-volume Chinese flora nearing completion, giving evidence of both China's plant diversity and botanical expertise, and many other projects and programmes to strengthen conservation capacity, education and public outreach.
However, as elsewhere in the world, enormous conservation challenges continue to constrain progress in securing China's natural heritage for future generations. To further address these, CSPC stakeholders are faced with a multitude of complex and intricate conservation conundra.
