ArbNet is pleased to announce the winners of the 2020 BGCI/ArbNet Partnership Programme! This funding opportunity supports the development of international collaborations between gardens and arboreta for the purpose of exchanging skills, resources and expertise to advance tree conservation. We are excited to see what these partnerships will accomplish over the next year!
City of Columbia, Stephen’s Lake Park Arboretum (USA) & Grigadale Arboretum (Argentina)
City of Columbia (Level II) Grigadale Arboretum (Level I)
The purpose of this project is to develop a “complete” collection of Q. acerifolia, by capturing the maximum amount of genetic variability across the species as possible, through the planting of both seed-derived groves, as well as grafted clones that represent the known four sites where this species exists. The potential for subsequent phenotypic evaluation of both morphological and phenological traits across individuals representing these remaining locations will be useful for the study of adaptive traits that should help to guide future re-introduction efforts for this species. With the seedlings currently on hand from the 2019 trips, and the seed and scions we will hopefully collect in 2021 this effort will represent the most comprehensive collection of wild-sourced plants for this endangered species. While Q. arkansana has a broader distribution range than Q. acerifolia, we hope to collect from numerous individuals which will represent those populations which have yet to be sampled in existing arboreta collections.
Institute of Botany after A. L. Takhtajyan NAS RA (Armenia) & The Arnold Arboretum of Harvard University (USA)
Inst. of Botany after A.L. Takhtajyan NAS RA Arnold Arboretum
(Level II)
Armenia is one of the centers of high diversity, polymorphism and local endemism of the genus Pyrus L. (Rosaceae). About 32-34 Pyrus species grow in Armenia, 12 of which are endemics of Armenia, and 10 species are included in the Red Book of Plants of the RA and in the IUCN Red List. The aim of the project is the introduction of wild pears into living collections, which allows to maintain a sufficient level of their genetic diversity under ex situ conditions for their conservation, study, rational use, demonstration and education. Priority will be given to rare and endangered and economically valuable pear species. In Armenia these activities will be based on the living collection of the “Flora and Vegetation of Armenia” Plot of the Yerevan Botanic Garden NAS RA. In the project collaborative relationship with the Arnold Arboretum of Harvard University will be established providing knowledge exchange, consultations, exchange of different species, varieties, forms for the pear collections creation. In the framework of the project, the living collection of wild pears will be enriched with new taxa from various natural populations, scientific data on introduced pears biology and their adaptive potential will be obtained. To improve the condition of the pear collection in the Yerevan Botanical Garden, some horticultural works and restoration of the irrigation system will also be carried out.
MUSE botanic gardens, Trento (Italy) & Plants for life International at Brackenhurst Botanic Garden (Kenya)
Brackenhurst Botanic Garden (Level III) Muse Botanic Gardens, Trento
Tropical East African Trees: propagating native trees in Africa’ aims at identifying native trees suitable for reforestation projects. The project will draw on joint expertise of two botanic gardens: Plants for life International (plantsforlifekenya.org) at Brackenhurst Botanic Garden in Kenya and Muse in Italy, which are developing an international partnership with a special focus on the Afromontane biogeographical region. The two gardens will share and complement their individual expertise on Tropical East African flora, its propagation and seed conservation. The Gardens staff will carry out mutual exchange visits with a special focus on capacity building in taxonomy and identification of Tropical East Africa Flora, plant propagation and seed conservation. Specific training in low-cost seed conservation will be held at Brackenhurst. Jointly the two institutions will develop a ranked priority list of species of conservation interest used by the local community, and suitable for reforestation projects. A subset of this list will be targeted for seed collection in the wild, applying for the relevant permits, developing plant propagation protocols and experimenting with seed conservation and its duplication for a few flagship species. The outcome of these efforts will be highlighted in both gardens, displaying one flagship species propagated, with the relevant interpretation including IK and community involvement. MUSE will apply for Arbnet accreditation with its arboreta.
Kirstenbosch National Botanical Garden (South Africa) & Missouri Botanical Garden (USA)
Kirstenbosch National Botanical Garden (Level IV) Missouri Botanical Garden
Brackenridgea zanguebarica, commonly known as yellow peeling plane, is a small tree native to southeastern Africa. Within South Africa, just one small population exists, in the Vhembe District of Limpopo Province. Due to its restricted occurrence and rarity, it has been assessed against the IUCN criteria and is currently listed as critically endangered in the Red List of South African Plants. The current rate of decline is not precisely known, but between 1990 and 1997 the South African population shrunk by 86%, from 140 trees/ha, to 25 trees/ha. Bark harvest for traditional medicine causes high mortality in larger, reproductive trees, and consequently the Limpopo population shows signs of low fruit production and poor seedling recruitment. The population continues to decline, and local experts estimate the population may be lost entirely within the next 15 years given the current intensity of collecting for traditional medicine. While there have been several studies on the propagation of Brackenridgea zanguebarica, it remains a challenge to propagate it both sexually and asexually.The aim of the project is for Kirstensbosch National Botanical Garden (KNBG) and Missouri Botanical Garden (MBG) to jointly develop germination trials and stem cutting propagation procedures for the heavily exploited and critically endangered South African tree B. zanguebarica.
