The Center for Plant Conservation (CPC) is a non-profit organization that is dedicated to the conservation of rare and endangered plants in the United States. It is a network of over 70 botanic gardens, arboreta, universities, and other institutions that work together to conserve plants through ex situ (off-site) and in situ (on-site) methods.
The CPC is a member of the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), which is the world’s leading authority on the status of the natural world and the measures needed to safeguard it. The CPC works closely with the IUCN Species Survival Commission (SSC) to develop conservation plans for rare and endangered plants.
The CPC’s work includes:
- Identifying and prioritizing rare and endangered plants for conservation
- Developing and implementing conservation plans
- Maintaining ex situ collections of rare and endangered plants
- Conducting research on plant conservation
- Providing education and outreach on plant conservation
The CPC’s work is essential to the conservation of rare and endangered plants in the United States. By working together, the CPC and its partners are making a real difference in the fight to save plants for future generations.
Here are some specific examples of the CPC’s work:
- The CPC helped to develop the recovery plan for the endangered Florida torreya (Torreya taxifolia). This plan has helped to stabilize the population of this rare tree and bring it back from the brink of extinction.
- The CPC is working to conserve the rare and endangered pitcher plants of the southeastern United States. These plants are threatened by habitat loss and climate change. The CPC is working to restore pitcher plant bogs and collect seeds from rare populations to ensure their survival.
- The CPC is working to develop new methods for cryopreserving plant seeds. Cryopreservation is a process of freezing plant seeds at very low temperatures to preserve them for long periods of time. This technology could be used to save rare and endangered plant species that are threatened by extinction.
The CPC’s work is making a real difference in the fight to save plants for future generations. By working together, the CPC and its partners are helping to ensure that the world’s plants are protected for generations to come.
