Plant Diversity Challenge - Plantlife

BOB GIBBONS/NATURAL IMAGESForewordOne of the most important decisions of the Sixth Conferenceof the Parties of the Convention on Biological Diversity in 2001was the adoption of the Global Strategy for Plant Conservation.The Global Strategy rightly considered the vast importance ofplant species in biodiversity - not only the vascular plants thatare easy to see and recognise, but also the lower plants suchas fungi and lichens, seaweeds and algae. They are essential tothe operations of our ecosystems, the structure of our soilsand for services to humankind in food, clothing and medicine.Plant Diversity ChallengeIn the UK we have risen to the challenge of the GlobalStrategy by producing this response within two years ofCOP 6. It takes each target in turn and gives an assessmentof the existing state of understanding and the action currentlyunderway. But then, most importantly, it assesses in detailwhat more needs to be done to meet the targets andwhether the action is of high, medium or low priority.I am pleased that so much important work to address thesetargets is already underway in the UK, for example throughour Biodiversity Action Plans and Strategies. However, whatwe now have is a systematic approach to understanding thetask ahead for, and indications of, the organisations who wouldbe willing to help take the action forward.The Government is greatly indebted to all the organisationsconcerned with plant biodiversity in the UK that haveparticipated so willingly in the process of assessment, analysisand consultation to produce this strategy. We are mostparticularly grateful to Plantlife International, the Joint NatureConservation Committee and the Royal Botanic Gardens,Kew, for having organised and seen through the process socomprehensively. It has been a model of partnership working.Elliot Morley MP, Minister for Environment3