SDZWA Host Welcome Presentation: Plants and Conservation Within the San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance

Within the San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance (SDZWA), three departments hold plant expertise: Conservation Science, with their Plant Conservation team, as well as the horticulture departments at the organization’s two parks – the San Diego Zoo and Safari Park. These teams vary in their focus and in the ways they contribute to both plant and animal conservation. We will share how SDZWA is using Conservation Standards to focus and better support conservation work within regional hubs. Digging into the Southwest Hub, we will share our work with rare plants in Baja California, Mexico, working with partners to advance the California GCC-Oaks work, and manage the natural lands at the Safari Park for plants and people. Additional projects take place across the globe, from the African Savanna to Asian Landscapes. Finally, we will discuss our progress with collections – living plants, banked seed, and beyond. With world-wide reach and a long-history of biobanking both plants and animals, SDZWA is well-poised to expand work with biobanking collections as the new Center for Species Survival for biobanking – and the plant teams are eager to be a part of this new venture.