Applied Plant Conservation Course

The Center for Plant Conservation’s Applied Plant Conservation Course is a free professional development resource that serves to train our current and future botanical workforce in the best practices of rare plant stewardship and conservation. 

From foundational concepts to advanced methodology, this in-depth exploration of plant conservation science and best practices covers essential topics – from population assessment and monitoring, seed collection and banking, germination and propagation, reintroductions, and curating and maintaining a living collection. The course brings the CPC Best Practices Guidelines to life as an educational tool for those working with rare and native plants at any stage in their career. Participants of all skill levels are encouraged to register for this free educational resource – whether for a primer or a refresher!

The Applied Plant Conservation Course, features nine overarching subject modules:

  • Module I: Introduction to Rare Plant Conservation – Available Now
  • Module II: Ensuring the Conservation of Rare Plant Genetic Diversity – Available Now
  • Module III: Where Rare Plants Live: Now and In the Future – Available Now
  • Module IV: Assessing Wild Plant Populations – Available Now
  • Module V: Rare Plant Reintroductions – Available Now
  • Module VI: Collecting Seeds for Conservation Collections in Long-term Seed Banks – Available Now
  • Module VII: Conservation of Exceptional Species – Available Now
  • Module VIII: Propagation and Horticulture of Rare Plants – Coming Soon!
  • Module IX: Tools and Partnerships – Coming Soon!

What Can You Expect From the Applied Plant Conservation Course?

Video Lectures by Leading Experts • Real-World Case Studies • Animated Lessons • Pre- and Post- Course Survey • Quizzes • Personal Reflections Journal

Final Modules of the Applied Plant Conservation Course coming soon! Sign up the the CPC newsletter to stay up-to-date with announcements and more.

Before you Begin:

  • Pre & Post Course Survey – Help us understand how this course is being used and how we can continue to make improvements for future learners. Access the survey here.
  • Reflections Journal – Dig deeper and connect what you’re learning to your personal and professional projects. Download the Reflections Journal and use alongside the course. A great tool if you want to present to your team or supervisor about this training. Available as: Google Slides or Microsoft PowerPoint

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Partial funding for the Applied Plant Conservation Course is generously provided by:

BLM California | Agreement No. L20AC00413
BLM Colorado | Agreement No. L20AC00374
BLM Nevada | Agreement No. L20AC00266

Course Information

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Module I: Applied Plant Conservation Course Introduction

Introduction and History of the Applied Plant Conservation Course

Module I: Why We Conserve Rare Plants

The Role of Plant Diversity in Ecosystem and Human Health
Effects of Plant Diversity on Ecosystem Function
Threats and Extinction Risks of Rare Plants
The Importance of Native Plants vs. Weeds
How Do We Restore Diversity?
Sourcing and Selecting Seeds for Restoration
As Seen on RPA: Changing the Conversation About Plants

Module I: The Nature of Plant Rarity

The Nature of Plant Rarity – Natural Causes of Plant Rarity
The Nature of Plant Rarity – Legal Protections for Rare Plants
The Nature of Plant Rarity – Endangered Species Act & State Listings

Module I: Rare Plant Resources and Conservation Ranks

Rare Plant Resources and Conservation Ranks
What’s in a Name? The Importance of Taxonomy in Conservation

Module I: Rare Plant Ecology

Introduction to Rare Plant Ecology
Natural and Human-induced Impacts on Rare Plants
Impacts of Weather Events and Climate on Your Site
Plant Responses to Disturbance
Dispersal, Seed Banks, and Restoration
Edge Effects
Direct, Indirect, and Cumulative Effects
Case Study: How Soil Influences the Rarity and Evolution of Wild Rare Buckwheats

Module I: Rare Plants on Public Lands

Rare Plants on Public Lands
Managing Rare Plants on Public Lands
Case Study: San Benito Evening Primrose
Case Study: Recovering Sentry Milkvetch
Implementing Rare Plant Conservation on Public Lands

Module II: The Importance of Rare Plant Genetic Diversity 

The Importance of Genetic Diversity – Defining Genetic Diversity
The Importance of Genetic Diversity – Why Genetic Diversity is Important to Conservation
The Importance of Genetic Diversity – How Much Genetic Diversity is Enough?
The Importance of Genetic Diversity – When Are Genetic Studies Needed?
As Seen on RPA: Practical Applications of Genetic Studies in Rare Plant Conservation
As Seen on RPA: Genetic Metrics Used in Rare Plant Conservation: A Primer for Non-experts
The Importance of Genetic Diversity – Case Study

Module II: Measures of Rare Plant Genetic Diversity & Population Structure 

Genetic Issues Critical for Rare Species
Genetic Diversity Within a Population
Between Population Variation
When Are Differences Between Populations Biologically Meaningful?
Quantifying Genetic Structure – Measuring Diversity Within Populations
As Seen on RPA: Distinguishing Acuña Cactus From Its Close Relatives Using Genetic Information
Quantifying Genetic Structure – Within Population Inbreeding
Quantifying Genetic Structure – Measuring Diversity Between Populations
Evaluating Genetic Data – Differences Between Studies
Evaluating Genetic Data – Demystifying Genomics
As Seen on RPA: Population Genomics in Conservation: Gambel’s Watercress
Evaluating Genetic Data – What Each Study Type Tells Us…Evolutionary Geneticist
Evaluating Genetic Data – What Each Study Type Tells Us…Population Geneticist
Evaluating Genetic Data – What Each Study Type Tells Us…Molecular Geneticist

Module II: Genetic Issues Related to Maintaining Collections

Maximizing Genetic Diversity
As Seen on RPA: Conserving Genetic Diversity of Southeastern Oaks and Magnolias in Botanic Gardens: How Much is Needed?
Seed Collections
Field Genebanks
DNA Collections
Meta-collections
Case Study: Meta-collections

Module II: Evaluating Genetic Information for Land Management Decisions

Evaluating Genetic Information for Land Management Decisions

Module III: Theory Behind Plant Species Distribution & Ecological Niches 

Overview of Species Distribution and Ecological Niche Modeling
Introduction to Modeling Species Distribution and Niches for Conservation 
Species Distribution Modeling vs Ecological Niche Modeling 
Biodiversity Occurrence Data: Structured Data 
Biodiversity Occurrence Data: Unstructured Data
Biodiversity Occurrence Data: Georeferencing 
Where Rare Plants Live: Now and in the Future 
San Clemente Island: A Conservation Success Story 

Module III: Characterizing Habitat Suitability for Rare Plants Through Species Distribution Models

Environmental Data for Modeling Species Distributions and Niches 
Selecting Predictors for Modeling Species Distributions and Niches: BIOCLIM+
Environmental Data: Main Questions 
Absences, Pseudoabsences, and Background Sites 
Defining Study Regions: Part I 
Defining Study Regions: Part II BAM
Defining Study Regions: Part III M
Model Algorithms and Model Tuning 

Module III: Using Species Distribution Models to Make Conservation Decisions

Evaluating Model Accuracy: Threshold-dependent Metrics 
Evaluating Model Accuracy: Threshold-dependent Metrics – AUC
Evaluating Model Accuracy: CBI and Types of Accuracy 
Evaluating Model Accuracy: Evaluation Data 
Bias Correction 
SDMs, ENMs, and Environmental Change 
Data-Poor Species 
Uncertainty 

Module III: Managing Habitat to Benefit Rare Species

Rare Plants and Strategic Land Conservation and Management

Module IV: Conducting Botanical Surveys for Rare Plants

Conducting Rare Plant Surveys 
Rare Plant Surveys: A Case Study in the Mojave Desert 
Case Study: Use of Grid System Technology for Rare Plant Surveys
Floristic Surveys Towards Understanding Rare Plants 
Impacts of Invasive Species to the Rare Annual Kelso Creek Monkeyflower
Rare Plant Surveys and Monitoring 

Module IV: Monitoring Design

Monitoring Design 
As Seen on RPA: Monitoring Wild Reference Populations to Determine Future Conservation Actions

Module IV: Rare Plant Site Ethics

Conservation Ethics 

Module IV: Rare Plant Population Models and Modeling Plant Demography in R

Rare Plant Population Models: What is Demography? 
Rare Plant Population Models: Design 
Rare Plant Population Models: Life Cycle Diagrams 
Rare Plant Population Models: Demographic Data 
Rare Plant Population Models: Intro to Demographic Models 
Rare Plant Population Models: Matrix Models 
Example Matrix Model: Analysis of Ribes echinellum Demographic Data
Rare Plant Population Models: IPMs
Case Study: Ribes echinellum
Rare Plant Population Models: Stem Demography 

Module IV: Making Management Decisions from Population Models 

Making Management Decisions With Population Models 

Module V: Overview and Planning a Reintroduction

Overview to Plant Reintroduction 
Is the Species Ready for Reintroduction? 
Example – Key Tree Cactus Reintroduction 
Genetic Considerations while Collecting, Maintaining in Nursery and Reintroducing to the Field  
As Seen on RPA: How to Conduct a Rare Plant Reintroduction with the Help of Volunteers
CPC’s Reintroduction Database 

Module V: Knowing Species Reproductive Biology

Reintroductions and Reproductive Biology
Seed Sourcing for Reintroductions 
Reintroductions and Climate Change 
Case Study: Penstemon Ecological Genetics 

Module V: Genetics of Reintroductions

Genetics of a Reintroduction Part 1: Where Do We Start? 
Genetics of a Reintroduction Part 2: Sourcing New Populations 
Maximizing Genetic Diversity 
Genetic Issues Related to Reintroductions 

Module V: Choosing One Source Population or Mixing Sources for the Founding Population

Mixing Sources: When to be Concerned of Outbreeding?  

Module V: From Nursery to Field

The Importance of Good Horticulture 

Module V: Selecting the Suitable Recipient Site and Recipient Site Assessment

Selecting a Suitable Recipient Site 
Recipient Sites will Change 
As Seen on RPA: Planting in a Riparian System

Module V: Adaptive Reintroductions – Generate Hypothesis, Test, Evaluate Cycle

Adaptive Reintroductions Part 1 
Adaptive Reintroductions Part 2 
Adaptive Reintroductions Case Study with Astragalus bibullatus 

Module V: Monitoring and Sharing Information

Monitoring and Sharing Information in a Reintroduction Program  
Monitoring – What is Measured? 
Monitoring – Marking Plants and Sample Units in the Field 
Monitoring and Transplanting Case Studies 

Module V: Adjusting Monitoring to Species Life History

Adjusting Monitoring to Species Life History 
Case Study of Adaptive Monitoring 

Module V: Examples of What Can Be Done with Monitoring Data

What to do with Monitoring Data 
Case Study of Exemplary Analyses 

Module V: Characterizing Successes and Failures in Reintroduction

Characterizing Successes and Failures in Reintroductions 
Characterizing Successes and Failures in Reintroductions – Case Studies 
As Seen on RPA: Reintroduction Challenges with the Autumn Buttercup

Module V: Common Reasons for Reintroduction/Mitigation Failure

Factors Associated with Reintroduction Success and Common Reasons for Reintroduction Failure 

Module VI: Planning a Seed Collection

Selecting Species to Collect 
Gathering Information: Pertinent Research Before the Collection
Types of Seed and Determining most Efficient Long-Term Preservation Alternatives for Conservation 
Collecting Across the Range of a Species: A Conservation Collection Ideally consists of at least 5 Populations 
Connecting with Land Managers and Obtaining Permits 
Logistics of Getting to the Plant Population 

Module VI: Seed Collection Day

Determine Whether Seed is Ready to Collect / Evaluate Seed Quality 
Mark Flowering Plants in Preparation for Seed Collection  
Making an Herbarium Voucher of Seed Collection 
The 10% Rule 
How to Collect Seeds without Harming the Wild Population 
Collect Along Maternal Lines 
What to Know Before You Go: Maximizing Genetic Diversity in Seed Collections
Collection Information 
As Seen on RPA: Collecting Genetic Samples from Herbarium Plant Vouchers and Plant Populations

Module VI: Cleaning Orthodox Seeds & Evaluating Seed Quality

Processing Seeds 
Evaluating Seed Quality
Using X-Ray to Evaluate Seed Quality
Transferring and Sealing Seeds in Storage Envelopes 
Labeling Storage Envelopes 

Module VI: Drying Seeds

Drying Seed to Appropriate RH and Temperature Pt 1: Why Dry Seeds
Drying Seed to Appropriate RH and Temperature Pt 2: Air – Water Relations
Drying Seed to Appropriate RH and Temperature Pt 3: Psychrometric Charts
Drying Seed to Appropriate RH and Temperature Pt 4: Determining Moisture in Seeds
Drying Seed to Appropriate RH and Temperature Pt 5: Controlling Moisture in Seeds

Module VI: Safety Duplication – Coming Soon!

This section does not have any lessons.

Module VI: Storing Seeds 

Storing Seeds: Freezers, Alarms, and Backup Power

Module VI: Germination Trials

Germination Testing Part 1
As Seen on RPA: Understanding Seed Dormancy and Germination Requirements of Rare Plants 
Germination Testing Part 2: Seed Dormancy
Germination Testing Part 3: Step-by-Step Guide to Germination Testing
Germination Testing Part 4:Real-life Scenarios: Trends, Challenges, Solutions
Seed Germination Trials 
As Seen on RPA: Evaluating Desiccation Tolerance in Rare Plants

Module VI: Small Collections 

What Can You Do with Small Collections with Few Seeds?  
Seed Bulking: Making Conservation Decisions for Small Collections
Careful Germination Trials 

Module VI: Collecting and Processing Cacti, Agaves, and Yuccas

Introduction & Tools of the Trade
Collecting Cactus in the Field
Processing Cactus
Collecting & Processing Cactus Flowers
Collecting Cactus DNA Material
Collecting Agave in the Field
Processing Agave
Collecting & Processing Dry Agave Leaf 
Collecting Agave Flowers
Processing Agave Flowers
Collecting Dry Agave Fruits
Collecting Yucca in the Field
Processing Yucca
Processing Yucca Flowers
Collecting & Processing Dry Yucca Fruits
Preparing Specimens for Filing
Conclusion: Cacti, Agaves, & Yuccas

Module VII: Introduction to Exceptional Species

Introduction to Exceptional Plants: Definitions and Examples 
Introduction to Exceptional Plants: Projections and Current Knowledge 
Introduction to Exceptional Plants: How to Determine Exceptionality 
Introduction to Exceptional Plants: Case Study 

Module VII: Tissue Culture

Tissue Culture: Introduction and Sterile Technique
Tissue Culture: Culture Initiation 
Tissue Culture: Media 
Tissue Culture: Acclimatization 
Tissue Culture: Case Study 
Tissue Culture: Subculturing 
Tissues I: Seeds & Embryo Axes
Tissues II: Shoot Culture & Regeneration 
Tissues III: Callus and Somatic Embryogenesis 
Tissues: Non-seed Plants 
Tissue Culture: Culture Incubation Environment 
Tissue Culture: Equipment and Skill Sets 
As Seen on RPA: The Power of Cryobiotechnology to Conserve Magnolias

Module VII: Cryopreservation

Cryopreservation: Basics 
As Seen on RPA: An Introduction to Plant Clonal Cryopreservation 
Cryopreservation: Equipment & Skills 
As Seen on RPA: How The Huntington Set Up Its Cryopreservation Lab
Cryopreservation: Methods 
Cryopreservation: Droplet Vitrification 
Cryopreservation: Encapsulation Dehydration and Vitrification 
Cryopreservation: Plant Tissues 
Cryopreservation: Seeds, Spores & Pollen 
As Seen on RPA: Pollen for Long-term Preservation
Cryopreservation: Dormant Buds 
As Seen on RPA: Dormant Buds for Long-term Preservation
Cryopreservation: Zygotic Embryos 
Cryopreservation: Somatic Embryos 
Cryopreservation: Shoot Tips 
As Seen on RPA: Shoot Tips for Long-term Preservation
As Seen on RPA: The Chemistry of Plant Cryoprotectants
Cryopreservation: Non-Seed Plants & Tissues 
Cryopreservation: Record-Keeping 
Cryopreservation: Case Study 
Cryopreservation: Genetics 

Module VII: Field Gene Banks

Managing Field Genebanks in a Botanical Garden
Sharing Pollen: Maximize Genetic Diversity Across Botanical Gardens 
Ex situ Collection Management Using a Pedigree-Based Approach 

Module VIII: Propagation and Horticulture of Rare Plants for Restoration & Ex-Situ Preservation – Coming Soon!

This section does not have any lessons.

Module IX: Tools and Partnerships – Coming Soon! 

This section does not have any lessons.