California Botanic Garden’s role in collaborative plant conservation

The California Botanic Garden (CalBG) was founded in 1927 by Susanna Bixby Bryant as a botanic garden and scientific institution whose mission is to document and conserve California’s native flora. CalBG has a long and successful history in promoting science, conservation and restoration of California’s natural heritage through research, education, and collections. We are home to the California Seed Bank, the largest seed bank dedicated to California native plants with over 5,500 accessions representing over 2,300 taxa. We hold the largest and most active herbarium in southern California, with nearly 1.2 million specimens, of which more than 400,000 are from California. Our molecular lab and restoration nursery allow us to advance knowledge and restore of some of the most imperiled plant species. We are also committed to mentoring the next generation of botanists and conservation practitioners via graduate education and internships. CalBG has expanded its conservation reach through emerging and longstanding partnerships with agencies, botanic gardens, environmental organizations, academic partners, and public support. Collaborative efforts such as the California Plant Rescue, Seed LA, rare plant working groups, regional coalitions, and media messaging strengthen our collective capacity to support plants in challenging times. In this presentation I will describe CalBG’s continuing vision to build an integrative and collaborative approach to plant conservation in California and beyond.