Abstract:

Aims Plant ex situ conservation will be a core task in the on-going construction of the national botanical garden system of China. However, many issues regarding the status and role of plant ex situ conservation in biodiversity conservation, as well as how to set up the goals for plant ex situ conservation in China, are still under discussion. The objective of this study is to address these unresolved issues.

Methods The study utilizes literature reviews and international conventions such as the “Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework” and the upcoming “Complementary Actions Related to Plant Conservation to Support the Implementation of the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework”.

Results Through a review of the development history and achievements of plant ex situ conservation over the past 40 years, this paper clarifies some doubts and misconceptions about plant ex situ conservation. Furthermore, this article proposes the goals of plant ex situ conservation in China, as “Establish programs to ensure ALL threatened plant species are effectively conserved by ex situmethodologies, aiming to achieve genetically diverse representations”.

Conclusion The establishment of the national botanical garden system in China presents an opportunity to enhance plant ex situ conservation efforts. By improving the quality of processes involved in ex situ conservation program, China can elevate its conservation practices to a higher level.

Key words: plant ex situ conservation, national botanical garden system, Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework, ex situ conservation goals