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European Plant Conservation Strategy

The European Strategy for Plant Conservation (ESPC) is the regional response of plant and fungi conservation specialists across Europe to the implementation of the CBD Global Strategy for Plant Conservation. The first European Strategy was developed by the Planta Europa Network and the Council of Europe in 2001 and ran until 2007. After a review of the first strategy a new strategy (2008-2014) was developed at the Fifth Planta Europa Conference in Romania in 2007 and published in 2008.

The new European strategy is based on the structure of the GSPC with 5 objectives (Understanding Plant Diversity, Conserving Plant Diversity, Using Plant Diversity Sustainably, Increasing Awareness of Plant Diversity; Increasing Capacity for Plant Diversity) and 16 targets. However it also contains sub-targets specific to the European region and actions to mitigate the effects of climate change under each target.

The review of the first European Strategy (2001-2007) found that much progress had been made in areas such as check-listing, identifying IPAs, ex-situ conservation methods, and conserving genetic diversity, but that there had been much less progress in areas such as Red listing, Sustainable Use of Plants and Capacity Building. The review also highlighted case studies of the many examples of good practice under all the targets of the strategy.

History of the European Strategy for Plant Conservation

In June 2001, the Planta Europa network drew on all its plant conservation expertise to develop a master plan to halt the loss of plant diversity in Europe by 2007. The result was the European Plant Conservation Strategy (EPCS), a framework for wild-plant conservation in Europe.

At the heart of this document are 42 targets for plant conservation in Europe, to be achieved by 2007. The targets are clear, realistic and measurable, and in each case an organisation has pledged to take the lead on their implementation, whilst other partners are welcome to join the lead organisations to assist in achieving these challenging targets.

The 42 targets are arranged under five objectives: understanding and documenting plant diversity; conserving plant diversity; using plant diversity sustainably; promoting education and awareness about plant diversity; building capacity for the conservation of plant diversity.

The EPCS also contains long-term policy objectives complementing the Planta Europa targets. Whereas many of the targets are oriented for action by NGOs and technical agencies, the long-term policy objectives are mainly directed at European governments.

In April 2002, the EPCS was recognised as a contribution to the Global Strategy for Plant Conservation (GSPC), the worldwide plan which has been adopted by the Convention on Biological Diversity.

In 2004, conservationists from across Europe undertook an extensive mid-term review of the EPCS. Results are encouraging: more than 50% of the initial 42 targets of the EPCS are progressing well and two have already been achieved.

The 250 experts involved in the review identified obstacles to implementing the EPCS’s nine targets. However they also recognised that the targets are still highly relevant, and established new, more realistic milestones to help achieve them. Two new targets were added and a further four were substantially amended to reflect new developments in plant conservation since 2001.