Introduction to our international work

Plantlife was established in 1989, following a meeting in London between conservationists and botanists who felt that not enough was being done to conserve wild plants and their habitats.

©Jane Smart/Plantlife

Thirteen years later, Plantlife International was one of the organisations that developed the Global Strategy for Plant Conservation. The strategy now underpins all our activities.

Plantlife International’s activities across the globe concentrate on four focal areas

• Important Plant Areas
• Medicinal Plants and Livelihoods
• Policies and Strategies
• Planta Europa Secretariat

Important Plant Areas

©Andrew J Byfield

 

 

Important Plant Areas (IPAs) are the best sites for wild plants and fungi. The Global Strategy for Plant Conservation sets the overall target of protecting 50% of the world's most important areas for plant diversity by 2010. To contribute to the achievement of this ambitious target, Plantlife supports and carries out IPA projects across the globe.

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Plants and Livelihoods

Plantlife’s Plants and Livelihoods Programme was launched in January 2005 and is initially concentrating on a Medicinal Plants Conservation Initiative. Many people are dependent on products from wild plants, both for subsistence and income. Around 50,000 plant species are being used medicinally, and the use of medicinal plants is increasing. Learn more about Plantlife international’s Medicinal Plants Conservation Initiative.

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Policies and strategies

Plantlife International supports numerous key political initiatives to improve plant conservation around the world. Sound decisions to conserve wild plants can only be taken if the relevant information on plants and their habitats is easily accessible. As an active participant in key conservation partnerships and networks Plantlife provides information and expert advice for European and international conservation policy processes. Plantlife International is a committed player in the development and implementation of the Global Strategy for Plant Conservation , adopted by the Convention on Biological Diversity in 2002. Plantlife’s main activities in Europe are outlined within targets in the European Plant Conservation Strategy.

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Planta Europa Secretariat

Plantlife International is a member of Planta Europa, the network of organisations working for plant conservation in Europe. It also hosts the Planta Europa secretariat and coordinates projects and activities on behalf of the network. To date, the Planta Europa network has more than 60 member organisations from 34 countries. Learn more about Plantlife’s involvement in the Planta Europa network.

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Plantlife in the UK

Plantlife International also has a significant programme of work in the UK. To find out more about this, follow this link.

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