Quo vadis European Plant
Conservation Strategy?
- Review 2007

The European Plant Conservation Strategy (EPCS) has recently undergone an in-depth review to provide an assessment of what has been achieved and an analysis of the enabling environment for implementing the strategy in Europe.

The review has highlighted the need for a new EPCS but with fewer targets, more aligned with the GSPC targets, a revision of the role of lead organisations, the inclusion of more actions on climate change, ecological corridors, the ecosystem approach and sustainable management, and clearer information on national implementation strategies. It has also identified an urgent need for an effective on-line clearing house mechanism to report and monitor progress with targets and highlight good practice or methodologies. Coordination of the EPCS, currently carried out by Planta Europa, needs to be significantly strengthened. Key alliances with other conservation organisations also need to be further developed.

The review also highlights examples of good practice and details of the support needed to ensure European countries are able to meet their obligations.

To download the publication of the EPCS mid-term review, please click here

Key Recommendations for Implementing the GSPC in Europe

• Develop a new European Plant Conservation Strategy (EPCS) with fewer targets more closely aligned to the Global Strategy for Plant Conservation, with information to facilitate national implementation of the targets
• An on-line clearing house facility to monitor progress with targets, promote good practise, disseminate key data, and raise awareness of the EPCS and GSPC in Europe should be developed as a matter of urgency
• Review the role of lead organisations and change the system if necessary
• The new EPCS should include more emphasis on the ecosystem approach and more actions related to mitigating the effects of climate change and developing ecological corridors
• Increased and targeted awareness raising of the EPCS/GSPC and plant conservation issues in general, particularly aimed at the EU, national government agencies, the scientific community in Europe and the general public
• The commitment of national governments and the role of national GSPC focal points must be strengthened to implement the EPCS/GSPC, which should include improved reporting on progress, and the development of national implementation and funding strategies
• Planta Europa’s role in providing advice on fund-raising or assisting members to fund-raise for implementing the EPCS should be increased
• Planta Europa and its members need to maintain and develop alliances with other scientific, conservation and policy organisations in Europe to increase effectiveness of the EPCS
• Planta Europa’s role as a key coordinator of the EPCS needs to be strengthened significantly

The EPCS Review will be an important information document for informing debate at the Planta Europa Conference in September where a new roadmap for plant conservation in Europe will be developed. Key outputs from the conference will be:

• An action plan for European implementation of the GSPC (a revised EPCS) up to and beyond 2010
• Guidance/best practice to assist national implementation
• An exemplar to the CBD of a regional implementation of the GSPC to be presented at the CBD COP 9 in 2008