Living Plant Collections: A Century of Growth, Decline, and Conservation Opportunity

Diệc Xám

26-03-2025

“Two titles of nobility given by Humans are not easy for anyone living on this Earth to obtain. 
[…] 
Any bird species that meets both of the above conditions will be listed as one facing a very high risk of complete extinction and should be included in the IUCN Red List”

In “GHG Emissions”; Wild Wise Weird [1]

Botanic gardens and arboreta are more than just beautiful green spaces—they are living repositories of plant diversity. A new study published in Nature Ecology & Evolution offers the most comprehensive global analysis to date of these “ex situ” (outside of its natural environment) living plant collections, drawing on a century of data from 50 institutions across five continents [1].

These collections currently hold over 105,000 plant species—around 30% of the world’s land plant diversity, and fulfill a range of specialized roles, encompassing recreation, education, scientific research, and biodiversity conservation [2]. However, the study reveals that both the size and diversity of collections have plateaued. Researchers found that the rate of new plant accessions has slowed significantly since 2008, indicating that many collections have reached their capacity in terms of space, resources, and personnel.

One key finding is the sharp decline in the collection of wild plants, particularly since the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) came into force in 1993. This treaty, which assigns national control over biodiversity, has contributed to a 44% drop in wild-origin plant acquisitions and a 38% decrease in internationally sourced material. While these policies promote fairness, they also limit the scientific and conservation potential of collections.

Alarmingly, only a small and stagnant proportion of new additions are species classified as threatened with extinction, despite rising global biodiversity loss. Most institutions show little responsiveness to threat designations, and the average plant survives in a collection for just 15 years—posing additional challenges for long-term conservation.

Despite these issues, the study highlights promising models, such as the International Conifer Conservation Programme, which focuses on wild sourcing, genetic diversity, and strategic distribution.

The authors call for coordinated, data-driven approaches and greater investment in under-resourced regions, particularly in the biodiversity-rich Global South. In an era of accelerating extinction and climate change, living plant collections remain an indispensable tool—but they must evolve to meet the moment [3]. Perhaps, a higher Nature Quotient approach will help? [4]

References

[1] Vuong QH. (2024). Wild Wise Weird. https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0BG2NNHY6/

[2] Brockington SF, et al. (2025). Insights from a century of data reveal global trends in ex situ living plant collections. Nature Ecology & Evolution, 9, 214-224. https://www.nature.com/articles/s41559-024-02633-z 

[3] Mounce R, et al. (2017). Ex situ conservation of plant diversity in the world’s botanic gardens. Nature Plants, 3, 795-802. https://www.nature.com/articles/s41477-017-0019-3 

[4] Nguyen MH. (2024). How can satirical fables offer us a vision for sustainability? Visions for Sustainability. https://ojs.unito.it/index.php/visions/article/view/11267