Global Survey of Ex Situ Conifer Collections

Global Survey of
Ex situ Conifer Collections

Global Survey of
Ex situ Conifer Collections
By Kirsty Shaw and Abby Hird
January 2014
Recommended citation: Shaw, K. and Hird, A. 2014. Global Survey of Ex situ Conifer Collections.
BGCI. Richmond. UK.
ISBN-10: 1-905164-48-3
ISBN-13: 978-1-905164-48-6
Published by Botanic Gardens Conservation International.

Descanso House, 199 Kew Road, Richmond, Surrey, TW9 3BW, UK.
Authors: Kirsty Shaw is a Conservation Officer at BGCI, Abby Hird is BGCI US Program Director.
Printed by the United States Department of Agriculture Forest Service.

Printed on 100% Post-Consumer Recycled Paper.
Design: John Morgan www.seascapedesign.co.uk

Acknowledgements
BGCI would like to thank Aljos Farjon for providing advice on BOTANIC GARDENS
the taxonomy used in this report. We would also like to thank CONSERVATION INTERNATIONAL
the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh, Atlanta Botanical Garden, (BGCI) is a membership organization
Lushan Botanical Garden and the United States Department of linking botanic gardens in over 100
Agriculture (USDA) Forest Service for providing case studies to countries in a shared commitment to
support this report. BGCI would also like to thank Bedgebury biodiversity conservation, sustainable
National Pinetum, UK, for supporting this collections survey. use and environmental education. BGCI aims to mobilize
We gratefully acknowledge all institutions that uploaded botanic gardens and work with partners to secure plant diversity
collection information to PlantSearch and provided additional for the well-being of people and the planet. BGCI provides the
data to support the ex situ conifer collections analysis. Secretariat for the IUCN/SSC Global Tree Specialist Group.
A list of participating institutions is presented in Annex III.
Finally, BGCI would like to thank Fondation Franklinia for their

generous support to the Global Trees Campaign, which FAUNA & FLORA INTERNATIONAL
facilitated the ex situ survey of conifer collections and (FFI), founded in 1903 and the
production of this report, and the United States Department of world’s oldest international
Agriculture (USDA) Forest Service for printing this publication. conservation organization, acts to
conserve threatened species and
Photo Credits ecosystems worldwide, choosing
Front cover: All photos (authors of this report). solutions that are sustainable, are based on sound science
Back cover: Middle left (Garth Holmann, University of Maine); and take account of human needs.
Bottom right (Martin Gardner, Royal Botanic Garden
Edinburgh); all additional photos (authors of this report).
In text: Unless otherwise credited, photos are by the authors
of this report. THE GLOBAL TREES CAMPAIGN
(GTC) is undertaken through a
THE USDA FOREST SERVICE is entrusted partnership between BGCI and FFI,
with 193 million acres of national forests and working with a wide range of other
grasslands. The mission of the agency is to organizations around the world, to
sustain the health, diversity, and productivity save the world’s most threatened trees and the habitats in
of the Nation's forests and grasslands to meet the needs of which they grow through the provision of information, delivery
present and future generations. of conservation action and support for sustainable use.
Acronyms
BGCI Botanic Gardens Conservation International
BRAHMS Botanical Research and Herbarium Management System
CBD Convention on Biological Diversity
CITES Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora
FFI Fauna and Flora International
GSPC Global Strategy for Plant Conservation
GTC Global Trees Campaign
ICCP International Conifer Conservation Programme
IPNI International Plant Names Index
IPSN International Plant Sentinel Network
IUCN International Union for the Conservation of Nature
IUCN/SSC International Union for the Conservation of Nature/Species Survival Commission
NTFP Non Timber Forest Products
RBGE Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh
SFM Sustainable Forest Management
USDA United States Department of Agriculture
2 Global Survey of Ex situ Conifer Collections

Contents
Summary ..............................................................................4
Case studies
Introduction .........................................................................5
Status of tree Red Listing ...........................................5 Case study 1 The effect of pests and diseases
Ex situ surveys .............................................................6 on Pinus albicaulis in the U.S.A., USDA Forest
The importance of ex situ collections ......................6 Service, U.S.A ................................................................6
Policy context – ex situ conservation .......................8 Case study 2 Climate adaptation for the
Measuring progress towards Target 8 of the conservation and management of Yellow-cedar,
Global Strategy for Plant Conservation (GSPC) .......8 USDA Forest Service, U.S.A ........................................10
Conifers ........................................................................9 Case study 3 The value of partnerships for
Uses ........................................................................9 conifer conservation, Royal Botanic Garden
Threats facing conifers ............................................9 Edinburgh, UK ..............................................................20
Ex situ conservation of conifers ............................13 Case study 4 Supporting conservation of
Aims and objectives of this survey ..........................14 wild populations of Torreya taxifolia,
Methodology ..............................................................14 Atlanta Botanical Garden, U.S.A..................................23
Case study 5 Conservation of threatened
Results and analysis .........................................................16 Taxus species at Lushan Botanical
Ex situ collections: Number of species Garden, China ..............................................................25
in collections (per IUCN Red List status) ...............16
Collection balance .....................................................18
Further analysis .........................................................19
Provenance ...........................................................19
Number of individuals ...........................................21
Recovery and restoration programmes ................22
Limitations ..................................................................24
Conclusions, recommendations
and the way forward .........................................................27
Recommendations .....................................................28
Taking action ..............................................................30
Useful Resources ..............................................................31
References ........................................................................33
Annexes .............................................................................35
Annex I IUCN assessed conifer taxa with
number of reported ex situ collections and
IUCN Red List status ...................................................35
Annex II Priority Critically Endangered (CR) and
Endangered (EN) conifer taxa for increased
ex situ conservation efforts ..........................................44
Annex III Participating institutions...............................45
Sequoiadendron giganteum in the living collections of the Arnold

Arboretum of Harvard University, U.S.A. Endangered (EN),
reported as held in 178 ex situ collections worldwide.
(Credit: Garth Holmann, University of Maine).
Global Survey of Ex situ Conifer Collections 3

Summary
This survey of ex situ threatened conifer collections has been 81% of globally threatened conifer taxa are present in over 8001
undertaken by Botanic Gardens Conservation International ex situ collections, thereby meeting the 75% ex situ goal of
(BGCI) as part of our ongoing contributions to the Global Trees Target 8. However, further analysis shows that 46% (134 taxa)
Campaign (GTC), a joint initiative between BGCI and Fauna and of threatened conifers are known in very few or no collections.
Flora International (FFI) to safeguard threatened tree species These taxa are highlighted as priorities for establishing a more
and their benefits for humans and the environment. This report effective safety net against extinction of threatened conifers.
provides an overview of the current status of global ex situ
collections of conifer taxa, with particular focus on threatened To further gauge the conservation value of known threatened
conifers. conifer collections, additional information on provenance and
number of individuals per collection was collected from 39
participating institutions and International Conifer Conservation
Programme (ICCP) sites. These detailed data show that
threatened conifer collections consist of 58% wild source
material and 42% horticultural or unknown source. Additionally,
the large majority (80%) of wild source collections of threatened
conifers consist of only 1-5 individuals.
In addition to an ex situ collections gap analysis, this report

highlights a number of case studies from gardens throughout
the world, illustrating how ex situ conservation can go beyond
collections that safeguard taxa outside their natural habitat, and
move towards integrated conservation programmes that also
reduce pressure on wild populations and supply a source of
material to replenish wild populations. These and other
successful cultivation and recovery and restoration
programmes were identified for a few of the most threatened
conifer taxa, however this is not the case for many threatened
taxa. Much more work is needed to achieve the goal of 20%
threatened species available for recovery and restoration
programmes outlined by Target 8 of the GSPC.
To further meet the goals of GSPC Target 8, recommendations

are provided in this report, aimed at increasing capacity for
Abies cilicica seedlings at the Royal Botanic Gardens, threatened conifer conservation, improving management of ex
Edinburgh. Near Threatened (NT), reported as held in 62 situ collections, and enabling supply of ex situ material for
ex situ collections worldwide. (Credit: Martin Gardner, RBGE). recovery and restoration programmes.
Target 8 of the Global Strategy for Plant Conservation (GSPC)

calls for ‘At least 75% of threatened plant species in ex situ
collections, preferably within the country of origin, and at least
20% available for recovery and restoration programmes’ by 2020.
A global reassessment of the conservation statuses of the

world’s conifers was undertaken and up-to-date assessments
published to the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species in July
2013. This work was coordinated by Aljos Farjon, Chair of the
IUCN/SSC Conifer Specialist Group, and jointly undertaken
with staff at the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh. The global
reassessment highlighted that 34% of conifers are globally
threatened with extinction. This report uses data held in BGCI’s
PlantSearch database of ex situ collections, and the IUCN Red
List assessments to analyse current ex situ conservation efforts Araucaria angustifolia. Critically Endangered (CR), reported as
for threatened taxa. Analysis of PlantSearch records shows that held in 89 ex situ collections worldwide. (Credit: David Gill, FFI).
1
This represents conifer collection records from 635 institutions with plant lists held in BGCI’s PlantSearch database and 230 institutions involved in the International
4 Conifer Conservation Programme (ICCP), led by the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh. As some ICCP institutions maintain collection records in PlantSearch there is
some overlap. The total number of ex situ collections represented in this study is 838.
Introduction
This survey has been undertaken by Botanic Gardens Araucaria araucana, the Monkey Puzzle tree. Endangered (EN),
Conservation International (BGCI) as part of our ongoing reported as held in 162 ex situ collections worldwide.
contributions to the Global Trees Campaign (GTC), a joint
initiative between BGCI and Fauna and Flora International (FFI) Contributions of BGCI and the Global Trees Campaign
to safeguard threatened tree species and their benefits for (GTC) to tree Red Listing
humans and the environment.
Working towards production of a Global Conservation
Assessment of the world’s tree species, the Global Trees
Status of tree Red Listing Campaign (GTC) is leading Red Listing of trees in smaller
taxonomic and geographic groups, depending on conservation
‘The World List of Threatened Trees’ (Oldfield et al., 1998) was priorities and practical opportunities. BGCI is the GTC partner
the first comprehensive conservation assessment of the world’s that leads tree Red Listing. BGCI/GTC Red List publications
tree species. Using Version 2.3 of the IUCN Red List categories completed to date include:
and criteria, over 7,400 of the tree taxa assessed qualified as
globally threatened with extinction. The assessments provided in • The Red List of Magnoliaceae
‘The World List of Threatened Trees’ were subsequently added to • The Red List of Maples
the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species (www.iucnredlist.org). • The Red List of Oaks
• The Red List of Rhododendrons
The IUCN/Species Survival Commission (IUCN/SSC) Global Tree • The Red List of Trees of Central Asia
Specialist Group aims to fill the gaps in ‘The World List of • The Red List of Endemic Trees and Shrubs of Ethiopia
Threatened Trees’ and to revise existing assessments using the and Eritrea
most up-to-date IUCN Red List categories and criteria (Version • The Red List of Trees of Guatemala
3.1) to produce a Global Conservation Assessment of the • The Red List of Mexican Cloud Forest Trees
world’s trees by 2020. Good progress is being made towards
this ambitious target. Currently, more than 9,500 tree taxa have These publications are freely available for download from the
been assessed and published on the IUCN Red List, over 6,400 BGCI and GTC websites (see the Useful Resources section for
of which are assessed as globally threatened (Critically links). The assessments included in these publications are also
Endangered, Endangered or Vulnerable). Over 1,100 tree taxa being incorporated into the IUCN Red List and additional work
are assessed as Critically Endangered and in urgent need of is ongoing by BGCI and partners to produce updated Red List
conservation action. A review of recent progress towards Red assessments of Betulaceae, Hydrangeaceae and important
Listing the world’s tree species (Newton and Oldfield, 2008) timber species.
found that more than 2,500 tree taxa have been evaluated since
1998, but only a fraction of these have yet been published on The IUCN/SSC Conifer Specialist Group is responsible for
the IUCN Red List. Overall, it is widely accepted that more than undertaking conservation assessments of conifer species.
8,000 (10%) tree taxa, are globally threatened with extinction. The status of conifer Red Listing is detailed on p. 9.

Global ex situ surveys Case Study 1:
Typically following publication of a taxonomically focused tree Red
List, BGCI undertakes a global survey to assess ex situ collections Dr. Mary Mahalovich, United States Department
of threatened taxa. Threatened taxa reported in a few or no ex situ of Agriculture (USDA) Forest Service
collections are highlighted as priority taxa for conservation concern
and recommendations are made for their conservation. BGCI/GTC Whitebark pine (Pinus albicaulis) is distributed from 37°
global ex situ surveys completed to date for tree families and to 55°N latitude and from 128° to 107°W longitude. Its
genera include (see the Useful Resources section, p. 30, for links): distribution is split into two broad sections: the western
section follows the British Columbia Coast Ranges, the
• Global survey of ex situ Magnoliaceae collections Cascade Range, and the Sierra Nevada. The Rocky
• Global survey of ex situ Maple collections Mountain or eastern section extends along the high ranges
• Global survey of ex situ Oak collections in eastern British Columbia and western Alberta, and
• Global survey of ex situ Rhododendron collections southward at high elevations to the Wind River and Salt River
• Global survey of ex situ Zelkova collections Ranges in west-central Wyoming. The species occurs as
high as 3,050 to 3,660 m in the Sierra Nevada and
northwestern Wyoming, 2,590 to 3,200 m in western
The importance of ex situ collections Wyoming and as low as 900 m in the northern limits of its
range in British Columbia. Outlying populations are found
Ex situ plant conservation involves the maintenance and care of atop the Sweetgrass Hills in north-central Montana, in stands
living plant material outside a species’ natural habitat, in the form in the Blue and Wallowa Mountains of northeastern Oregon
of whole plants, seeds, pollen, vegetative propagules, tissues or and in small, isolated ranges in northeastern California,
cell cultures. With 10% of the world’s tree species threatened with south-central Oregon, and northern Nevada. Whitebark pine
extinction, and the multiple threats facing in situ populations of occurs on 5,770,013 ha in the western U.S.A. The total
these species, ex situ conservation is of vital importance to population in Canada is estimated to be around 200 million
safeguard these species. Botanic gardens and arboreta play a trees. In both the U.S. and Canada over 90% of the species
major role in the ex situ conservation of plants, including trees, occurs on public lands. Taxonomically whitebark pine is the
along with other institutions such as academic institutions, forest only stone pine in North America, where genetic analyses
services, private gardens, private nurseries and government place this five-needle pine in the new subsection Strobus
agencies. For the greatest conservation value collections should, within the new section Quinquefoliae.
where possible, focus on threatened taxa, especially exceptional
species (those that are unable to be seed banked (Pence, 2013)). The large, energy-rich wingless seeds of whitebark pine are a
vital food source in the fall and spring diets of over 20
Maintaining ex situ collections not only provides a safe haven for species of wildlife. During mast years, pine nuts provide 97%
taxa, securing their survival if wild populations are lost, they also of the annual nourishment for Yellowstone grizzly bears.
have the potential to support in situ populations, and provide Female grizzly bears in the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem
opportunities for research, such as propagation trials, and to derive 40-50% of their fall nutrition from pine nuts. Following
support education programmes. Ex situ collections also allow mast years, fatter female bears produce more cubs that are
for artificial propagation, which can create an available supply born earlier and grow faster because the mothers produce
of material to reduce overharvesting of remaining natural more milk. During poor cone crops female bears produce
populations of highly desirable plants. When produced from wild smaller litters of twins or singletons.
and genetically diverse material, ex situ plants can also supply
material for reintroduction programmes, thereby reinforcing Whitebark pine is also important as a keystone species in
natural populations. upper and subalpine ecosystems. As a foundation species it
protects watersheds, tolerating harsh, wind-swept sites that
As detailed in Kramer et al. (2011) the value of ex situ collections other conifers cannot. The shade of its canopy regulates
for conservation depends on three main factors: snowmelt runoff and soil erosion and its roots stabilize rocky
and poorly developed soils. In upper subalpine sites
• The type of plant material collected – Seeds, explants and whitebark pine is a major seral species that is often replaced
living plants. The type of material collected and how it is by the shade-tolerant subalpine fir (Abies lasiocarpa), spruce
stored varies according to the characteristics of each taxon. (Picea engelmannii), or mountain hemlock (Tsuga
Seed storage requires less space and staff effort to maintain, mertensiana). The shade intolerant lodgepole pine (Pinus
but is not suitable for taxa with recalcitrant or unavailable contorta) is also found with whitebark pine on seral sites.
seed (exceptional species).
• The protocols used for collecting – Collections that are well

documented, wild collected and capture broad genetic • The subsequent maintenance of viable germplasm –
variation have the highest value to conservation. Only Proper curatorial management and appropriate care for
genetically diverse and representative collections are suitable material within collections is required to avoid unnecessary
for recovery and restoration programmes. loss of plant material and any associated information.

Effect of Pests and Diseases on Pinus albicaulis in the U.S.A.
Other minor species sometimes found with whitebark pine are Below: Whitebark
Douglas-fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii), limber pine (Pinus flexilis), Pine Rust Screening
alpine larch (Larix lyalli), and western white pine (Pinus monticola). CDA Nursery.
Climax whitebark pine sites are found at high elevations,
particularly harsh sites in the upper subalpine forests and at Right: Blister Rust
treeline on relatively dry, cold slopes, where trees often occur in Sporulating Canker
elfin forests, clusters, groves or tree islands. on Whitebark Pine.
(Credit: Dr. Mary
Most whitebark pine forests have low diversity in vascular plants Mahalovich, USDA
with the majority of undergrowth plant cover being composed Forest Service)
of grouse whortleberry (Vaccinium scoparium), blue huckleberry
(V. globulare), black huckleberry (V. membrenaceum), false azalea left many “Ghost Forests”; the second was in the 1970-80s;
(Menziesia ferruginea), woodrush (Luzula hitchcockii), and and the more recent outbreak began in 2001, killing 50-60%
beargrass (Xerophyllum tenax). Other plants that may be of the remaining whitebark pine. Aerial detection surveys and
occasionally dominant include Idaho fescue (Festuca idahoensis), on-the-ground monitoring indicate the recent outbreak
Parry’s rush (Juncus parryi), Wheeler bluegrass (Poa nervosa), peaked around 2009. Tree protection against mountain pine
buffaloberry (Sheperdia spp.), kinnikinnick (Arctostaphylos uva- beetle includes verbenone, an anti-aggregate pheromone in
ursi), and pipsissewa (Chimaphila umbellata). High elevation pouch or flake formulations and the insecticide carbaryl.
climax stands of whitebark pine can contain many unique alpine,
subalpine, and montane undergrowth assemblages, some of In addition to mortality due to wildfires, 60 years of fire
which are only found in association with whitebark pine. suppression have resulted in seral replacement of whitebark
Whitebark pine forests have unexpectedly high biomass but low pine to subalpine fir, Engelmann spruce, mountain hemlock,
productivity. The oldest known tree is about 1,280 years old and and lodgepole pine.
is found in central Idaho in the Sawtooth National Forest. This
ancient tree has the only known rare allele and based on genetic The impacts of warming temperatures and decreased
markers it is homozygous at 13 loci. precipitation will likely result in a decline in suitable habitat,
increased mountain pine beetle activity, an increase in the
The four threats facing whitebark pine are the exotic fungus white number, intensity, and extent of wildfires, and an increase in
pine blister rust (Cronartium ribicola), the native mountain pine blister rust particularly in wave years. Bioclimatic models
beetle (Dendroctonus ponderosae), altered fire regimes, and predict whitebark pine is projected to diminish to an area
climate change. Blister rust was introduced in whitebark pine equivalent to less than 3% of its current distribution,
cover types around 1925. In stands throughout the U.S. and especially in forests at the lowest elevations. The future
Canada, blister rust mortality averages 35% (range of 8-58%) and outlook however may not be as bleak. These models have
infection levels average 66% (range of 17-95%). The good news not taken in to account plasticity and the generalist adaptive
is whitebark pine does have proven rust resistance. Artificial strategy of whitebark pine. Simply stated, plasticity is where
inoculation trials of seedlings from phenotypically resistant ‘plus’ an individual can buffer environmental changes by having
trees show 47% resistance in the Northern Rockies, and in the many different phenotypes. Moreover, genetic studies
Cascade Range canker-free seedlings average 26%. indicate whitebark pine has moderate to high levels of
genetic variation in key adaptive traits, an overall lack of
More recent mortality can be attributed to the native insect pest, inbreeding, and one of the highest levels of genetic diversity,
mountain pine beetle. The likelihood of continued mortality is shared by two other five-needle pines, Great Basin
linked to future warmer weather at higher elevations. Since blister bristlecone pine (Pinus longaeva) and limber pine, and the
rust was introduced, there have been three beetle outbreaks: the aspen (Populus tremuloides).
first in the 1920-30s killed significant areas of whitebark pine and
Gene conservation efforts carried out by the USDA Forest
Service, in collaboration with the United States National Park
Service, the United States Bureau of Land Management, the
United States Fish and Wildlife Service, Parks Canada and
the Alberta Tree Seed Centre, include seed, pollen and clone
banks, seed orchards, field tests, and the broad-scale
network of plus trees in the genetics programs. Over 1,500
ha have been planted with rust resistant seedlings and
research is ongoing in direct seeding to augment natural
regeneration in the backcountry.

It is advisable to preserve lineages/accessions in more than one Measuring progress towards Target 8 of
location via back up (duplicate) collections, both within a single the Global Strategy for Plant Conservation
collection (i.e. multiple individuals of one lineage/accession in a (GSPC)
single location) and among collections (i.e. multiple locations for
single lineages/accessions). This is an important security The ability to measure progress towards Target 8 is largely
measure safeguarding against natural disasters, vandalism, dependent on Target 2 of the GSPC:
invasive pests or diseases, natural death or human error.
‘An assessment of the conservation status of all known plant
Botanic garden and arboreta collections also provide a valuable species, as far as possible, to guide conservation action’ by 2020.
monitoring network which can be used as an early warning
system for the arrival of new invasive pests and diseases. BGCI’s PlantSearch database is the only tool for measuring
The great potential of such a network has been recognised by progress towards Target 8 at the global level. PlantSearch holds
BGCI. A survey was conducted in 2011, with support from the taxon-level information from ex situ collections around the
U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Animal and Plant Health world. Lists maintained in PlantSearch are cross-referenced
Inspection Service (USDA-APHIS), to identify relevant expertise with conservation assessments to determine progress towards
and policies at botanic gardens to detect, manage, and prevent Target 8 of the GSPC.
invasive species. The survey found that 65% of responding
institutions had invasive species policies or programs in place Based on the conifer conservation assessments on the IUCN
to help minimize the risks posed by insect pests, plant Red List (IUCN, 2013a) and the data provided for this survey,
pathogens or potentially new invasive plants (Kramer and Hird, this report investigates where ex situ conifer conservation
2011). The study called for the development of a global stands in relation to Target 8.
network to coordinate the work currently being done, expand
current efforts, connect collections, share information and
increase collaboration at local, regional and global levels
(Kramer and Hird, 2011). From October 2013, BGCI is hosting a GardenSearch
new position to develop an International Plant Sentinel Network BGCI’s GardenSearch database is the only global source
(IPSN) and examine how BGCI’s PlantSearch database can be of information on the world’s botanical institutions.
improved to capture information on pests and diseases within GardenSearch allows users to search over 3,000 profiles to
ex situ collections. Case Study 1 (p. 6) details the impact of locate botanic gardens, arboreta, zoos, and similar
pests and diseases on conifers in North America and the organization with specific resources and expertise.
potential value of ex situ collections for detection and GardenSearch is a valuable tool for connecting
preventing the incursion of new pests and diseases. researchers, collaborators, and the general public to
botanical resources available in gardens worldwide.
Botanic garden collections are also being proposed as GardenSearch also provides a web presence for small
chaperones for threatened species to investigate and combat institutions that do not have their own website, connecting
the effects of climate change. The subject of ‘assisted them to the global conservation community.
migration’ (intentionally relocating plants to new habitats) is a www.bgci.org/garden_search.php
controversial one, but botanic gardens can assist by providing
test sites for assisted migrations. Missouri Botanical Garden, PlantSearch
U.S.A, in collaboration with BGCI, are developing a proposal to BGCI’s PlantSearch database is the only global database
use botanic gardens as test sites for controlled introductions of plants in cultivation, and is free to contribute to and
for species threatened with extinction due to changing climatic access. PlantSearch connects around 2,000 researchers
conditions (Gewin, 2013). Case Study 2 (p. 10) details the and horticulturists to collections every year. Locations and
impact of climate change on conifers in North America. gardens are not publicly revealed, and requests can be
made via blind email messages. PlantSearch is an easy
way for ex situ collections to contribute to broader ex situ
Policy context - ex situ conservation assessments such as this conifer survey. By uploading a
taxa list to PlantSearch, collection holders can not only
The Global Strategy for Plant Conservation (GSPC) was connect their collections to the global botanical
adopted in 2002, by parties to the Convention on Biological community, but also find out the conservation value of
Diversity (CBD). The GSPC involves 16 targets for plant their taxa including the number of locations each taxon is
conservation. The targets were set with an initial deadline of known globally and current global conservation status.
2010, after which they were revised and new targets were
developed for the period 2011-2020. Target 8 is directly aimed It is important for ex situ collections to share accurate data
at using ex situ collections to support conservation: more broadly and keep it updated. PlantSearch relies on
collection holders to upload up-to-date taxa lists on an
‘At least 75% of threatened plant species in ex situ collections, annual basis to ensure accuracy and enhance usability of
preferably within the country of origin, and at least 20% the data. www.bgci.org/plant_search.php
available for recovery and restoration programmes’ by 2020.

Conifers
Conifers grow on all continents except Antarctica. Some genera

have broad distributions, spanning continents, with many taxa,
while others are monotypic or contain taxa endemic to a very
small area. Figure 1 shows a map of global conifer distributions
in the wild.
There are 615 conifer species recognised globally2. Conifers are

classified into eight families: Pinaceae (ca. 223 species),
Cupressaceae (ca. 135 species), Podocarpaceae (ca. 174 Figure 1: Global distribution of conifers in the wild (Source:
species), Araucariaceae (ca. 36 species), Taxaceae (ca. 24 Aljos Farjon and Denis Filer, An Atlas of the World’s Conifers.
species), Cephalotaxaceae (ca. 8 species), Phyllocladaceae (ca. Brill, Leiden & Boston, 2013).
4 species) and Sciadopityaceae (1 species) (IUCN, 2013a).
All known conifer species were assessed and incorporated into
Uses ‘The World List of Threatened Trees’ (Oldfield, et al., 1998) and
subsequently published to the IUCN Red List. Some taxa were
Conifers are one of the world’s most important timber reassessed periodically since the 1998 assessments.
resources. Many species are fast growing, producing soft wood
that is straight and has multiple uses. This means they have A full global reassessment of conifer species was published to
huge economic importance. Exploitation of conifer resources the IUCN Red List in July 20133. This work was coordinated by
from forests is ongoing, but there is a trend towards using more Aljos Farjon, Chair of the IUCN/SSC Conifer Specialist Group,
sustainable sources, such as from plantations, especially in and jointly undertaken with staff at the Royal Botanic Garden
developed countries. Edinburgh. According to the global reassessment, of the 615
recognised species of conifer, 211 species (34%) are now listed
Not all conifer species are fast growing; some are slow growing on the IUCN Red List as threatened with extinction (IUCN,
and individuals can live for thousands of years and reach 2013a). This represents an increase of 4% since the last
enormous sizes. Sequoiadendron giganteum, the Giant complete assessment in 1998.
Redwood (assessed as Endangered (EN) on the IUCN Red List
(IUCN, 2013a)) is the largest tree species in the world.
Individuals can reach huge diameters, the largest individual
tree, known as ‘General Sherman’ has a circumference near the
ground of 31.1m and provides habitat to thousands of insect
species (Global Trees, 2013).
Conifers also yield a variety of valuable Non Timber Forest

Products (NTFPs) including food (nuts and seeds), resins and
medicinal extracts. The most notable example of medicinal use
is the anti-cancer agent Taxol produced from Taxus species
(Yew trees). Since discovery of the medicinal uses of Taxol from
Taxus brevifolia in the 1960s, species of this genus have
become heavily exploited for treating various forms of cancer
(Global Trees, 2013).
Conifers are also very popular for their ornamental value,

leading to their high prevalence in private and public parks and
gardens around the world. Many ornamental collections focus
on conifer cultivars rather than true, botanical taxa.
Threats facing conifers
The threats facing the world’s conifers are common to many of

the world’s tree species (see Table 1, p. 12).
Status of conifer Red Listing
The variety of threats facing wild conifer populations has led to

a number of them being given threatened status. The Sequoiadendron giganteum at Wakehurst Place, UK.
IUCN/SSC Conifer Specialist Group is responsible for Endangered (EN), reported as held in 181 ex situ collections
undertaking conservation assessments of the world’s conifers. worldwide.
2
The exact figure varying with taxonomic revisions and disagreement among specialists.
3
With the exception of Microcachrys tetragona which was published to the IUCN Red List in November 2013 and Agathis australis 9
which has no assessment presently listed on the IUCN Red List as the conservation status of this taxon is under discussion.
Case Study 2: Climate Adaptation for the Conservation and Management of Yellow-cedar
Paul E. Hennon, United States Department of Agriculture

(USDA) Forest Service
Expansive areas of pristine yellow-cedar (Callitropsis

nootkatensis (D. Don) ex D.P. Little) forests have been dying
for the past 100 years. This severe tree death (Figure A)
extends 1,000 km along the North Pacific coast in Alaska
and British Columbia. Once a mystery, research has revealed
the paradoxical cause of this forest problem -- freezing injury
to tree roots which are no longer protected by snow in a
warming climate. We use this new knowledge as the
foundation for a detailed climate adaptation strategy to
sustain the culturally, economically, and ecologically valuable
yellow-cedar.
Figure A. Cascading site, climate, and physiological factors that

lead to tree death for yellow-cedar. The mitigating role of snow
is shown.
Longer-term climate or near-term weather events influence each

of these steps. The cool, moist climate that developed in coastal
Alaska several thousand years ago created the bog and forested
wetland conditions that favoured the abundance of yellow-cedar
but also forced shallow rooting (Beier, et al., 2008). A unique
nitrogen acquisition adaptation helped yellow-cedar to be more
competitive on these wet sites but further increased its
vulnerability to fine roots freezing (D’Amore, et al., 2009). The
open canopy condition of forests on boggy soils (Hennon et al.,
2010) permitted a more extreme microclimate: greater warming to
trigger cedar dehardening in late winter (Schaberg et al., 2005)
and less thermal cover for cold temperature penetration into soils
during cold weather (Hennon et al., 2010). Research on cold
tolerance demonstrated the vulnerability of yellow-cedar roots to
Intense tree death in Alaska known as yellow-cedar decline. freezing in late winter and early spring: soil temperatures below
(Credit: Paul E. Hennon, USDA Forest Service) -5 ˚C are lethal to yellow-cedar roots (Schaberg et al., 2008)
but not other associated tree species (Schaberg et al., 2011).
Early research evaluated possible biotic causes of forest These seasonal conditions are frequent in coastal Alaska and
decline (e.g. fungi, insects, nematodes, and viruses) but British Columbia when cold high-pressure continental air masses
found none to play significant roles in injury or death move across the narrow interior-coastal boundary to injure yellow-
(Hennon et al., 1997). Spatial patterns of healthy and cedar roots, which is the proximal cause of this forest decline
impacted forests on the landscape and a preliminary risk (Hennon et al., 2012).
analysis of abiotic factors (D’Amore and Hennon, 2006)
provided valuable clues that led to a working model to Reduced snow is the environmental change that triggered the
explain yellow-cedar tree death (Figure A). Individual studies widespread mortality, particularly as the climate emerged from the
were then used to test each step in the cascading complex Little Ice Age in the late 1800s and further warmed in the late
of landscape and site factors and the one physiological 1900s (Beier et al., 2008). The presence of snow buffers soil
vulnerability of yellow-cedar—late winter freezing injury to temperatures, disrupting the progression of events leading to tree
fine roots (Hennon et al., 2012). injury (Figure A). Comparing snow models to the distribution of

yellow-cedar decline at several spatial scales illustrates the even broader ecosystem effects because of the manner in
controlling influence of snow in the health of yellow-cedar forests which yellow-cedar alters pH, calcium, phosphorus, and
(Hennon et al., 2012). Yellow-cedar is healthy where snow persists nitrogen concentrations (D’Amore, 2009). Yellow-cedar
past the last cold period in spring, or where yellow-cedar is deep- decline illustrates the challenge in establishing conservation
rooted on better-drained soils. landscapes to protect populations of species by minimizing
human activities but yet nonetheless are significantly altered
How do we use this knowledge to maintain and manage this by climate change.
valuable tree species? The initial step in the adaptive conservation
strategy is to model and display current and future suitable In areas where vegetation management occurs, yellow-cedar
habitat for yellow-cedar. The complex cause of tree death can be can be promoted through active management by assisting
reduced to two risk factors for landscape species vulnerability its regeneration and competitive status on sites considered
modelling: soil drainage and snow accumulation. Forecasting to be favourable now and in the future. Planting or thinning
future snow levels helps to identify yellow-cedar populations that is often needed to ensure the initial regeneration and early
are currently healthy but at risk for future mortality due to growth of yellow-cedar (Hennon et al., 2009), as the species
inadequate late winter snowpack. has low reproductive capacity. These activities are directed
at higher elevation or on well-drained soils where snow or
This partitioning of the coastal landscape into suitable and deeper rooting, respectively, protects yellow-cedar roots
unsuitable areas for yellow-cedar is essential for considering its from lethally cold temperatures. Nudging yellow-cedar’s
viability in landscapes in protected conservation status and in niche toward well-drained soils by planting and thinning
those that are actively managed. Much of the widespread yellow- offers an attractive option because these are the sites that
cedar mortality is in landscapes designated in conservation status have the greatest forest productivity and history of forest
that have no active forest management. Current research management.
investigates how natural processes play out in unmanaged areas,
especially the successional trajectories that favour other tree The extreme economic value of yellow-cedar wood provides
species as forests emerge from intensive yellow-cedar mortality. another opportunity for management in the conservation
The loss of yellow-cedar populations may also signal changes in strategy. Recent studies demonstrate that dead yellow-cedar
the chemistry of soils, stream water, and vegetation to create forests represent a surprisingly valuable potential wood
resource from salvage recovery even for trees that have been
dead for up to a century (Hennon et al., 2007; Hennon et al.,
1990). The exceptional heartwood chemistry of dead trees
(Kelsey, et al., 2005) greatly slows deterioration to retain
wood properties long after death (Hennon et al., 2007).
Salvage recovery of dead yellow-cedar where it is now
maladapted (i.e. to inadequate snow on wet sites) can relieve
pressures from timber harvesting in other areas more
suitable for long-term conservation of yellow-cedar.
Yellow-cedar decline highlights the paradoxes and

complexities that might be expected in other forest - climate
change scenarios. The physiological mechanisms of species
vulnerabilities to climate change need to be identified, tested
experimentally, and linked to where tree species grow in
forest ecosystems. Climate requirements can be viewed as
one part of tree species’ niches, which then need to be
integrated with soils preferences, biotic interactions, as well
as management experience to support the development of
adaptive strategies.
Yellow-cedar tree succumbing to the root freezing injury

and death. (Credit: Paul E. Hennon, USDA Forest Service).

Threat Description
Habitat Conifers are common features in forests around the world. Areas of forest or woodland are increasingly being
destruction and cleared for food production to support growing human populations, urban expansion, oil and mineral extraction
degradation operations and large scale developments such as hydro-electric infrastructure. This leads to loss of habitat and
degraded forest areas.
Forest fires Wildfires can destroy large areas of forests that provide habitat to the world’s conifer species. The Food and
Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations (FAO) reported that the area of forest affected by fire is hugely
underreported; less than 10% of forest fires are prescribed burning while the rest are classified as wildfires
(FAO, 2010).
Extraction for Timber produced from conifer species provides an important source of income, but if not carefully managed,
timber felling in natural forests can have negative effects on species populations and natural ecosystems.
Establishment of timber plantations can reduce pressure on natural extraction. Sustainable forest management
(SFM) has also been a major global goal over the past twenty years, but efforts have not always been
successful, particularly in developing countries (FAO, 2010).
Extraction for The popularity of conifer species in private collections can threaten their survival in the wild. Full plants or
ornamental/ seedlings can be extracted from the wild for sale as ornamentals. Over-harvesting can threaten wild
landscaping populations. For such species wild collection needs to be controlled and nursery production can further subside
purposes collector demand. Over-exploitation can lead to taxa being listed as threatened on the IUCN Red List and
included in Convention on International Trade of Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES)
Appendices, such as Araucaria araucana (IUCN status of Endangered (EN) and listed in CITES Appendix I).
Extraction of non- Non-timber products obtained from conifer species include resin, edible seeds, medicines and fire wood
timber products (particularly in developing countries). Sustainable harvesting is essential for these taxa, but such methods are
often not employed. For example, the majority of Asian Yew species are now listed as threatened on the IUCN
Red List (IUCN, 2013a) and are included in Appendix II of CITES (CITES, 2013) as a result of over-exploitation
for the anti-cancer agent Taxol.
Pests, diseases Pests, diseases and invasive species pose great threats to the world’s biodiversity and global economic health
and invasive (Pimentel et al., 2005). Pests and diseases have had particularly detrimental effects on tree populations in recent
species years, including numerous wild conifer populations. Imports of timber and food products and ornamental plants
have increased the risk of introducing new invasive plants, pests and diseases internationally. The effects of
invasive species are particularly large for conifers and other tree species, as the growth and re-establishment
rate of tree species is generally slow.
Climate change Climate change can alter ecosystem integrity. Water availability and temperature increases can force species to
shift to higher latitudes and altitudes. Climate change is a particular threat to montane tree species already
occupying the highest elevations of their natural ranges. This is also of particular concern for species with poor
regeneration mechanisms, which do not have the ability to shift and establish in new habitats fast enough to
keep up with climate change.
Weak, outdated Proper legislation and enforcement is lacking to protect natural populations of some conifer species. Although
or fragmented many countries have signed the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) and Convention on International
legislation and Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES), policy-related issues such as weak
insufficient or implementation at federal levels and conflicting policies can abate such measures (Brandon et al., 1998). This
ineffective leads to insufficient or ineffective conservation. In situ conservation is an important mechanism for protecting
conservation species and most countries have established networks of protected areas such as national parks and nature
measures reserves, but despite substantial efforts to ensure the effective management of some protected areas, many
are not so well monitored; as a result, illegal logging, extraction, forest clearance and urban encroachment
persist (Chape et al., 2005).
Slow or poor Many conifer taxa have slow growth rates and slow or poor natural regeneration. This limits their ability to
natural re-establish following habitat disturbance. All above-mentioned threats are compounded for taxa with
regeneration regeneration difficulty.
Table 1: Threats facing conifers worldwide4.
4
Information included in Table 1 has been collated from a number of sources including Farjon and Page (1999) and Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United
12 Nations (FAO, 2010). Additional references are provided within the text of Table 1. See individual taxon assessments on the IUCN Red List (IUCN, 2013a) or
‘Threatened conifers of the world’ (http://threatenedconifers.rbge.org.uk/), maintained by the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh (RBGE, 2013) for details of threats to
specific taxa.
The conservation status of 33 conifer species has worsened
since the 1998 assessments. The Monterey Pine (Pinus radiata)
was previously assessed as Least Concern, but the most
recent assessment categorises this species as Endangered.
This species is the world’s most widely planted pine species,
highly valued for its rapid growth and pulp qualities. However,
the continuing decline of natural populations of this species
and the remaining small area of occupancy which has led to its
Endangered status assignment is a result of past and ongoing
threats including logging, feral goats, an introduced alien
pathogen and competition from other trees in the absence of
periodic fires (IUCN, 2013a).
Another conifer species previously assessed as Least Concern

and now assessed as Endangered is the Atlas Cedar (Cedrus
atlantica). This species is native to the Atlas Mountains of
Algeria and Morocco and is now considered Endangered due
to the species decline experienced over the last 50 years, Ex situ conifer collections at Bedgebury National Pinetum, UK.
mainly as a result of over-exploitation. Remaining populations
are further threatened by various pests, overgrazing, drought Ex situ conservation of conifers
and repeated burning (IUCN, 2013a).
As described previously for all plant taxa, ex situ collections are
Conservation action has led to an improved IUCN Red List an essential conservation measure to safeguard against
status for the Lawson’s Cypress (Chamaecyparis lawsoniana). extinction. Botanic gardens play valuable roles in conserving
This once heavily-logged species, the wild population of which threatened conifers and are well-placed to carry out the essential
also declined due to an introduced pathogen, was listed as work needed in the future. Ex situ conifer collections provide
Vulnerable in its last assessment in 2000. It is now classified as valuable means for researching and reducing the impacts of two
Near Threatened as a result of improved management practices major threats listed in Table 1; pests and diseases, and climate
in California and Oregon, including planting disease-resistant change. See Case Studies 1 (p. 6) and 2 (p. 10) for examples on
stock. If conservation actions continue for this species, it may how ex situ collections assist in the management of pests and
be listed as Least Concern within 10 years (IUCN, 2013a). diseases and climate change, respectively.
The updated conservation assessments have been used to The maintenance of conifer taxa in ex situ collections, particularly
produce a Sampled Red List Index for Plants (IUCN, 2013b). in scientific institutions such as botanic gardens and arboreta,
The Red List Index aims to determine the status of biodiversity, supports conservation, education and research of these taxa.
how it changes over time, and the extinction risk of individual Research in these institutions includes, for example, analysis of
species. The Sampled Red List Index for Plants is based on a potential impacts caused by, and management techniques for,
sample of 7,000 plant species, including all conifer species. pests and diseases, and the development of propagation
knowledge, including the cultivation of disease-resistant stock.
Table 2 summarises the number of conifer taxa recorded in Ex situ conifer collections also provide a valuable resource for
2013 under each IUCN Red List category. reintroduction and restoration programmes (see Case Studies 4
(p. 23) and 5 (p. 25) for examples).
Conifers are popular in ex situ collections, historically and

IUCN Red List Status Number % of total presently, due to their ornamental value. They are therefore
of taxa conifer taxa commonly found in collections of botanic gardens, arboreta
and private or public parks. This does not necessarily
Extinct (EX) 0 0 guarantee these collections are of high conservation value,
Extinct in the wild (EW) 0 0 however. Poor documentation, little genetic diversity, and
Threatened
Critically Endangered (CR) 42 5.0 unknown or non–wild source plant material are common issues
Endangered (EN) 131 15.7 for ex situ collections that limit their conservation value.
Vulnerable (VU) 119 14.3
Near Threatened (NT) 129 15.5 A number of studies have been undertaken prior to this one to
Least Concern (LC) 389 46.7 determine the presence of threatened conifer taxa within ex situ
Data Deficient (DD) 23 2.8 collections. In September 1989 the Botanic Garden
Conservation Secretariat (BGCS) undertook a survey to identify
Table 2: Conservation status of conifer taxa assessed on the which of the 264 conifer taxa then considered to be threatened
IUCN Red List, according to IUCN Red List Categories and were held in ex situ collections. Information from 183 gardens
Criteria: Version 3.1 (IUCN, 2013a)5. was received for the 1989 survey and found that these gardens
5
Table 2 shows information for infraspecific taxa assessed separately on the IUCN Red List. In some cases, where the infraspecific taxon assessment is the same
as the species level assessment, a separate assessment has not been published. The total number of conifer taxa is therefore greater than the total number of 13
taxa assessed separately. The percentage of threatened taxa represented in Table 2 is 35%, higher than the official figure of 34% which refers to the percentage
of threatened species, rather than total taxa as presented here.
held 179 (or approximately 68%) of threatened conifers in Guidance is also provided to go beyond ex situ collections and
cultivation. The majority of taxa held in collections (all except encourage integrated conservation of threatened conifers
five species) included at least one accession of wild origin. allowing for reintroduction and restoration programmes that
Picea omorika was reported as the most commonly grown support in situ conservation efforts.
threatened species, followed by Abies pinsapo and Araucaria
heterophylla (Leadlay, 1990). Important references are presented in the Useful Resources
section, p. 31. A key reference to be consulted alongside this
The IUCN/SSC Conifer Specialist Group ‘Status Survey and report is ‘Integrated conservation of tree species by botanic
Conservation Action Plan’ (Farjon and Page, 1999) listed gardens: a reference manual’ (Oldfield and Newton, 2012),
priority taxa for ex situ conservation on a regional basis. The which provides a step-by-step guide to undertaking integrated
report also documented collections held by large institutions: conservation of tree species.
Pinetum Blijdenstein (The Netherlands), Royal Botanic Garden
Edinburgh (four gardens, UK), Royal Botanic Gardens Kew (UK) A number of case studies are presented within this report to
and Royal Botanic Gardens Sydney (Australia). illustrate real-world examples of conifer conservation
undertaken by various botanic gardens and arboreta
throughout the world. These case studies illustrate the capacity
Aims and objectives of this survey and skills held in these institutions and demonstrate that they
are well placed to carry out valuable conservation work.
This assessment builds upon the ‘Status Survey and
Conservation Action Plan for Conifers’ (Farjon and Page, 1999). The ex situ collections data, case studies, and
The most up-to-date conservation status assessments recommendations within this report demonstrate how botanic
available on the IUCN Red List (IUCN, 2013a) serve as the gardens fulfil vital conservation roles, working in tandem with in
foundation for this conservation collections assessment. situ efforts, to support threatened wild populations and reduce
pressure on shrinking populations. While this report is focused
The ex situ survey supporting this report reanalyses the current on conifers, the information and recommendations presented
status of conifer collections, with particular focus on threatened are intended to be of value to the broader conservation
taxa. The survey identifies which threatened taxa are currently community and ex situ collection holders.
maintained in and absent from ex situ collections. The survey
also aims to determine the conservation value of collections of
threatened taxa by analysing the number of individuals reported Methodology
in collections and their known provenances.
The methodology of this survey followed that employed for
This report provides a number of recommendations for ex situ previous ex situ surveys undertaken by BGCI. The survey has
conservation of threatened conifers based on collections data been conducted at a global level, including all conifer taxa, and
reported to BGCI in 2012 and 2013. The recommendations ex situ collection holders from around the world were invited to
provide a basis for inclusion of additional threatened conifer contribute data.
taxa in collections as well as improving existing collections.
Data collection
In August 2012, the first announcement of the ex situ conifer

survey was released, inviting collection holders to provide a list
of the conifers held in ex situ collections to BGCI’s PlantSearch
database. Further information was also requested for each
threatened conifer taxon, as follows:
• Provenance of material (wild, horticultural or unknown

source)
• Number of individuals
• Whether the conifer is part of a restoration or reintroduction
programme led by the institution
The invitation to participate in the survey was sent to members

of the IUCN/SSC Global Tree Specialist Group and botanic
gardens and arboreta identified as holding important collections
of conifers, identified by searching for key words (including
conifer, conifers, Abies, Araucaria, etc.) in BGCI’s
GardenSearch database. The survey was also promoted on
Chamaecyparis lawsoniana at Bedgebury National Pinetum, the BGCI website and through BGCI’s e-newsletter, Cultivate.
UK. Near Threatened (NT), reported as held in 160 ex situ Survey announcements were also sent to a number of
collections worldwide. networks, including the U.S. Conifer Societies and distributed

Taxonomy
The taxonomy used in this survey aligns with the Conifer

Database, maintained by Aljos Farjon, the most up-to-date
version is available in BRAHMS (Farjon, 2013). The Conifer
Database recognises 615 conifer species (accepted names).
The conifer assessments published on the IUCN Red List follow
the taxonomy of the Conifer Database, therefore this taxonomy
was selected to ensure the ex situ survey aligns with the
conservation assessments. The Conifer Database also includes
recognised synonyms. The following section explains how
synonyms were incorporated into the analysis.
Analysis
Information held in PlantSearch was compared to a list of

accepted names and synonyms held in the Conifer Database in
BRAHMS (Farjon, 2013). Conifer records held in PlantSearch
were downloaded from the database for further analysis. This
included records that were an exact match to the accepted
names and synonyms listed in the Conifer Database, as well as
records that were a near match (for example Abies fraserii as
well as Abies fraseri and Abies cilicica ssp. cilicica as well as
Abies cilicica subsp. cilicica). Records that linked to more than
one accepted name were left out of the analysis6. All records
including a cultivar epithet were excluded from analysis.
The results of this initial analysis was the number of institutions
known to maintain each taxon (see Annex I, p. 35). A separate
analysis was undertaken including all known cultivar records,
Sciadopitys verticillata at Bedgebury National Pinetum, UK. to analyse overall conifer collections composition. Additional
Near Threatened (NT), reported as held in 156 ex situ accession-level information was collected and compiled for
collections worldwide. threatened taxa and analysed to determine further conservation
value of collections. This included provenance information and
via a number of other relevant listserv and mailing lists. number of individuals held in each collection (see Results and
Additionally, all invitations and announcements requested that analysis section, p. 16).
the invitation be forwarded on to other known important conifer
collection holders in an aim to obtain data from as many conifer
collections as possible.
Plant lists were either directly uploaded to PlantSearch by

participating institutions, or sent to BGCI via email and
subsequently uploaded to PlantSearch for analysis. Additional
information on provenance and number of individuals was
submitted in Microsoft Excel format and analysed in
combination with PlantSearch data. Data submitted via the
International Conifer Conservation Programme (ICCP)
collections were carefully incorporated to avoid any duplicate
data sets provided directly from institutions within the ICCP.
The data collection period was extended to align with the

publishing of the updated conifer conservation assessments on
the IUCN Red List in July 2013. This ensured the survey was Xanthocyparis vietnamensis at Bedgebury National Pinetum,
based on the most recent conservation assessments available. UK. Endangered (EN), reported as held in 17 ex situ collections
Data was accepted until August 2013. worldwide.
Information was not collected on the type of material held by A number of limitations to the data provided and survey
institutions (i.e. seed, explants or living plant), although a methodology are acknowledged in the Results and analysis
majority of collections are assumed to be composed of living section as well (p. 24). Overall findings were used to develop
plants. It is recommended, p. 28, that this be incorporated into recommendations for further work and ex situ collections
further study. development (see Recommendations, p. 28).
6
This accounted for ca. 50 plant records, representing Global Survey of Ex situ Conifer Collections 15
ca. 30 synonyms matching more than one accepted name.
Results and analysis
Ex situ collections: Number of species in

collections (per IUCN Red List status) Taxa reported in ex situ collections
Taxa not reported in ex situ collections
The survey of ex situ collections identified 27,173 conifer
records7 from over 800 institutions8 matching accepted names 400
or synonyms listed in the Conifer Database in BRAHMS (Farjon, 386
2013). This included data uploaded to PlantSearch and data 350
provided directly to support this survey. Table 3 summarises
the conifer collections identified in this survey. 300
Number of taxa
Overall survey results show that 81.2% of threatened conifer 250
taxa are reported in ex situ collections; and that Target 8 of
the GSPC to have at least 75% of threatened plants in ex situ 200
collections is being met for threatened conifer taxa.
150
Despite meeting Target 8, there are no known ex situ 109
98 104
collections reported for 7 Critically Endangered (CR) and 33 100
Endangered (EN) conifer taxa. If the threatened wild
35 48
populations of these taxa are lost, there are no ex situ 50 33
collections in place as an insurance policy against extinction. 7 15 20 15 9
Presence and absence of taxa in ex situ collections according 0
to IUCN Red List status is shown in Figure 2. CR EN VU NT LC DD
IUCN Red List status
The following seven Critically Endangered (CR) taxa are
currently not reported by any collections and should be brought Figure 2: Presence and absence of threatened conifer taxa
into ex situ collections as a matter of urgency: known in ex situ collections per IUCN Red List status (Critically
Endangered (CR), Endangered (EN), Vulnerable (VU), Near
• Juniperus gracilior var. ekmanii Threatened (NT), Least Concern (LC), Data Deficient (DD)).
• Pinus squamata
• Podocarpus costaricensis Annex I (p. 35) provides a full list of all threatened conifer taxa, with
• Podocarpus palawanensis IUCN Red List status and the number of ex situ collections reporting
• Podocarpus perrieri each taxon. This list is available electronically upon request.
• Podocarpus sellowii var. angus
• Amentotaxus argotaenia var. brevifolia Further, this survey has shown that many threatened conifer
taxa are only represented in a single or small number of
collections. Figure 3 illustrates that 79 globally threatened taxa
No. of taxa No. of taxa Total no.
(Critically Endangered, Endangered or Vulnerable) have only
reported in not reported of taxa
ex situ in ex situ been reported in 1-5 collections. This is not a sustainable
collections collections
CR 35 7 42 Threatened taxa reported in Threatened taxa not reported in

EN 98 33 131 ex situ collections: 81.2% ex situ collections: 18.8%
VU 104 15 119
NT 109 20 129 Non-threatened taxa reported in Non-threatened taxa not reported

LC 386 48 4349 ex situ collections: 87.9 % in ex situ collections: 12.1%
DD 15 9 248 Data Deficient taxa reported in Data Deficient taxa not reported
ex situ collections: 62.5% in ex situ collections: 37.5%
Total 747 132 879

Table 3: Summary of ex situ conifer collections survey.
7
Each record included in this survey represents the presence of a single living conifer taxon within an institution and may include multiple accessions and/or
individual specimens.
8
This represents conifer collection records from 635 institutions with plant lists held in BGCI’s PlantSearch database and 230 institutions involved in the International
16 Conifer Conservation Programme (ICCP), led by the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh. Overlap between ICCP institutions which maintain collection records in
PlantSearch has been accounted for. The total number of ex situ collections represented in this study is 838.
9
The total number of Least Concern (LC) and Data Deficient (DD) taxa presented in Table 3 differs to the total number in Table 2 as some infraspecific taxa were
assessed within species level assessments on the IUCN Red List, reducing the total number of taxa reported in Table 2.
Conversely, four Critically Endangered (CR) taxa are reported as
60 present in more than 50 collections worldwide and therefore
VU EN CR presumably more secure. These are listed in Table 5. Sixteen
50 Endangered (EN) taxa and fifteen Vulnerable (VU) taxa are also
reported as present in more than 50 collections worldwide.
Number of taxa
40 There is great potential for these collections to collaborate to

achieve maximum conservation potential by comparing data on
30 genetics or provenance of material and increase the genetic
diversity of collections by sharing existing material and
20 strategically planning collections from missing populations.
Case Study 3 (p. 20) provides details of the International
10 Conifer Conservation Programme (ICCP), demonstrating how
conservation value can be increased through the development
0 of partnerships and ensuring material is shared across multiple
1
2-5
6-10
11-20
21-30
31-50
51-100
>100
institutions and sites.
Number of collections
Taxon name Number of collections
Figure 3: Number of collections of threatened conifer taxa reported worldwide
reported to PlantSearch per IUCN Red List status (Critically
Endangered (CR), Endangered (EN) and Vulnerable (VU)). Abies numidica 71
Glyptostrobus pensilis 77
conservation approach due to the vulnerability of a small Wollemia nobilis 96
number of collections to, for example, a natural disaster or Araucaria angustifolia 89
disease outbreak. Additionally, one or a few collections would
likely not provide sufficient genetic diversity for in situ Table 5: Critically Endangered (CR) conifer taxa reported to
applications if remaining wild populations are lost. Four PlantSearch as held in more than 50 collections worldwide.
Critically Endangered (CR) conifer taxa are reported as held in
only one collection and an additional nine Critically Endangered
(CR) conifer taxa are reported as held in less than five
collections, as listed in Table 4. Additionally, 32 Endangered
(EN) conifer taxa and 34 Vulnerable (VU) conifer taxa are also
reported as held in 1-5 collections.
Taxon name Number of collections

reported worldwide
Juniperus barbadensis var. barbadensis 1

Juniperus saxicola 1
Abies yuanbaoshanensis 1
Podocarpus decumbens 1
Cupressus chengiana var. jiangensis 2
Juniperus deppeana var. sperryi 2
Libocedrus chevalieri 2
Abies beshanzuensis 2
Abies delavayi ssp. fansipanensis 2
Pinus massoniana var. hainanensis 2
Podocarpus urbanii 3
Dacrydium guillauminii 3
Widdringtonia whytei 4
Table 4: Critically Endangered (CR) conifer taxa reported to

PlantSearch as held in fewer than 5 collections.
Ex situ collections, particularly of threatened taxa, should

ideally be represented at multiple ex situ sites. Measures
should be taken to ensure these taxa are represented in an Wollemia nobilis at the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, UK.
increased number of ex situ collections to increase the security Critically Endangered (CR), reported as held in 96 ex situ
and conservation value of such collections. collections worldwide.

The most common threatened taxon reported in ex situ Collection balance
collections is Metasequoia glyptostroboides (EN) with 316
collections. This taxon provides a good example of Additional analysis was undertaken to gauge the number of
international collaborative conservation efforts. The Arnold conifer cultivars in collections due to their popularity as
Arboretum and several partner institutions helped to collect the landscape and ornamental trees. Figure 4 illustrates the
species from the wild in 1947 after it was rediscovered in China proportion of conifer collection records in PlantSearch that are
The Arnold Arboretum then distributed seeds to over 600 cultivars, compared with the proportion of matching botanical
locations worldwide10. taxa. Overall, 27,173 (45.7%) records are matching botanical
taxa (i.e. matching accepted names or synonyms in the Conifer
Database, Farjon, 2013), 3,695 (6.2%) are unplaced records (i.e.
they could not be matched to accepted names or synonyms in
the Conifer Database) and 28,592 (48.1%) are cultivar records.
27,173 28,592
3,695
Cultivars
Unplaced records
Matching botanical taxa
Figure 4: Collection balance showing number of conifer taxa

records reported to PlantSearch (matching botanical taxa,
unmatched names and cultivars) reported by ex situ collections.
As monitoring conservation of botanical taxa is the top priority

for PlantSearch, cultivars are not the main focus. However,
conservation of heritage and rare cultivars is an area that
PlantSearch can easily support. Figure 4 illustrates a strong
presence of cultivars in conifer collections reported to
PlantSearch (48.1% of records). This is probably due to the
availability of cultivars at nurseries, and their high display value.
Taxa that could not be matched to botanical taxa listed in the

Conifer Database (Farjon, 2013) also account for a fairly large
number of records held in PlantSearch (3,695 records, 6.2%).
These records have been labelled as unplaced records. This
includes records with ‘sp.’ or ‘sp./hybrid’ as the specific epithet
as well as unmatched records (i.e. with full botanical names
including matching genus but infraspecific epithets that did not
match any names in the Conifer Database (Farjon, 2013)).
As far as possible, records held within PlantSearch with slight
misspellings were incorporated within the analysis. The high
number of unplaced records as a result of taxonomic issues
Metasequoia glyptostroboides in Queens Gardens, Nelson, (i.e. genus matches, but infraspecific epithet does not) indicates
New Zealand. Likely a result of the seed distribution effort by variations in taxonomy among institutions, as well as between
the Arnold Arboretum, U.S.A. different references (see Limitations section for further detail).
18 There are likely more surviving collections from this effort than documented in this survey as
10
many were distributed to parks and private collections that have not participated in this survey.
Horticultural or Wild source Cultivated from material
unknown source of known wild source
No. of No. of No. of No. of No. of No. of

collections taxa collections taxa collections taxa
CR 97 21 72 25 28 8
EN 410 63 518 63 40 21
VU 367 64 447 63 49 19
Total 874 148 1,037 151 156 48
Table 6: Provenance summary of threatened conifer ex situ material reported by 39 collections and ICCP sites, per IUCN Red List
category (Critically Endangered (CR), Endangered (EN) and Vulnerable (VU)).
There is much potential to shift the focus of collections from 156

cultivated to botanical taxa, and improve management of taxon
identification, verification, and plant records management to
increase the value of collections for conservation.
Recommendations to achieve this are outlined in the
Conclusions and Recommendations section (p. 27).
874 1,037
Further analysis
PlantSearch currently only collects taxon-level information from

collections, and therefore cannot be used to determine progress
towards the restoration and recovery component of Target 8 (i.e.
whether collections can provide sufficient and appropriate material
to support recovery and restoration programmes). PlantSearch is
only a first step toward measuring collections diversity. For Wild source
example, one record in PlantSearch may represent a single plant Horticultural or unknown source
of horticultural source with little direct value to conservation efforts, Cultivated from wild source
or it may represent multiple individuals that are genetically
representative of wild populations which would be appropriate for Figure 5: Number of threatened conifer accessions per provenance
restoration work. type (horticultural or unknown source, wild source, or cultivated
from wild source) reported by 39 collections and ICCP sites.
Further analysis was undertaken to determine the conservation
value of ex situ collections of threatened conifers (CR, EN and VU)
and their availability and suitability for recovery and restoration
programmes. This analysis focused on the provenance of material
held in collections and the number of individuals held for each
taxon. Overall, 39 institutions contributed additional information
about the threatened conifer taxa maintained in their collections, 28
provided both provenance and number of individuals, 5 provided
148 153
information about provenance only, and 6 provided information
about number of individuals only. In addition to this, provenance
and number of individuals were successfully provided from all
International Conifer Conservation Programme (ICCP) collections
by the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh, UK, (ICCP involves 230
sites) which increases the confidence in this assessment11. See
Case Study 3 (p. 20) for more information about ICCP collections.
Provenance
Wild or cultivated from wild source
Provenance analysis results for threatened taxa are summarised Horticultural or unknown source
in Table 6 and Figures 5 and 6. This information has been used
to further determine the conservation value of ex situ collections Figure 6: Number of threatened conifer taxa reported by 39
of threatened taxa, with material of documented wild source collections and ICCP sites per provenance type (horticultural or
being of highest conservation value. unknown source, or wild or cultivated from wild source)12.
11
Some ICCP collections provided additional information to the survey separately.
These institutions were removed from ICCP records to avoid duplication. Global Survey of Ex situ Conifer Collections 19
12
Wild and cultivated from wild source taxa are represented together in Figure 6 to
eliminate duplicate records.
Case Study 3: The value of partnerships for conifer conservation
Martin Gardner, Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh (RBGE) Networking has been fundamental to the relative success of the
ICCP and has the advantage of spreading the risk against
The International Conifer Conservation Programme (ICCP) catastrophic losses through pathogen attack, regionally bad
based at the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh (RBGE) was weather, etc. The network is mostly spread throughout Britain
established in 1991. The main theme of the Programme is and Ireland but also includes some sites in Europe (Belgium,
to integrate ex situ with in situ conservation in order to Malta and France) and for the more tropical conifer species there
assist the conservation of conifers and associated species. is a network of sites in southeast U.S.A. which is coordinated
This is being achieved through scientific research, through Montgomery Botanical Center and Atlanta Botanical
education and cultivation. Much of the in situ work has Garden. This is typical of the sorts of regional networks the ICCP
involved capacity building in countries such as Chile, has been able to stimulate and collaborate with.
Vietnam, Laos PDR and Cambodia which has resulted in
the publication of checklists, conifer conservation status Other examples include the iCONic Project (Internationally
reports and a book on the threatened plants of south- Threatened Conifers In Our Care http://iconictrees.org) which
central Chile. The ICCP, working through the IUCN Conifer was set up in 2008 to establish a network of ‘safe sites’ in
Specialist Group, plays a key role in the red listing of Perthshire, a county in Scotland well known for its historic conifer
conifers and recently it has published the results of this plantings. The project, which is a partnership between the Royal
work on a website (http://threatenedconifers.rbge.org.uk/). Botanic Garden Edinburgh, Forestry Commission Scotland and
the Perth and Kinross Countryside Trust, is planting the next
generation of conifers in Perthshire using material of known wild
source and focusing on threatened species. To date 17 sites
have been carefully chosen in which 665 conifers have been
planted. All these conifers originate from the ICCP and are
monitored on the RBGE database.
The Bedgebury National Pinetum has developed a similar

initiative called the Bedgebury Conifer Conservation Project
(http://www.forestry.gov.uk/forestry/infd-8rgek8) again in close
collaboration with the ICCP.
ICCP has focused on species which are known to thrive in

cultivation in the British Isles. For example, all five Chilean
threatened species have been a priority (see Table A).
Molecular research carried out by ICCP on Fitzroya cupressoides

indicated that historical plantings of this species were in fact a
Multiple accessions of Prumnopitys andina being prepared single male clone. Since this research in 1993 the ICCP has been
for planting in a conservation hedge at an ICCP site. able to broaden the genetic base of plants in cultivation by using
Vulnerable (VU). (Credit: Martin Gardner, RBGE) material which has been sampled from across its nature range in
Chile (see Table A). Such an example does show what progress
At an ex situ level the aim is to maintain a representative can be made in a relatively short period of time and highlights
collection of known wild source threatened conifers the fact that just because a species is relatively common in
containing a broad genetic base which can be used for cultivation it may not have the sort of genetic integrity that is of
research and aid the restoration of depleted wild use for conservation programmes.
populations. RBGE has one of the world’s most
comprehensive collections of conifers numbering 550 taxa
but even with its four widely distributed gardens in Scotland Species No. No. No.
covering a total area of 210 hectares it still does not have sites accessions individuals
sufficient room to support a truly comprehensive Araucaria araucana 43 155 1125
conservation collection of space-demanding trees such as Fitzroya cupressoides 64 74 293
conifers. The ICCP has therefore developed a network of Pilgerodendron uviferum 43 59 325
‘safe sites’ outside of RBGE in order to accommodate a Podocarpus salignus 59 52 529
large number of conifers. Today the network of 230 sites Prumnopitys andina 55 59 325
contains 255 conifer taxa represented by 2,100 accessions
and totally 15,800 individual plants. (ICCP collections are Table A. Chilean threatened conifers in the ICCP network of sites
represented in the analysis undertaken in this report). (including RBGE sites).

Further analysis (and reiterating the findings reported in Figure
3) shows that of the wild source taxa held in collections, many
are represented only in a single collection, or small number or
collections. A few taxa are reported as held in large numbers of
collections, making up for a large proportion of the wild taxa
collections reported, as shown in Table 7.
These 13 taxa account for 477 records, or 40% of all reported

wild source collections. No wild source or cultivated from wild
source Critically Endangered (CR) taxa are reported to be held
in more than 20 collections. The best represented Critically
Endangered taxon with 17 reported collections of wild source
or cultivated from wild source material is Torreya taxifolia.
While a few taxa are represented in a large number of, and thus
very secure, wild sourced collections, the majority of wild
sourced taxa are limited to a small number of collections, which
limits their conservation value.
The existence of records of unknown source (ca. 450 records14)

in the additional information provided suggests a need for
Volunteer planting Abies fraseri in an iCONic safe site. improved record management, and/or may represent old
Endangered (EN), reported as held in 99 ex situ collections collections for which accession information was not collected
worldwide. (Credit: Martin Gardner, RBGE) or has been lost.
Ex situ material suitable for recovery or restoration programmes Number of individuals

should be of documented wild source. This analysis shows that
a larger number of records of threatened taxa for which In addition to being of documented wild source, ex situ
additional information was provided do consist of material of collections must involve enough material to be genetically
wild or cultivated from wild source material: 1,193 (57.7%) representative of wild populations to be suitable for recovery
records of threatened taxa in contributing collections, from wild and restoration programmes. This lowers the risk of reducing
or cultivated from wild source, compared to 874 (42.3%) the gene pool when reintroductions are carried out. Guerrant
records from horticultural or unknown source13. The proportion et al. (2004) recommend collecting material from ca. 50
of reported records to taxa is similar for both horticultural or individuals in ca. 50 populations for threatened taxa, but the
unknown source collections (874 records representing 148 number of individuals needed to capture adequate genetic
taxa) and wild source collections (1,193 records representing diversity varies a lot between species. Figure 7 illustrates that
153 taxa) (Figure 6). This shows that the collections that the majority of collections of threatened taxa of wild source or
supplied additional information have an equal focus on wild cultivated from wild material are based on low numbers of
source and horticultural source material. individuals and therefore would probably not provide sufficient
genetic diversity to undertake reintroduction programmes
without significant propagation efforts (79.5% of reported
Taxon name IUCN Red Number of threatened taxa in collections of wild source material are limited
List Status wild source to 5 or less individuals, compared to just 5.7% of threatened
collections taxa collections reported as holding more than 20 individuals).
Araucaria araucana EN 40 If a collection record is represented by only a single or small

Chamaecyparis formosensis EN 25 number of individuals it is also at greater risk of being lost to pest
Cunninghamia konishii EN 25 or disease infection, natural disasters, age or theft.
Fitzroya cupressoides EN 55
Sequoia sempervirens EN 34 Looking specifically at the number of individuals cultivated from
Abies pinsapo var. pinsapo EN 38 wild material, it is evident that specific collaborative cultivation
Picea omorika EN 42 programmes have been successful for some threatened conifer
Pinus armandii var. mastersiana EN 23 taxa, as large numbers (>50) of individuals are reported as
Abies cilicica ssp. isaurica VU 32 cultivated from material of known wild source by single
Picea likiangensis VU 27 institutions, including:
Pilgerodendron uviferum VU 41
Podocarpus salignus VU 34 • Torreya taxifolia (CR)
Prumnopitys andina VU 61 • Wollemia nobilis (CR)
• Larix decidua var. polinica (EN)
Table 7: Threatened taxa of wild or cultivated from wild source • Metasequoia glyptostroboides (EN)
material reported as held in a large number (25+) of collections. • Picea asperata (VU)
13
A record represents the occurrence of an individual taxon or accession(s) in a
collection. This may represent a single individual, or multiple individuals or Global Survey of Ex situ Conifer Collections 21
accessions of the same taxon.
14
This is an estimate due to reporting inconsistencies by participating institutions.
A mechanism for overcoming this is collaboration between
VU EN CR institutions to share the goal of maintaining genetically diverse
500 collections (see Case Study 3, p. 20).
400 The type of germplasm, although not collected as part of this

survey, is another important factor in determining the conservation
Number of taxa
300 value of collections. However, it is assumed that most botanic

garden and arboretum collections represent living plants. It is
200 critical to maintain specimens through time to ensure pure
lineages, viability, proper documentation, horticultural care, etc.
100
Recovery and restoration programmes
0
1
2-5
6-10
11-20
21-30
>50
Institutions were also asked to indicate any taxa included in
recovery or restoration programmes. Of the 39 responding
Number of individuals institutions, six institutions indicated they were undertaking
recovery and/or restoration programmes involving threatened
Figure 7: Number of individuals of wild or cultivated from wild conifer taxa. The following 13 threatened taxa were reported as
material reported in 39 threatened taxa collections and ICCP included in recovery and/or restoration programmes (including
sites by IUCN Red List status (Critically Endangered (CR), taxa for which reintroduction programmes have been carried out
Endangered (EN) and Vulnerable (VU)). and taxa for which appropriate and sufficient material has been
cultivated with the aim of reintroduction):
However, cultivation programmes appear not to have been
established for most wild collected threatened conifer taxa held • Taxus floridana (CR)
in the collections that provided additional information, with the • Torreya taxifolia (CR)
majority of collections limited to a small number of wild • Wollemia nobilis (CR)
collected taxa (5 or fewer taxa). • Araucaria araucana (EN)
• Fitzroya cupressoides (EN)
It can be difficult to maintain a high number of individuals in • Taxus chinensis (EN)
an ex situ collection intended for recovery and restoration • Taxus wallichiana var. mairei (EN)
programmes, due to the financial, security and staff resources • Torreya jackii (EN)
required. Another obstacle, particularly limiting for trees, and • Xanthocyparis vietnamensis (EN)
especially for fast growing taxa, is the space required to • Pilgerodendron uviferum (VU)
maintain a large number of individuals. These factors make • Prumnopitys andina (VU)
maintaining large, genetically diverse collections particularly • Pseudotaxus chienii (VU)
difficult for any institution with limited space or capacity. • Taiwania cryptomeriodes (VU)
The following taxa can be identified as potentially available for

recovery and restoration programmes as large numbers (>50)
of individuals of wild source or cultivated from wild source were
reported by individual institutions in the additional information
provided. However the genetic variability of such collections
would need to be assessed before a restoration programme
should go ahead:
• Abies numidica (CR)

• Abies pinsapo (EN)
• Larix decidua var. polonica (EN)
• Metasequoia glyptostroboides (EN)
• Picea omorika (EN)
• Sequoia sempervirens (EN)
• Athrotaxis selaginoides (VU)
• Picea asperata (VU)
With the additional information provided, 21 threatened taxa

have been reported as used in, available for, or potentially
available for recovery and restoration programmes. This
represents 7.2% of threatened conifer taxa, which is far from
Araucaria araucana, the Monkey Puzzle tree. Endangered (EN), reaching the GSPC Target 8 goal that 20% of threatened taxa
reported as held in 162 ex situ collections worldwide. be available for recovery and restoration programmes.

Case Study 4: Supporting conservation of wild populations of Torreya taxifolia.
research at the University of Florida has identified a new

species of Fusarium, Fusarium torrayae, as the disease-
causing agent. Future research will determine the host range
of the disease and offer insights on its origins.
Field surveys have found that stem damage from deer antler
rubbing is a significant source of stress in addition to
disease, and is causing severe impacts to more than 50%
of trees. Efforts at understanding ecological requirements
of this species for reintroduction include caging the trees to
protect them from deer damage. To date 21.6% of surveyed
wild trees have been caged for protection. Although the
majority of habitat for T. taxifolia is protected in state parks
or by The Nature Conservancy, until damage from deer and
stem canker can be controlled, recovery of the species is
dependent on ex situ conservation efforts.
Volunteer working on Torreya taxifolia conservation
programme at Atlanta Botanical Garden. One of the limiting factors to ex situ conservation of this
species is the inability to use conventional seed storage
Jennifer Cruse-Sanders, Atlanta Botanical Garden techniques for preserving germplasm. Torreya taxifolia
produces recalcitrant wet seeds that cannot be dried for
Torreya taxifolia, at the centre of the debate on assisted storage in freezers. Therefore, until recently the only way to
migration, is one of the rarest conifers in the world. maintain ex situ germplasm was through living collections.
For thousands of years, T. taxifolia was a large evergreen In collaboration with Georgia Institute of Technology,
canopy tree endemic to ravine forests along the a somatic embryogenesis tissue culture system was
Apalachicola River that twists through the Florida developed to initiate cultures, produce somatic seedlings and
panhandle in eastern North America. In the mid-Twentieth cryogenically store cultures of T. taxifolia. Large numbers of
Century this species suffered a catastrophic decline as all somatic embryos and resulting seedlings can be developed
reproductive age trees died, leaving only the remaining in culture from a single seed. One of the lessons learned was
seedlings in the forest. In the decades that followed, this that the water potential (-MPa) of T. taxifolia gametophyte
species did not recover. What remains is a population at tissue rises greatly, in contrast to many other coniferous tree
approximately 0.3% of its original size, which is subjected seeds, during seed after-ripening, and mimicry of this rise
to changes in hydrology, forest structure, heavy browsing in vitro is necessary to continue development of somatic
by deer, loss of reproduction capability, as well as disease embryos to produce new seedlings in culture. All of the
resulting in dieback in a manner reminiscent of American genotypes tested for cryopreservation were successfully
Chestnut following Chestnut Blight. recovered after retrieval from liquid nitrogen and can provide
material for disease research, restoration or establishment of
In 1984 this species was listed Endangered under the U.S. seed nurseries for conservation. Over the past five years
Endangered Species Act. It is currently listed as Critically significant progress has been
Endangered on the IUCN Red List. made in developing a variety
of techniques for conservation
In 1990, the Atlanta Botanical Garden received 155 clones of this critically imperilled
of T. taxifolia propagated from the remaining natural species. These collaborative
population by Arnold Arboretum and the Center for Plant projects have resulted in
Conservation. This material has been safeguarded at the scientific publications (for
Atlanta Botanical Garden during the past 23 years. example: Aoki et al., 2013;
Propagation efforts have increased the collection to almost and Ma et al., 2012),
500 plants, 61 of which have matured to produce seeds presentations and educational
and seedlings in cultivation. Beginning in 2008, Garden materials for the public.
staff began a collaborative project with biologists and
researchers at the Florida Park Service, University of
Florida, and Georgia Institute of Technology. Current efforts Stem canker affecting
include evaluation and mapping of 645 trees in the wild. Torreya taxifolia. (Credit:
Among wild trees there is a positive relationship between Jennifer Cruse-Sanders,
stem length and incidence of stem canker. Plant pathology Atlanta Botanical Garden)

Although this is based only on information provided by survey
participants, it is clear that much more work is needed to move
towards preparation for and practical implementation of
recovery and restoration programmes, particularly for Critically
Endangered (CR) and Endangered (EN) taxa for which wild
populations are most threatened.
Before carrying out any reintroduction or restoration programme,

as well as cultivation of appropriate material, thorough research is
needed to develop propagation and reintroduction protocols and
enable in-depth in situ monitoring. This requires further capacity
and although botanic gardens are well placed to undertake
research and carry out recovery programmes, this survey shows
there are limited examples where ex situ collections have
progressed to the stage of recovery programmes.
Pinus nigra ssp. laricio. Least Concern (LC), reported as held in

11 ex situ collections worldwide.
Limitations
The purpose of this survey is to provide an overview of ex situ

collections of conifers, particularly threatened taxa. The survey
does not attempt to provide an in-depth analysis of existing
collections, although such an analysis would be beneficial to
further understand the conservation value of existing
collections and further advise future collection efforts and
development.
It is firstly important to note that the accuracy of this survey is

heavily dependent on the amount and quality of data submitted
to BGCI’s PlantSearch database. It is also important to note
that this analysis presents a snapshot in time and the dynamic
nature of living collections means that the number of taxa and
specimens in collections will vary over time. Presence or
absence from ex situ collections is particularly unstable for taxa
represented only in a single or small number of collections.
There are a number of additional limitations to this survey, both

to the quality of data used and the research methods
employed:
Tsuga sieboldii. Near Threatened (NT), reported as held in 68
ex situ collections worldwide. Participation - The survey focused on, but was not limited to,
capturing information from ex situ conifer collections held in
Recommendations for moving towards achievement of the botanic gardens and arboreta. Conifers are popular ornamental
20% restoration and recovery goal are provided in the and landscaping trees and many occur in private collections
Conclusions and Recommendations section. Case Studies 4 which have likely been under-represented in this survey. It is
(p. 23) and 5 (p. 25) provide examples of botanic garden led likely that additional taxa records of threatened conifer taxa
recovery and restoration programmes. exist in private or other collections not included in this survey.
The provenance and plant records management of these
It is important to note that although collections of horticultural collections would further determine the conservation value of
source and collections with a single individual or few individuals the collections.
hold limited value for direct conservation action, these collections
still hold great value in terms of indirect conservation, through Outreach method - Survey announcements were only
research, horticulture and education. This is explored further and circulated in English and via a limited electronic method. This
recommendations for small collection management are made in was the best option available but may have excluded some
the Conclusions and Recommendations section (p. 27). potential participants.

Case Study 5: Ex situ conservation of threatened Taxus species in Lushan Botanical
Garden and Pseudotaxus chienii reinforcement to Jinggangshan National Nature Reserve
Peng Yansong, Lushan Botanical Garden, China Germination and propagation studies were also undertaken
and a viable stock of plants was built up to prepare for
The majority of Chinese Taxaceae species are listed as recovery and restoration programmes for some Taxaceae
threatened on the IUCN Red List. Most of the trees are species. This included 50 seedlings of P. chienii that were
small or even shrub-like because they grow at high propagated from seed and reintroduced to Jinggangshan
altitudes and on exposed ridges. The populations of these National Nature Reserve. Monitoring was undertaken at
species have been reducing each year. reintroduction sites with the aim of reaching 80% survival rates.
Example species: Further studies on the intraspecific and interspecific

competition in natural communities of P. chienii were
Pseudotaxus chienii, is the only species of this genus, but undertaken in Mount Jinggangshan. At restoration sites, local
it is closely related to other yews in the genus Taxus. It is communities were involved in conservation activities,
endemic to southern China, occurring in Fujian, northern including a reinforcement programme for threatened Chinese
Guangdong, northern Guangxi, Hunan, Southwest Jiangxi Yew species, to raise awareness and knowledge of natural
and southern Zhejiang. Only 10 populations remain in resource management.
China. The species is listed as Vulnerable on the IUCN
Red List and it is noted that it has undergone a suspected To further support conservation work and public
population reduction in the past three generations (>90 engagement, a workshop on the reintroduction of threatened
years) of more than 30% due to exploitation and habitat plants to Jinggangshan National Nature Reserve was held in
loss (it is uncertain if the reduction has exceeded the 50% August 2011, involving 150 representatives from research
threshold required for listing the species as Endangered, institutes, universities and botanic gardens in China, and
although it was previously assessed in this higher threat experts from the IUCN/SSC Conifer Specialist Group.
category) (IUCN, 2013a). As well as the threat of habitat Handbooks were produced on how to protect Chinese rare
loss, Pseudotaxus chienii naturally occurs at a low density, Taxus species. Two hundred copies were distributed to
and has poor regeneration ability, a senescent population participants of the workshop.
type, low seed germination and experiences high mortality
of seedlings and samplings. It is crucial to propagate this
species by sexual reproduction and maintain a safe ex situ
collection of the species.
A number of activities were undertaken by Lushan

Botanical Garden to conserve these threatened species.
For example, additional Taxaceae species were brought
into the arboretum of Lushan Botanical Garden with labels
for public outreach.
Reintroduction of Pseudotaxus chienii at Mount

Jinggangshan, China. (Credit: BGCI China)
PlantSearch – PlantSearch is the only tool available for

measuring progress towards Target 8 of the GSPC at a global
level, however there are number of limitations to its current
capabilities which may affect survey outcomes to some degree.
These include potentially out of date records stored in and
provided to PlantSearch, issues with verification of plant names
contributed to PlantSearch, and lack of detailed provenance
data for collections recorded in PlantSearch. These have been
recognised by BGCI in this and previous ex situ surveys, and
work is ongoing to improve PlantSearch functionality and ability
to further assess the conservation value of collections.
Sciadopitys verticillata. Near Threatened (NT), reported as held

in 156 ex situ collections worldwide.

Unavailability of collections data in electronic format –
Not all gardens are able to provide electronic lists of taxa to
PlantSearch. This may have excluded additional collection
holders from participating in the survey.
Additional information provided – Additional information on

provenance and number of individuals per collection was
requested for threatened conifer taxa. As the conservation
assessments were updated in July 2013, with some new taxa
now being recognised as threatened, institutions that submitted
data prior to the publication of the updated assessments may
not have provided information on these taxa, despite them
being represented in their collections. These taxa may therefore
be under-represented in the analysis of collections provenance.
Cultivars – An analysis was undertaken to determine collection

balance in terms of threatened taxa, versus non-threatened
taxa and cultivars. Although PlantSearch does accept cultivar
records (provided that the stem of the record is accepted by
PlantSearch) this is not the main focus of PlantSearch, nor the
focus of calls to submit information to PlantSearch. The
number of cultivars represented in PlantSearch may therefore
be under-represented, if institutions select to only upload the
botanical taxa held in their collection.
Current condition of accessions reported – Information was

not gathered on the current health of collection material, some
of the taxa could therefore be failing in health and therefore of
limited value to conservation. Gathering this information could
also potentially highlight geographic regions where certain taxa
Thuja koraiensis at the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, UK. survive better or worse.
Vulnerable (VU), reported as held in 92 ex situ collections
worldwide. Dynamic nature of collections – As living collections are
constantly changing, some individuals will be lost and new
Unplaced records - This survey has, as far as possible, accessions will be added through time. This analysis therefore
endeavoured to incorporate records within PlantSearch, only represents a snap-shot of the current status of ex situ
with slight alterations to the spellings of accepted names in collections and it should be recognised that the status of
the Conifer Database (Farjon, 2013). This was achieved by collections is subject to frequent change.
searching for a near match within PlantSearch records as well
as an exact match. This assessment has also endeavoured to
incorporate records listed in PlantSearch under their synonyms
rather than accepted names. Where conifer records could not
be matched to accepted names or synonyms, as listed in the
Conifer Database, these were classified as unplaced names.
Where synonyms linked to more than one accepted name, these
plant records could not be assigned to a particular accepted
name and were therefore included in the unplaced records
category. Accounting for these unplaced names would require
contacting each institution and this was not possible within the
scope of this survey. Some threatened taxa may therefore be
held in collections, but with a different name to those on the
Conifer Database. As well as potentially affecting the results of
this survey, this highlights the issues of taxonomy common to
many plant groups and potential problems caused by different
taxonomy and resources used by different institutions.
Records management in participating institutions – There is Sequoia sempervirens showing good regeneration capacity
a risk that some of the taxa held in collections may have been following burning in the Santa Lucia Range, California, U.S.A.
misidentified or mislabelled by participating institutions, thereby Endangered (EN), reported as held in 169 ex situ collections
affecting the accuracy of the information used in this survey. worldwide. (Credit: Garth Holmann, University of Maine).

Conclusions,
recommendations
and the way forward
Thuja koraiensis. Vulnerable (VU), reported as held in 92 ex situ collections worldwide.
The findings of this survey indicate that, although the ex situ wild populations, difficulty getting permits for collection,
component of the GSPC Target 8 is being met for conifers with low number of individuals from which to collect seed and
more than 75% of threatened taxa represented in ex situ specific or unknown environmental requirements for
collections, many threatened taxa are limited to a single or survival/propagation in ex situ collections.
small number of collections. This greatly limits the security and
overall conservation value of such collections. Additionally, Results of this survey show an encouraging number of
a majority of conifer collections do not hold material that is threatened conifer taxa that have been successfully brought
suitable for recovery and restoration programmes, as much of it into ex situ collections. The case studies included in this report
is not of wild source. Further, much of the reported wild source demonstrate several successful ex situ conservation and
material is probably not genetically diverse. Much work is cultivation programmes being prepared for recovery and
clearly needed to progress towards meeting the recovery and restoration applications for some threatened conifer taxa.
restoration component of Target 8: to have 20% of threatened These conservation efforts can provide important models for
taxa available for such programmes by 2020. the conservation of other threatened taxa, particularly the most
threatened conifer taxa highlighted as priorities in this report.
While some conifer taxa are represented in a large number of
collections worldwide, many threatened taxa for which Collections that hold limited direct value to conservation do
conservation measures are urgently required are reported to present opportunities in terms of indirect value to conservation
be present in low numbers in very few collections. Ex situ which should not be overlooked. Such collections may, for
collections also report a large number of cultivars, which despite example, be based on taxa that are not threatened, hold a
holding great aesthetic value, hold limited value for conservation. small number of individuals or are sourced from horticultural
A shift in collection focus is needed for ex situ collections to material. If managed effectively, such collections can hold great
achieve greater value for threatened conifer conservation. indirect conservation value, for example, through education and
interpretation programmes to tell the stories of threatened
Ex situ conservation efforts for threatened conifer taxa require plants and increase awareness, and research programmes to
increased efforts and resources to collect appropriate levels of learn more about threatened species biology, propagation
genetic diversity from remaining wild populations and properly protocols, etc. The Recommendations section (p. 28) provides
maintain them in ex situ collections through time. Obstacles to specific ideas for education and research programmes using
building ex situ collections include, for example, inaccessible threatened plants of non-wild source.

Recommendations
Using the findings of the current analysis and taking advice

from the case studies presented in this report, a number of
specific recommendations are provided to further conservation
of threatened taxa, particularly through ex situ conservation.
Readers of this report are also encouraged to consult
‘Integrated conservation of tree species by botanic gardens:
A reference manual’ (Oldfield and Newton, 2012) which
provides a step-by-step guide to the integrated conservation
of tree species.
Collection focus
To be of greatest direct conservation value, available resources

should be used to maintain threatened taxa (CR, EN and VU;
IUCN) in collections, especially taxa that cannot be seed
banked (exceptional species). Annex II (p. 44) highlights
threatened taxa currently reported as absent from collections or
maintained in a small number of collections. These taxa should
be brought into ex situ collections as a matter of urgency.
Collection efforts should be coordinated between institutions
and materials shared among collections to increase security of
holdings. Non-threatened taxa can also be of indirect benefit to
conservation of related or similar threatened taxa through
education and research programmes.
Picea breweriana. Vulnerable (VU), reported as held in 95 ex
Identification of taxa situ collections worldwide. (Credit: Garth Holmann, University
of Maine)
Accurate identification of taxa is essential when collecting
material from the wild and when determining what is held within Ensuring collections are genetically viable
a collection. The existence of ‘unplaced’ conifer records held in
PlantSearch indicate problems with identification of taxa and To ensure ex situ material is genetically representative of wild
are likely due to the multiple taxonomic changes over time populations, the following guidelines (adapted from Guerrant
which have no doubt incurred confusion and mislabelling of et. al., 2004) represent the ideal sample size able to serve a
collections. Collectors and collection holders are advised to broad range of purposes. It is recognised that in practice,
contact experts to verify collections and resolve such particularly for the most critically threatened taxa, sample sizes
discrepancies and uncertainties. Experts and organisational will often be very small so these ideal sample sizes will
contacts can be identified through the various links outlined in probably not be possible, but efforts should be made to follow
the Useful Resources section (p. 31). this guidance as far as possible:
Source of material For taxa with 50 or fewer populations, wild collections

should be made from as many populations as resources
For collections to be of greatest direct value to conservation allow, up to all 50. For taxa with more than 50
they should focus on material of documented wild source. populations, collections should be made from as many
Appropriate wild-collecting guidelines have been developed populations as is practical, up to 50.
and should be followed especially when collecting threatened
taxa to avoid unnecessary harm to remaining wild populations. For populations with 50 or fewer individuals, collections
The Global Trees Campaign (GTC) website provides guidance should be made from all known individuals
on seed collections from threatened tree species and other (seeds/cuttings not removal of the whole plant). For
useful resources (see link in Useful Resources section, p. 31). populations with more than 50 individuals, collections
Cultivated material of known wild source also holds great direct should be made from 50 individuals.
value to recovery and restoration programmes. Cultivation from
wild material and increasing the number of individuals held Further investigation into genetic potential within existing ex
within collections increases the security of ex situ holdings and situ collections would provide a fuller understanding of their
can produce material for reintroduction purposes. It is also genetic representativeness. This should be taken forward for
worth noting that ex situ material of horticultural or unknown particular threatened taxa of interest to fully establish the
source can support conservation objectives through critical current availability of valuable material for recovery
research and education programmes. programmes already within ex situ collections and the needs of
future ex situ efforts.

Type of material contribute to and access. All collection holders who do not
currently maintain a list of taxa in their collections in BGCI’s
Maintaining ex situ collections of seeds requires less space and PlantSearch database are encouraged to upload their collection
lowers financial and staff requirements to care for a given ex list to ensure analyses such as this one are as comprehensive
situ collection. More specimens and therefore more genetic as possible. Institutions are encouraged to regularly update
diversity can be effectively conserved as seed collections. Even their PlantSearch list to ensure their records are as accurate
in light of more efficient and effective storage methods, living and up-to-date as possible.
plants still play a vital role in ex situ conservation. Plant
specimens should be maintained in collections for research, Research - propagation and storage techniques
display and education purposes, and cultivating material for
restoration programmes. Exceptional species (unable to be Public gardens and similar ex situ plant collections hold vast
seed banked) that are threatened in the wild are especially amounts of knowledge on how to grow and propagate plants.
dependent upon living collections for ex situ conservation Collections should work to document and share that
(Pence, 2013). For exceptional species, efficient ex situ storage information with the broader community. Where facilities are
is more challenging and usually requires testing on a species- available, research should be undertaken to establish seed
by-species basis to develop protocols for long-term storage of germination and other propagation protocols, seed storage
tissues or seeds. requirements and care and cultivation guidelines, particularly
for threatened taxa. For the most threatened taxa, research
Multiple ex situ collections should initially focus on closely related non-threatened taxa,
if available, to reduce the risk of losing valuable conservation
Threatened species should be maintained across as many ex material (Oldfield and Newton, 2012). When non-threatened
situ collections as possible to reduce the risk of loss through congeners are not available, initial trials should be carried out
natural disaster, theft, or pests and disease, etc. Sharing on small samples to limit loss of material. Research results and
collected or cultivated material across institutions increases the acquired knowledge on how to grow, store seed, and
security of material and allows for sharing of information and propagate rare species should be made available to support
responsibility. See Case Study 3 (p. 20) for an example of the management and development of additional ex situ
successful partnership across ex situ institutions. Ex situ collections of threatened species.
collections are also important tools for studying the effect of
climate change and pests and diseases on plants and plant Communication between scientific and conservation institutions
communities. International coordination and communication, is also key to furthering conservation efforts of conifer taxa.
such as through BGCI and the International Plant Sentinel Results of research trials should be shared widely between
Network (IPSN (BGCI, 2013)), are essential for sharing institutions to avoid duplication of efforts, unnecessary loss of
knowledge, to focus efforts and to mitigate current and plant material and ensure ex situ collections move towards
potential threats across international borders. being able to achieve successful recovery and restoration
programmes, particularly for threatened taxa.
Curation and maintenance of collections
Without proper curatorial records management and horticultural

maintenance, the conservation value of collections, or a
collection itself, can be lost. All staff caring for ex situ
collections should be well trained to monitor specimens
through time and avoid unnecessary loss of material and
associated information. Collaboration between institutions for
training and capacity building should be encouraged. Accurate
record keeping is essential if ex situ collections are to be of
value to direct conservation activities such as recovery and
restoration efforts. Collection inventories should be carried out
regularly to track the dynamic nature of living collections,
maintain associations to and build relevant plant records, and
monitor health of specimens through time. Up-to-date records
and inventories will provide an accurate picture of threatened
species in an ex situ collection and enhance a collection’s
conservation value and potential applications.
Sharing accurate collections data more broadly
Sharing collection information more broadly allows potential

users to find and access collections for research, education, Wollemia nobilis at the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.
horticulture and conservation. BGCI’s PlantSearch database is Critically Endangered (CR), reported as held in 96 ex situ
the only global database of plants in cultivation and is free to collections worldwide.

Research – reintroduction protocols It would also be valuable to collection data on the type of
material held within collections (whole plants, seeds, etc.) and
Following successful propagation of genetically representative the health of material. As well as providing further information to
material, reintroductions should be carried out with care, determine the conservation value of collections, this information
involving site preparation, management of invasive species and would highlight where living plant collections of particular taxa
pests, and a long term monitoring plan. It is advisable to carry survive better and help prioritise future collection planning.
out small scale reintroductions first, monitoring successes and
failures, rather than to plant out a large amount of propagated
material and risk losing it. Kaye (2008) presents a concise step- Taking action
by-step strategy for guiding plant reintroductions which should
be used as an aid to planning reintroductions. Botanic gardens, arboreta and other ex situ conservation
institutions are well prepared to expand conservation efforts for
Partnerships for conservation threatened conifers. This report has outlined valuable ongoing
ex situ collection work, however increased efforts are needed to
Valuable partnerships aimed at establishing multiple ex situ move beyond simply holding taxa within ex situ collections, to
collection locations can increase species security, ability to having appropriate genetically representative and documented
undertake research and sharing of information. Partnerships material available for recovery and restoration programmes.
should also be developed with organisations or communities
working in areas where a reintroduction is possible. This will The existence of examples of successful reintroduction, and
ensure increased understanding of the aims of a programme, coordinated approaches to ex situ conservation of threatened
longevity and scope of a programme and can have indirect taxa, is encouraging. Such examples illustrate the potential and
benefits such as increased protection of existing wild populations. scientific ability within botanic gardens to not only fully achieve
Target 8 of the GSPC for conifer taxa by 2020, but to go
Education programmes beyond this and have more than 75% of threatened conifer
taxa maintained in well documented and secure ex situ
Public facing ex situ conservation institutions have an collections and more than 20% of threatened conifer taxa
obligation to educate and outreach to the public, as well as the available for recovery and restoration programmes.
wider conservation community and scientists. Many botanic
gardens and arboreta around the world are well placed to do The priority taxa lists included in this report can be used to
this. Increased communication about the threats facing plants, develop and refine ex situ collection priorities. As a matter of
how to mitigate threats and how to carry out successful urgency, ex situ conservation must be secured for all Critically
conservation should be a key priority of all ex situ institutions. Endangered (CR) taxa, for which ex situ conservation is a
For example, education programmes at public gardens and priority due to their risk of extinction in the wild.
similar organizations further threatened conifer conservation by
raising awareness of the impact of overexploitation of conifer Building on the existing interest in conifers and the horticultural
taxa for timber and the availability of wood products from and scientific knowledge harboured in botanic gardens and
sustainable sources. Education programmes can also highlight arboreta around the world, space and resources within ex situ
threats posed to conifer taxa by pests and diseases, and teach conservation institutions should be geared towards
visitors how to detect and report signs of infection and disease conservation of threatened and exceptional taxa as far as is
and potentially prevent the spread of pests and diseases. possible. A shift in focus from cultivars to threatened taxa, will
Botanic gardens and arboreta can also present important drive progress towards achieving conservation aims.
information on threatened species and the value of plant
conservation through labelling and interpretation signs in The case studies presented in this report highlight a growing
collections, as well as the production of literature, guidance, practice of moving beyond ex situ collections for display,
websites and social media. For example, BGCI US’s Care for to focusing collections on combating particular threats,
the Rare program (www.bgci.org/usa/CareForTheRare (BGCI overcoming issues such as recalcitrant seeds, and propagating
US, 2013)) offers free interpretation resources and a sign library genetically viable material to support in situ populations.
of threatened species. By following the models developed by these exemplar
institutions, additional institutions can achieve similar
Scope for further analysis conservation successes for additional threatened taxa.
The report has also identified important sources of information
Further analysis of the geographical distribution of collections and resources specifically focusing on threatened conifer taxa
compared to the natural distribution of taxa would be valuable, or threatened trees more broadly, for supporting such efforts
as Target 8 of the GSPC advises that ex situ collections are (see Useful Resources and References sections, p. 31-34).
preferentially maintained within the country of origin of the taxa
in question. This analysis could be undertaken by using data It is hoped that the findings, recommendations, case studies
collected for this report, GardenSearch records for participating and resources highlighted in this report will support the vital
institutions (these are geo-referenced) and IUCN Red List efforts of ex situ collections and help them to fully meet the
assessment range maps. This analysis could also highlight GSPC Target 8 and ensure the survival of threatened conifers
hotspot areas where the majority of collections exist. worldwide.

Useful Resources
American Conifer Society Conifer Database in BRAHMS

The American Conifer Society’s mission is the development, The Conifer Database in BRAHMS (Farjon, 2013) provides a list
conservation and propagation of conifers, the standardization of accepted conifer names and synonyms, as used to undertake
of nomenclature and the education of the public. The Society the IUCN Red List assessments and this survey. The database
has a particular focus on conifers that are dwarf or unusual: is publically available for download from BRAHMS. (The
http://www.conifersociety.org/ Encyclopaedia of Life will soon be updated to align with this
taxonomy as well): http://herbaria.plants.ox.ac.uk/bol/
Bedgebury Conifer Conservation Project BRAHMS/Sample/Conifers
The Bedgebury National Pinetum leads the Bedgebury Conifer
Conservation Project, in collaboration with ICCP: The BRAHMS Training Guide uses examples from the Conifer
http://www.forestry.gov.uk/forestry/infd-8rgek8 Database: http://herbaria.plants.ox.ac.uk/bol/content/
documentation/BRAHMStraining2010.pdf
BGCI GardenSearch database
GardenSearch contains profiles of over 3,000 botanic gardens Conifer Atlas
from around the world, allowing users to identify location and An atlas of the world’s conifers providing distribution maps and
particular expertise held within botanic gardens. The only additional information for all conifer taxa has recently been
global source of information on the world’s botanic gardens: published: Farjon, A. and Filer, D. (2013) An Atlas of The World’s
www.bgci.org/garden_search.php Conifers: An analysis of their distribution, biogeography,
diversity and conservation status. Brill, Leiden & Boston
BGCI PlantSearch database
PlantSearch is compiled from lists of living collections Ecological Restoration Alliance website
submitted to BGCI by the world’s botanic gardens and similar The newly established Ecological Restoration Alliance of Botanic
organizations. The database currently includes over 1 million Gardens (ERA), coordinated by BGCI, aims to restore 100
records. This database allows users to identify how many degraded habitats and damaged ecosystems worldwide.
institutions report holding a living collection of the taxon of More information and examples of current work can be found
interest and also allows users to send a blind request to these on the ERA website: www.erabg.org
institutions to request plant material or information on
propagation and care techniques: Global Strategy for Plant
www.bgci.org/plant_search.php Conservation
The GSPC toolkit was developed by The Global Strategy
for Plant Conservation:
BGCI to support implementation of 2011-2020
the Strategy. This provides further

information, guidance and links to
resources for all GSPC Targets and
links to the full GSPC Brochure and
shorter GSPC Guide, available in
multiple languages:
www.plants2020.net
Global Trees Campaign

The Global Trees Campaign is a joint initiative led by BGCI and
Fauna and Flora International (FFI), to save the world’s
threatened tree species. The newly redeveloped Global Trees
Campaign website provides information about projects, profiles
of threatened tree species and useful resources for threatened
tree conservation: www.globaltrees.org
The Gymnosperm Database

This online resource provides information on the classification,
description, ecology and uses of conifers: http://www.conifers.org/
Araucaria araucana, the Monkey Puzzle tree. Endangered (EN),

reported as held in 162 ex situ collections worldwide.

ICCP and iCONic Project Red Lists produced by BGCI / GTC
Further information about the International Conifer These are available to download from the BGCI and GTC
Conservation Programme (ICCP) led by the Royal Botanic websites.
Garden Edinburgh can be found here:
http://www.rbge.org.uk/science/genetics-and- The Red List of The Red List of The Red List of
conservation/international-conifer-conservation-programme Rhododendrons
Douglas Gibbs, David Chamberlain and George Argent
Maples
Douglas Gibbs and Yousheng Chen
Oaks
Sara Oldfield and Antonia Eastwood
And further information about the iCONic Project can be found

here: http://www.iconictrees.org/our-story/conifers-under-threat
Integrated conservation of tree species by

Integrated conservation of
tree species by botanic gardens:
a reference manual
botanic gardens: A reference manual
Readers of this report are advised to also
consult ‘Integrated conservation of tree
species by botanic gardens: a reference The Red List of Magnoliaceae (2007):
manual’ (Oldfield and Newton, 2012), recently http://globaltrees.org/resources/red-list-magnoliaceae/
published by BGCI which provides detailed The Red List of Maples (2009):
information on conservation approaches http://globaltrees.org/resources/red-list-maples/
available for tree species, including guidance The Red List of Oaks (2007):
for in situ measures, ex situ conservation, http://globaltrees.org/resources/red-list-oaks/
ecological restoration and reintroduction and The Red List of Rhododendrons (2011):
a step-by-step guide to integrated conservation of tree species. http://globaltrees.org/resources/red-list-rhododendrons/
This resource is of great relevance to conservation of threatened The Red List of Trees from Central Asia (2009) (also available
conifer taxa. Available online at: http://www.bgci.org/files/ in Russian): http://globaltrees.org/resources/red-list-trees-
Worldwide/News/SeptDec12/tree_species_low.pdf central-asia/
The Red List of Endemic Trees and Shrubs of Ethiopia and
IUCN Red List of Threatened Species Eritrea (2005): http://globaltrees.org/resources/red-list-
Up-to-date conservation assessments for all conifer taxa and endemic-trees-shrubs-ethiopia-eritrea/
other tree taxa are available on the IUCN Red List of The Red List of Trees of Guatemala (2006):
Threatened Species. Searches can be conducted by species, http://globaltrees.org/resources/red-list-trees-guatemala/
family, region, etc. and full assessments are available providing The Red List of Mexican Cloud Forest Trees (2011):
full documentation and explanation of conservation status. http://globaltrees.org/resources/red-list-mexican-cloud-forest/
The IUCN Red List website also contains information about the
IUCN Red List Categories and Criteria and training materials for Additional ex situ surveys carried out by BGCI / GTC
undertaking Red List assessments: www.iucnredlist.org These are all available to download from the BGCI and GTC
websites.
Sampled Red List Index for Plants
The Sampled Red List Index for Plants aims to determine the Global ex situ survey of Magnoliaceae collections (2010):
status of biodiversity, how it changes over time, and the http://globaltrees.org/resources/global-survey-ex-situ-
extinction risk of individual species. The Sampled Red List Index magnoliaceae-collections/
for Plants is based on a sample of 7,000 plant species, including Global ex situ survey of Maple collections (2010):
all conifer species: www.threatenedplants.myspecies.info http://globaltrees.org/resources/global-survey-ex-situ-maple-
collections/
Threatened conifers of the world Global ex situ survey of Oak collections (2009):
A new web resource focusing on the 211 globally threatened http://globaltrees.org/resources/global-survey-ex-situ-oak-
conifer species is available here: collections/
http://threatenedconifers.rbge.org.uk/ Global ex situ survey of Rhododendron collections (2012):
http://globaltrees.org/resources/global-survey-ex-situ-
USDA Forest Service rhododendron-collections/
The USDA Forest Service, under the leadership of Chief Tom Global ex situ survey of Zelkova collections (2010):
Tidwell, is entrusted with 193 million acres of national forests http://globaltrees.org/resources/global-survey-ex-situ-zelkova-
and grasslands. Much of this land is important habitat for collections/
native conifer species. The mission of the agency is to sustain
the health, diversity, and productivity of the Nation's forests
and grasslands to meet the needs of present and future
generations. The agency is dedicated to the improvement of
water resources, development of climate change resiliency,
creation of jobs that will sustain communities, and restoration
and enhancement of landscapes: http://www.fs.fed.us/

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Pence, V. (2013). In Vitro Methods and the Challenge of

Exceptional Species for Target 8 of the Global Strategy for
Plant Conservation. Annals of the Missouri Botanical Garden Picea omorika growing in Mustila Arboretum, Finland.
99(2):214-220. Endangered (EN), reported as held in 209 ex situ collections
worldwide. (Credit: Garth Holmann, University of Maine)

Annexes
Annex I: IUCN assessed conifer taxa with number of reported ex situ collections and IUCN
Red List status
This list is available electronically upon request. ‘Number of ex situ collections’ column refers to PlantSearch records and records
supplied by International Conifer Conservation Programme (ICCP) sites.
No. of ex situ
No. of ex situ
collections
collections
List status
List status
IUCN Red
IUCN Red
Family Taxon name Family Taxon name
Araucariaceae Agathis atropurpurea 11 NT Cephalotaxaceae Cephalotaxus fortunei var. alpina 6 NT

Araucariaceae Agathis borneensis 7 EN Cephalotaxaceae Cephalotaxus fortunei var. fortunei 1 LC
Araucariaceae Agathis dammara 38 VU Cephalotaxaceae Cephalotaxus hainanensis 3 EN
Araucariaceae Agathis flavescens 1 VU Cephalotaxaceae Cephalotaxus harringtonii 19 LC
Araucariaceae Agathis kinabaluensis 2 EN Cephalotaxaceae Cephalotaxus harringtonii var. harringtonii 55 LC
Araucariaceae Agathis labillardierei 2 NT Cephalotaxaceae Cephalotaxus harringtonii var. nana 9 LC
Araucariaceae Agathis lanceolata 17 VU Cephalotaxaceae Cephalotaxus harringtonii var. wilsoniana 21 EN
Araucariaceae Agathis lenticula 1 VU Cephalotaxaceae Cephalotaxus lanceolata 4 EN
Araucariaceae Agathis macrophylla 26 EN Cephalotaxaceae Cephalotaxus latifolia 1 NT
Araucariaceae Agathis microstachya 14 NT Cephalotaxaceae Cephalotaxus mannii 7 VU
Araucariaceae Agathis montana 6 NT Cephalotaxaceae Cephalotaxus oliveri 15 VU
Araucariaceae Agathis moorei 25 VU Cephalotaxaceae Cephalotaxus sinensis 56 LC
Araucariaceae Agathis orbicula 0 EN Cupressaceae Actinostrobus acuminatus 6 NT
Araucariaceae Agathis ovata 13 EN Cupressaceae Actinostrobus arenarius 10 LC
Araucariaceae Agathis robusta 69 LC Cupressaceae Actinostrobus pyramidalis 20 LC
Araucariaceae Agathis robusta ssp. nesophila 0 VU Cupressaceae Athrotaxis cupressoides 28 VU
Araucariaceae Agathis robusta ssp. robusta 8 LC Cupressaceae Athrotaxis laxifolia 12 EN
Araucariaceae Agathis silbae 3 NT Cupressaceae Athrotaxis selaginoides 32 VU
Araucariaceae Araucaria angustifolia 89 CR Cupressaceae Austrocedrus chilensis 55 NT
Araucariaceae Araucaria araucana 162 EN Cupressaceae Callitris baileyi 5 NT
Araucariaceae Araucaria bernieri 11 VU Cupressaceae Callitris canescens 11 LC
Araucariaceae Araucaria bidwillii 104 LC Cupressaceae Callitris columellaris 50 LC
Araucariaceae Araucaria biramulata 14 VU Cupressaceae Callitris drummondii 9 NT
Araucariaceae Araucaria columnaris 54 LC Cupressaceae Callitris endlicheri 29 LC
Araucariaceae Araucaria cunninghamii 80 LC Cupressaceae Callitris macleayana 11 LC
Araucariaceae Araucaria cunninghamii var. cunninghamii 11 LC Cupressaceae Callitris monticola 9 VU
Araucariaceae Araucaria cunninghamii var. papuana 2 LC Cupressaceae Callitris muelleri 10 LC
Araucariaceae Araucaria heterophylla 137 VU Cupressaceae Callitris neocaledonica 0 NT
Araucariaceae Araucaria humboldtensis 8 EN Cupressaceae Callitris oblonga 41 VU
Araucariaceae Araucaria hunsteinii 25 NT Cupressaceae Callitris preissii 29 LC
Araucariaceae Araucaria laubenfelsii 17 NT Cupressaceae Callitris rhomboidea 49 LC
Araucariaceae Araucaria luxurians 22 EN Cupressaceae Callitris roei 9 NT
Araucariaceae Araucaria montana 18 VU Cupressaceae Callitris sulcata 1 EN
Araucariaceae Araucaria muelleri 15 EN Cupressaceae Callitris verrucosa 14 LC
Araucariaceae Araucaria nemorosa 20 CR Cupressaceae Calocedrus decurrens 174 LC
Araucariaceae Araucaria rulei 25 EN Cupressaceae Calocedrus formosana 30 EN
Araucariaceae Araucaria schmidii 5 VU Cupressaceae Calocedrus macrolepis 29 NT
Araucariaceae Araucaria scopulorum 12 EN Cupressaceae Calocedrus rupestris 6 EN
Araucariaceae Araucaria subulata 16 NT Cupressaceae Chamaecyparis formosensis 49 EN
Araucariaceae Wollemia nobilis 96 CR Cupressaceae Chamaecyparis lawsoniana 160 NT
Cephalotaxaceae Cephalotaxus fortunei 102 LC Cupressaceae Chamaecyparis obtusa 141 NT

No. of ex situ
No. of ex situ
collections
collections
List status
List status
IUCN Red
IUCN Red
Cupressaceae Chamaecyparis obtusa var. formosana 59 VU Cupressaceae Juniperus bermudiana 33 CR

Cupressaceae Chamaecyparis obtusa var. obtusa 13 NT Cupressaceae Juniperus blancoi 1 NT
Cupressaceae Chamaecyparis pisifera 132 LC Cupressaceae Juniperus blancoi var. blancoi 0 VU
Cupressaceae Chamaecyparis thyoides 98 LC Cupressaceae Juniperus blancoi var. huehuentensis 0 VU
Cupressaceae Chamaecyparis thyoides var. henryae 6 LC Cupressaceae Juniperus blancoi var. mucronata 0 VU
Cupressaceae Chamaecyparis thyoides var. thyoides 5 LC Cupressaceae Juniperus brevifolia 10 VU
Cupressaceae Cryptomeria japonica 189 NT Cupressaceae Juniperus californica 19 LC
Cupressaceae Cunninghamia konishii 65 EN Cupressaceae Juniperus cedrus 43 EN
Cupressaceae Cunninghamia lanceolata 149 LC Cupressaceae Juniperus chinensis 129 LC
Cupressaceae Cupressus arizonica 89 LC Cupressaceae Juniperus chinensis var. chinensis 1 LC
Cupressaceae Cupressus arizonica var. arizonica 18 LC Cupressaceae Juniperus chinensis var. sargentii 43 LC
Cupressaceae Cupressus arizonica var. glabra 57 NT Cupressaceae Juniperus chinensis var. tsukusiensis 0 DD
Cupressaceae Cupressus arizonica var. montana 23 CR Cupressaceae Juniperus coahuilensis 3 LC
Cupressaceae Cupressus arizonica var. nevadensis 22 EN Cupressaceae Juniperus comitana 0 EN
Cupressaceae Cupressus arizonica var. stephensonii 28 CR Cupressaceae Juniperus communis 162 LC
Cupressaceae Cupressus bakeri 50 VU Cupressaceae Juniperus communis var. communis 78 LC
Cupressaceae Cupressus cashmeriana 90 NT Cupressaceae Juniperus communis var. depressa 54 LC
Cupressaceae Cupressus chengiana 36 VU Cupressaceae Juniperus communis var. megistocarpa 0 LC
Cupressaceae Cupressus chengiana var. chengiana 7 VU Cupressaceae Juniperus communis var. nipponica 1 LC
Cupressaceae Cupressus chengiana var. jiangensis 2 CR Cupressaceae Juniperus communis var. saxatilis 69 LC
Cupressaceae Cupressus duclouxiana 39 DD Cupressaceae Juniperus convallium 0 LC
Cupressaceae Cupressus dupreziana 54 EN Cupressaceae Juniperus convallium var. convallium 4 LC
Cupressaceae Cupressus dupreziana var. atlantica 25 CR Cupressaceae Juniperus convallium var. microsperma 0 DD
Cupressaceae Cupressus dupreziana var. dupreziana 10 CR Cupressaceae Juniperus deppeana 23 LC
Cupressaceae Cupressus funebris 65 DD Cupressaceae Juniperus deppeana var. deppeana 0 LC
Cupressaceae Cupressus goveniana 48 EN Cupressaceae Juniperus deppeana var. pachyphlaea 9 LC
Cupressaceae Cupressus goveniana var. abramsiana 27 CR Cupressaceae Juniperus deppeana var. robusta 0 VU
Cupressaceae Cupressus goveniana var. goveniana 20 EN Cupressaceae Juniperus deppeana var. sperryi 2 CR
Cupressaceae Cupressus guadalupensis 30 EN Cupressaceae Juniperus deppeana var. zacatecensis 0 EN
Cupressaceae Cupressus guadalupensis var. forbesii 29 EN Cupressaceae Juniperus drupacea 25 LC
Cupressaceae Cupressus guadalupensis var. 3 EN Cupressaceae Juniperus durangensis 0 LC
guadalupensis Cupressaceae Juniperus excelsa 43 LC
Cupressaceae Cupressus lusitanica 65 LC Cupressaceae Juniperus excelsa ssp. excelsa 2 LC
Cupressaceae Cupressus lusitanica var. benthamii 13 NT Cupressaceae Juniperus excelsa ssp. polycarpos 13 LC
Cupressaceae Cupressus lusitanica var. lusitanica 4 LC Cupressaceae Juniperus flaccida 13 LC
Cupressaceae Cupressus macnabiana 36 LC Cupressaceae Juniperus flaccida var. flaccida 0 LC
Cupressaceae Cupressus macrocarpa 96 VU Cupressaceae Juniperus flaccida var. martinezii 0 VU
Cupressaceae Cupressus sargentii 39 VU Cupressaceae Juniperus flaccida var. poblana 5 NT
Cupressaceae Cupressus sempervirens 154 LC Cupressaceae Juniperus foetidissima 16 LC
Cupressaceae Cupressus torulosa 63 LC Cupressaceae Juniperus formosana 33 LC
Cupressaceae Cupressus torulosa var. gigantea 3 VU Cupressaceae Juniperus gamboana 0 EN
Cupressaceae Cupressus torulosa var. torulosa 14 LC Cupressaceae Juniperus gracilior 1 EN
Cupressaceae Diselma archeri 32 LC Cupressaceae Juniperus gracilior var. ekmanii 0 CR
Cupressaceae Fitzroya cupressoides 63 EN Cupressaceae Juniperus gracilior var. gracilior 0 EN
Cupressaceae Fokienia hodginsii 61 VU Cupressaceae Juniperus gracilior var. urbaniana 0 EN
Cupressaceae Glyptostrobus pensilis 77 CR Cupressaceae Juniperus horizontalis 85 LC
Cupressaceae Juniperus angosturana 3 VU Cupressaceae Juniperus indica 14 LC
Cupressaceae Juniperus arizonica 3 LC Cupressaceae Juniperus indica var. caespitosa 0 LC
Cupressaceae Juniperus ashei 27 LC Cupressaceae Juniperus indica var. indica 7 LC
Cupressaceae Juniperus ashei var. ashei 0 LC Cupressaceae Juniperus jaliscana 0 EN
Cupressaceae Juniperus ashei var. ovata 0 NT Cupressaceae Juniperus komarovii 3 LC
Cupressaceae Juniperus barbadensis 3 VU Cupressaceae Juniperus monosperma 28 LC
Cupressaceae Juniperus barbadensis var. barbadensis 1 CR Cupressaceae Juniperus monticola 0 LC
Cupressaceae Juniperus barbadensis var. lucayana 2 VU Cupressaceae Juniperus occidentalis 33 LC

No. of ex situ
No. of ex situ
collections
collections
List status
List status
IUCN Red
IUCN Red
Cupressaceae Juniperus occidentalis var. australis 6 LC Cupressaceae Pilgerodendron uviferum 41 VU

Cupressaceae Juniperus occidentalis var. occidentalis 4 LC Cupressaceae Platycladus orientalis 190 NT
Cupressaceae Juniperus osteosperma 16 LC Cupressaceae Sequoia sempervirens 169 EN
Cupressaceae Juniperus oxycedrus 47 LC Cupressaceae Sequoiadendron giganteum 181 EN
Cupressaceae Juniperus oxycedrus ssp. macrocarpa 21 LC Cupressaceae Taiwania cryptomerioides 94 VU
Cupressaceae Juniperus oxycedrus ssp. oxycedrus 16 LC Cupressaceae Taxodium distichum 225 LC
Cupressaceae Juniperus oxycedrus var. transtagana 0 NT Cupressaceae Taxodium distichum var. distichum 29 LC
Cupressaceae Juniperus phoenicea 60 LC Cupressaceae Taxodium distichum var. imbricarium 40 LC
Cupressaceae Juniperus phoenicea ssp. phoenicea 6 LC Cupressaceae Taxodium mucronatum 93 LC
Cupressaceae Juniperus phoenicea ssp. turbinata 5 NT Cupressaceae Tetraclinis articulata 73 LC
Cupressaceae Juniperus pinchotii 0 LC Cupressaceae Thuja koraiensis 92 VU
Cupressaceae Juniperus pingii 8 NT Cupressaceae Thuja occidentalis 177 LC
Cupressaceae Juniperus pingii var. chengii 0 DD Cupressaceae Thuja plicata 172 LC
Cupressaceae Juniperus pingii var. miehei 0 DD Cupressaceae Thuja standishii 87 NT
Cupressaceae Juniperus pingii var. pingii 1 VU Cupressaceae Thuja sutchuenensis 11 EN
Cupressaceae Juniperus pingii var. wilsonii 17 NT Cupressaceae Thujopsis dolabrata 101 LC
Cupressaceae Juniperus procera 36 LC Cupressaceae Thujopsis dolabrata var. dolabrata 4 LC
Cupressaceae Juniperus procumbens 67 LC Cupressaceae Thujopsis dolabrata var. hondae 15 LC
Cupressaceae Juniperus przewalskii 2 LC Cupressaceae Widdringtonia cedarbergensis 33 CR
Cupressaceae Juniperus pseudosabina 36 LC Cupressaceae Widdringtonia nodiflora 49 LC
Cupressaceae Juniperus recurva 18 LC Cupressaceae Widdringtonia schwarzii 28 NT
Cupressaceae Juniperus recurva var. coxii 29 NT Cupressaceae Widdringtonia whytei 4 CR
Cupressaceae Juniperus recurva var. recurva 6 LC Cupressaceae Xanthocyparis nootkatensis 44 LC
Cupressaceae Juniperus rigida 98 LC Cupressaceae Xanthocyparis vietnamensis 17 EN
Cupressaceae Juniperus rigida ssp. conferta 21 LC Phyllocladaceae Phyllocladus aspleniifolius 20 LC
Cupressaceae Juniperus rigida ssp. rigida 0 LC Phyllocladaceae Phyllocladus hypophyllus 9 LC
Cupressaceae Juniperus sabina 119 LC Phyllocladaceae Phyllocladus toatoa 6 LC
Cupressaceae Juniperus sabina var. arenaria 0 LC Phyllocladaceae Phyllocladus trichomanoides 28 LC
Cupressaceae Juniperus sabina var. davurica 20 LC Phyllocladaceae Phyllocladus trichomanoides var. alpinus 31 LC
Cupressaceae Juniperus sabina var. sabina 15 LC Phyllocladaceae Phyllocladus trichomanoides var. 2 LC
Cupressaceae Juniperus saltillensis 0 EN trichomanoides
Cupressaceae Juniperus saltuaria 2 LC Pinaceae Abies alba 135 LC
Cupressaceae Juniperus saxicola 1 CR Pinaceae Abies amabilis 47 LC
Cupressaceae Juniperus scopulorum 67 LC Pinaceae Abies balsamea 106 LC
Cupressaceae Juniperus semiglobosa 16 LC Pinaceae Abies balsamea var. balsamea 8 LC
Cupressaceae Juniperus squamata 56 LC Pinaceae Abies balsamea var. phanerolepis 38 DD
Cupressaceae Juniperus standleyi 1 EN Pinaceae Abies beshanzuensis 2 CR
Cupressaceae Juniperus taxifolia 3 NT Pinaceae Abies bracteata 35 NT
Cupressaceae Juniperus thurifera 27 LC Pinaceae Abies cephalonica 102 LC
Cupressaceae Juniperus tibetica 9 VU Pinaceae Abies chensiensis 32 LC
Cupressaceae Juniperus virginiana 191 LC Pinaceae Abies chensiensis ssp. chensiensis 1 LC
Cupressaceae Juniperus virginiana var. silicicola 21 LC Pinaceae Abies chensiensis ssp. salouenensis 15 LC
Cupressaceae Juniperus virginiana var. virginiana 19 LC Pinaceae Abies chensiensis ssp. 2 LC
Cupressaceae Libocedrus austrocaledonica 1 NT yulongxueshanensis
Cupressaceae Libocedrus bidwillii 22 NT Pinaceae Abies cilicica 62 NT
Cupressaceae Libocedrus chevalieri 2 CR Pinaceae Abies cilicica ssp. cilicica 8 NT
Cupressaceae Libocedrus plumosa 24 NT Pinaceae Abies cilicica ssp. isaurica 32 VU
Cupressaceae Libocedrus yateensis 5 EN Pinaceae Abies concolor 182 LC
Cupressaceae Metasequoia glyptostroboides 316 EN Pinaceae Abies delavayi 32 LC
Cupressaceae Microbiota decussata 174 LC Pinaceae Abies delavayi ssp. fansipanensis 2 CR
Cupressaceae Neocallitropsis pancheri 9 EN Pinaceae Abies delavayi var. delavayi 0 LC
Cupressaceae Papuacedrus papuana 10 LC Pinaceae Abies delavayi var. motuoensis 2 LC
Cupressaceae Papuacedrus papuana var. arfakensis 6 NT Pinaceae Abies delavayi var. nukiangensis 3 NT
Cupressaceae Papuacedrus papuana var. papuana 3 LC Pinaceae Abies densa 12 LC

No. of ex situ
No. of ex situ
collections
collections
List status
List status
IUCN Red
IUCN Red
Pinaceae Abies durangensis 8 LC Pinaceae Abies religiosa 28 LC

Pinaceae Abies durangensis var. coahuilensis 11 VU Pinaceae Abies sachalinensis 70 LC
Pinaceae Abies fabri 34 VU Pinaceae Abies sachalinensis var. gracilis 6 DD
Pinaceae Abies fabri ssp. fabri 1 VU Pinaceae Abies sachalinensis var. mayriana 18 LC
Pinaceae Abies fabri ssp. minensis 3 VU Pinaceae Abies sachalinensis var. nemorensis 1 DD
Pinaceae Abies fanjingshanensis 2 EN Pinaceae Abies sachalinensis var. sachalinensis 2 LC
Pinaceae Abies fargesii 26 LC Pinaceae Abies sibirica 71 LC
Pinaceae Abies fargesii var. fargesii 0 LC Pinaceae Abies sibirica ssp. semenovii 10 LC
Pinaceae Abies fargesii var. faxoniana 13 VU Pinaceae Abies sibirica ssp. sibirica 0 LC
Pinaceae Abies fargesii var. sutchuenensis 5 LC Pinaceae Abies spectabilis 39 NT
Pinaceae Abies firma 98 LC Pinaceae Abies squamata 31 VU
Pinaceae Abies forrestii 5 LC Pinaceae Abies veitchii 90 LC
Pinaceae Abies forrestii var. ferreana 7 LC Pinaceae Abies veitchii var. sikokiana 12 VU
Pinaceae Abies forrestii var. forrestii 11 NT Pinaceae Abies veitchii var. veitchii 9 LC
Pinaceae Abies forrestii var. georgei 37 LC Pinaceae Abies vejarii 11 NT
Pinaceae Abies forrestii var. smithii 5 NT Pinaceae Abies vejarii var. macrocarpa 1 VU
Pinaceae Abies fraseri 97 EN Pinaceae Abies vejarii var. mexicana 4 VU
Pinaceae Abies grandis 115 LC Pinaceae Abies vejarii var. vejarii 0 VU
Pinaceae Abies guatemalensis 15 EN Pinaceae Abies yuanbaoshanensis 1 CR
Pinaceae Abies guatemalensis var. guatemalensis 6 EN Pinaceae Abies ziyuanensis 7 EN
Pinaceae Abies guatemalensis var. jaliscana 2 NT Pinaceae Cathaya argyrophylla 36 VU
Pinaceae Abies hickelii 1 EN Pinaceae Cedrus atlantica 140 EN
Pinaceae Abies hickelii var. hickelii 0 EN Pinaceae Cedrus deodara 162 LC
Pinaceae Abies hickelii var. oaxacana 3 EN Pinaceae Cedrus libani 158 VU
Pinaceae Abies hidalgensis 0 VU Pinaceae Cedrus libani var. brevifolia 30 VU
Pinaceae Abies holophylla 85 NT Pinaceae Cedrus libani var. libani 23 VU
Pinaceae Abies homolepis 106 NT Pinaceae Keteleeria davidiana 41 LC
Pinaceae Abies homolepis var. homolepis 2 NT Pinaceae Keteleeria davidiana var. davidiana 20 LC
Pinaceae Abies homolepis var. umbellata 15 DD Pinaceae Keteleeria davidiana var. formosana 3 EN
Pinaceae Abies kawakamii 29 NT Pinaceae Keteleeria evelyniana 34 VU
Pinaceae Abies koreana 164 EN Pinaceae Keteleeria fortunei 23 NT
Pinaceae Abies lasiocarpa 78 LC Pinaceae Larix decidua 153 LC
Pinaceae Abies lasiocarpa var. arizonica 58 LC Pinaceae Larix decidua var. carpatica 2 LC
Pinaceae Abies lasiocarpa var. lasiocarpa 6 LC Pinaceae Larix decidua var. decidua 3 LC
Pinaceae Abies magnifica 26 LC Pinaceae Larix decidua var. polonica 38 EN
Pinaceae Abies magnifica var. magnifica 1 LC Pinaceae Larix gmelinii 60 LC
Pinaceae Abies magnifica var. shastensis 20 LC Pinaceae Larix gmelinii var. gmelinii 25 LC
Pinaceae Abies mariesii 29 LC Pinaceae Larix gmelinii var. japonica 39 LC
Pinaceae Abies nebrodensis 49 CR Pinaceae Larix gmelinii var. olgensis 43 NT
Pinaceae Abies nephrolepis 57 LC Pinaceae Larix gmelinii var. principis-rupprechtii 37 LC
Pinaceae Abies nordmanniana 131 LC Pinaceae Larix griffithii 14 LC
Pinaceae Abies nordmanniana ssp. equi-trojani 87 EN Pinaceae Larix griffithii var. griffithii 11 LC
Pinaceae Abies nordmanniana ssp. nordmanniana 11 LC Pinaceae Larix griffithii var. speciosa 2 NT
Pinaceae Abies numidica 71 CR Pinaceae Larix kaempferi 135 LC
Pinaceae Abies pindrow 46 LC Pinaceae Larix laricina 127 LC
Pinaceae Abies pindrow var. brevifolia 8 DD Pinaceae Larix lyallii 9 LC
Pinaceae Abies pindrow var. pindrow 1 LC Pinaceae Larix mastersiana 7 EN
Pinaceae Abies pinsapo 130 EN Pinaceae Larix occidentalis 56 LC
Pinaceae Abies pinsapo var. marocana 37 EN Pinaceae Larix potaninii 23 LC
Pinaceae Abies pinsapo var. pinsapo 38 EN Pinaceae Larix potaninii var. chinensis 3 VU
Pinaceae Abies procera 74 LC Pinaceae Larix potaninii var. himalaica 6 NT
Pinaceae Abies recurvata 33 VU Pinaceae Larix potaninii var. macrocarpa 0 LC
Pinaceae Abies recurvata var. ernestii 37 VU Pinaceae Larix potaninii var. potaninii 0 LC
Pinaceae Abies recurvata var. recurvata 5 VU Pinaceae Larix sibirica 91 LC

No. of ex situ
No. of ex situ
collections
collections
List status
List status
IUCN Red
IUCN Red
Pinaceae Nothotsuga longibracteata 17 NT Pinaceae Picea schrenkiana 61 LC

Pinaceae Picea abies 203 LC Pinaceae Picea schrenkiana ssp. schrenkiana 0 LC
Pinaceae Picea abies var. abies 5 LC Pinaceae Picea schrenkiana ssp. tianschanica 5 LC
Pinaceae Picea abies var. acuminata 4 LC Pinaceae Picea sitchensis 113 LC
Pinaceae Picea alcoquiana 29 NT Pinaceae Picea smithiana 77 LC
Pinaceae Picea alcoquiana var. acicularis 6 EN Pinaceae Picea spinulosa 20 LC
Pinaceae Picea alcoquiana var. alcoquiana 27 NT Pinaceae Picea torano 33 VU
Pinaceae Picea alcoquiana var. reflexa 6 EN Pinaceae Picea wilsonii 76 LC
Pinaceae Picea asperata 106 VU Pinaceae Pinus albicaulis 23 EN
Pinaceae Picea asperata var. asperata 1 VU Pinaceae Pinus amamiana 0 EN
Pinaceae Picea asperata var. notabilis 19 EN Pinaceae Pinus aristata 88 LC
Pinaceae Picea asperata var. ponderosa 6 CR Pinaceae Pinus arizonica 9 LC
Pinaceae Picea aurantiaca 2 EN Pinaceae Pinus arizonica var. cooperi 7 VU
Pinaceae Picea brachytyla 55 VU Pinaceae Pinus arizonica var. stormiae 3 VU
Pinaceae Picea brachytyla var. brachytyla 5 VU Pinaceae Pinus armandii 101 LC
Pinaceae Picea brachytyla var. complanata 9 VU Pinaceae Pinus armandii var. armandii 8 LC
Pinaceae Picea breweriana 95 VU Pinaceae Pinus armandii var. dabeshanensis 9 VU
Pinaceae Picea chihuahuana 35 EN Pinaceae Pinus armandii var. mastersiana 23 EN
Pinaceae Picea crassifolia 22 LC Pinaceae Pinus attenuata 44 LC
Pinaceae Picea engelmannii 89 LC Pinaceae Pinus ayacahuite 42 LC
Pinaceae Picea engelmannii ssp. mexicana 23 EN Pinaceae Pinus ayacahuite var. veitchii 6 NT
Pinaceae Picea farreri 8 VU Pinaceae Pinus balfouriana 15 NT
Pinaceae Picea glauca 146 LC Pinaceae Pinus banksiana 119 LC
Pinaceae Picea glauca var. albertiana 1 LC Pinaceae Pinus bhutanica 11 LC
Pinaceae Picea glauca var. glauca 25 LC Pinaceae Pinus brutia 35 LC
Pinaceae Picea glehnii 77 LC Pinaceae Pinus brutia var. brutia 8 LC
Pinaceae Picea jezoensis 66 LC Pinaceae Pinus brutia var. eldarica 35 NT
Pinaceae Picea jezoensis ssp. hondoensis 0 LC Pinaceae Pinus brutia var. pendulifolia 0 LC
Pinaceae Picea jezoensis ssp. jezoensis 6 LC Pinaceae Pinus brutia var. pityusa 25 VU
Pinaceae Picea koraiensis 31 LC Pinaceae Pinus bungeana 140 LC
Pinaceae Picea koraiensis var. koraiensis 3 LC Pinaceae Pinus canariensis 62 LC
Pinaceae Picea koraiensis var. pungsanensis 0 DD Pinaceae Pinus caribaea 18 LC
Pinaceae Picea koyamae 47 CR Pinaceae Pinus caribaea var. bahamensis 2 VU
Pinaceae Picea likiangensis 66 VU Pinaceae Pinus caribaea var. caribaea 4 EN
Pinaceae Picea likiangensis var. hirtella 5 EN Pinaceae Pinus caribaea var. hondurensis 6 LC
Pinaceae Picea likiangensis var. likiangensis 4 VU Pinaceae Pinus cembra 142 LC
Pinaceae Picea likiangensis var. montigena 16 DD Pinaceae Pinus cembroides 35 LC
Pinaceae Picea likiangensis var. rubescens 37 VU Pinaceae Pinus cembroides ssp. lagunae 1 VU
Pinaceae Picea linzhiensis 6 NT Pinaceae Pinus cembroides ssp. orizabensis 1 EN
Pinaceae Picea mariana 99 LC Pinaceae Pinus clausa 5 LC
Pinaceae Picea martinezii 9 EN Pinaceae Pinus contorta 73 LC
Pinaceae Picea maximowiczii 24 EN Pinaceae Pinus contorta var. contorta 39 LC
Pinaceae Picea maximowiczii var. maximowiczii 4 EN Pinaceae Pinus contorta var. latifolia 3 LC
Pinaceae Picea maximowiczii var. senanensis 2 DD Pinaceae Pinus contorta var. murrayana 35 LC
Pinaceae Picea meyeri 51 NT Pinaceae Pinus coulteri 82 NT
Pinaceae Picea morrisonicola 34 VU Pinaceae Pinus cubensis 4 LC
Pinaceae Picea neoveitchii 17 CR Pinaceae Pinus culminicola 8 EN
Pinaceae Picea obovata 77 LC Pinaceae Pinus dalatensis 0 NT
Pinaceae Picea omorika 209 EN Pinaceae Pinus densata 21 LC
Pinaceae Picea orientalis 142 LC Pinaceae Pinus densiflora 130 LC
Pinaceae Picea pungens 145 LC Pinaceae Pinus devoniana 19 LC
Pinaceae Picea purpurea 52 NT Pinaceae Pinus douglasiana 2 LC
Pinaceae Picea retroflexa 30 EN Pinaceae Pinus durangensis 17 NT
Pinaceae Picea rubens 79 LC Pinaceae Pinus echinata 51 LC

No. of ex situ
No. of ex situ
collections
collections
List status
List status
IUCN Red
IUCN Red
Pinaceae Pinus edulis 61 LC Pinaceae Pinus nigra ssp. dalmatica 9 EN

Pinaceae Pinus elliottii 34 LC Pinaceae Pinus nigra ssp. laricio 11 LC
Pinaceae Pinus elliottii var. densa 3 NT Pinaceae Pinus nigra ssp. nigra 13 LC
Pinaceae Pinus elliottii var. elliottii 0 LC Pinaceae Pinus nigra ssp. pallasiana 74 LC
Pinaceae Pinus engelmannii 26 LC Pinaceae Pinus nigra ssp. salzmannii 40 LC
Pinaceae Pinus fenzeliana 6 NT Pinaceae Pinus occidentalis 3 EN
Pinaceae Pinus flexilis 100 LC Pinaceae Pinus oocarpa 18 LC
Pinaceae Pinus flexilis var. reflexa 10 NT Pinaceae Pinus palustris 56 EN
Pinaceae Pinus gerardiana 29 NT Pinaceae Pinus parviflora 93 LC
Pinaceae Pinus glabra 22 LC Pinaceae Pinus parviflora var. parviflora 3 LC
Pinaceae Pinus greggii 31 VU Pinaceae Pinus parviflora var. pentaphylla 11 LC
Pinaceae Pinus greggii var. australis 0 EN Pinaceae Pinus patula 58 LC
Pinaceae Pinus greggii var. greggii 0 NT Pinaceae Pinus peuce 98 NT
Pinaceae Pinus halepensis 77 LC Pinaceae Pinus pinaster 73 LC
Pinaceae Pinus hartwegii 33 LC Pinaceae Pinus pinaster ssp. escarena 10 LC
Pinaceae Pinus heldreichii 141 LC Pinaceae Pinus pinaster ssp. pinaster 0 LC
Pinaceae Pinus henryi 9 NT Pinaceae Pinus pinaster ssp. renoui 0 EN
Pinaceae Pinus herrerae 2 LC Pinaceae Pinus pinceana 12 LC
Pinaceae Pinus hwangshanensis 19 LC Pinaceae Pinus pinea 107 LC
Pinaceae Pinus jaliscana 0 NT Pinaceae Pinus ponderosa 154 LC
Pinaceae Pinus jeffreyi 108 LC Pinaceae Pinus ponderosa var. ponderosa 23 LC
Pinaceae Pinus kesiya 10 LC Pinaceae Pinus ponderosa var. scopulorum 2 LC
Pinaceae Pinus kesiya var. kesiya 4 LC Pinaceae Pinus praetermissa 0 NT
Pinaceae Pinus kesiya var. langbianensis 5 LC Pinaceae Pinus pringlei 1 LC
Pinaceae Pinus koraiensis 127 LC Pinaceae Pinus pseudostrobus 31 LC
Pinaceae Pinus krempfii 2 VU Pinaceae Pinus pseudostrobus var. apulcensis 18 LC
Pinaceae Pinus lambertiana 41 LC Pinaceae Pinus pseudostrobus var. pseudostrobus 6 LC
Pinaceae Pinus latteri 0 NT Pinaceae Pinus pumila 81 LC
Pinaceae Pinus lawsonii 4 LC Pinaceae Pinus pungens 37 LC
Pinaceae Pinus leiophylla 12 LC Pinaceae Pinus quadrifolia 16 LC
Pinaceae Pinus leiophylla var. chihuahuana 5 LC Pinaceae Pinus radiata 93 EN
Pinaceae Pinus leiophylla var. leiophylla 0 LC Pinaceae Pinus radiata var. binata 14 VU
Pinaceae Pinus longaeva 21 LC Pinaceae Pinus radiata var. radiata 6 EN
Pinaceae Pinus luchuensis 4 LC Pinaceae Pinus remota 4 LC
Pinaceae Pinus lumholtzii 8 NT Pinaceae Pinus resinosa 93 LC
Pinaceae Pinus luzmariae 0 LC Pinaceae Pinus rigida 107 LC
Pinaceae Pinus massoniana 32 LC Pinaceae Pinus roxburghii 26 LC
Pinaceae Pinus massoniana var. hainanensis 2 CR Pinaceae Pinus rzedowskii 1 VU
Pinaceae Pinus massoniana var. massoniana 0 LC Pinaceae Pinus sabiniana 50 LC
Pinaceae Pinus maximartinezii 24 EN Pinaceae Pinus serotina 22 LC
Pinaceae Pinus maximinoi 7 LC Pinaceae Pinus sibirica 67 LC
Pinaceae Pinus merkusii 5 VU Pinaceae Pinus squamata 0 CR
Pinaceae Pinus monophylla 42 LC Pinaceae Pinus strobiformis 59 LC
Pinaceae Pinus montezumae 43 LC Pinaceae Pinus strobus 193 LC
Pinaceae Pinus montezumae var. gordoniana 0 LC Pinaceae Pinus strobus var. chiapensis 10 EN
Pinaceae Pinus montezumae var. montezumae 2 LC Pinaceae Pinus strobus var. strobus 2 LC
Pinaceae Pinus monticola 81 NT Pinaceae Pinus sylvestris 186 LC
Pinaceae Pinus morrisonicola 16 NT Pinaceae Pinus sylvestris var. hamata 34 LC
Pinaceae Pinus mugo 151 LC Pinaceae Pinus sylvestris var. mongolica 48 LC
Pinaceae Pinus mugo ssp. mugo 201 LC Pinaceae Pinus tabuliformis 68 LC
Pinaceae Pinus mugo ssp. rotundata 23 EN Pinaceae Pinus tabuliformis var. mukdensis 6 LC
Pinaceae Pinus muricata 66 VU Pinaceae Pinus tabuliformis var. tabuliformis 1 LC
Pinaceae Pinus nelsonii 5 EN Pinaceae Pinus tabuliformis var. umbraculifera 0 NT
Pinaceae Pinus nigra 166 LC Pinaceae Pinus taeda 85 LC

No. of ex situ
No. of ex situ
collections
collections
List status
List status
IUCN Red
IUCN Red
Pinaceae Pinus taiwanensis 37 LC Podocarpaceae Afrocarpus mannii 14 VU

Pinaceae Pinus taiwanensis var. fragilissima 0 NT Podocarpaceae Afrocarpus usambarensis 11 EN
Pinaceae Pinus taiwanensis var. taiwanensis 0 LC Podocarpaceae Dacrycarpus cinctus 2 LC
Pinaceae Pinus tecunumanii 6 VU Podocarpaceae Dacrycarpus compactus 5 LC
Pinaceae Pinus teocote 13 LC Podocarpaceae Dacrycarpus cumingii 0 LC
Pinaceae Pinus thunbergii 110 LC Podocarpaceae Dacrycarpus dacrydioides 50 LC
Pinaceae Pinus torreyana 40 CR Podocarpaceae Dacrycarpus expansus 1 LC
Pinaceae Pinus torreyana ssp. insularis 1 VU Podocarpaceae Dacrycarpus imbricatus 20 LC
Pinaceae Pinus torreyana ssp. torreyana 7 CR Podocarpaceae Dacrycarpus imbricatus var. imbricatus 11 LC
Pinaceae Pinus tropicalis 1 VU Podocarpaceae Dacrycarpus imbricatus var. patulus 5 LC
Pinaceae Pinus uncinata 50 LC Podocarpaceae Dacrycarpus imbricatus var. robustus 1 LC
Pinaceae Pinus virginiana 63 LC Podocarpaceae Dacrycarpus kinabaluensis 6 LC
Pinaceae Pinus wallichiana 145 LC Podocarpaceae Dacrycarpus steupii 0 NT
Pinaceae Pinus wallichiana var. wallichiana 0 LC Podocarpaceae Dacrycarpus vieillardii 1 LC
Pinaceae Pinus wangii 1 EN Podocarpaceae Dacrydium araucarioides 6 LC
Pinaceae Pinus yunnanensis 36 LC Podocarpaceae Dacrydium balansae 6 LC
Pinaceae Pinus yunnanensis var. pygmaea 0 LC Podocarpaceae Dacrydium beccarii 3 LC
Pinaceae Pinus yunnanensis var. yunnanensis 2 LC Podocarpaceae Dacrydium comosum 0 EN
Pinaceae Pseudolarix amabilis 126 VU Podocarpaceae Dacrydium cornwallianum 0 LC
Pinaceae Pseudotsuga japonica 6 EN Podocarpaceae Dacrydium cupressinum 35 LC
Pinaceae Pseudotsuga macrocarpa 33 NT Podocarpaceae Dacrydium elatum 13 LC
Pinaceae Pseudotsuga menziesii 157 LC Podocarpaceae Dacrydium ericoides 0 LC
Pinaceae Pseudotsuga menziesii var. glauca 85 LC Podocarpaceae Dacrydium gibbsiae 0 LC
Pinaceae Pseudotsuga menziesii var. menziesii 35 LC Podocarpaceae Dacrydium gracile 1 NT
Pinaceae Pseudotsuga sinensis 25 VU Podocarpaceae Dacrydium guillauminii 3 CR
Pinaceae Pseudotsuga sinensis var. brevifolia 2 VU Podocarpaceae Dacrydium leptophyllum 0 VU
Pinaceae Pseudotsuga sinensis var. gaussenii 11 DD Podocarpaceae Dacrydium lycopodioides 1 NT
Pinaceae Pseudotsuga sinensis var. sinensis 28 VU Podocarpaceae Dacrydium magnum 0 NT
Pinaceae Tsuga canadensis 197 NT Podocarpaceae Dacrydium medium 0 VU
Pinaceae Tsuga caroliniana 76 NT Podocarpaceae Dacrydium nausoriense 4 EN
Pinaceae Tsuga chinensis 76 LC Podocarpaceae Dacrydium nidulum 4 LC
Pinaceae Tsuga chinensis var. chinensis 30 LC Podocarpaceae Dacrydium novoguineense 0 LC
Pinaceae Tsuga chinensis var. oblongisquamata 6 LC Podocarpaceae Dacrydium pectinatum 2 EN
Pinaceae Tsuga chinensis var. robusta 0 DD Podocarpaceae Dacrydium spathoides 0 NT
Pinaceae Tsuga diversifolia 82 LC Podocarpaceae Dacrydium xanthandrum 1 LC
Pinaceae Tsuga dumosa 32 LC Podocarpaceae Falcatifolium angustum 0 EN
Pinaceae Tsuga forrestii 19 VU Podocarpaceae Falcatifolium falciforme 3 NT
Pinaceae Tsuga heterophylla 97 LC Podocarpaceae Falcatifolium gruezoi 2 NT
Pinaceae Tsuga mertensiana 57 LC Podocarpaceae Falcatifolium papuanum 1 LC
Pinaceae Tsuga mertensiana ssp. grandicona 0 LC Podocarpaceae Falcatifolium sleumeri 0 NT
Pinaceae Tsuga mertensiana ssp. mertensiana 3 LC Podocarpaceae Falcatifolium taxoides 7 LC
Pinaceae Tsuga sieboldii 68 NT Podocarpaceae Halocarpus bidwillii 23 LC
Podocarpaceae Microcachrys tetragona 36 LC Podocarpaceae Halocarpus biformis 11 LC
Podocarpaceae Podocarpus madagascariensis var. 0 NT Podocarpaceae Halocarpus kirkii 6 NT
madagascariensis Podocarpaceae Lagarostrobos franklinii 27 LC
Podocarpaceae Podocarpus orarius 1 NT Podocarpaceae Lepidothamnus fonkii 4 LC
Podocarpaceae Podocarpus sellowii var. angustifolius 0 CR Podocarpaceae Lepidothamnus intermedius 5 LC
Podocarpaceae Podocarpus sellowii var. sellowii 0 EN Podocarpaceae Lepidothamnus laxifolius 13 LC
Podocarpaceae Retrophyllum minus 0 EN Podocarpaceae Manoao colensoi 10 LC
Podocarpaceae Acmopyle pancheri 10 NT Podocarpaceae Nageia fleuryi 12 NT
Podocarpaceae Acmopyle sahniana 6 CR Podocarpaceae Nageia maxima 0 EN
Podocarpaceae Afrocarpus dawei 4 NT Podocarpaceae Nageia motleyi 3 VU
Podocarpaceae Afrocarpus falcatus 56 LC Podocarpaceae Nageia nagi 51 NT
Podocarpaceae Afrocarpus gracilior 48 LC Podocarpaceae Nageia wallichiana 6 LC

No. of ex situ
No. of ex situ
collections
collections
List status
List status
IUCN Red
IUCN Red
Podocarpaceae Parasitaxus usta 0 VU Podocarpaceae Podocarpus macrophyllus 118 LC

Podocarpaceae Pherosphaera fitzgeraldii 31 CR Podocarpaceae Podocarpus macrophyllus var. 5 LC
Podocarpaceae Pherosphaera hookeriana 12 NT macrophyllus
Podocarpaceae Podocarpus acuminatus 0 NT Podocarpaceae Podocarpus macrophyllus var. maki 43 NT
Podocarpaceae Podocarpus acutifolius 33 LC Podocarpaceae Podocarpus madagascariensis 1 NT
Podocarpaceae Podocarpus affinis 5 NT Podocarpaceae Podocarpus madagascariensis var. 0 EN
Podocarpaceae Podocarpus angustifolius 9 VU procerus
Podocarpaceae Podocarpus aracensis 0 LC Podocarpaceae Podocarpus madagascariensis var. 0 DD
Podocarpaceae Podocarpus archboldii 2 VU rotundus
Podocarpaceae Podocarpus atjehensis 0 NT Podocarpaceae Podocarpus magnifolius 0 LC
Podocarpaceae Podocarpus borneensis 0 LC Podocarpaceae Podocarpus matudae 23 VU
Podocarpaceae Podocarpus bracteatus 0 LC Podocarpaceae Podocarpus micropedunculatus 0 NT
Podocarpaceae Podocarpus brasiliensis 0 LC Podocarpaceae Podocarpus milanjianus 7 LC
Podocarpaceae Podocarpus brassii 8 LC Podocarpaceae Podocarpus nakaii 3 EN
Podocarpaceae Podocarpus brevifolius 1 NT Podocarpaceae Podocarpus neriifolius 45 LC
Podocarpaceae Podocarpus buchii 0 EN Podocarpaceae Podocarpus neriifolius var. degeneri 0 LC
Podocarpaceae Podocarpus capuronii 0 EN Podocarpaceae Podocarpus neriifolius var. neriifolius 5 LC
Podocarpaceae Podocarpus celatus 1 LC Podocarpaceae Podocarpus nivalis 74 LC
Podocarpaceae Podocarpus chingianus 8 DD Podocarpaceae Podocarpus novae-caledoniae 10 LC
Podocarpaceae Podocarpus confertus 0 EN Podocarpaceae Podocarpus nubigenus 20 NT
Podocarpaceae Podocarpus coriaceus 5 LC Podocarpaceae Podocarpus oleifolius 8 LC
Podocarpaceae Podocarpus costalis 11 EN Podocarpaceae Podocarpus palawanensis 0 CR
Podocarpaceae Podocarpus costaricensis 0 CR Podocarpaceae Podocarpus pallidus 2 VU
Podocarpaceae Podocarpus crassigemma 0 LC Podocarpaceae Podocarpus parlatorei 9 NT
Podocarpaceae Podocarpus cunninghamii 41 LC Podocarpaceae Podocarpus pendulifolius 0 EN
Podocarpaceae Podocarpus decumbens 1 CR Podocarpaceae Podocarpus perrieri 0 CR
Podocarpaceae Podocarpus deflexus 0 NT Podocarpaceae Podocarpus pilgeri 5 LC
Podocarpaceae Podocarpus dispermus 10 LC Podocarpaceae Podocarpus polyspermus 2 EN
Podocarpaceae Podocarpus drouynianus 9 LC Podocarpaceae Podocarpus polystachyus 12 VU
Podocarpaceae Podocarpus ekmanii 0 LC Podocarpaceae Podocarpus pseudobracteatus 3 LC
Podocarpaceae Podocarpus elatus 54 LC Podocarpaceae Podocarpus purdieanus 3 EN
Podocarpaceae Podocarpus elongatus 19 LC Podocarpaceae Podocarpus ramosii 2 DD
Podocarpaceae Podocarpus fasciculus 4 VU Podocarpaceae Podocarpus ridleyi 0 VU
Podocarpaceae Podocarpus gibbsiae 1 VU Podocarpaceae Podocarpus roraimae 0 LC
Podocarpaceae Podocarpus glaucus 0 LC Podocarpaceae Podocarpus rostratus 0 EN
Podocarpaceae Podocarpus globulus 0 EN Podocarpaceae Podocarpus rubens 3 LC
Podocarpaceae Podocarpus glomeratus 1 NT Podocarpaceae Podocarpus rumphii 15 NT
Podocarpaceae Podocarpus gnidioides 9 NT Podocarpaceae Podocarpus rusbyi 0 VU
Podocarpaceae Podocarpus grayae 11 LC Podocarpaceae Podocarpus salicifolius 0 LC
Podocarpaceae Podocarpus guatemalensis 7 LC Podocarpaceae Podocarpus salignus 62 VU
Podocarpaceae Podocarpus henkelii 43 EN Podocarpaceae Podocarpus salomoniensis 1 NT
Podocarpaceae Podocarpus hispaniolensis 0 EN Podocarpaceae Podocarpus sellowii 4 EN
Podocarpaceae Podocarpus humbertii 0 EN Podocarpaceae Podocarpus smithii 8 LC
Podocarpaceae Podocarpus insularis 1 LC Podocarpaceae Podocarpus spathoides 0 DD
Podocarpaceae Podocarpus lambertii 13 NT Podocarpaceae Podocarpus spinulosus 17 LC
Podocarpaceae Podocarpus latifolius 39 LC Podocarpaceae Podocarpus sprucei 1 EN
Podocarpaceae Podocarpus laubenfelsii 0 EN Podocarpaceae Podocarpus steyermarkii 0 LC
Podocarpaceae Podocarpus lawrencei 36 LC Podocarpaceae Podocarpus subtropicalis 5 DD
Podocarpaceae Podocarpus ledermannii 1 LC Podocarpaceae Podocarpus sylvestris 3 LC
Podocarpaceae Podocarpus levis 0 LC Podocarpaceae Podocarpus tepuiensis 0 LC
Podocarpaceae Podocarpus longefoliolatus 5 EN Podocarpaceae Podocarpus teysmannii 1 NT
Podocarpaceae Podocarpus lophatus 0 VU Podocarpaceae Podocarpus totara 65 LC
Podocarpaceae Podocarpus lucienii 4 LC Podocarpaceae Podocarpus transiens 0 EN
Podocarpaceae Podocarpus macrocarpus 0 EN Podocarpaceae Podocarpus trinitensis 4 NT

No. of ex situ
No. of ex situ
collections
collections
List status
List status
IUCN Red
IUCN Red
Podocarpaceae Podocarpus urbanii 3 CR Taxaceae Amentotaxus poilanei 0 VU

Podocarpaceae Prumnopitys andina 70 VU Taxaceae Amentotaxus yunnanensis 6 VU
Podocarpaceae Prumnopitys exigua 0 NT Taxaceae Austrotaxus spicata 3 NT
Podocarpaceae Prumnopitys ferruginea 20 LC Taxaceae Pseudotaxus chienii 27 VU
Podocarpaceae Prumnopitys ferruginoides 1 LC Taxaceae Taxus baccata 189 LC
Podocarpaceae Prumnopitys harmsiana 1 NT Taxaceae Taxus brevifolia 60 NT
Podocarpaceae Prumnopitys ladei 21 VU Taxaceae Taxus canadensis 64 LC
Podocarpaceae Prumnopitys montana 5 VU Taxaceae Taxus chinensis 31 EN
Podocarpaceae Prumnopitys standleyi 2 EN Taxaceae Taxus contorta 0 EN
Podocarpaceae Prumnopitys taxifolia 26 LC Taxaceae Taxus cuspidata 144 LC
Podocarpaceae Retrophyllum comptonii 8 LC Taxaceae Taxus cuspidata var. cuspidata 3 LC
Podocarpaceae Retrophyllum piresii 1 DD Taxaceae Taxus cuspidata var. nana 17 DD
Podocarpaceae Retrophyllum rospigliosii 13 VU Taxaceae Taxus floridana 20 CR
Podocarpaceae Retrophyllum vitiense 3 LC Taxaceae Taxus globosa 17 EN
Podocarpaceae Saxegothaea conspicua 45 NT Taxaceae Taxus mairei 19 VU
Podocarpaceae Sundacarpus amarus 9 LC Taxaceae Taxus wallichiana 59 EN
Sciadopityaceae Sciadopitys verticillata 156 NT Taxaceae Torreya californica 67 VU
Taxaceae Torreya fargesii ssp. fargesii 0 EN Taxaceae Torreya fargesii 2 VU
Taxaceae Torreya grandis var. jiulongshanensis 0 DD Taxaceae Torreya fargesii var. yunnanensis 1 EN
Taxaceae Amentotaxus argotaenia 18 NT Taxaceae Torreya grandis 41 LC
Taxaceae Amentotaxus argotaenia var. argotaenia 1 NT Taxaceae Torreya grandis var. grandis 2 LC
Taxaceae Amentotaxus argotaenia var. brevifolia 0 CR Taxaceae Torreya jackii 11 EN
Taxaceae Amentotaxus assamica 0 EN Taxaceae Torreya nucifera 111 LC
Taxaceae Amentotaxus formosana 12 VU Taxaceae Torreya taxifolia 43 CR
Taxaceae Amentotaxus hatuyenensis 0 EN
Pinus pinea at the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. Least Concern (LC), reported as held in 107 ex situ collections worldwide.

Annex II: Priority Critically Endangered (CR) and Endangered (EN) conifer taxa for increased
ex situ conservation efforts.
Number of ex situ collections refers to PlantSearch records and records supplied by International Conifer Conservation Programme
(ICCP) sites.
Critically Endangered (CR) taxa reported as absent Podocarpaceae Retrophyllum minus

from ex situ collections Podocarpaceae Dacrydium comosum
Cupressaceae Juniperus gracilior var. ekmanii Podocarpaceae Falcatifolium angustum
Pinaceae Pinus squamata Podocarpaceae Nageia maxima
Podocarpaceae Podocarpus sellowii var. angustifolius Podocarpaceae Podocarpus buchii
Podocarpaceae Podocarpus costaricensis Podocarpaceae Podocarpus capuronii
Podocarpaceae Podocarpus palawanensis Podocarpaceae Podocarpus confertus
Podocarpaceae Podocarpus perrieri Podocarpaceae Podocarpus globules
Taxaceae Amentotaxus argotaenia var. brevifolia Podocarpaceae Podocarpus hispaniolensis
Podocarpaceae Podocarpus humbertii
Podocarpaceae Podocarpus laubenfelsii
Critically Endangered (CR) taxa reported in a small Podocarpaceae Podocarpus macrocarpus
number (1-5) of ex situ collections Podocarpaceae Podocarpus madagascariensis var.
Cupressaceae Juniperus gracilior var. ekmanii procerus
Pinaceae Pinus squamata Podocarpaceae Podocarpus pendulifolius
Podocarpaceae Podocarpus sellowii var. angustifolius Podocarpaceae Podocarpus rostratus
Podocarpaceae Podocarpus costaricensis Podocarpaceae Podocarpus transiens
Podocarpaceae Podocarpus palawanensis Taxaceae Torreya fargesii ssp. fargesii
Podocarpaceae Podocarpus perrieri Taxaceae Amentotaxus assamica
Taxaceae Amentotaxus argotaenia var. brevifolia Taxaceae Amentotaxus hatuyenensis
Cupressaceae Juniperus barbadensis var. Taxaceae Taxus contorta
barbadensis
Cupressaceae Juniperus saxicola
Pinaceae Abies yuanbaoshanensis Endangered (EN) taxa reported in a small number (1-5)
Podocarpaceae Podocarpus decumbens of ex situ collections
Cupressaceae Cupressus chengiana var. jiangensis Pinaceae Pinus wangii
Cupressaceae Juniperus deppeana var. sperryi Podocarpaceae Podocarpus sprucei
Cupressaceae Libocedrus chevalieri Taxaceae Torreya fargesii var. yunnanensis
Pinaceae Abies beshanzuensis Araucariaceae Agathis kinabaluensis
Pinaceae Abies delavayi ssp. fansipanensis Pinaceae Abies fanjingshanensis
Pinaceae Pinus massoniana var. hainanensis Pinaceae Picea aurantiaca
Podocarpaceae Dacrydium guillauminii Podocarpaceae Dacrydium pectinatum
Podocarpaceae Podocarpus urbanii Podocarpaceae Podocarpus polyspermus
Cupressaceae Widdringtonia whytei Podocarpaceae Prumnopitys standleyi
Cephalotaxaceae Cephalotaxus hainanensis
Cupressaceae Cupressus guadalupensis var.
Endangered (EN) taxa reported as absent guadalupensis
from ex situ collections Pinaceae Abies hickelii var. oaxacana
Araucariaceae Agathis orbicular Pinaceae Keteleeria davidiana var. formosana
Cupressaceae Juniperus comitana Pinaceae Pinus occidentalis
Cupressaceae Juniperus deppeana var. zacatecensis Podocarpaceae Podocarpus nakaii
Cupressaceae Juniperus gamboana Podocarpaceae Podocarpus purdieanus
Cupressaceae Juniperus gracilior var. gracilior Cephalotaxaceae Cephalotaxus lanceolata
Cupressaceae Juniperus gracilior var. urbaniana Pinaceae Picea maximowiczii var. maximowiczii
Cupressaceae Juniperus jaliscana Pinaceae Pinus caribaea var. caribaea
Cupressaceae Juniperus saltillensis Podocarpaceae Dacrydium nausoriense
Pinaceae Abies hickelii var. hickelii Podocarpaceae Podocarpus sellowii
Pinaceae Pinus amamiana Cupressaceae Libocedrus yateensis
Pinaceae Pinus greggii var. australis Pinaceae Picea likiangensis var. hirtella
Pinaceae Pinus pinaster ssp. renoui Pinaceae Pinus nelsonii
Podocarpaceae Podocarpus sellowii var. sellowii Podocarpaceae Podocarpus longefoliolatus

Annex III: Participating institutions
Participating institutions that provided information to PlantSearch are listed below (ordered alphabetically by country).
International Conifer Conservation Programme (ICCP) sites also contributed information to the survey.
Jardín Botánico “Cascada Escondida”; Jardín Botánico Forestry Faculty); Jardin Botanico (Instituto de Botanica);
“Lucien Hauman”; Sevan Botanical Garden; Vanadzor Jardin Botanico Nacional; Arboretum of Guizhou Institute of
Botanical Garden; Yerevan Botanic Garden; Alexandra Forestry Science; Arboretum of Jiangxi Institute of Forestry
Gardens; Alice Springs Desert Park; Australian National Science; Arboretum of Nanjing Forestry University;
Botanic Gardens; Bendigo Botanic Gardens, White Hills; Arboretum of Wuhan University; Baoji Botanical Garden
Booderee Botanic Gardens; Botanic Gardens of Adelaide; (Shaanxi); Beijing Medicinal Garden; Changchun Forest
Brisbane Botanic Gardens; Bundaberg Botanic Gardens; Botanic Garden, Jilin; Dashushan Botanical Garden;
Burrendong Botanic Garden & Arboretum; Cooktown Dinghushan National Nature Reserve; Dongfeng Forest
Botanic Gardens; Darwin Botanic Gardens; Fruit Spirit Farm (Guizhou); Gannan Arboretum of Jiangxi; Guangxi
Botanical Garden; Geelong Botanic Gardens; Kings Park Botanical Garden of Medicinal Plants; Guilin Botanical
and Botanic Garden; Mackay Regional Botanic Gardens; Garden; Guizhou Botanical Garden; Hangzhou Botanical
National Arboretum Canberra; North Coast Regional Garden; Heilongjiang Forest Botanical Garden; Hohhot
Botanic Garden; Royal Botanic Gardens Sydney; Royal Arboretum; Hong Kong Zoological and Botanical Gardens;
Botanic Gardens, Melbourne; Royal Tasmanian Botanical Hunan Forest Botanical Garden; Hunan Nanyue Arboretum;
Gardens; St. Kilda Botanic Garden; Tasmanian Arboretum Jinyunshan Botanical Garden (Chongqing); Kadoorie Farm
Inc; The Cairns Botanic Gardens; Townsville Botanic and Botanic Garden; Lushan Botanical Garden; Maijishan
Gardens; University of Melbourne Grounds and Gardens; Arboretum (Gansu); Minqin Garden of Desert Plants;
Alpengarten Villacher Alpe; Core Facility Botanical Garden; Nanjing Botanical Garden Mem. Sun Yat-sen; Nanjing
Botanical Garden Komarov, Herbarium & Baku Botanical Botanical Garden of Medicinal Plants; Research Institute of
Institute; Bangladesh Agricultural University Botanic Subtropical Forestry (Zhejiang); Shanghai Botanical Garden;
Garden; Central Botanical Garden; The Belorussian Shenzhen Fairy Lake Botanical Garden; Shing Mun
Agricultural Academy; The Botanical Garden of the Arboretum, AFCD; South China Botanical Garden, Chinese
Technological Institute; Arboretum Groenendaal - Flemish Academy of Sciences; Turpan Desert Botanic Garden;
Forest Department - Houtvesterij Groenendaal; Arboretum Wuhan Botanic Garden; Wutaishan Arboretum (Shanxi);
Waasland; Arboretum Wespelaar; Bokrijk Arboretum; Xi'an Botanical Garden; Xiashi Arboretum; Xishuangbanna
Ghent University Botanic Garden; Hof ter Saksen Tropical Botanical Garden, Chinese Academy of Sciences;
Arboretum; Kalmthout Arboretum; Leuven Botanic Garden; Yanchi Arid Land Shrub Garden (Ningxia); Yinchuan
National Botanic Garden of Belgium; The Bermuda Botanical Garden (Ningxia); Jardin Botanico Eloy
Botanical Gardens; Royal Botanical Garden, Serbithang; Valenzuela; Jardín Botánico José Celestino Mutis;
Limbe Botanic Garden; Annapolis Royal Historic Gardens; Arboretum ‘Trsteno’; Botanical Garden of the University of
Arboretum at the University of Guelph, The; Biodôme Zagreb; Jardin Botanico Sancti Spiritus; Arboretum St ední
de Montréal - Botanical Garden; Calgary Zoo, Botanical lesnické školy; Charles University Botanic Garden
Garden & Prehistoric Park; Cowichan Lake Research (Botanicka zahrada University Karlovy); Institute of Botany,
Station Arboretum; Devonian Botanic Garden; Dominion Czech Academy of Sciences; Jardin Botanique de Kisantu;
Arboretum and Central Experimental Farm; Dr. Sun Yat-Sen Københavns Universitets Botaniske Have; Royal Veterinary
Classical Chinese Garden; Gardens of Fanshawe College and Agricultural University Arboretum; The Greenland
and A.M. Cuddy Gardens; Great Lakes Forestry Centre Arboretum; University of Aarhus Botanical Institute; Jardin
Arboretum; Harriet Irving Botanical Gardens; Milner Botanico Nacional “Dr. Rafael M. Moscoso”; Reserva Rio
Gardens and Woodland; Montreal Botanical Garden / Guaycuyacu; El Saff Botanic Garden; Botanical Garden of
Jardin botanique de Montréal; Morden Arboretum Research Tartu University; Tallinn Botanic Garden; Gullele Botanic
Station; National Tree Seed Centre; New Brunswick Garden; Botanical Gardens and Museum of Oulu University;
Botanical Garden; Niagara Parks Botanical Gardens and Helsinki University Botanic Garden; University of Turku -
School of Horticulture, The; Patterson Gardens; Riverview Botanical Garden; Arboretum des Grands-Murcins;
Horticultural Centre Society, The; Royal Botanical Gardens, Arboretum Marcel Kroenlein; Bibliotheque Centrale;
Ontario; Royal Roads University Botanical Gardens; Conservatoire Botanique National de Porquerolles;
Sherwood Fox Arboretum; Toronto Botanical Garden; Conservatoire Botanique National du Brest; Conservatoire
Toronto Zoo; University of British Columbia Botanical et Jardins Botaniques de Nancy; Conservatoire Genetique
Garden; VanDusen Botanical Garden; Jardim Botanico des Arbres Forestiers USC ONF-INRA; Espace Pierres
Nacional ‘L. Grandvaux Barbosa’; Queen Elizabeth II Folles; Harmas de Fabre; Jardin Botanique Alpin de la
Botanic Park; Arboretum (Institute of Silviculture, Jaysinia; Jardin Botanique de l'Université de Strasbourg;

Jardin Botanique de la Ville de Lyon; Jardin Botanique de la Botanici Villa Taranto; Giardino Botanico Alpino alle Viotte
Ville de Nice; Jardin botanique de la Ville de Paris; Jardin di M. Bondone; Giardino Botanico Friuli “Cormor”;
Botanique de la Ville et de l’Universite de BESANCON; il Giardino della Minerva; Istituto e Orto Botanico
Jardin Botanique de le Villa Thuret; Jardin Botanique de dell’Universita di Pavia; Istituto ed Orto Botanico della
Marnay sur Seine; Jardin Botanique des Plantes Universita; Orto Botanico “Carmela Cortini” - Università di
Medicinales et Aromatiques; Jardin Botanique et Arboretum Camerino; Orto Botanico “Giardino dei Semplici”; Orto
Henri Gaussen; Jardin Botanique Exotique “ Val Rahmeh ”; Botanico - Università degli Studi di Catania; Orto Botanico
Jardin des Plantes de Paris et Arboretum de Chevreloup; delll’Università; Orto Botanico dell’Universita di Ferrara;
Jardin des Serres d’ Auteuil; Jardins des Plantes de Orto Botanico di Perugia; Orto Botanico Università degli
l‘Université; Les Jardins Suspendus; Parc Zoologique et Studi di Padova; Brackenhurst Botanic Garden; Friends of
Botanique de la Ville de Mulhouse; Station Alpine du Nairobi Arboretum; National Museums of Kenya, Nairobi
Lautaret; Universite Paris-Sud - Parc Botanique de Launay; Botanic Garden; Gareev Botanical Garden of the National
Bakuriani Alpine Botanical Garden; Batumi Botanical Academy of Sciences, Kyrgyzstan; Botanical Garden of the
Garden; National Botanical Garden of Georgia; Alpengarten University of Latvia, The; National Botanic Garden of Latvia;
auf dem Schachen; Arboretum Freiburg-Guenterstal im Botanical Garden of Vilnius University; Kaunas Botanical
Staedtischen Forstamt Freiburg; Botanic Garden of Garden; Arboretum Kirchberg; National Herbarium &
Rostock University; Botanical Garden University of Botanic Gardens of Malawi; Rimba Ilmu Botanic Garden;
Duesseldorf; Botanische Gärten der Universität Bonn; Ecojardin del CIEco; FES Iztacala Banco de Semillas;
Botanischer Garten; Botanischer Garten der Carl von Fundación Xochitla A.C.; Jardin Botanico - Dr. Alfredo
Ossietzky-Universitat Oldenburg; Botanischer Garten der Barrera Marin; Jardin Botanico - Efraim Hernandez
Friedrich-Schiller-Universitaet; Botanischer Garten der Xolocotzi; Jardin Botanico - Ignacio Rodriguez Alconedo –
J.W. Goethe-Universitat; Botanischer Garten der Johannes BUAP; Jardin Botanico - Jerzy Rzedowski Rotter; Jardin
Gutenberg-Universität Mainz; Botanischer Garten der Botanico - Louise Wardle de Camacho; Jardin Botanico -
Justus-Liebig Universität Giessen; Botanischer Garten Rey Netzahualcoyotl; Jardin Botanico Benjamin F.
der Martin-Luther-Universitat; Botanischer Garten der Johnston; Jardin Botanico Culiacán; Jardín Botánico de
Philipps-Universität Marburg; Botanischer Garten der Acapulco; Jardin Botanico de Hampolol; Jardin Botanico
Ruhr-Universität Bochum; Botanischer Garten der de la Facultad de Estudios Superiores; Jardin Botanico
Technischen Universitaet Darmstadt; Botanischer Garten de la Universidad Autónoma de Guerrero; Jardin Botanico
der Technischen Universitaet Dresden; Botanischer Garten Dr. Faustino Miranda; Jardín Botánico Francisco Javier
der Universitaet des Saarlandes; Botanischer Garten der Clavijero; Jardin Botanico Tizatlan; Jardin Etnobotanico -
Universität Freiburg; Botanischer Garten der Universitat Francisco Pelaez R.; Jardin Etnobotanico - Francisco
Kiel; Botanischer Garten der Universitat Leipzig; Pelaez R. - Banco de Semillas; Jardin Etnobotanico
Botanischer Garten der Universitat Osnabruck; Botanischer y Museo de Medicina Tradicional y Herbolaria; Vallarta
Garten der Universität Ulm; Botanischer Garten München- Botanical Gardens, A.C.; Jardin Exotique de Monaco;
Nymphenburg; Botanischer Garten und Botanisches National Kandawgyi Botanical Gardens (Maymyo Botanical
Museum Berlin-Dahlem; Botanischer Versuchs- und Garden); Arboretum Oudenbosch; Botanic Garden, Delft
Lehrgarten; Forstbotanischer Garten der Technischen; University of Technology; Botanical Gardens Wageningen
Universitaet Dresden; Forstbotanischer Garten Eberswalde; UR; Botanische Tuin De Kruidhof; Botanische Tuin
Forstbotanischer Garten und Arboretum; Grugapark und Groningen “Domies Toen”; Dutch Open Air Museum /
Botanischer Garten der Stadt Essen; Kurpark Bad Nederlands Openluchtmuseum; Historische Tuin Aalsmeer;
Bellingen; Neuer Botanischer Garten der Universität Hortus Botanicus Amsterdam; Hortus Botanicus Vrije
Göttingen; Oekologisch-Botanischer Garten Universitaet Universiteit; Pinetum Blijdenstein; Rotterdam Zoological
Bayreuth; Palmengarten der Stadt Frankfurt am Main; and Botanical Gardens; Stichting Botanische Tuin Kerkrade;
Aburi Botanic Gardens; Gibraltar Botanic Gardens; Park Stichting Botanische Tuin van Steyl Jochum-Hof;
for the Preservation of Flora and Fauna; Philodassiki Trompenburg Gardens & Arboretum; Utrecht University
Botanic Garden; The Balkan Botanic Garden at Kroussia Botanic Gardens; Auckland Botanic Gardens; Christchurch
Mountains; Jardin Botanico Cecon; Eötvös Loránd Botanic Gardens; Dunedin Botanic Garden; Gore Public
University Botanic Garden; Nyugat-Magyarországi Gardens; Otari Native Botanic Garden; Pukeiti Garden;
Egyetem, Botanikus Kert; Hortus Botanicus Reykjavikensis; Pukekura Park; Timaru Botanic Garden; Wellington Botanic
Acharya Jagadish Chandra Bose Indian Botanic Garden; Garden; Agodi Gardens; CPES Biological Garden of Federal
Punjabi University Botanic Garden; The Agri-Horticultural University of Technology, Minna; Forestry Research Institute
Society of India; Cabang Balai Kebun Raya Eka Karya Bali; of Nigeria (FRIN) - Herbal Garden; IITA – Arboreta;
Center for Plant Conservation - Bogor Botanic Gardens; NACGRAB Field Genebank; Nigeria Montane Forest
Birr Castle Demesne; Mount Usher Gardens; National Project; Sarius Palmetum and Botanical Garden; Shodex
Botanic Gardens, Glasnevin; Talbot Botanic Garden; Botanic Garden; Arboretum and Botanic Garden, University
Trinity College Botanic Garden; Jerusalem Botanical of Bergen; Ringve Botanical Garden; University of Oslo
Gardens; Arboreto di Arco - Parco Arciducale; Ente Giardini Botanical Garden; Government College University Lahore,

Botanic Garden (GCBG); Lipizauga Botanical Sanctuary; Arboretum; Nong Nooch Tropical Botanical Garden;
Makiling Botanic Gardens; Northwestern University Entebbe Botanic Gardens; Tooro Botanical Gardens;
Ecotourism Park and Botanic Gardens; Siit Arboretum Catalogue of Medicinal Plants of Ukrainian Botanic
Botanical Garden; Arboretum w Przelewicach; Kornik Gardens and Parks; Catalogue of Rare Plants of Ukrainian
Arboretum; Ogród Botaniczny Uniwersytetu Wroclawskiego; Botanic Gardens and Parks; Donetsk Botanical Garden;
Rogów Arboretum of Warsaw University of Life Sciences; M.M. Gryshko National Botanical Garden; State Nikitsky
Warsaw University Botanic Garden; Jardim Botanico da Botanical Gardens; Anglesey Abbey; Batsford Arboretum;
Ajuda; Jardim Botanico da Madeira; Jardim Botânico da Benmore Botanic Garden; Bristol Zoological Gardens;
Universidade de Coimbra; Jardim Botânico da Cambridge University Botanic Garden; City of Leeds
Universidade de Lisboa; Jardim Botanico do Faial; Jardim Botanic Gardens; City of Liverpool Botanic Gardens;
Botânico Tropical; Parque Botânico da Tapada da Ajuda; Dawyck Botanic Garden; Durham University Botanic
Parques de Sintra - Monte da Lua S.A.; Conservatoire Garden; Dyffryn Gardens; Eden Project, The; Glasgow
Botanique National de Mascarin; Gradina Botanica Botanic Gardens; Hergest Croft Gardens; High Beeches
“Alexandru Borza” a Universitatii din Cluj-Napoca; Gradina Gardens Conservation Trust; Killerton; Knightshayes; Logan
Botanica a Universitatii din Bucuresti; Gradina Botanica a Botanic Garden; Lyme Park; Millennium Seed Bank;
Universitatii din Craiova; Gradina Botanica Targu Mures; National Botanic Garden of Wales; Paignton Zoo
Botanic Garden of Tver State University; Botanical Garden - Environmental Park; Penrhyn Castle; Pine Lodge Pinetum;
Center of Ecological Education of Moscow Palace for Rowallane Garden; Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh; Royal
Children and Youth Creativity; Botanical Garden - Institute Botanic Gardens Kew (Wakehurst); Royal Botanic Gardens,
of the Volga State Technological University; Botanical Kew; Royal Horticultural Society’s Garden, Harlow Carr;
Garden of Chelyabinsk State University; Botanical Garden Royal Horticultural Society’s Garden, Hyde Hall; Royal
of Pyatigorsk State Pharmaceutical Academy; Botanical Horticultural Society's Garden, Rosemoor; Royal
Garden of St. Petersburg State University; Botanical Horticultural Society's Garden, Wisley; Sheffield Botanical
Garden of the V.L. Komarov Botanical Institute; Botanical Gardens; Sissinghurst Castle Garden; St. Andrews Botanic
Garden-Institute, Ufa Research Center; Central Siberian Garden; Stourhead; Tatton Garden; Society/Quinta
Botanical Garden; Main Botanical Garden, Russian Arboretum; Tatton Park; The Harris Garden; The Living
Academy of Science; Moscow State University Botanical Rainforest; The National Pinetum Bedgebury; The Sir
Garden; Mountain Botanical Garden of the Dagestan Harold Hillier Gardens; The Tree Register of the British Isles;
Scientific Centre; Novosibirsk Dendropark; Siberian Thwaite Gardens, University of Hull Botanic & Experimental
Botanical Garden of Tomsk State University; Stavropol Garden; Tregothnan Estate; Tresco Abbey Garden;
Botanical Garden; The B.M. Kozo-Polyansky Botanical University of Bristol Botanic Garden; University of Dundee
Garden of Voronezh State University; St Vincent and the Botanic Garden; University of Liverpool Botanic Gardens (at
Grenadines Botanic Gardens; Jardin d’Experimentation Ness); Wentworth Castle Gardens; Westonbirt, The National
des Plantes Utiles (J.E.P.U.); Arboretum Radigojno; National Arboretum; Adkins Arboretum; Alaska Botanical Garden;
Botanic Gardens Foundation; Singapore Botanic Gardens; Ambler Arboretum of Temple University, The; Arboretum at
Arboretum Mly any SAS; Juliana Alpine Botanical Garden; Kutztown University; Arboretum at Penn State, The;
Ljubljana University Botanic Garden; Maribor University Arboretum at the University of California, Santa Cruz;
Botanic Garden; Kirstenbosch National Botanical Garden; Arboretum of The Barnes Foundation; Arnold Arboretum of
KwaZulu-Natal National Botanical Garden; Lowveld Harvard University, The; Atlanta Botanical Garden;
National Botanical Garden; Pretoria National Botanical Aullwood Garden MetroPark; Bamboo Brook Outdoor
Garden; Walter Sisulu National Botanical Garden; Korean Education Center; Bartlett Tree Research Laboratories
National Arboretum; Kwanak Arboretum of Seoul National Arboretum; Bayard Cutting Arboretum; Berkshire Botanical
University; Dr. P. Font i Quer Arboretum of Lleida Botanic Garden; Betty Ford Alpine Gardens; Bickelhaupt
Garden; Jardi Botanic de Barcelona; Jardí Botànic de Arboretum; Bishop Museum - Checklist of Cultivated Plants
la Universitat de València; Jardi Botanic de Soller; Jardí of Hawai'i; Bok Tower Gardens Conservation Program -
Botànic Marimurtra; Jardin Botanico “Viera y Clavijo”; Living Plants; Boone County Arboretum; Botanic Garden of
Jardin Botanico de Cordoba; Jardin Botanico-Historico Smith College, The; Botanic Gardens at Kona Kai Resort,
“La Concepcion” de Malaga; Jardin de Aclimatacion de The; Botanic Gardens of the Heard Natural Science
la Orotava; Real Jardín Botánico Juan Carlos I; Real Jardin Museum; Bowman’s Hill Wildflower Preserve; Boyce
Botanico, CSIC; Bergius Botanic Garden; Göteborg Thompson Arboretum; Brenton Arboretum, The; Brooklyn
Botanical Garden; University of Uppsala Botanic Garden; Botanic Garden; Brookside Gardens; C. M. Goethe
Botanischer Garten der Universitat Bern; Botanischer Arboretum; Cape Fear Botanical Garden; Center for Plant
Garten der Universitat Zurich; Conservatoire et Jardin Conservation (USA); Chanticleer Foundation; Charles R.
botaniques de la Ville de Genève; Jardin Botanique de Keith Arboretum, The; Chester M. Alter Arboretum; Chicago
l’Universite de Neuchatel; Musee et Jardins Botaniques Botanic Garden; Chicago Botanic Garden - Dixon National
Cantonaux; Sukkulenten-Sammlung Zurich; Amani Tallgrass Prairie Seed Bank; Chihuahuan Desert Gardens at
Botanical Garden; Dokmai Botanical Garden; Huay Kaew the Centennial Museum; Cincinnati Zoo and Botanical

Gardens; Cincinnati Zoo and Botanical Gardens – Conservatory (The Domes); Montgomery Botanical Center;
CryoBioBank; Cleveland Botanical Garden; Clovis Botanical Morris Arboretum, The; Morton Arboretum, The; Mount
Garden; Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens; Columbus Auburn Cemetery; Mountain Top Arboretum; Mt. Cuba
Botanical Garden; Connecticut College Arboretum; Cornell Center; Naples Botanical Garden; Naples Zoo at Caribbean
Plantations; Cox Arboretum & Gardens; Crosby Arboretum, Gardens; National Plant Germplasm System - USDA-ARS-
The; Dawes Arboretum, The; Denver Botanic Gardens; NGRL; National Tropical Botanical Garden; Nebraska
Desert Botanical Garden; Desert Botanical Garden - Seed Statewide Arboretum; New England Wild Flower Society -
Bank; Dixon Gallery and Gardens, The; Donald E. Davis Garden in the Woods; New England Wild Flower Society -
Arboretum; Duke Biology Plant Teaching and Research seed bank; New York Botanical Garden, The; Norfolk
Facility; Duke Farms; DuPage Forest: Forest Preserve Botanical Garden; North Carolina Arboretum, The; North
District of DuPage County; Eddy Arboretum - Pacific Carolina Botanical Garden; Northwest Trek Wildlife Park;
Southwest Research Station; Edison and Ford Winter Oak Park Conservatory; Oklahoma City Zoo and Botanical
Estates; EEB Plant Growth Facilities; Elisabeth C. Miller Gardens; Phoenix Zoo - Gardens; Polly Hill Arboretum,
Botanical Garden; Eloise Butler Wildflower Garden & Bird The; Quarryhill Botanical Garden; Queens Botanical
Sanctuary; Enid A. Haupt Glass Garden; Fairchild Tropical Garden; Rancho Santa Ana Botanic Garden; Rancho Santa
Botanic Garden; Fellows Riverside Gardens; Fernwood Ana Botanic Garden - Seed Bank; Reading Public Museum
Botanical Garden and Nature Preserve; Florida Botanical and Arboretum, The; Red Butte Garden and Arboretum;
Gardens; Foellinger-Freimann Botanical Conservatory; Reiman Gardens; Rio Grande Botanic Garden; San Diego
Forrest Deaner Native Plant Botanic Garden; Fort Worth Botanic Garden; San Diego Zoo Botanical Gardens; San
Botanic Garden; Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park; Diego Zoo Safari Park; San Francisco Botanical Garden
Frelinghuysen Arboretum; Ganna Walska Lotusland; (formerly Strybing Arboretum); San Luis Obispo Botanical
Gardens at SIUE, The; Gardens of the Big Bend: Magnolia Garden; Santa Barbara Botanic Garden; Santa Fe Botanical
Garden; Garvan Woodland Gardens; Grapevine Botanical Garden; Sarah P. Duke Gardens; Scott Arboretum of
Gardens at Heritage Park; Green Bay Botanical Garden; Swarthmore College, The; Sea World San Diego; Seeds of
Green Spring Gardens; Greenwood Gardens; Harold L. Success (SOS); Shaw Nature Reserve of the Missouri
Lyon Arboretum; Harry P. Leu Gardens; Hawaii Tropical Botanical Garden; Sister Mary Grace Burns Arboretum;
Botanical Garden; Henry Schmieder Arboretum; Hershey Smith-Gilbert Gardens; Spring Grove Cemetery and
Gardens; Hidden Lake Gardens; Holden Arboretum, The; Arboretum; State Arboretum of Virginia (Orland E. White
Honolulu Botanical Gardens System; Hoyt Arboretum; Arboretum); State Botanical Garden of Georgia, The; State
Huntington Botanical Gardens; Huntsville Botanical Garden; of Missouri Arboretum; The Arboretum, State Botanical
Jackson’s Garden of Union College; Jensen-Olson Garden of Kentucky; Toledo Botanical Garden; Trees
Arboretum; John C. Gifford Arboretum; Key West Tropical Atlanta; Tyler Arboretum; UC Davis Arboretum; United
Forest & Botanical Garden; Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower States Botanic Garden; United States National Arboretum;
Center; Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center - seed bank; University of California Botanical Garden at Berkeley;
Lakes Park Botanic Garden; Landis Arboretum; Lauritzen University of Delaware Botanic Gardens; University of
Gardens; Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden; Lincoln Park Georgia Tifton Campus Conifer Evaluation and Breeding
Conservatory; Living Desert Zoo & Gardens State Park; Project, The; University of Idaho Arboretum & Botanical
Living Desert Zoo and Gardens; Longwood Gardens; Los Garden; University of Washington Botanic Gardens;
Angeles County Arboretum and Botanic Garden; Marie Vanderbilt University Arboretum; Ventura County
Selby Botanical Gardens; Marjorie McNeely Conservatory Community College District - Ventura College; W. J. Beal
at Como Park; Matthaei Botanical Gardens & Nichols Botanical Garden; Waimea Valley Arboretum and Botanical
Arboretum; Maymont Foundation; Mead Botanical Garden; Garden; Wallace Desert Gardens; Willowwood Arboretum;
Meadowlark Botanical Gardens; Memphis Botanic Garden; Wind River Canopy Crane Research Facility; Yew Dell
Mendocino Coast Botanical Gardens; Mercer Arboretum Botanical Gardens; Scientific Plant Production Centre
& Botanic Gardens; Minnesota Landscape Arboretum; “Botanica” of Uzbek Academy of Sciences; Fundacion
Missouri Botanical Garden; Mitchell Park Horticultural Jardin Botanico Unellez; Cuc Phuong Botanic Garden.

Botanic Gardens
Conservation International
Descanso House, 199 Kew Road,

Richmond, Surrey, TW9 3BW, U.K.
Tel: +44 (0)20 8332 5953

Fax: +44 (0)20 8332 5956
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Global Survey of Ex Situ Conifer Collections

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Global Survey of Ex Situ Conifer Collections

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Global Survey of

Ex situ Conifer Collections

By Kirsty Shaw and Abby Hird

Published by Botanic Gardens Conservation International.

Printed by the United States Department of Agriculture Forest Service.

Design: John Morgan www.seascapedesign.co.uk

Finally, BGCI would like to thank Fondation Franklinia for their

2 Global Survey of Ex situ Conifer Collections

Useful Resources ..............................................................31

Sequoiadendron giganteum in the living collections of the Arnold

Global Survey of Ex situ Conifer Collections 3

In addition to an ex situ collections gap analysis, this report

To further meet the goals of GSPC Target 8, recommendations

Target 8 of the Global Strategy for Plant Conservation (GSPC)

A global reassessment of the conservation statuses of the

Global Survey of Ex situ Conifer Collections 5

• The protocols used for collecting – Collections that are well

6 Global Survey of Ex situ Conifer Collections

Global Survey of Ex situ Conifer Collections 7

8 Global Survey of Ex situ Conifer Collections

Conifers grow on all continents except Antarctica. Some genera

There are 615 conifer species recognised globally2. Conifers are

Conifers also yield a variety of valuable Non Timber Forest

Conifers are also very popular for their ornamental value,

Threats facing conifers

The threats facing the world’s conifers are common to many of

Status of conifer Red Listing

The variety of threats facing wild conifer populations has led to

Paul E. Hennon, United States Department of Agriculture

Expansive areas of pristine yellow-cedar (Callitropsis

Figure A. Cascading site, climate, and physiological factors that

Longer-term climate or near-term weather events influence each

10 Global Survey of Ex situ Conifer Collections

Yellow-cedar decline highlights the paradoxes and

Yellow-cedar tree succumbing to the root freezing injury

Global Survey of Ex situ Conifer Collections 11

Table 1: Threats facing conifers worldwide4.

Another conifer species previously assessed as Least Concern

Conifers are popular in ex situ collections, historically and

In August 2012, the first announcement of the ex situ conifer

• Provenance of material (wild, horticultural or unknown

The invitation to participate in the survey was sent to members

14 Global Survey of Ex situ Conifer Collections

The taxonomy used in this survey aligns with the Conifer

Information held in PlantSearch was compared to a list of

Plant lists were either directly uploaded to PlantSearch by

The data collection period was extended to align with the

Ex situ collections: Number of species in

CR 35 7 42 Threatened taxa reported in Threatened taxa not reported in

NT 109 20 129 Non-threatened taxa reported in Non-threatened taxa not reported

Total 747 132 879

40 There is great potential for these collections to collaborate to

Taxon name Number of collections

Juniperus barbadensis var. barbadensis 1

Table 4: Critically Endangered (CR) conifer taxa reported to

Ex situ collections, particularly of threatened taxa, should

Global Survey of Ex situ Conifer Collections 17

Figure 4: Collection balance showing number of conifer taxa

As monitoring conservation of botanical taxa is the top priority

Taxa that could not be matched to botanical taxa listed in the

No. of No. of No. of No. of No. of No. of

There is much potential to shift the focus of collections from 156

PlantSearch currently only collects taxon-level information from