Plant Conservation

Plant conservation study is for people who want to protect vulnerable species, manage conservation initiatives and work as activists in advocacy (such as non-profits). It's also helpful for those who volunteer their time or expertise to manage threatened species, politicians, local council law makers and even those who own their own land and want to act responsibly for the native flora.

Students will:
• be inspired to take their reading and research beyond the course materials.
• be advocate for change in the ways we respond to the needs of ecosystems.
• learn the complexities of plant conservation in an easy to follow expertly structured lesson materials.
• have tutor support available for the ups and downs as they progress.

Aims:
• Discuss the nature and scope of plant conservation.
• Determine problems and challenges associated with plant conservation in different situations.
• Create protection measures for plant conservation, appropriate to the circumstances in different situations.
• Determine restoration measures to be undertaken for achieving plant conservation.
• Explain a variety of ex-situ conservation measures for threatened plant populations.
• Explain the application of genetics to plant conservation.
• Understand ecosystem conservation methods used for plant conservation.
• Discuss a variety of community action initiatives that may be used for plant conservation.
• Explain ways to respond to environmental change to better conserve plant species and populations.

Course Outline

There are 9 lessons in this course:
1. Scope and Nature of Plant Conservation
• Introduction
• Eight Principles for Conservation Success
• Raising Awareness
2. Policy, Legislation, and Organisations
• International Conventions and Legislation
• National Conventions and Legislation
• Conservation Organisations
3. Protection and Preventing Degradation
• Protected Areas
• Planning For Protected Areas
• How The Red List Is Used
• Land Sparing and Sharing
• Weeds
• Soil Degradation
• Pollinator Management
4. Restoration of Damaged Ecosystems
• Restoring Ecosystems
• Restoration Projects
• Principles Of Ecological Restoration
• Stages Of Ecological Restoration
5. Restoring Populations
• Establishing A New Self-Propagating Population
• Long-Term Storage of Germplasm
• A Successful Case-Study – The International Conifer Conservation Programme
• The Pivotal Role of Horticulture in Plant Conservation
6. Genetic Conservation
• Assessment Of Genetic Diversity in Plants
• Need For Germ Plasm Conservation
• Germplasm Storage and Conservation

• Recording And Recalling Evolutionary History
7. Ecosystem Conservation
• Ecosystem Conservation – Pollinators, Soils,
Environments
• Forest Conservation
• Soil Conservation
• Pollinators
• Drone Conservation
8. Community Action
• Citizen Science and Collaboration
• Community-Led Conservation
• First Nations Involvement
• Raising Awareness
9. Adjusting to Environmental Change – The Future of Conservation
• Conservation And Climate Changes
• Plant Responses to Climate Changes
• Novel Threats To Plants as A Result of Climate Changes
• Natural Capital
• Nature-Based Solutions
• Ex-Situ Conservation of Plants
• Conservation Of Plants of Plants in The Anthropocene

Why study plant conservation?
• Action is Needed - 25+% of plants are endangered, habitat loss is
rampant, 83 % of endangered species are threatened by human
activity.
• Plants are valuable - previously unknown commercial uses are
constantly being discovered for plants -many are going extinct
before we even know their value.
• Work Opportunities - Employment, business & career opportunities
are getting stronger and more prolific in plant conservation.
• Climate Protection (mitigating global warming) - Ethical reasons -
Conserving wildlife - Protecting the economy.

This is subject that needs to be understood by many professions, not only
plant conservationists.

People with a stake in, and the potential to influence plant conservation
include:
• Landowners and land managers
• Politicians
• Lawyers
• Academics professional scientists, biologists
• Teachers
• Citizens/volunteers.

Get your free information pack today!