A National Response to the Global Strategy for Plant
Conservation for Canada
Prepared by
Dr. David A. Galbraith
GSPC National Focal Point
Head of Science, Royal Botanical Gardens
P.O. Box 399
Hamilton, Ontario L8N 3H8
Canada
tel: +1 905 527-1158 ext. 309
fax: +1 905 577-0375
email: dgalbraith@rbg.ca
Revised 10 March 2011
Executive Summary
The Global Strategy for Plant Conservation (GSPC) is an initiative under the Convention on
Biological Diversity (CBD). The Strategy includes 16 outcome-oriented global targets set for
2020. It provides a framework to facilitate harmony between existing initiatives aimed at plant
conservation, to identify gaps where new initiatives are required, and to promote mobilization of
the necessary resources. It was developed as a grass-roots effort to promote conservation and
sustainable use of plant diversity around the world.
The GSPC was adopted by the Conference of the Parties to the CBD in 2002. A report on
progress in plant conservation was published by the CBD in 2009. The GSPC itself was
reviewed and revised in 2010. An updated strategy for the period 2011-2020 was adopted by
CBD Parties in 2010.
The heart of the GSPC is 16 targets for the global community aimed at achieving five objectives:
recognizing and documenting plant diversity, conserving plant diversity, using plant diversity
sustainably, promoting education and awareness, and building plant conservation capacity.
Many agencies and organizations are contributing to achieving the targets, including through a
Global Partnership for Plant Conservation, a voluntary association of NGOs and government
organizations. CBD Parties can use use the GSPC as a framework for developing their own
targets and initiatives, contributing to domestic and global plant conservation. However,
awareness of and engagement in the GSPC and its underlying themes in Canada have not been
strongly promoted to date.
This national response to the GSPC from Canada seeks to promote wider awareness and
engagement, and address specific targets that strengthen existing priorities in Canada, such as
sustainable use and the protection of biological diversity in situ.
Four specific initiatives are proposed for the national response:

Development of an Important Plant Areas network in Canada

Delivery of enhanced educational and awareness programs around the importance of
plant diversity and sustainable use to Canadians

Capacity-building within existing networking initiatives such as the Canadian Botanical
Conservation Network to form a Canadian Partnership for Plant Conservation

An assessment of capacity and needs in the plant conservation community in Canada as a
guide to future program development
Introduction
The Global Strategy for Plant Conservation has proven to be a fascinating and productive part of
the UN’s Convention on Biological Diversity. From its origins in the St. Louis Botanical
Congress of 1999 through its drafting in 2000 and 2001 to its approval by the Parties to the
Convention on Biological Diversity in 2002, the GSPC grew out of on-the-ground concerns
about the present extinction crisis. Its targets have been intended from the beginning to be
effective, direct expressions of changes that would really make a difference.
This national response has been prepared with the intention of engaging a wide cross-section of
Canadian individuals and institutions involved in plant conservation, biodiversity studies,
education and sustainable use undertakings relevant to the GSPC. The GSPC is a flexible
framework, allowing each country to develop its own form of national implementation. In
addition, the GSPC is unique in capturing the attention and actions of many non-governmental
organizations, represented largely in the Global Partnership for Plant Conservation.
The proposed Canadian response to the GSPC seeks to engage many sectors in Canada with the
basic premise that the diversity of native plant life in Canada is important and valuable to
society. You are invited to contribute to this emerging direction, and to provide your thoughts on
the ideas in the strategy or anything else you feel would help the GSPC “catch on” in Canada. A
feedback form has been appended as the last page of this report.
In 2010 the GSPC underwent its first revision, culminating in adoption of an updated Strategy at
the Nagoya meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the CBD in October. It includes revisions
to the 16 targets of the GSPC, a renewed timeline, and an assessment of progress on 2015 on the
way towards the new target date of 2020.
I invite you and your organization to participate in this global effort to conserve plant
biodiversity. Please contact me to share your ideas and potential contributions.
Dr. David A. Galbraith
GSPC National Focal Point
Head of Science, Royal Botanical Gardens
1. The Global Strategy for Plant Conservation in Context for Canada
The Global Strategy for Plant Conservation (GSPC) is a cross-cutting initiative under the
Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) with the intention of mobilizing efforts to halt the
extinction of plant diversity at the global level. Unique within the major CBD initiatives, the
GSPC arose as a grass-roots effort to bring more attention to bear on the issues surrounding the
extinction of plants and the resulting loss of social and economic benefits. The GSPC is also
noteworthy for having introduced the concept of setting explicit targets into international
biodiversity negotiations and policies. It primarily consists of 16 targets indicating progress
toward five objectives: understanding and documenting plant diversity, conserving plant
diversity, using plant diversity sustainably, promoting education and awareness about plant
diversity, and building capacity for the conservation of plant diversity.
Adopted by the CBD in 2002, the GSPC has for the past eight years been an organizing
framework for plant taxonomy, conservation biologists, restoration ecologists, educators and
other relevant sectors. Progress on individual targets has been for the most part made by
reference to existing programs such as CITES, but in some cases new work has arisen because of
the GSPC. In particular, Target 1, an accessible preliminary list of the world’s known plant
species, has been achieved because of the mobilization and cooperation of major botanical
research centres in the USA and the UK, notably Missouri Botanical Garden and Royal Botanic
Gardens, Kew. In December 2010 this target was achieved with the publication of an on-line
database, The Plant List (http://www.theplantlist.org).
In Canada the GSPC has received a mixed reception to date. There has been considerable interest
in the program and potential of the strategy in some sectors, but there have also been concerns
about how the targets, expressed at the global level, relate to programs and polices at the national
level. Furthermore, to date there has been only one major program linked to the GSCP, the NGObased “Investing in Nature: A Partnership for Plants in Canada,” which ran from 2003 through
2006 and engaged botanical gardens and arboreta with funding support from HSBC plc, an
international financial services company.
In 2008-2009 the GSPC underwent an in-depth review by the Convention on Biological
Diversity and a process was undertaken to revise it. An updated strategy for the period 20112020 incorporating revisions to the 16 global targets was adopted by CBD Parties in 2010.
2. Purpose of the National Response Document
The purpose of this document is to generate discussion about how Canada can respond to the
GSPC, and how it might be possible to seek greater non-governmental and governmental
engagement. In particular, it is important to explore and reinforce linkages between the GSPC
and Canada’s Biodiversity Outcomes Framework and adaptive management models. This
document has been prepared using an outline and terms of reference intended to achieve this
goal.
The GSPC itself is an outcomes-oriented framework; rather than specifying programs or
activities, the strategy is organized as a set of five objectives and sixteen associated targets
(Appendix 1). The Strategy has undergone an update and consolidation following an in-depth
review that started in 2008, but for practical purposes it remains substantially the same in terms
of the spirit of its original objectives and targets.
Linkages to Work of National Focal Point
The overall CBD National Focal Point for Canada is within Environment Canada. In 2006,
Environment Canada and the Royal Botanical Gardens (RBG) entered into an agreement to
create a National Focal Point for the GSPC at the RBG, where staff have been involved in the
development and sectoral implementation of the GSPC since 2001.
3. Progress Made in Canada toward Global GSPC Goals and Targets
The 16 targets of the Strategy seek to address the main factors putting plant species at risk and
jeopardizing their sustainable and equitable use. Canada has already made good progress toward
several of these targets, most recently reported in detail in Canada’s 4th National Report to the
United Nations Convention on Biological Diversity. This section summarizes overall progress
per target. It is noted that in Canada responsibility for the various targets is spread widely across
federal departments, and many aspects are in provincial jurisdictions also.
The text of the individual targets listed here is the updated text of the Strategy’s targets as
adopted by the Conference of the Parties to the CBD in 2010. Following each target, the
original formulation of the target from the original 2002 Strategy is noted. The complete list of
revised targets is also appended at the end of this strategy.
Target 1: An online flora of all known plants.
Canada has fulfilled this target, as working lists of known plant species within Canada are
available. For example, the flora of Canada is incorporated within the Flora of North America,
and electronic versions of the flora have been available for many years.
In future, development of a single portal to an on-line national flora might be considered, in
conjunction with existing on-line database efforts such as Canadensys and ITIS*CA.
Target 1 remains substantially the same as the original 2002 text of the Strategy which read “A
widely accessible working list of known plant species, as a step towards a complete world flora”.
At the global level, this target was effectively achieved in December 2010.
Target 2: An assessment of the conservation status of all known plant
species, as far as possible, to guide conservation action
Canada has fulfilled this target, in large part through the work of the General Status of Species in
Canada program through the inventory and monitoring activities of Canada’s network of
Conservation Data Centres. The on-going work at the federal level of SARA and COSEWIC, and
their relevant provincial equivalents, means that Canada has successfully achieved this target.
Target 2 was revised from the original text of the Strategy “ A preliminary assessment of the
conservation status of all known plant species, at national, regional and international levels”.
Target 3: Information, research and associated outputs, and methods
necessary to implement the Strategy developed and shared
Across Canada, at the federal, provincial and local levels, many agencies, organizations and
individuals have been contributing to the conservation and sustainable use of plant diversity, and
many have been involved in communicating their findings and their methodologies. Researchers
involved in habitat protection, species at risk recovery and ecological restoration are all involved
in academic networks and publish their findings.
The new wording of target 3 focuses on implementation of the Strategy but its intention has
remained the same from the original 2002 text of the Strategy: ”Development of models with
protocols for plant conservation and sustainable use, based on research and practical experience”.
Target 4: At least 15 per cent of each ecological region or vegetation type
secured through effective management and/or restoration.
Canada has a well-organized response to Target 4, through its efforts to protect ecosystems and
also to participate in the CBD Programme of Work on Protected Areas. Approximately 9.4% of
Canada’s terrestrial surface is now designated as protected area, totalling over 930,000 square
kilometres. Although much progress has been made to develop Canada’s protected areas
network, more effort is needed to conserve specific ecosystems and ecoregions.
The quantitative objective of Target 4 has been enlarged from the original 2002 text of the
Strategy which read: “At least 10 per cent of each of the world's ecological regions effectively
conserved”
Target 5: At least 75 per cent of the most important areas for plant diversity
of each ecological region protected with effective management in place for
conserving plants and their genetic diversity
Several areas that are important for plant diversity are protected in Canada, although there is at
present no formal program to identify these areas. In other countries and regions, designated
Important Plant Area criteria have allowed planning for habitat protection to specifically
encompass plant diversity. The formation of an IPA program is recommended as part of Canada’s
national response to the Strategy (See below).
The numerical goal of Target 5 has increased from the original 2002 text of the Strategy which
read: “Protection of 50 per cent of the most important areas for plant diversity assured.”
Target 6: At least 75 per cent of production lands in each sector managed
sustainably, consistent with the conservation of plant diversity
Canada has several programs which encourage the development of sustainability as a core
practice in forestry and agriculture. Almost 1.5 million square kilometres of forest area is
currently managed under one of three Sustainable Forest Management certificate programs.
Environmental Farm Plans are now in place for approximately 34% of annual crop producers and
40% of livestock producers.
Target 6, was revised from the original 2002 text of the Strategy which read: “At least 30 per
cent of production lands managed consistent with the conservation of plant diversity”.
Target 7: At least 75 per cent of known threatened plant species conserved
in situ.
Within Canada our national and provincial programs for protecting and recovery of species at
risk focus on Canadian populations specifically. Approximately 180 vascular plant species in
Canada have been listed as at risk as of 2009. The goal for all of these is recovery in situ.
Target 7’s numerical objective has been increased from the original 2002 text of the Strategy
which read: “60 per cent of the world's threatened species conserved in situ”
Target 8: At least 75 per cent of threatened plant species in ex situ
collections, preferably in the country of origin, and at least 20 per cent available
for recovery and restoration programmes
At present there is no information available on the number of Canadian plant species at risk that
are in accessible, genetically appropriate ex situ collections. Individual programs within
botanical gardens and government agencies such as Plant Genetic Resources Canada and the
National Tree Seed Centre are contributing to the protection and recovery of select species at this
time. An assessment of the plant collections held within Canada would be an important
contribution to understanding our present capacity and contributions to obtaining the objectives
of the strategy.
The aspirational goal of conservation in ex situ collections has increased from the original 2002
text of the Strategy which read: “60 per cent of threatened plant species in accessible ex situ
collections, preferably in the country of origin, and 10 per cent of them included in recovery and
restoration programmes”.
Target 9: 70 per cent of the genetic diversity of crops including their wild
relatives and other socio-economically valuable plant species conserved, while
respecting, preserving and maintaining associated indigenous and local
knowledge
Although measuring some aspects of progress toward this target is difficult, it is thought that for
major crops, the original 70 per cent target has been achieved at the global level. Canada is a
significant contributor to collections of many crops and other socioeconomically important
species, including though Plant Gene Resources of Canada and the National Tree Seed Centre.
The 2010 revision of the GSPC did not change the percentage goal of this target. The original
2002 text of this target read: 70 per cent of the genetic diversity of crops and other major socioeconomically valuable plant species conserved, and associated indigenous and local knowledge
maintained.
Target 10: Effective management plans in place to prevent new biological
invasions and to manage important areas for plant diversity that are invaded.
The Canadian Food Inspection Agency is responsible at the federal level for dealing with the
introduction and spread of invasive species in Canada, including responsibilities engendered in
the International Plant Protection Convention. The work of the CFIA will continue to identify,
monitor and put management plans in place for these species.
The 2010 revision to Target 10 has removed the numerical component of the original 2002 text
of the Strategy: Management plans in place for at least 100 major alien species that threaten
plants, plant communities and associated habitats and ecosystems
Target 11: No species of wild flora endangered by international trade
Canada is a signatory to CITES, which is primarily responsible at the global level for this Target.
The 2010 revision of the GSPC did not change this target.
Target 12: All wild harvested plant-based products sourced sustainably.
Society depends upon products derived from plants. Noting that there is a close relationship
between this target and Target 6, Canada has in place programs for production lands related to
both forestry and agriculture that are relevant.
The sweeping nature of the original formulation of Target 12 has been noted to be of concern,
and deriving accurate measures of performance is difficult. The original formulation of Target 12
from the 2002 Strategy reads: “30 percent of plant-based products derived from sources that are
sustainably managed”.
Target 13: Indigenous and local knowledge innovations and practices
associated with plant resources maintained or increased, as appropriate, to
support customary use, sustainable livelihoods, local food security and health
care.
Across Canada the traditional environmental and ecological knowledge of Indigenous
communities are increasingly being recognized and valued. Further work with these and other
local communities to support their own understanding of an access to genetic resources, and to
ensure implementation of ABS and CBD Article 8(j) programs is needed. In particular,
awareness-building and engagement about the Strategy is needed for these communities.
The original formulation of Target 13 from the 2002 Strategy read: “The decline of plant
resources, and associated indigenous and local knowledge innovations and practices, that support
sustainable livelihoods, local food security and health care, halted”.
Target 14: The importance of plant diversity and the need for its
conservation incorporated into communication, education and public awareness
programmes
Noting that this response is being prepared during 2010, International Biodiversity Year, there
are many agencies and organizations in Canada that are involved in outreach and educational
activities relevant to the Strategy. The identification of relevant programs should continue, and
resources sought to provide additional support to educational programs about the importance of
plant conservation and sustainable use.
The text of Target 14 was not changed from the original 2002 Strategy.
Target 15: The number of trained people working with appropriate facilities
in plant conservation increased, according to national needs, to achieve the
targets of this Strategy
At present there is no assessment of the overall number of people working in Canada in support
of plant conservation. An assessment of present capacity is needed which would include
university and college researchers and students, consultants, agencies such as botanical gardens,
and consultants with plant conservation expertise, among others.
The text of Target 15 was not changed from the original 2002 Strategy.
Target 16: Institutions, networks and partnerships for plant conservation
established or strengthened at national, regional and international levels to
achieve the targets of this Strategy
It is proposed below that the Canadian Botanical Conservation Network, which is a member of
the Global Partnership for Plant Conservation, be further developed into a National Partnership
for Plant Conservation, whose primary goal will be to support the achievement of the Strategy’s
targets in Canada. Additional opportunities for developing networking capacity in support of the
strategy should be identified by the National Focal Point as indicated in Section 5.
The language of Target 16 was revised from the original 2002 Strategy : “Institutions, networks
and partnerships for plant conservation established or strengthened at national, regional and
international levels to achieve the targets of this Strategy”.
4. Gaps in GSPC Goal and Target Coverage and What Might Be Done to
Further Progress
The overall approach to a national response to the Strategy is most effective as a network
initiative, through a variety of activities and programs by different sectors. There is relevant
work taking place in many federal government departments and agencies, especially Agriculture
and Agri-Food Canada, Natural Resources Canada/Canadian Forest Service, Parks Canada, and
the Canadian Museum of Nature Much more work takes place within provincial and territorial
jurisdictions.
It should be the role of the national focal point to gather relevant information on sectoral
approaches and progress relative to the Strategy, and identify in collaboration with Environment
Canada any gaps in the issues of relevance to Canada that are addressed under this program.
5. Potential for Sectoral Engagement in GSPC Goals and Targets
There is vast potential for engagement in the Strategy by a variety of sectors in Canada. Noting
the relevance of the Strategy to various existing biodiversity action plans and strategies at the
Global, Regional, Federal, Provincial, Territorial and sectoral levels, communications by the
National Focal Point should be undertaken to promote participation and awareness of the revised
Strategy. In no specific order, some of the relevant sectors include:
Civil Society
 ENGOs such as the Canadian Committee of IUCN, Evergreen
 Field naturalists and other public interest groups
Science, Research and Museums Sectors
 Scientists in relevant fields; academic and scientific institutions
 Associations such as the Canadian Botanical Association
 Institutions training botanists, conservation biologists and relevant disciplines
Educational Sectors
 Schools (K to Tertiary), teachers and other educational organizations
 The informal educational sector
 Any other relevant educational organizations
Indigenous peoples and groups
 Noting that to date relatively little effort has been made to link the GSPC to indigenous
peoples. In Canada this is particularly noteworthy, as indigenous peoples are among those
who most make use of natural plant diversity in their daily lives.
Government Agencies, including among others
 Conservation areas, authorities or others charged with conserving natural areas
 Municipalities and other levels of government
 CITES authorities
Commercial and Industrial Sectors, including
 Agriculture and Forestry
 Industry, including pharmaceuticals, wood products, fibres, others
 Ornamental Horticulture and landscaping
Social groups relevant to conservation, sustainable use and marketing
Protected areas networks and specialists, including parks
Organizations involved in ex situ conservation, such as botanical gardens, zoos, arboreta, seed
gene banks, tissue banks and others
6. Potential New Projects or Programs under Specific Targets that Could
Strengthen Plant Conservation in Canada
Several short-term initiatives have been identified that could strengthen plant conservation in
Canada, especially though promoting the GSPC and identifying existing strategies and priorities,
and which also contribute toward GSPC
i. A Network of Important Plant Areas (IPAs) for Canada
Target 5 highlights the conservation of areas important to plant diversity at the global level.
Several countries have developed nationally-appropriate criteria to identity areas that are of
particular importance for plant diversity, based on endemism, species richness, uniqueness of
habitat or other objective measures. Two important functions are achieved by identifying
important plant areas. First, identification of such areas can assist planners to ensure that such
areas are not unnecessarily lost or damaged by development or other activities, and to direct
mitigation efforts if disturbance is unavoidable. Second, the fact that particular areas are
identified as important, and that this importance is associated with their plant diversity,
reinforces that such diversity is in fact of importance and worthy of attention and appreciation.
This in turn is a substantial contribution to Target 14
ii. Communications, Awareness and Engagement in The Strategy
There is great potential for generating awareness and engagement in the GSPC and its targets
that remains untapped in Canada. A communications program to celebrate Canada’s plant
diversity, generate interest in plants and in the Strategy, disseminate ideas and tools, and assist in
the integration of plant conservation issues and progress into education should be undertaken, as
noted in Section 5. Making use of the revised GSPC for the period of 2010-2020 provides a time
frame for such a program to get underway in 2011 or 2012.
iii. A Canadian Partnership for Plant Conservation (CPPC)
The identification of an informal group of organizations and agencies interested in supporting the
objectives of the GSPC and maintaining contacts and interest can assist in information gathering,
awareness building, and program development. The Global Partnership for Plant Conservation
(GPPC) is such a network at the global level. It consists of NGOs, academic institutions,
government organizations and networks, and has been of direct assistance to the Secretariat of
the CBD in making progress on the GSPC. In particular, the GPPC has been responsible for
many of the meetings and reports that have contributed to progress on the strategy. To date the
GPPC has in turn been materially supported by Botanic Gardens Conservation International,
which has provided a secretariat function to ensure continuity. Some national and regional
networks have been established which function analogously to the GPPC at their levels.
In Canada, the Canadian Botanical Conservation Network (CBCN) has in many respects been
functioning as such a national partnership, and could be encouraged to orient its work around the
GSPC. The network was established in 1995 with support, in part, from Environment Canada.
Most of the members of the network are botanical gardens and arboreta across Canada, and at
present the network is functioning at a very basic level. Having a renewed purpose would
strengthen the network considerably; this in turn would also directly contribute to Target xvi of
the GSPC. At present CBCN is reconsidering its direction and role, and would welcome input
from Environment Canada and other interested parties at to the role it could play relative to the
GSPC.
iv. Assessments of Human Resources Capacity for Plant Conservation in
Canada, and of Plants of Conservation Significance for Canada in Ex Situ
Collections
At present there is no base-line information on how many people are involved in plant
conservation programs in Canada, their areas of expertise, and where additional capacity may be
beneficial. Similarly, there is no assessment of the plant species held under ex situ conditions in
Canada or the utility of those collections for conservation purposes. A preliminary assessment of
plant collections held at botanical gardens and arboreta across Canada was prepared in 2001. It is
proposed that in collaboration with Plant Genetic Resources Canada, Botanic Gardens
Conservation International and other organizations, an assessment of the ex situ collections that
have conservation importance for Canada (regardless of where they are located), and of the
capacity of various Canadian sectors to respond to plant conservation challenges, should be
undertaken.
For more information please contact:
Dr. David A. Galbraith
GSPC National Focal Point
Head of Science, Royal Botanical Gardens
P.O. Box 399
Hamilton, Ontario L8N 3H8 Canada
tel: +1 905 527-1158 ext. 309
fax: +1 905 577-0375
email: dgalbraith@rbg.ca
Appendix 1. The revised 16 Targets of the GSPC as revised in 2010 by the Parties to the
Convention on Biological Diversity, as COP 10 Decision X/17
Consolidated update of the Global Strategy for Plant Conservation 2011-2020, provided approval
of the revised text of the GSPC, with a revised target date of 2020. As presented on the CBD web
site (http://www.cbd.int/gspc/targets.shtml) the targets for 2011-2020 are as follows:
Objective I: Plant diversity is well understood, documented and recognized
Target 1: An online flora of all known plants.
Target 2: An assessment of the conservation status of all known plant species, as far as possible,
to guide conservation action.
Target 3: Information, research and associated outputs, and methods necessary to implement the
Strategy developed and shared.
Objective II: Plant diversity is urgently and effectively conserved
Target 4: At least 15 per cent of each ecological region or vegetation type secured through
effective management and/or restoration.
Target 5: At least 75 per cent of the most important areas for plant diversity of each ecological
region protected with effective management in place for conserving plants and their genetic
diversity.
Target 6: At least 75 per cent of production lands in each sector managed sustainably, consistent
with the conservation of plant diversity.
Target 7: At least 75 per cent of known threatened plant species conserved in situ.
Target 8: At least 75 per cent of threatened plant species in ex situ collections, preferably in the
country of origin, and at least 20 per cent available for recovery and restoration programmes.
Target 9: 70 per cent of the genetic diversity of crops including their wild relatives and other
socio-economically valuable plant species conserved, while respecting, preserving and
maintaining associated indigenous and local knowledge.
Target 10: Effective management plans in place to prevent new biological invasions and to
manage important areas for plant diversity that are invaded.
Objective III: Plant diversity is used in a sustainable and equitable manner
Target 11: No species of wild flora endangered by international trade.
Target 12: All wild harvested plant-based products sourced sustainably.
Target 13: Indigenous and local knowledge innovations and practices associated with plant
resources maintained or increased, as appropriate, to support customary use, sustainable
livelihoods, local food security and health care.
Objective IV: Education and awareness about plant diversity, its role in sustainable livelihoods
and importance to all life on earth is promoted
Target 14: The importance of plant diversity and the need for its conservation incorporated into
communication, education and public awareness programmes.
Objective V: The capacities and public engagement necessary to implement the Strategy have
been developed
Target 15: The number of trained people working with appropriate facilities sufficient according
to national needs, to achieve the targets of this Strategy.
Target 16: Institutions, networks and partnerships for plant conservation established or
strengthened at national, regional and international levels to achieve the targets of this Strategy.
Appendix 2. GSPC National Response Feedback Form
Please complete this form and return it by fax or email to David Galbraith at RBG. By fax, please
send to 905 577-0375. By email please send it to dgalbraith@rbg.ca. Thanks for your time and
participation! Please feel free to add additional pages if necessary.
Your name:
Your institutional affiliation:
Your email address or telephone number:
Information submitted with be considered confidential, but we may contact you to follow up
with you on your ideas.
1. Prior to attending the CBA symposium or reading this report, were you aware of the GSPC,
and if so, how did you become aware of the Strategy?
2. Do any of the specific GSPC global targets suggest new projects or opportunities that are
particularly suited to a contribution within Canada?
3. Do you have any recommendations around each (or all) of the four basic recommendations
around the Canadian response to the GSPC (Important Plant Areas, Communications and
Awareness, a formalized Canadian Partnership for Plant Conservation, a needs and capacity
assessment for plant conservation in Canada).
4. Please feel free to send any recommendations or ideas about the GSPC and how it might be
used in Canada to raise the profile of plant conservation and sustainable use.