Mexican Association of Botanical Gardens (MABG) and its
contribution to the implementation of the GSPC targets, including those most
relevant to CITES
Autor(es):
Autor 1: Cecilia Elizondo*, Scientific Secretary of the MABG
Señalar con * al (Compiler)
expositor
Participants: Emiliano Sánchez Martínez, President of the MABG;
Beatriz Maruri Aguilar, Administrative Secretary of the MAGB. María
Magdalena Hernández Martínez, Treasurer of the MAGB.
All the Botanic Members of the MABG.
Institución u organización de procedencia:
Asociación Mexicana de Jardines Botánicos A.C. (AMBJ)
Mexican Association of Botanical Gardens (MABG)
Resumen:
The Mexican Association of Botanical Gardens (MABG) has actively participated in the
development and implementation of the Mexican Strategy for Plant Conservation
(MSPC), whose contents reflect the national interpretation of the Global Strategy for
Plant Conservation (GSPC) of the Convention on Biological Diversity (CDB). Each of
the 41 Mexican Botanic Gardens (MBG) that together conform the MABG are devoted
to contribute —in their own particular way— to the successful achievement of the
GSPC’s Objectives, namely: I. “Plant diversity is well understood, documented and
recognized” (MSPC-Obj-1. Knowledge and information that allows the conservation of
plant diversity is generated and transmitted); II. “Plant diversity is urgently and
effectively conserved” (MSPC-Obj-2. Conservation of plant diversity is improved); III.
“Plant diversity is used in a sustainable and equitable manner” (MSPC-Obj-3. The
surface of restored areas increases and damaged or altered ecosystems are
recovered; and Obj-4. The threats to biodiversity are prevented, reduced and
controlled); IV. Education and awareness about plant diversity, its role in sustainable
livelihoods and importance to all life on Earth is promoted (MSPC-Obj-5. Plant diversity
is used sustainably, and Obj-6. Education and environmental culture towards a
responsible social conscience); and V. “The capacities and public engagement
necessary to implement the Strategy have been developed” (MSPC-Obj-6. Education
and environmental culture towards a responsible social conscience). It should be
noted, however, that some objectives are met only by a handful of the MBG’s. The
objective I, target 1 (An online flora of all known plants); and the objective II, target 8
(At least 75% of threatened plant species in ex situ collections, preferably in the
country of origin, and at least 20% available for recovery and restoration programs),
are being achieved by the 100% of the MBG, in the same manner that objective IV and
V are part of the operational programs in most botanic gardens of the nation. On the
contrary, only 50 per cent of the MBG met objective III, and only 20% fulfill the 5
objectives.
Justificación:
The contribution of the MABG to the national implementation of the GSPC (through the
MSPC) can be summarized as follows: 100% of the MABG members achieved Obj-I
target-1, and in particular of the approximately 1,500 Mexican plant species listed in
CITES Appendices, 1200 are present in the MBGs; however 720 of these are only
found in one (in each case different) MBG. Future actions will aim to achieve the
implementation of a plan for species exchange between MBGs, we expect to
accomplish to have as many safeguards in each MBG. Some members work on target
3. Information, research and associated outputs. Obj-II-7 Identification of the
location/habitat of different species. Promote the sustainable use of threatened plants,
related to Obj-III-11 to 13. Finally in Obj-IV and V, are accomplished by 100 % of the
members with educational programs, public awareness and capacity building to know
about threatened species and CITES, for visitors, students, and staff from government
agencies and communities.