In BGCI’s 2014 publication “The Red List of Betulaceae”, 240 taxa of the family Betulaceae were assessed from six genera; Alnus, Betula, Carpinus, Corylus, Ostrya and Ostryopsis. Seventeen are considered threatened while about one third of the taxa were considered Data Deficient. The Betulaceae family include many commercially important species timber and nut species. As an immediate priority, it is important that all threatened taxa are represented in well-managed ex situ collections as an insurance policy for the future and in support of Target 8 of the Global Strategy for Plant Conservation. At the same time habitat protection and restoration should be reviewed and mechanisms put in place for local people to be involved in and benefit from the in situ conservation and management of these important species.
BGCI are conducting an analysis of ex situ collections of Betulaceae taxa using information held in our PlantSearch database. This survey will allow us to identify which threatened taxa are absent from ex situ collections and should be prioritised for future ex situ conservation programmes
