As climate change places continued pressure upon wild-plant populations, botanical gardens and arboreta become increasingly indispensable conservation agents. Not only are collection managers faced with harder decisions in selecting important species to include in their sites, they must also consider the evaluation and deaccessioning of others due to space, a lack of water, or simply shifted priorities. The challenges continue with proper databasing, care, display, and interpretation of these ambassadors of wild populations. The12 botanical diversity at stake is echoed by the geographic diversity of presenters.
Presenters: N. Gerlowski, Vallarta Botanical Gardens, Puerto Vallarta, Jalisco, Jalisco, Mexico; M.S. Dosmann, Arnold Arboretum, Boston, Massachusetts; M.P. Griffith, Montgomery Botanical Center, Coral Gables, Florida; T. Thibault, The Huntington, San Marino, California; N. Cavender, The Morton Arboretum, Lisle, Illinois.