Atlanta Botanical Garden to Host Regional Plant Conservation Summit

The Atlanta Botanical Garden is gearing up for an unprecedented gathering of experts aimed at combining forces in plant conservation efforts throughout the Southeast.

The Garden's new Center for Southeastern Conservation (SePPCon) will host the Southeastern Partners in Plant Conservation conference Nov. 1 - 3. This inaugural event will bring together government agencies, land managers, botanical gardens and university programs to form a cohesive network of resources. SePPCon is planned in partnership with U.S. Fish & WildlifeService, U.S.D.A. Forest Service, National Wildlife Refuge Association, Georgia Department of Natural Resources and the Georgia Plant Conservation Alliance.

"This meeting will for the first time ever bring our partners and others together to create a blueprint for the conservation of plants in the Southeastern United States," said Mary Pat Matheson, the Garden's President & CEO. "The talent and expertise of botanists from throughout our country will coalesce here in a grand effort to work together in a thoughtful and productive way. We are 'scaling up' conservation in this region and are excited by the commitment of those who will attend."

The conference will feature three days of symposia and workshops. Sessions will be tailored to multiple interests, provide training and skill development, and fill in information gaps for more than 250 species of rare plants from 17 states and U.S. territories. Other sessions will provide training opportunities for current and potential partners from horticultural institutions and universities.

By creating and enhancing proactive conservation opportunities, SePPCon will facilitate networking for conserving imperiled plants throughout the Southeast. Active in regional conservation efforts for decades, the Garden, along with its newly established Center for Southeastern Conservation, is leading efforts in planning and hosting this event for formalizing a regional plant conservation network for the Southeast.

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