BOTANIC GARDENS FOR PLANT CONSERVATION

William L. Theobald

Botanic eardens and ouhlic and orivate research institutions such as

with p&ibleeconomic importance. A5 noted in a recent ouhlicat~on

. . ment stations.'?

Today that picture has changed. Living collections in gardens now emphasize: 1) the study and exploration of our world's rapidly vanishing flora from the standpoint of assessing and preserving the gene pools of wild species or relatives of cultivated species; 2) the assessment and preservation of species that may be of importance to humans for medicine, fiber, ornamentals, and so forth; and 3) the preservation of species of no known economic value that are in need of study just for their own sake. With so many rare plant habitats already disturbed to varying degrees, or in imminent danger from the world's rapidly expanding population explosion (doubling in about 30 years in the tropical regions), gardens can play a role in the preservation of plant species through investigations of how best to propa ate, grow, and maintain them. Gardens provide a convenient environment for long-term studies which would be difficult to do in the wild.

Gardens can also serve as a link between botanical research and public awareness of the importance of plants. Over 100 million veovle a vear visit botanic eardens throuehout the borld. Gardens ~rov ide a cohveniknt visual image orthe beauty a i d value of plants. ~otanic'gardens and other areas where native plants are preserved and managed "out of habitat" or their natu- ral setting are'commonly called ex situ cons&ation areas. However, gar- dens are not meant to b e a substitute for the actual preservation of species in natural habitats.

55

Botanic Gardolsl n~eobold 56

PROGRAM EMPHASES

Programs at botanic gardens can be divided into four main areas of con- cern: living collections, research, education, and publications. The livine collections are what everyone thinks of when discussing or describing a garden and are the single most obvious aspect. Research can range from none to a very significant part of the organization's operations (for example, Pacific Tropical Botanical Garden, Missouri Botanical Garden, and New York Botan. ical Garden have important research functions). Education is through public displays of plants, student training programs, museum displays, and public lectures. This is often very successfully carried out by both research- oriented and non research-oriented gardens. Publications are an important way of communicatingwith avast audience which may not always be able to visit. A publications program lends credence to a garden's research or public education goals.

WORLD AND NATIONAL GROUPS INVOLVED WITH BOTANIC GARDENS

On a worldwide hasis, two organizations are of particular note: the International Association of Botanic Gardenc and Arboreta (IABGA) and the nenlv formed Botanic Gardens Conservation Secretariat of the International linion for Conservation of Nature and Natural Kesources (IUCN). The latter was estahlished in 10x7, is under the direction OF Vernon Heywood, and has its t~fiices at the Roval Rotanic Garden, Kcw. England. Both organizations are working taguthcr to help monitor garden programs better, coord~nate conser- vation projects, centralize record keeping, and open up avenues of commu- nication about cultivation of unioue soecies. ~ ~~

~2~ ~ ,~ ~ ~~~ ~

0 1 1 tlic national lc\,cl, the American Association of Botanic Gardens and ,\rhoreta (,\I\BG.A) and the Center for Plant Conservation CPC) are im or [ant. In Hsw3i.i. s number of our gardens are associated wit h the AABGX; - the \\';~irne;~ Arhore~um i d Botanic Garden and the Pacific Tropical Rotan- ic~l GsrJcn (I'I'UG) are aff~liated w~th CPCin its national program for the consen;~lion o i a nun~her of endangered species. In the CPCprogram, indi- vidu;~l pccic.. :irs grown at thc member institution on behalf o i the CPC, and the ni;~intenance of these species 1s funded bv the Center. An attemDt is made to grow sufficient numbersunder established euidelines so as to mai'ntain the -~ ~ ~ ~- -~ ~ ~

ge&lic divcr>~tv o i the species involved. This pro ram is just beginning, and 1"I'BG is atternr)rine to set U D a Hawaiian Center f: or Plant Consctv;~tion through pr~vnti iud ing as a'n adjunct to the CPC. The forthcommg illa,~rrol of the t'loucnng P1unr.s of Hauai'i (Wagner et a/., in press) will serve a5 an important haw for t h~s program.

HAWAIIAN EFFORTS

Botanical Gardens and Zoos In addition to PTBG, other botanical gardens, research institutions, and

individuals are attempting to collect, stud and grow Threatened and i' Endangered species in Hawai'i. Among t ese are Waimea Arboretum and

~otanical Garden, Harold L. Lynn Arhorctum, and llonolulu Botanic Gardens on O'ahu; and the Maui Zoo and llotanic Garden on Maui.

Waimea Arboretum and liotanic Garden. with Keith Wooliams and his ~- ~ -~ ~~

staff, has long been very successful with lrrop~gation of a numher of rare Hawaiian taxa, includmg Cooke's koki'o (Kokiu cookei) as well as ~chyranlhes Spp.. 'nhcdo (Ellplrorlk skotlsbe~gii). loulu (Pri/clnluirla n~unmii), andmahoe (Alectqou ~rrncro~.o~.crr~~r). The I . pn Arhorctum, under Yonco Sagawa and his staff (espcci2lly Ken Nagata). has also hecn doine a fine ioh wiih a erouo of native dants ai their site. Rene Svlva at the M& 7- 2 h

~~ -~~ .--. . .--. --- -- &tanic Ga'rden has uskd native species effective$ in a distinct setting. plants of the coastal zone (see Cuddihy, this volume) have been olanted at the Coastal Garden of the Waikiki Aquarium and provide valuable &essages to the ~uhlic. Paul Weissich and the staff of the Honoh~ln Rotanir Garrlpnc . - ~ ~ r ~ ~

~ ~ ~~ ~~ ", which consisrr of the l o w r Botanic G:~rdm and mher satellite garden\, has long included r3rc :tnd EnJmgered ipc&s ~i I l:t\r;~i'i and elsewhere. Foster ~ a ? d e n is well known for itsP;itchardia collection, totalling 28 species and five varieties. Ten acres at Ho'omaluhia on O'ahu have been devoted partic- ularly to native Hawaiian species.

A largc numher o i species ( f u r exmple, ilirru, H'ilkeria hobdyi, and Munroidetrdron racrrwsrrnr) h.we hecn \u~.ir.rhlly propagated at PTBG with funding provided h! CPC. D : d Lorenie, Rot:~nlst, :,nil other staff have been involved. An dd~tionsl src3 oi 1.5 acrcs (0.0 ha) set ;,ride In 1986 is being rnaintaincd to augment e;d:er su.icr.,~i.rI plunt~ng< c ~ f the above species, Pritchurdiu spp., 'olrui (.%~shu~rr<r ro~~rortocrr). and others.

Individual Contributions Botanists at the University of Hawaii have contributed to exsitu native

species preservation through a better understanding of taxonomy, distribution, relationships, and habitat needs of various groups. Notable efforts include studies of the silversword alliance (Algyroxiplzium/Dubaufia/ Wilkesia by Gerald Carr; of ferns by Charles Larnoureux; of mosses by William d oe; of lichens by Clifford Smith; and of 'olri'a (Mefrosiderospolymorp/~a) forest dynamics by Dieter Mueller-Dombois (see Gerrish, this volume). Students who have worked with these scientists have also contributed. Preparation of the Manualof FIoweringPhts of Hawai'i by B.P. Bishop Museum and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service botanists has also contributed a wealth of informa- tion relevant to ex situ plant conservation.

Scientists on the US. Mainland and at European institutions are also playing a role in conservation of Hawaiian plants. The studies of Sherwin Carlquist and students at the Rancho Santa Ana Botanic Gardens; Robert Ornduffs students at the University of California, Berkeley; and the late Prof. Brenan, former Director of the Royal Botanic Garden, Kew, are just a few. Not to he forgotten are Harold St. John, the late Otto Degener, Ray- mond Fosberg, Beatrice Krauss, and all those past and present who have con- tributed both directly and indirectly to our knowledge of the flora.

Some individuals and organizations are also attem ling to grow and intro- duce native plants into the landscape. For example, Jo \ n Ohata of O'ahu has long been a leader in this area. The Native Hawaiian Plant Society, through efforts in establishment of sanctuaries and fenced areas and throueh oublic lcc~urc% and support of the Maui Botanical Garden, has done mu& tb make the puhlic airarc of \laur's flora. Moanalua Gardens also provides valuable ~nforrnnt:on ahout plants of O'ahu and Hawar? in general.

DIFFICULTIES

In many instances when gardens and research institutions have attempted to grow rare and endangered species, difficulties attributable t o our lack of knowledge concerning the needs of the species a t the time of germination, during the seedling stage, and during their early growth phases have occurred. Recent investigations on mycorrhizae (a lant root/fungus association) a t Pacific Tropical Botanical Garden by ~ i c t ~ o s k e and Jane Gemma of the University of Rhode Island point to a possible breakthrough in understanding the role of mycorrhizae in exsilu management of some species. However, much more understandin of the species and subspecies from different loca- tions in Hawai'i is needecf

FUTURE EMPHASES

During the remainder of this century and ncll into the nclt. ~1 rehirth of the importance of botanical gardens from the rtandpmnt of ,pecie\ and cultivar preservation will probably he seen. L'rnph;,s~\ ail1 hr. on thc ~ n i q u e and diverse elements of our flora, rather than on mqor c c o n ~ ~ m i ~ plant,. With this rebirth will go a need for a return to p a l e r ernphs>~h on the crowth and survival of species in cultivation. In trnpic;,l oarden>, iucu, \r i l l he o n the interdependency of horticulture, taxonomy, e&logy, mycology, and re- lated botanical disc1 lines. Emphasis o n all of these disciplines during collect- ing ex editions will e necessary. Reintroduction of some rare species into P R the wi d will eventuallv increase and will benefit from knowledee acauired in the collections of botkica l gardens.

Important Information Sources

Bernice P. Bishop Museum Botany Department P.O. Box 19WO-A Honolulu, Hawaii 96817

Harold L. Lyon Arboretum Attenlion: Yoneo Sagawa 3860 Mama Road Honolulu, Hawaii 96822

Hawaiian Botanical S0dety Botany Department Universily of Hawaii 31W Maile Way Honolulu, Hawaii W Z Z

Hodulu Botanic Gardens Attention: Paul Weissich 50 N. Vineyard Blvd. Honolulu, Hawaii 96817

Maui Zoological and Bolanic Garden Attention: Rene Sylvd XU High Street Wailuku, Hawaii 96733

Moanatua Gardens Foundation Lorin T. Gill, Education Director 1352 Pincapplo Place Honolulu, Hawaii Wl9

Native Hawaiian Plant Society Attention: Mary Evam.on P.O. Box 5046 Kahului, Maui, Hawaii 96732

Pachic Tropical Botanical Gsrdcn William L. Theobald. Dircctor P.O. Box 340 Lawai, Kauai, Hawaii 96765

Botanic Gardots\nlcoba/d

Coastal Gardens Director Waikiki Aquarium zm Kalakaua Avenue Honolulu, Hawaii 96815

and Rnlanical Garden 50-%14 Kamchamcha IIighwdy Hdciwa. IlawaiiY6712

Important References

Can. G.D. 1985. >lonograph of the Hawaiian \l.iJiln.fie (A,lcrarc~e, A ~ w i p / , t a m . Dubm~lio. and W/kes,o. Ai/cnonio 4fl):I-123

Cuddihy. L.W. lthisr'nlumcl Vceelatinn 7onc5. I tlw Hru.tii~n I4m.l, Genisd, G. ~h&volume] '6hi'ahieback and forest lile cycles. Hoe, WJ. 1974. Annotated chccklist of Hawaiian mosscs. Lyonia (Occosionai Papers of the

HoroldL Lyon Arbomhtn!) I(1):l-45. Internarional ~ n i o n for the Conse&&on oINature and Natural Resources. 1987. Bolonic

Gordens Con~e~(16nn Sccmra~m - A Pmspcch~s. Conservation Monitoring Ccntre, Kew, United Kingdom.

Mueller-Dombois. D. 1985. 'Ohi'a dieback and orotection rnanaeement of the Hawaiian rain forest. Pp. 463-421 IN C.P. Stone and J.M. Scott (eds.), ~o&i'i's T e r e s t ~ d Eco~sIemr: Prese~aIion and Management. Univ. Hawaii Press for Univ. Hawaii Cnonerative National Park ~ a o u r & Studics Unit. Honolulu

Mucllcr-Dombois, D. 19% I'erqxctiuci lor an e t i o h ~ d ,land Ic\~,l dicbnck. A,swa/ Review of E c o l o , ~ ond.r).rtmtuliw 17:22l-243.

Wanner. W.L. D.R. llcrlnt. and S.H. Whmrr. In orcrr. Maneololll!r F/owen,m Plam o f - . Howoi'i. Bishop Museum and Univ. Hawaii Presses, Honalulu.