The Botanical Research Institute of Texas (BRIT) was pleased to host the Center for Plant Conservation’s National Meeting May 3-5 in Fort Worth.
The three-day conference brought together the leaders in plant conservation from the Center for Plant Conservation (CPC) participating institutions to share and learn cutting-edge science and technology used to save plants.
Sessions included presentations from CPC member institutions and network partners on plant conservation accomplishments and challenges.
Widely regarded as the center for information about the plants of Texas, BRIT joined the CPC in 2016 as a participating institution, one of four in the state of Texas. Other Texas members include: Mercer Arboretum (Houston), San Antonio Botanical Garden, and the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center (Austin).
“Our goal within the CPC is to take a leading role in the discovery and preservation of Texas native plants,” says Dr. Ed Schneider, BRIT’s executive director. “Our work in conjunction with other state participating institutions will help protect and preserve rare and endangered plants for the next generation.”
Founded in 1984, the Center for Plant Conservation (CPC) is a network of 40 leading U.S. botanic institutions and is dedicated solely to preventing the extinction of U.S. native plants. It operates the only coordinated national program of off-site (ex situ) conservation of rare plant material. This conservation collection ensures that material is available for restoration and recovery efforts for these species.
Texas Parks and Wildlife lists 449 Texas native plant species as at risk within the state. BRIT and the other Texas CPC members are all working hard to preserve these and other native Texas plants.
ABOUT THE BOTANICAL RESEARCH INSTITUTE OF TEXAS
The Botanical Research Institute of Texas (BRIT®) is a nonprofit, international research and education organization that collects and safeguards plant specimens, studies and protects living plants, and teaches about the importance of conservation and biodiversity to the world.
BRIT’s scientists and educators work together in achieving the organization’s two-fold mission of conservation and education. Its scientists travel the globe investigating habitats, finding rare and endangered plant species, and documenting biodiversity. BRIT educators create new ways to turn information into knowledge through outdoor discovery, discussion, and experiential learning for both students and teachers.
BRIT’s work impacts our community and the world in several functional areas, including environment, by giving people a local sense of stewardship; society, by training a new generation of thinkers and problem solvers; and conservation, by offering methods for better stewardship of the land.
BRIT is open to the public Tuesday through Friday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and on the first Saturday of each month from 9 a.m. to noon. Admission is free. For more information, visit http://www.brit.org.
