The Center for Plant Conservation (also known as CPC) is a

non-profit organization A nonprofit organization (NPO), also known as a nonbusiness entity, nonprofit institution, not-for-profit organization, or simply a nonprofit, is a non-governmental (private) legal entity organized and operated for a collective, public, or so ...

that includes a network of over 81 participating institutions. Its primary mission is the conservation and restoration of rare

native plants In biogeography, a native species is indigenous to a given region or ecosystem if its presence in that region is the result of only local natural evolution (though often popularised as "with no human intervention") during history. The term is equi ...

of the

United States The United States of America (USA), also known as the United States (U.S.) or America, is a country primarily located in North America. It is a federal republic of 50 U.S. state, states and a federal capital district, Washington, D.C. The 48 ...

, its territories, and

Canada Canada is a country in North America. Its Provinces and territories of Canada, ten provinces and three territories extend from the Atlantic Ocean to the Pacific Ocean and northward into the Arctic Ocean, making it the world's List of coun ...

. Within its network, the CPC supports regional plant conservation initiatives, including California Plant Rescue and Florida Plant Rescue.

Overview

The Center for Plant Conservation (CPC) comprises a network of conservation partners, collectively referred to as CPC Participating Institutions (PIs). These institutions collaborate to conserve at-risk plant species in the

and

. The CPC PIs are responsible for maintaining the CPC National Collection of

Endangered Plants In September 2016, the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) listed 3654 endangered plant species. Of all evaluated plant species, 17% are listed as endangered. The IUCN also lists 99 subspecies and 101 varieties as endangered. ...

, a living conservation collection focused on imperiled plants. The CPC's efforts include collecting and managing living seeds and plants, researching threats and conservation strategies, and facilitating communication within its network to promote the conservation of these rare plants. Through its Rare Plant Academy and Best Practices Database, the CPC shares information, data, and expertise. Each year, the CPC's Star Award is given to an individual who demonstrates the dedication, cooperation, and personal investment necessary to conserve rare plants. The CPC operates under the coordination of a national office and is overseen by a volunteer

board of trustees A board of directors is a governing body that supervises the activities of a business, a nonprofit organization, or a government agency. The powers, duties, and responsibilities of a board of directors are determined by government regulatio ...

. Its activities encompass developing standards and protocols, and implementing conservation programs in areas such as

horticulture Horticulture (from ) is the art and science of growing fruits, vegetables, flowers, trees, shrubs and ornamental plants. Horticulture is commonly associated with the more professional and technical aspects of plant cultivation on a smaller and mo ...

, research, restoration, and public awareness. The overarching goal of the CPC’s network is to prevent the extinction of rare plant species. The CPC collaborates with the

United States Fish and Wildlife Service The United States Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS or FWS) is a List of federal agencies in the United States, U.S. federal government agency within the United States Department of the Interior which oversees the management of fish, wildlife, ...

and is a member of the

International Union for Conservation of Nature The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) is an international organization working in the field of nature conservation and sustainable use of natural resources. Founded in 1948, IUCN has become the global authority on the stat ...

References

Non-profit organizations based in the United States Environmental organizations based in the United States Plant conservation Native plant societies based in the United States {{nonprofit-org-stub