Plant Conservation: Protecting Plant Diversity

Jennifer Ceska, conservation coordinator, State Botanical Garden of Georgia

Plant conservation is an applied science that draws upon many fields of knowledge from ecology to horticulture to ethics and politics. This course surveys threats to biodiversity in Georgia and worldwide, examples of rare plant research, techniques for restoration and reintroduction, and ways individuals and organizations are making a difference in protecting the rare plants of Georgia.

Course Learning Objectives & Outline

(topics covered will include)

• Why plants are critically imperiled worldwide and in Georgia
• Grasslands, understory diversity
• The legal framework around plants, wildlife, protections, vulnerabilities
• Conservation ethics, seed collecting, separating populations
• Monitoring rare plant species, field techniques and ethics

Course Structure

This class consists of three elements: a live, online 4-hour program, self-paced learning activities and a one-hour discussion session.

• Part 1 – Online Class Session (4 hours) Aug. 10; 9 a.m. – 1 p.m.
• Part 2 – Self-Paced Learning Exercises (2 hours)
• Part 3 – Follow-up Q&A Session (1-hour session) Aug. 13; 5:30 – 6:30 p.m.

This class is a core class for the Certificate in Native Plants.