The Georgia Plant Conservation Alliance is a network of more than 75 Georgia universities, botanical gardens, zoos, state and federal agencies, conservation organizations and private companies that are committed to ecological land management, native plant conservation and protection of rare and endangered plants. Though headquartered at the State Botanical Garden of Georgia, GPCA extends far beyond the garden with projects statewide.
The mission of the Georgia Plant Conservation Alliance is to study and conserve Georgia’s flora through multidisciplinary research, education and advocacy; facilitate the recovery of rare, threatened and endangered plants of Georgia and the southeastern U.S. through collaborative efforts in our state; support the development and implementation of the Georgia State Wildlife Action Plan, as well as other plant, wildlife and habitat conservation plans by member agencies and organizations; and communicate the importance of preserving biodiversity worldwide.
GPCA Guiding Objectives
- We collaborate to prevent Georgia plant extinction through a diverse network of allied organizations.
- We back up and provide an extinction safety net through ex-situ and in-situ conservation activities.
- We communicate to share knowledge, expertise and set goals as a group.
- We track and document actions, locations and methodologies.
- We teach to increase public awareness and cross-training opportunities.
Staff photo.
Staff photo.
Staff photo.
Staff photo.
Staff photo.
Staff photo.
Staff photo.
Botanical Guardians: Volunteers in Action
Georgia is the largest state east of the Mississippi and one of the most diverse when it comes to plant species – nearly 4,000 native plant species grow in our forests, grasslands, beaches and floodplains. Sadly, almost 20 percent of our plants are rare, threatened or endangered. That’s a lot of plants for our state’s professional botanists to keep up with. Recognizing the need for a greater focus on rare plants, the State Botanical Garden created the Botanical Guardians in 1999. Since then, Guardians—trained and dedicated volunteers—have assisted conservation professionals in the day-to-day work of caring for rare plant populations across the state of Georgia.
GPCA Members & Partners
GPCA has grown organically since its founding in 1995, expanding from a small group of agencies and organizations to its present membership of over 75.
There is always plenty of work to do. If you would like to work with GPCA, contact Jennifer Ceska, the State Botanical Garden’s Conservation Coordinator and Coordinator of the GPCA.
GPCA Member Institutions
- All About Natives, LLC
- Atlanta Botanical Garden
- Atlanta Botanical Garden – Gainesville
- Atlanta History Center
- Auburn University
- Auburn University, Davis Arboretum, Alabama Plant Conservation Alliance
- Augusta State University
- Bartow County Government, Department of Community Development
- Beech Hollow Farms
- Berry College
- Birds Georgia
- Botanic Garden at Georgia Southern University
- Center for Plant Conservation
- Chattahoochee Nature Center
- Chattahoochee River National Recreation Area
- Columbus State University
- Davidson-Arabia Mountain Nature Preserve
- Division of Natural Areas, Natural Heritage Program, TN
- East Georgia State College
- Ecological Solutions, Inc.
- Edwards-Pitman Environmental, Inc.
- Elachee Nature Science Center
- Fish & Wildlife Service
- Fort Valley State University
- Georgia Botanical Society
- Georgia Department of Natural Resources
- Georgia Department of Transportation
- Georgia Forestry Commission
- Georgia Highlands College
- Georgia International Horse Park
- Georgia Military College
- Georgia Native Plant Society
- Georgia Power, Southern Company
- Georgia Southern University
- Georgia State Parks
- Georgia Transmission Corporation
- Georgia Wildlife Federation
- Gil Nelson Associates, FL
- Grove Place Farm
- GSU – Perimeter College Native Plant Botanical Garden
- Highlands Biological Station
- J.M. Klaus Conservation Services, Terra-Ignea Enterprises
- Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens
- Jekyll Island Authority, Conservation Department
- Keep Athens-Clarke County Beautiful
- Kennesaw State University
- Kentucky Nature Preserves, KY Plant Conservation Alliance
- Kimley-Horn
- Laboratory Supervisor, Forest Service, National Seed Lab, Dry Branch, Georgia
- Little St. Simons Island
- McFadden Nature Preserve
- Meadowlark Gardens in Griffin
- Mercer University
- Monarchs Across Georgia
- National Park Service, Southeast Region
- North American Land Trust
- North Carolina Botanical Garden
- Okefenokee Swamp Park, Inc. & RESA
- Pennsylvania Plant Conservation Network
- Phinizy Center for Water Science, Phinizy Swamp Nature Park
- Piedmont College
- Reflection Riding Arboretum and Nature Center
- Salve Regina University, RI
- Sewanee Herbarium
- Southeastern Grasslands Institute
- Southeastern Plant Conservation Alliance
- Southeastern Technical College
- Southern Highlands Reserve
- State Botanical Garden of Georgia
- Stone Mountain Propagation Project
- Tall Timbers Research Station
- The Ford Field & River Club
- The Jones Center at Ichuaway
- The Longleaf Alliance
- The Nature Conservancy of Georgia
- The Orieanne Society
- Trial Gardens at the University of Georgia
- University of Georgia
- University of Lethbridge, Canada
- University of North Georgia
- University of North Georgia, Gainesville
- Upstate Forever, Greenville, SC
- US Army Corps of Engineers
- US Fish & Wildlife Service
- US Forest Service – Chattahoochee – Oconee National Forests
- US Forest Service – Southern Region, Region 8
- USDA Forest Service National Seed Laboratory
- USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service
- Valdosta State University
- Wesleyan College & Arboretum
- West Atlanta Watershed Alliance
- White Oak Pastures
- Woodard & Curran
- Woodland Gardens
- Zoo Atlanta
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