All life depends upon plants. All life depends upon plants. Plants are the foundation of our existence Plants are the foundation of our existence

and of all life on this planet. They are the source of the food we eat, the and of all life on this planet. They are the source of the food we eat, the

clothes we wear, the cures for disease, our shelter, the very air we breathe. clothes we wear, the cures for disease, our shelter, the very air we breathe.

The disappearance of one single species is a lost chance: a chemical or The disappearance of one single species is a lost chance: a chemical or

genetic answer that could change the way we live. A possibility that once genetic answer that could change the way we live. A possibility that once

lost can never be realized.lost can never be realized.

By midcentury, we may lose 34,000 plant By midcentury, we may lose 34,000 plant

species worldwide. During that same time species worldwide. During that same time

period in the United States, we are in danger of period in the United States, we are in danger of

extinguishing 29 percent of our plant species. extinguishing 29 percent of our plant species.

These grim statistics refl ect only the species These grim statistics refl ect only the species

we have already identifi ed; they do not include we have already identifi ed; they do not include

those we have yet to fi nd or those that have those we have yet to fi nd or those that have

already been lost. already been lost.

Are we concerned enough to hear this message and take action? Now, Are we concerned enough to hear this message and take action? Now,

before it is too late? The Chicago Botanic Garden is. With you, we are before it is too late? The Chicago Botanic Garden is. With you, we are

taking responsibility and teaching others.taking responsibility and teaching others.

With your help we can save the world’s plants.With your help we can save the world’s plants.

Now theNow theworld’sworld’splantsplants

dependdependupon you.upon you.

Grounded in the Chicago Botanic Grounded in the Chicago Botanic

Garden’s mission to promote the Garden’s mission to promote the

enjoyment, understanding and enjoyment, understanding and

conservation of plants and the conservation of plants and the

natural world, and in concert with natural world, and in concert with

Botan ic Garden Conservat ion Botan ic Garden Conservat ion

International’s Global Strategy for International’s Global Strategy for

Plant Conservation, our scientists Plant Conservation, our scientists

endeavor to:endeavor to:

1. Increase knowledge that addresses threats to endangered flora

2. Mobilize that knowledge into action

3. Train plant conservation leaders

4. Utilize research findings to shape national and global plant conservation policy

The common thread in all our research activities is a willingness and a com-The common thread in all our research activities is a willingness and a com-

mitment to partner with scientists and experts from academic institutions, mitment to partner with scientists and experts from academic institutions,

government agencies, gardens, and other centers of plant research. With government agencies, gardens, and other centers of plant research. With

limited resources, we have become a global leader in plant conservation, limited resources, we have become a global leader in plant conservation,

but we are quickly becoming root bound. We need your help to secure but we are quickly becoming root bound. We need your help to secure

requisite space, facilities, staff, and equipment. This endeavor requires requisite space, facilit ies, staff, and equipment. This endeavor requires

vision, collaboration, and a roll-up-your-sleeves dedication to the work vision, collaboration, and a roll-up-your-sleeves dedication to the work

ahead. We can save the world’s plants, but we need your leadership.ahead. We can save the world’s plants, but we need your leadership.

By creating new and expanded facilities for the Chicago Botanic Garden’s By creating new and expanded facilities for the Chicago Botanic Garden’s

Plant Conservation Science program, including a state-of-the-art labora-Plant Conservation Science program, including a state-of-the-art labora-

tory center, plant production center, and horticulture science center, you tory center, plant production center, and horticulture science center, you

will foster discovery and create hope. will foster discovery and create hope.

Create Create hope:hope:foster foster

discovery.discovery.

The work of scientists at the Chicago Botanic Garden The work of scientists at the Chicago Botanic Garden

has positioned the institution as one of the nation’s has positioned the institution as one of the nation’s

finest teaching gardens and home to a premier plant finest teaching gardens and home to a premier plant

conservation science program, recipient of the Plant conservation science program, recipient of the Plant

Conservation Alliance’s 2007 Leadership Award.Conservation Alliance’s 2007 Leadership Award.

Focusing our strengths Focusing our strengths

in research, training, and in research, training, and

education, we seek to education, we seek to

preserve and protect the preserve and protect the

foundation of all l ife—foundation of all l ife—

and to teach others to and to teach others to

continue this important continue this important

work. work.

The needs of our planet are becoming critical. World-The needs of our planet are becoming critical. World-

class, high-impact research requires significant class, high-impact research requires significant

resources, and the Garden’s current facilities are resources, and the Garden’s current facilities are

outdated and bursting at the seams. outdated and bursting at the seams.

We must ensure that the Garden has the tools to We must ensure that the Garden has the tools to

meet the planet’s urgent needs. This is a bold plan, meet the planet’s urgent needs. This is a bold plan,

but we are confi dent in our ability to effect change.but we are confi dent in our ability to effect change.

The time The time is now. is now. The place The place is here.is here.

More than two hundred Chicago Botanic Garden More than two hundred Chicago Botanic Garden

scientists, research associates, adjunct scientists, scientists, research associates, adjunct scientists,

graduate and undergraduate students, and research graduate and undergraduate students, and research

technicians are making vital discoveries about plant technicians are making vital discoveries about plant

survival, habitat destruction, invasive species, and survival, habitat destruction, invasive species, and

restoration. We are examining the means by which restoration. We are examining the means by which

rare and endangered plants reproduce so we can rare and endangered plants reproduce so we can

conserve them more successfully and efficiently. We conserve them more successfully and efficiently. We

are learning how habitat fragmentation impacts plant are learning how habitat fragmentation impacts plant

communities. We are fi nding connections between soil microbes and communities. We are fi nding connections between soil microbes and

species survival. species survival. Here are two of the many ways our scientists Here are two of the many ways our scientists

impact plant conservation on an international level.impact plant conservation on an international level.

In spite of diminished, isolated habitats, some native plants thrive. In spite of diminished, isolated habitats, some native plants thrive.

Chicago Botanic Garden scientists are identifying which plants Chicago Botanic Garden scientists are identifying which plants

thrive and how to help land managers care for the habitats that thrive and how to help land managers care for the habitats that

remain.remain. The prai r ie once stretched f rom I l l inois to Kansas and The prai r ie once stretched f rom I l l inois to Kansas and

from Canada to Texas. But agriculture and development have from Canada to Texas. But agriculture and development have

virtually erased the prairie from the map. Less than one-tenth of 1 virtually erased the prairie from the map. Less than one-tenth of 1

percent of the Illinois prairie remains. These fragments are in danger percent of the Illinois prairie remains. These fragments are in danger

of disappearing completely, and with them, the birds, insects, and of disappearing completely, and with them, the birds, insects, and

other animals that depend upon them. Stuart Wagenius, Ph.D., other animals that depend upon them. Stuart Wagenius, Ph.D.,

a conservation scientist in quantitative genetics, is studying the a conservation scientist in quantitative genetics, is studying the

impact of fragmentation on impact of fragmentation on Echinacea angustifoliaEchinacea angustifolia (purple conefl ower) to (purple conefl ower) to

determine the most signifi cant environmental and genetic threats facing determine the most signifi cant environmental and genetic threats facing

native plants. Because, like many other prairie plants, native plants. Because, like many other prairie plants, EchinaceaEchinacea is is

self-incompatible (cannot be fertilized with pollen from itself) and self-incompatible (cannot be fertilized with pollen from itself) and

long-l ived, it makes a good research model; f indings can be long-l ived, it makes a good research model; f indings can be

extrapolated to other species. Dr. Wagenius’ team is investigating extrapolated to other species. Dr. Wagenius’ team is investigating

both ecological factors (e.g., lack of fire and invasive weeds) and both ecological factors (e.g., lack of fire and invasive weeds) and

Create Create hope:hope:increase increase knowledge.knowledge.