In 1986, IUCN-SSC established the China Plant Specialists Group (CPSG) which is one of the earliest IUCN experts groups in China. Its mission is to declare the values and publicize activities and policies of IUCN-SSC; to participate actively in the relevant researches, propagation and popularization of China plant diversity conservation and sustainable use; to promote the cooperation and exchange with other countries by disseminating the latest research development of plant diversity in China.

CPSG-Union of volunteers

Voluntary, professional, enthusiastic are the main characteristics of CPSG members. So far, the CPSG has invited 47 experts to join it, 43 of them from mainland and others from overseas. Most of them come from research institutions and universities, only a few members from government agencies and nature reserves and all of them are engaged in the biodiversity conservation. Through the platform of CPSG, they join together and use a variety of ways, such as science researches, education and publication, to publicize values of IUCN-SSC and promote the development of China plant conservation.

Ms C. Leon was investigating the cultivation of medicinal plant in China

Dr. Chen Jinyong was propagating the knowledge of plant science in Beijing botanical garden

Prof. Yin Linke was investigating the Ex-situ conservation status of the endangered plants

Dr. Li Xiaodong was observing the endangered plants in field

Vice-prof. Li Xinhua was collecting plant specimen in field

Vice-prof. Liu Quanru was leading the students to investigate the plant resource status

CPSG Events

The Creation of CPSG

In 1986, Prof. Wang Xianfu from institute of botany, the Chinese academy of science started to found CPSG and served as the first chairman of CPSG with the invitation of Mr. Lucas. G. the then chairman of SSC .He invited 14 famous botanist of China to join CPSG and recommend Prof. Yang Zhouhuai to serve as first secretary of CPSG.

Compilation of “Status Survey and Conservation Action Plan, Plants of the Chinese Region”

In 1998, CPSG obtained the financial support from the Sir Peter Scott Fund which was set for supporting on-the-ground conservation projects. CPSG used the fund to compile the “Status Survey and Conservation Action Plan Plants of the Chinese Region”. However, the action plan didn’t be published for various reasons. But, in some ways, the process of compilation was a wonderful opportunity for CPSG members to sum up the plant diversity status in China and point out the direction for future development of CPSG.

Reorganization of CPSG

In 2002, CPSG invited new members and started to reorganize. Dr. Qin Haining, from institute of botany, the Chinese academy of science joined CPSG formally and served as co-chairman with Prof. Wang. The members of CPSG increased to 47 from 25 provinces in mainland China, Hong Kong and Britain. At the same time, the research background of members expended to ecology, conservation biology, resource management etc. New members brought new ideas and motivation which gave a big push to the development of CPSG.

Three important meetings

It had been the first meeting since the group was established and about 30 members attended this meeting. At this meeting, members focused on the mission and long-term planning of CPSG and shared the relative trends at home and abroad. Moreover, Members discussed the progress of the compilation of “China plant red list”.

GuangZhou Meeting (2002)

Beijing Meeting (November, 2006)

The topics of this meeting were about the methods of red list assessment and the survey methods of wild plant resources. More than 40 members attended this meeting and 23 experts including well-know scholars Dr. Xue Yan and Prof. Jiang Zhigang made reports. Moreover, attended members discussed the recently works of the CPSG and invited Dr Zhang Guangfu to serve as vice-chairman and Dr. Chen Jinyong as secretary.

Beijing Meeting (2006)

Beijing Meeting (September, 2008)

This meeting was organized by CPSG and “China plant red list” project team which supported by MEP. The main purpose of the meeting was to call members of CPSG to take part in the project of “China Plant Red List”. Moreover, Members discussed the work plan for next stage and decided to create the CPSG web site as soon as possible. At the same time, Xian Dongya joined the CPSG and took over Dr. Chen’s work as the secretary of CPSG.

Beijing Meeting (2008)