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The
Washington Rare Plant Care and Conservation Program is
dedicated to conserving Washington's native rare plants
through methods including ex situ conservation,
rare plant monitoring, research, reintroduction, and education. |
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| What do we care about? |
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Native
plant species in Washington are being threatened by
rapidly-growing human population and development. Currently,
370 plant species are either rare, threatened, or endangered
in the state. While it is always preferable to
conserve and protect species by preserving their native
habitat (otherwise known as in situ or on-site
conservation), there is an increasing realization that
ex situ, or off-site, conservation is also needed.
In off-site conservation efforts, seeds are collected
from wild plant populations and maintained in seed banks
or botanical gardens for research purposes and long-term
conservation of the species.
What are we doing about it?
| The Washington
Rare Plant Care & Conservation Program (Rare
Care) at the University of Washington's Center for
Urban Horticulture is establishing the first
plant conservation program focused exclusively on
vascular plants designated as rare in Washington
State. Incorporating both in situ and
ex situ methods of conservation, we are collecting
plant material from wild populations and growing
them in the greenhouse for eventual reintroduction
into native sites. We also monitor rare plant populations
located throughout Washington. Goals of the program
include the following: |

Silene seelyi
is found on basalt cliffs
of the Wenatchee Mountains.
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- Collection, storage, and propagation of
seeds of rare plants.
- Reintroduction of rare and endangered plants to native
habitat.
- Monitoring of rare plant
populations throughout Washington.
- Conservation research of rare species native to
Washington.
- Training of students and volunteers to be involved
in all aspects of the program.
- Membership in a national network of institutions working
to preserve biological diversity (the Center for Plant Conservation).
- Creating educational materials and programs, such
as Celebrating Wildflowers,
for all ages
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What impact are we having?
The
Washington Rare Plant Care & Conservation Program
received the 2003 Conservation
Project of the Year Award for its leadership
in conservation work in Washington State. The US Forest
Service and US Bureau of Land Management jointly recognized
Rare Care for "providing urgent rare plant conservation
through methods including rare plant monitoring, ex
situ conservation, reintroduction, and education."
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"Rare
Care has demonstrated a unique approach to harness
the energy and interest of volunteers to help in
native plant conservation. The volunteer program
is the backbone of their conservation efforts."
— Nominating Team
Bureau
of Land Management Director Kathleen Clarke and
Forest Service Chief Dale Bosworth present the national
Conservation Project of the Year Award to Rare Care
Program Manager Carolyn Alfano on March 17, 2004,
in Spokane, Washington.
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The
Rare Plant Care and Conservation Program is made possible by gifts
from the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation, The Miller Charitable
Trust, The Bullitt Foundation, The Hugh and Jane Ferguson Foundation,
The Mountaineers Foundation, The Northwest Horticultural Society,
The Seattle Garden Club, The Norton Family Foundation, private
organizations, and individuals from all over the Pacific Northwest.
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