Conserving plants across the world's gardens and seed banks: how to create impact at scale
Main content
About Dr. Paul Smith
Dr. Paul Smith is a plant ecologist and specialist in the plants and vegetation of southern Africa and has for many years worked at the forefront of global efforts to address the world’s ongoing biodiversity crisis. Plants are essential for all life on earth, yet one‑fifth of all plant species are threatened with extinction.
For nine years Dr. Smith led the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew’s Millennium Seed Bank Project, described by Sir David Attenborough as “perhaps the most significant conservation initiative ever”. Today it preserves seeds of more than 40,000 plant species through collaboration with over 275 partners in nearly 100 countries and territories.
From 2015 he has led Botanic Gardens Conservation International (BGCI), the world’s largest network for plant conservation, representing botanic gardens in more than 100 countries, including members in Norway. During this period, he has contributed to influential papers on conservation policy and botanic gardens, established initiatives such as the Global Conservation Consortia, and through his efforts, the University Museum’s living collections of Rhododendrons and other plants became part of international networks aimed at preventing species extinctions. He has also successfully advocated planting native and threatened trees as alternatives to non‑native plantations for carbon sequestration.
Among his many honors and appointments, Dr. Smith is chair of Forestry England’s Arboretum Advisory Committee, a board member of the National Botanic Garden of Wales, and a member of the IUCN’s Red List and Plant Conservation Committees.
Title of the lecture:
“Conserving plants across the world's gardens and seed banks: how to create impact at scale”
Following the lecture, there will be a seminar 'Botanic gardens, their importance and future', with contributions from botanic gardens and research institutes in Norway (including UiB, NIBIO, UiO and NTNU) and Sweden (University of Gothenburg).
- 20th May 12.15 - 13.00 Lecture: Paul Smith
- 20th May 13.15 - 16.15 Seminar
Both events are in the Tårnsalen, Universitetsmuseet Naturhistorie, Muséplassen 3, Bergen. Entrance is free. Welcome!
