A new study published in Science found that reforestation has the most beneficial effect on wildlife biodiversity compared to other plant-based climate-mitigation strategies. The research, led by NYBG Assistant Curator Evelyn Beaury, suggests that well-intentioned strategies could have unforeseen impacts on biodiversity.
A global team of researchers, led by the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, sequenced DNA from over 9,500 species, creating a detailed tree of life for flowering plants. The study sheds light on plant evolution, conservation strategies and sustainable agriculture applications.
Researchers describe seven rare plant species with brightly colored flowers found only in highly threatened Andes Mountains forest ecosystems. The discovery highlights the urgency of protecting these high-altitude cloud forests, which are under threat from agriculture and livestock encroachment.
The New York Botanical Garden is supporting the creation of World Flora Online, a global effort to create an authoritative online resource about all known plant species. The project aims to protect Earth's biodiversity and provide free access to verified data on over 350,000 plant species.
The New York Botanical Garden is launching a two-phase project to inform future conservation efforts in Myanmar. The first phase will establish collaborations with national institutions, provide training for young botanists, and collect preliminary data on the country's flora.
The New York Botanical Garden is launching a program to conserve the Brazilian Amazon forest, part of the world's largest intact forest. The four initiatives will improve forestry practices, train workers to identify tree species, develop sustainable management protocols, and contribute baseline knowledge.
The New York Botanical Garden has digitized the two-millionth plant specimen, a rare purple pitcher plant, as part of its ambitious project to make scientific collections widely available online. The milestone achievement marks almost one-third of the way to the garden's goal of digitizing its entire collection of 7.3 million specimens.
The NYBG has developed a streamlined method for evaluating the conservation status of large numbers of plant species using Geographic Information Systems technology. This approach identifies which plant species are widespread in a region and those with restricted ranges, making them more susceptible to extinction.
The International Botanical Congress approves new rules allowing electronic publication and English translations for plant species names, facilitating faster discovery and conservation. This change aims to accelerate the process of documenting biological diversity before it is lost due to environmental issues.
A NYBG scientist estimates that at least 540 to 653 new drugs could be discovered from plants, with potentially thousands more waiting to be evaluated. This analysis highlights the potential value of continuing to screen plants for novel bioactive compounds.
Researchers have discovered that two species of wild neotropical blueberries contain twice the amount of antioxidants as US-sold blueberries. The findings suggest these extreme superfruits could benefit human health and underscore the importance of preserving Earth's biodiversity.
A 20-year protocol developed by Dr. Charles Peters is applied to dozens of projects, combining exploitation with preservation of biodiversity and ecosystem functions. Local indigenous people in Asia, Africa, and Central/South America are empowered to manage their forests sustainably.