OPTIMA Newsletter 31(e) / Informateur OPTIMA
31(e)
Printed version ISSN 0376-5016 31 (1997),
published by the Secretariat of OPTIMA.
Contents
of N°. 31(e)
Part I
Introduction
Nouvelles de l'OPTIMA; OPTIMA News
Conservation News:
In Situ Conservation
in Turkey - An International Program; Seed Collection Project
of Turkish Endemics; Current
Research on the Biology of Endangered Plant Species
Field Work News:
First
International Botanical Expedition - Armenia, June 1996; VIII Expedition of
OPTIMA Itinera Mediterranea
Herbarium News:
Herbarium of the
Balkan Peninsula (BEO); Web
News; Personalia
Projects:
Arabian Plant Specialist
Group formed in IUCN; Thistles
Wanted Alive!; A
Domestication Programme of Mediterranean Legume Shrubs
Meetings:
IV Conference on
Plant Taxonomy - Barcelona, 19-22 September 1996; World Conservation
Congress - Montreal, 13-23 October 1996; Announcements
Part II
Notices of Publications:
(by W.Greuter):
OPTIMA; Cryptogamae; Dicotyledones; Monocotyledones; Floras; Flower Books; Floristic
Inventories and Checklists; Excursions; Chorology; Regional
Studies of Flora and Vegetation; Applied Botany; Conservation
Topics, Red Data Books; Gardens; Herbaria and
Libraries; Bibliography
and Documentation; Reprints; Symposium
Proceedings; New
Periodicals
Back to index
NOUVELLES DE L'OPTIMA
AU SUJET DE CET INFORMATEUR
Dans ce numéro de l'Informateur OPTIMA, nous vous
proposons une nouvelle présentation et quelques rubriques
nouvelles auxquelles nous espérons que vous ferez bon
accueil. Je remercie tous les membres qui ont fourni idées
et suggestions à ce sujet. Nous tenons à prendre en compte
les réactions de nos lecteurs : communiquez-nous vos
opinions aussi bien que tous renseignements utiles à faire
évoluer l'informateur selon vos voeux. Ce numéro met
particulièrement l'accent sur des points de conservation
concernant la Turquie. Les numéros suivants inclueront des
contributions soulignant différents aspects de la botanique
méditerranéenne.
J.M. Iriondo
CONSEIL
Les membres du Conseil ont convenu d'attribuer 150 FS
par mois au Secrétariat de l'OPTIMA pour lui procurer une
assistance en secrétariat.
Suite à la reconnaissance de la Fondation Internationale
« Pro Herbario Mediterraneo », le Conseil a
ratifié les nominations du coordinateur pro tempore de
l'OPTIMA au Conseil d'Administration, de quatre
représentants au Comité Scientifique et d'un suppléant au
Collège des Commissaires aux Comptes. Il s'agit des
nominations suivantes :
- Coordinateur pro tempore de l'OPTIMA : F.
Raimondo
- Délégués au Comité Scientifique : A.
Charpin, W. Greuter, J. Iriondo et F. Raimondo
- Suppléant au Collège des Commissaires aux Comptes :
G. Venturella
C. Heyn et B. Valdès ont également été nommés
vice-délégués au Comité Scientifique.
Le Conseil a également décidé de maintenir la
cotisation de membre de l'OPTIMA pour 1997 à son niveau
actuel.
COMITÉ INTERNATIONAL
Les membres du Comité ont approuvé le rapport annuel et
le rapport financier pour 1995, soumis par le Secrétaire au
nom du Président et du Conseil Exécutif. Le Comité a
également élu S. Pajarón et F. Fernández-González
comme vérificateurs des comptes pour 1996.
SECRÉTARIAT
En plus de la gestion des comptes de l'OPTIMA et de ceux
de la Commission des Publications et de la Commission des
Prix, de la gestion de la vente des publications et de la
tenue des fichiers des membres, le Secrétariat de l'OPTIMA a
également assuré les relations entre les membres du Conseil
et du Comité et les groupes de travail et commissions de
notre Organisation.
Les autres activités relevant du Secrétariat comprennent
la publication de l'Informateur OPTIMA et la préparation
d'un site sur le Web pour l'OPTIMA.
DÉCÈS
† Pr. P. Critopoulos, Athènes, Grèce, décédé le
12.03.96.
† Mme. Rose A. Clement, Edinburgh, Royaume-Uni (Royal
Botanic Garden) décedé en juillet 1996 à l'age de 43 ans.
† Pr. Dr. Tadeus Reichstein, Bâle, Suisse (Institut
für Org. Chemie) décédé le 1.08.1996 à l'âge de 99 ans.
Il était membre de l'OPTIMA depuis sa fondation en 1974.
LE POINT SUR LES COMMISSIONS
CONSERVATION DES RESSOURCES VÉGÉTALES
La base de données sur "La recherche en cours sur la
biologie des espèces végétales menacées du Bassin
méditerranéen et de la Macaronésie" a été
transférée dans une nouvelle structure de données gérée
sous « Microsoft Access ». Afin de mettre à jour
les données, un nouveau questionnaire a été diffusé (voir
le paragraphe Conservation News dans cet informateur).
DIFFUSION DES CONNAISSANCES SUR LES PLANTES
MÉDITERRANÉENNES
La commission DCPM a fait quelques progrès dans deux
directions :
- Nous avons mis au point le cadre général du livre
sur « Paysages végétaux de la région
méditerranéenne » (titre provisoire). Un
chapitre particulier sera envoyé prochainement comme
modèle aux auteurs.
- Nous avons reçu le consentement d'auteurs pour les
parties introductive et générale du livre, ainsi
que d'autres qui rédigeront respectivement la
végétation et la flore de l'Espagne, de l'Italie
(îles comprises), et du Proche-Orient (Israël,
Jordanie, Liban et Syrie).
RECHERCHES FLORISTIQUES
La VIIIème expédition des Itinera Mediterranea de
l'OPTIMA a été organisée par F. Raimondo, du Département
de Botanique de l'Université de Palerme, par G. Cesca du
Département d'Écologie de l'Université de Cosenza et par
G. Spampinato du Département de Chimie Agricole et
d'Agrobiologie de l'Université de Reggio de Calabre. Elle
aura lieu en Calabre du 31 Mai au 21 Juin 1997.
Une circulaire d'informations sur cette expédition a
été diffusée auprès de tous les membres de l'OPTIMA. La
date limite pour les inscriptions était le 31 Décembre
1996. Des détails supplémentaires sur cette expédition
figurent dans le paragraphe Field Work News de cet
informateur.
HERBARIUM MEDITERRANEUM
La fondation internationale « Pro Herbario
Mediterraneo » a été reconnue officiellement par
décret ministériel Italien du 1er Mars 1995. Fin 1996, le
Comité de Gestion de la Fondation sera installé et
l'activité normale pourra commencer en 1997.
La Loi Régionale n° 19/96 de la Région de Sicile a
financé l'achèvement de l'acquisition du bâtiment jouxtant
le Jardin Botanique de Palerme afin d'y héberger l'Herbarium
Mediterraneum.
DIFFUSION ET MISE SUR RÉSEAU DE L'INFORMATION
Appel à collaboration !
La commission a été mise en place au cours du colloque
1995 de l'OPTIMA à Séville (Secrétaire : Walter G.
Berendsohn, BGBM Berlin). Comme première étape vers
l'intégration des informations disponibles, il est prévu de
mettre en place sur le World Wide Web des répertoires
correspondant aux intitulés suivants :
- Inventaire des bases de données disponibles
relatives à la phytotaxinomie en région
méditerranéenne. Il pourrait comprendre toutes
les sources de données d'accès public – depuis
les fichiers texte structurés de chercheurs
individuels, jusqu'aux bases de données
institutionnelles et celles accessibles par Internet.
- Ressources en experts en taxinomie
informatisée. Afin d'identifier les
collectivités et personnes disposant d'une
expérience dans la conception et la gestion de bases
de données botaniques.
- Base de données sur les projets botaniques pour
la région méditerranéenne. Ce répertoire
ferait l'inventaire des projets au stade de la
planification, ou qui n'ont pas encore produit de
données accessibles au public.
De très courts résumés ou des mots-clés (2 lignes au
maximum) sont fournis sur les pages, des liens avec des
documents plus consistants peuvent être inclus (les
documents devraient être soumis au format HTML si possible).
La commission éditera ces pages et le BGBM de Berlin a
proposé dans un premier temps d'héberger et d'administrer
le site, qui peut ultérieurement être déplacé ou
reflété par un autre serveur WWW.
Tous les membres de l'OPTIMA sont invités à prendre
contact (de préférence par courrier électronique) avec W.
Berendsohn ou le Secrétariat de l'OPTIMA s'ils ont
connaissances de sources d'informations rentrant dans les
catégories ci-dessus.
Dr. Walter G. Berendsohn
Botanischer Garten und Botanisches Museum Berlin-Dahlem
Koenigin-Luise-Str. 6-8
14191 Berlin
Email : wgb@zedat.fu-berlin.de
PUBLICATIONS
Le volume 5(1) de Bocconea, qui traite des
conférences données au VIIème Colloque de l'OPTIMA tenu à
Borovetz du 18 au 30 Juillet 1993, a été diffusé. Le
volume 6 de Bocconea a également été publié et
contient un inventaire des Lichens méditerranéens.
Le volume 5(2) de Bocconea, avec les posters
présentés au VIIème Colloque de l'OPTIMA, et Flora
Mediterranea vol. 6 sont imprimés et distribués à
peu près en même temps que ce numéro de l'Informateur OPTIMA.
N'oubliez pas de jeter un oeil sur la liste de
publications insérée au début de ce numéro de l'Informateur OPTIMA : vous y trouverez des informations sur les
conditions particulières offertes aux membres de l'OPTIMA
pour l'achat des publications mentionnées.
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Back to index
OPTIMA NEWS
IN THIS NEWSLETTER,
In this issue of OPTIMA Newsletter we are presenting a new
format and some new sections which we hope will be well
received. I thank all members who have provided interesting
ideas and suggestions for the newsletter. We are interested
in receiving feedback from our readers, so please, do send
your opinions as well as relevant information to let the
newsletter evolve in accordance to your demands. The present
edition places a special emphasis on conservation issues
related to Turkey. In forthcoming issues we will be including
contributions that stress different aspects of Mediterranean
botany.
J.M. Iriondo
EXECUTIVE COUNCIL
The Council members agreed to provide the OPTIMA
Secretariat with SF 150 per month for secretarial assistance.
Following the recognition of the International Foundation
«pro Herbario Mediterraneo » the Council ratified the
nominations of the pro tempore co-ordinator of OPTIMA in the
Governing Body, four seats for the Scientific Committee and a
substitute in the Reviser College. These nominations are as
follows:
- Pro tempore co-ordinator of OPTIMA: F. Raimondo
- Delegates of Scientific Committee: A. Charpin, W.
Greuter, J. Iriondo and F. Raimondo
- Substitute in the Reviser College: G. Venturella
C. Heyn and B. Valdés were also nominated vice-delegates
of the Scientific Committee.
The Council also decided to maintain the current OPTIMA
membership fees for 1997.
INTERNATIONAL BOARD
The Board members approved the annual report and the
financial report for 1995, submitted by the Secretary on
behalf of the President and the Executive Council. The Board
also elected the auditors, S. Pajarón and F.
Fernández-González, for 1996.
SECRETARIAT
In addition to the keeping of OPTIMA's accounts and the
accounts of the Publications Commission and Prize Commission,
the management of publication sales and the administration of
membership files, the OPTIMA Secretariat also functions as a
liaising centre for Council and Board members and the working
groups and commissions of our Organization.
Further activities taking place at the Secretariat include
the edition of OPTIMA Newsletter and the preparation of a
Website for OPTIMA.
DEATHS
† Prof. P. Critopoulos, Athens, Greece, died on
12.03.96.
† Mrs. Rose A. Clement, Edinburgh, U.K. (Royal
Botanic Garden) died in July 1996 at the age of 43 years.
† Prof. Dr. Tadeus Reichstein, Basel, Switzerland
(Institut für Org. Chemie) died on 1.08.1996 at the age of
99 years. He was a member of OPTIMA since its foundation in
1974.
UPDATES ON COMMISSIONS
CONSERVATION OF PLANT RESOURCES
The database on "Current Research on the biology of
threatened plant species of the Mediterranean basin and
Macaronesia" has been transferred into a new data
structure managed in "Microsoft Access".
As part of the process of updating data a new
questionnaire has been issued (see Conservation News section
in this newsletter).
DIFFUSION OF KNOWLEDGE ON MEDITERRANEAN PLANTS
The DKMP commission has made some progress in two aspects:
- We arrived at a general layout of the book
"Vegetal landscapes of the Mediterranean"
(temporary name). An example of a specific chapter
will be sent to the authors in the near future.
- We received the consent of experts to cover the
introductory and the general parts of the book, as
well as the vegetation and flora of Spain, Italy (and
Islands), and the Near East (Israel, Jordan, Lebanon,
Syria).
FLORISTIC INVESTIGATION
The VIII Expedition of OPTIMA Itinera Mediterranea is
being organized by F. M. Raimondo from the Department of
Botany of the University of Palermo, G. Cesca from the
Department of Ecology of the University of Cosenza and G.
Spampinato from the Department of Agricultural Chemistry and
Agrobiology of the University of Reggio Calabria. It will be
held in Calabria from 31 May to 21 June 1997.
A circular with information on this expedition was issued
to all OPTIMA members. The deadline for applications is 31
December 1996. Further details on this expedition are
presented in the Field Work News section of this
newsletter.
HERBARIUM MEDITERRANEUM
The International Foundation «pro Herbario Mediterraneo»
was legally recognised by Italian ministerial decree of 1
March 1995. By the end of 1996, the Management Board of the
Foundation will be installed and regular activity will start
in 1997.
Regional Law no. 19/96 of the Sicilian Region financed the
completion of the acquisition of the building adjoining the
Palermo Botanical Garden in order to house the Herbarium
Mediterraneum.
INFORMATION TRANSFER AND NETWORKING
Call for collaboration !
The commission was established during the 1995 OPTIMA
meeting in Sevilla (Secretary: Walter G. Berendsohn, BGBM
Berlin). As a first step towards integrating available
information resources, it is planned to establish World Wide
Web based directories under the following headings:
- Established phytotaxonomy-related databases
relevant to the Mediterranean area. This can
include all publicly available data sources - from
structured word processor files held by individual
researchers, to institutional database, to databases
accessible via Internet.
- Taxonomic computing expert resources. This is
to identify companies and individuals who have
experience in the design and implementation of
botanical databases.
- Botanical Database projects for the Mediterranean
area. This directory is to list projects which
are in the planning stage, or which have not yet
produced publicly available data.
Very short abstracts or key words (max. 2 lines) are
provided on the pages. Links to more extensive documents can
be included (documents should be submitted in HTML format, if
possible). The commission will edit these pages and the BGBM
in Berlin has offered to initially house and administer the
site (which can later be moved or mirrored to any other WWW
Server).
All OPTIMA members are urged to contact (preferably by
E-mail) W. Berendsohn or the OPTIMA Secretariat if they have
knowledge of data-resources which fit one of the above
categories.
Dr. Walter G. Berendsohn
Botanischer Garten und Botanisches Museum Berlin-Dahlem
Koenigin-Luise-Str. 6-8
14191 Berlin
Email : wgb@zedat.fu-berlin.de
PUBLICATIONS
Volume 5(1) of Bocconea dealing with the lectures
presented at the VII OPTIMA Meeting held in Borovec from 18
to 30 July 1993 has been issued. Volume 6 of Bocconea has also been published and holds a checklist of
Mediterranean lichens.
Volume 5(2) of Bocconea, with the posters presented
at the VII OPTIMA Meeting, and Flora Mediterranea vol.
6 are being printed and distributed at about the same time as
this issue of OPTIMA Newsletter.
Please check the publications offer sheet at the beginning
of this issue of OPTIMA Newsletter to get further
information on special discounts for OPTIMA members on these
and other publications.
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CONSERVATION NEWS
IN SITU CONSERVATION
IN TURKEY -
AN INTERNATIONAL PROGRAM
by STANLEY L. KRUGMAN
Turkey has one of the richest temperate flora in the
Mediterranean Region. With its diverse climatic and
geological conditions and its location at the junction of
several major flora regions; Europe, the Mediterranean and
Central Asia, Turkey has given rise to a number of unique
species found nowhere else in the world. Over 30% of the
8,800 plants common to Turkey are endemic. In addition there
is high genetic diversity in the populations found in Turkey.
As a crossroad at the junction of three major centers of
culture between Asia, Africa and Europe, the historical
migration of peoples and their eventual settlements in Turkey
has furthered enriched the diversity of cultivated plants
which were brought to Turkey from often distant lands. This
has produced a number of diverse primitive cultivated
varieties, or landraces that have and are still evolving
under the influence of natural and human selection pressure.
As a result of these various conditions, Turkey has been
and remains a center of origin and an essential source of
important global genetic resources for numerous agricultural,
horticultural, medicinal and ornamental and woody forestry
crop plants. It is important to note that these crops were
first domesticated from wild species which still exist in
Turkey. The major non-woody and woody wild relatives include:
wheat (Triticum spp.), barley (Hordeum spp.),
lentil (Lens spp.), chickpea (Cicer spp.), pear
(Pyrus spp.), apple (Malus spp.), cherry (Prunus spp.), walnut (Juglans spp.), pistachio (Pistachio spp.) and chestnut (Castanea spp.). There are also
several important forest woody tree species which include
several pines (Pinus spp.) firs (Abies spp.)
and cedar (Cedrus sp.) some of which are at the
extreme limits of their distribution in Turkey and found
nowhere else. These genetic resources have and are still
contributing to the raw material for much of modern temperate
agriculture.
Modern agriculture is mostly based on improved varieties,
hybrids and genetic selections. The importance of wild crop
relatives are too frequently forgotten in the crop
improvement process. Even in many current conservation
programs emphasis is placed on the rare or threatened
species. In Turkey with its centuries of human development,
land clearing for agriculture and severe grazing pressure,
many species and populations of wild relatives are themselves
threatened with extinction. The genetic resources commonly
found but little understood in the wild relative populations
are still needed as a current and future source of important
traits for worldwide agriculture. This is especially true as
temperate agricultural crops are now being introduced at a
rapid rate into non-temperate areas as in Asia and Africa.
There are of course many important and useful Ex-situ programs for the genetic resources of Turkey. But it was felt
that such programs, as valuable as they are, failed to
maintain the changes associated with evolutionary and
selection pressures. In-situ conservation provides a
proven method of preserving populations under natural
conditions. If an area is properly designed and of
appropriate size, wild and weedy crop relatives as well as
their pests and pathogens, which are common agents of natural
selection, can continue the evolutionary process. It is
unfortunate that at this time there are very few programs
worldwide designed to protect wild relatives In situ .
This project is the first of its kind in the In situ world to protect the genetic variability and populations of
both woody and non-woody wild crop relatives from an
integrated multi-species approach on a landscape basis.
With funding support from the Global Environment Facility,
an international financial mechanism to fund environmental
protection projects, a three year In-situ conservation
project to protect selected wild relatives was initiated in
Turkey in 1993. Management of the project is being carried
out by specialists from the Turkish Ministries of Agriculture
and Rural Affairs, Forestry and Environment. There are five
major elements in this program:
- a series of plant surveys and inventories in selected
sites with unique and rich wild relative resources
were conducted;
- data managed systems to permit collection,
cataloguing, and sharing of genetic information with
other interested organizations both national and
international were developed;
- institutional capabilities were strengthened by
workshops, technical assistance and training and the
procurement of new scientific equipment;
- a series of gene management areas for selected sites
and species with appropriate management plans were
established;
- a national plan for the In-situ conservation
of wild relatives was developed.
In a three year period it was not intended to provide a
full national conservation program of all of the important
wild relatives but to provide a series of possible models for
future implementation. The key to this program are the Gene
Management Zones (GMZs). The GMZs are large areas carefully
selected and managed for the sole purpose of maintaining an
array of wild relatives in their natural environment. At this
time GMZs have been established in the Kaz Mountain area of
the Aegean region of northwest Turkey. This area includes
elements of the Euro-Siberian, Mediterranean, and
Irano-Turanian flora. Chestnut (Castanea sativa), and
plums (Prunus divaricata), as well as, Anatolian black
(Pinus nigra subsp. pallasiana) and Turkish red
pine (Pinus brutia)and the rare Kazdagi fir (Abies
equi-trojani) are major elements of these GMZ.
In southeastern Turkey GMZs have been established in the
Ceylanpinar State Farm which includes Mediterranean and
Irano-Turanian flora containing wild wheat (Triticum
dicoccoides, T. boeticum, and associated species
of Aegilops speltoides, A. crassa, A.
squarrosa), lentil (Lens spp.), chickpea (Cicer spp.), and barley (Hordeum spontaneum) genetic
resources.
In south-central Turkey in the Bolkar Mountains forest,
GMZs have been established to include additional forest flora
of the southern regions of the Euro-Siberian, Irano-Turanian
and coastal Mediterranean flora. Among the species placed
under protection are: wheat, lentil, aromatic and medicinal
plants (Lobaria spp. and Cladonia spp.), plum,
apple and hazelnut (Corylus spp.). Southern
populations of both red and black pine, fir (Abies
cilicica) and cedar (Cedrus libani) are also
included.
A key feature of the project is the close cooperation
between the agricultural and forestry specialists. This is
essential since in many cases the agricultural wild relatives
can now only be found associated with various forest
ecosystems.
The initial results of this program were presented during
the International Symposium on In-Situ Conservation of
Plant Genetic Diversity held in Antalya, Turkey November 4 to
8 1996.
Stanley Krugman is Senior Forestry Specialist at the
World Bank, Washington D.C., USA.
( ( (
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SEED
COLLECTION PROJECT OF TURKISH ENDEMICS
by TUNA EKIM
Data on Turkish endemics became clearer after the
publication of Davis' monumental book "Flora of
Turkey and East Aegean Islands". According to the
information in this book that covers all Turkish vascular
plants, the endemic taxa sum up to 2,700. This figure almost
reaches 3,000 when the new species described in recent years,
mostly by Turkish botanists, are added.
In Turkey, as well as in other industrial and highly
populated countries, all organisms and especially local rare
endemics, are highly affected by the pressure of human
impact.
According to the Red Data Book for Turkish Plants,
prepared by Ekim et al. and published by the Turkish
Association for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources
in 1989, approximately 400 endemic species grow near big
cities or in sensitive places where they are strongly
threatened. Most of them are only known from type specimen
which were mostly collected in the last century or at the
beginning of this century.
This project, which is supported by the government through
TÜBITAK (Turkish Scientific Research Council), started in
1992 and aims to collect seeds from as many endemics as
possible and deposit them in seed banks in Turkey,
particularly at Menemen-Izmir. The exchange of material will
not be possible until the project is completed.
While in 1992 about 20 botanists were involved in the
project, in 1995 and 1996 this number reached up to 28
botanists from 12 universities and several seed banks.
Initially, the project was planned for three years. Due to
some difficulties, the field work was not very satisfactory
in the first and third year. Therefore, the project was
extended for two more years. In the first period of the
project, approximately 30 percent of total endemics were
collected and preserved in the seed banks. During this
period, several new species were found and some of them were
published in journals, such as Turkish Journal of Botany,
Karaca Arboretum Magazine, Flora Mediterranea, Willdenovia, etc.
During dense field work, some very interesting collections
were carried out for some plant species which were known only
from the type or which had not been collected for a long
time. Unfortunately, even though we made a great effort and
found some very critical species, there has so far been no
parallel success in finding some other very rare and
interesting species, such as Sartoria hedysaroides,
Rhodothamnus sessilifolius and Kalidopsis wagenitzii.
On the other hand, it is now clearer that the distribution of
some species is more common than previously expected. Another
task also carried out during this project has been to
investigate the population richness and distribution of
collected plants.
In the course of the project, we faced some problems
related to seed collection. One of the major problems was to
find a sufficient amount of seed, particularly for some rare
and local endemics with very small populations, or in certain
genera which produce small amounts of seed. Another problem
was insect impact on some particular genera of Labiatae,
Compositae, Leguminosae and even Liliaceae. A third kind of
difficulty was the need to visit a particular mountain
several times as the blooming and seed maturation season of
the existing endemics was completely different in each case.
In certain species the period between flowering and fruiting
was so close that one had to visit the same place several
times within a very short period. Terrorism in Eastern
Anatolia was a big handicap for collecting local endemics of
this region. Due to this and some other difficulties, we
expect to collect at most 75 % of our endemics by the end of
the project.
Plant specimens are deposited mostly in local herbaria of
the universities of the project staff. If researchers do not
have this type of facilities then their specimens are sent to
the herbarium of the project centre, GAZI, Herbarium of Gazi
University, Science and Art Faculty, 06500 T. Okullar, Ankara
- TÜRKIYE.
By the end of the project, we expect to obtain
satisfactory data for most of our endemics. We plan to
publish a comprehensive illustrated book which will try to
sort out most taxonomic and chorological problems of Turkish
endemics, provided we find a publisher or supporter for such
a big and expensive book.
The project work will go on for two more years. After
this, we will finish the hard field work as only very rare
and local endemics will be left. The collection expenses
needed for these cases will not be reasonable enough to
persuade the supporter to cover them.
Project Staff (in alphabetical order)
Nezaket Adigüzel, Yasin Altan, Zeki Aytaç, Lütfi Bekat,
Halil Çakan, Nasip Demirkus, Musa Dogan, Ali Dönmez, Hayri
Duman, Murat Ekici, Tuna Ekim (Project Leader), Yusuf Gemici,
Ramazan Götürk, Güven Görk, Adil Güner, Fergan Karaer,
Mehmet Koyuncu, Güray Kutbay, Erkuter Leblebici, Hasan
Özçelik, Engin Özhatay, Neriman Özhatay, Özcan Seçmen,
Necattin Türkmen, Mecit Vural, Bayram Yildiz and Alptekin
Karagöz, Ayfer Tan (both from seed banks).
Prof. Dr. Tuna Ekim is Head of Department at Gazi
Üniversitesi, Fen-Edebiyat Fakültesi Dekanligi, Biyoloji
Bölümü Baskanligi, Ankara, Turkey.
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CURRENT RESEARCH
ON THE BIOLOGY OF ENDANGERED PLANT SPECIES OF THE
MEDITERRANEAN BASIN
Since 1989, the OPTIMA Commission for the Conservation of
Plant Resources has been involved in the collection of data
on what has been done and what's being done in the biology of
threatened plants of the Mediterranean basin.
If you work in this area we would very much appreciate it
if you would spend a few minutes to fill in the short
questionnaire enclosed.
QUESTIONNAIRE ON CURRENT RESEARCH ON THE
BIOLOGY OF ENDANGERED PLANT SPECIES OF THE MEDITERRANEAN
BASIN
Please use a separate form for each species. Make copies
of this form if necessary. Please read the appended notes
first.
Species (1)
Family
Distribution (2)
Name of researcher/s:
Institution:
Postal address (3)
Area of study (4):
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IUCN category (1)
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Anatomy
Biotic interactions
Conservation
Chorology
Culture techniques
Demography, pop. dynamics
Dispersal
Ecology
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Evolution
Experimental hybridization
Genetics
Germination, dormancy
Growth, development
Karyology
Micropropagation
Morphology
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Palinology
Pathology
Propagation methods
Reintroduction
Reproductive biology
Taxonomy
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Period of study: Initial year
Final year
Bibliography (5):
Notes:
(1) Species of interest are those classified, in a worldwide
scale, as EW (Extinct in the Wild); CR (Critically
Endangered); EN (Endangered); VU (Vulnerable); and LR (Lower
Risk); according to new IUCN categories or E (Endangered); V
(Vulnerable); and R (Rare) according to the old IUCN
categories.
(2) Country or countries and/or geographical region.
(3) Address of the organization or institution. Please
include telephone, fax and E-mail if applicable.
(4) Check the area/s most closely related to your
investigation.
(5) Please include published articles as well as those
"in press" from your group or other sources. Make
reference to the author, year, title, publication, pages.
Please make copies
of this questionnaire and send them to the following
address:
Mª José Albert
Dpto. Biología Vegetal, E. U. I. T. Agrícola
Universidad Politécnica, Ciudad Universitaria
E-28040 Madrid, SPAIN
E-mail: iriondo@ccupm.upm.es
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FIELD WORK NEWS
edited by BENITO VALDÉS
FIRST
INTERNATIONAL BOTANICAL EXPEDITION
ARMENIA - JUNE 1996
During the two-week expedition thirty localities in
different types of vegetation were visited: semidesert, salt
marshes, "solonchak's", sand deserts, gypsaceous
formations like hammada, mountain steppes (with Stipa and Festuca as dominants), traganth steppes, subalpine
and alpine meadows, beech forests, oak forests (Quercus
macranthera, Q. iberica), mixed forests with Pinus
kochiana and Taxus baccata, open arid forests with Quercus macranthera and Juniperus polycarpos,
"shibliak", petrophilous locations and others. Over
400 species from 69 families of vascular plants were
collected. The material is being determined by participants
of the expedition and specialists of the Institute of Botany
of the Armenian Academy of Sciences. The organizers are
interested in increasing the number of participants from
other countries in future expeditions.
Reported by Dr. G. Fajvush.
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VIII
EXPEDITION OF OPTIMA ITINERA MEDITERRANEA
EXPEDITION TO CALABRIA (S. ITALY)
(31 May - 21 June 1997)
This expedition is being organized by F. M. Raimondo from
the Department of Botany of the University of Palermo, by G.
Cesca from the Department of Ecology of the University of
Cosenza and by G. Spampinato from the Department of
Agricultural Chemistry and Agrobiology of the University of
Reggio Calabria.
ITINERARIES
The expedition will allow the participants to visit the
most interesting areas of Aspromonte and of the Serre. On
June 2 the highest altitudes of Aspromonte will be seen, on
June 3 the highmountain Ionian side of the Massif and some
falls, on June 4 the Tyrrhenian side, on June 5 the southern
Ionian coastal belt, on June 6 the woods and the rivers of
the eastern side, on June 7 the mountain areas of the Serre,
on June 8 the Marmarico falls and the Stilo cliffs. June 9
will be dedicated to the setting of the plant material
collected. From June 10 to 14 the excursion will continue on
the Sila. On June 15 it will be possible to visit the
Argentino river valley and on June 16 the Rizzi cliffs. From
June 17 to 19 the Pollino massif will be explored and on June
20 the excursion will end at Rende, from where on June 21 the
participants will return to their own seats.
PROGRAMME
Saturday, May 31 Arrival of the participants to Reggio
Calabria and accommodation in hotel. Each excursionist shall
provide his or her own accommodation for this first overnight
stay.
Sunday, June 1 Transfer from Reggio Calabria to Gambarie.
Participants will be picked up from the hotels by the
organization vehicles. Accommodation in hotel at Gambarie
(Miramonti Hotel) and preparatory seminar. In the afternoon,
beginning of the expedition in the surroundings of Gambarie.
Monday, June 2 Gambarie - Monte Basilico - Torrente Listi
- Serro Sgarrone - Montalto - Gambarie
Tuesday, June 3 Gambarie - Ferraina - Cascate Foggiarelle
- Torrente Menta - Cascate Maesano - Gambarie.
Wednesday, June 4 Gambarie - Piani d`Aspro-monte - Monte
S. Elia - Canolo - Torrente Vasi - Gambarie
Thursday, June 5 Gambarie - Pentimele - Capo dell`Armi -
Melito - Fiumara Amendolea - Bova Superiore.
Friday, June 6 Bova Superiore - C. Spartivento -
Ferruzzano - Fiumara Buonamico - Serra San Bruno.
Saturday, June 7 Serra San Bruno - Monte Pecoraro - Passo
Pietra Spada - Mongiana - Torrente Allaro - Serra San Bruno.
Sunday, June 8 Serra San Bruno - Ferdinandea - Cascate di
Marmarico - Torrente Stilaro - Stilo - Serra San Bruno.
Monday, June 9 All day stop in Serra San Bruno to set the
plants and visit the Certosa and the village.
Tuesday, June 10 Transfer from Mongiana to Camigliatello
Silano (Camigliatello Hotel). Collections at Angitola,
Gizzeria lakes.
Wednesday, June 11 Lepre river (Marchesato);
Thursday, June 12 Monte Basilicò (Sila Greca) and Trionto
river (Ionian coast);
Friday, June 13 Macchialonga (Sila Grande);
Saturday, June 14 Transfer to Cetraro (S. Michele Hotel).
Collections at Monte Botte Donato, Monte Curcio, Monte Scuro
(Sila Grande); stop at the Botanical garden of the Calabria
University
Sunday, June 15 Argentino river valley (Monti di
Verbicaro-Orsomarso);
Monday, June 16 Rizzi cliffs (Tyrrhenian coast) and
coastal chain;
Tuesday, June 17 Transfer on the Pollino Massif (De
Gasperi refuge). Collections at Lao river valley (Monti di
Verbicaro-Orsomarso)
Wednesday, June 18 Ruggio Plains and Serra del Prete
(Pollino Massif)
Thursday, June 19 Pollino Plains (Pollino Massif)
Friday, June 20 Transfer to Rende (University
guest-rooms). Collections at Petrosa (Castrovillari plains),
Crati Valley
Saturday, June 21 Departure for one`s own seat
COST
The cost of the expedition will be ITL 2.400.000 for the
senior botanists and ITL 1.200.000 for the junior botanists.
This amount will cover petrol and a small fee for the use and
maintenance of cars during the expedition, accommodation and
meals starting from June 1, some organizative expenses,
including postage of circular letters and reward to 2
assistants.
Junior participants that really need it, could apply for a
grant of 300 SF to the OPTIMA Council.
Registration fee will be paid on the arrival of the
participants. The estimated costs have been calculated
without considering possible contributions by Calabria
Institutions. If financial support by the mentioned
Institutions were available, a partial refund of the
registration fee could be given.
APPLICATIONS
The deadline for applications was 31 December 1996.
Participants will be selected by the Executive Council of
OPTIMA before January 31, 1997. All applicants will receive a
communication about the decisions made by the Council of
OPTIMA. Those selected for the expedition will also receive
additional information about the expedition.
For general rules which regulate OPTIMA Expeditions, see
B. VALDES in OPTIMA Newsletter 20-24: 44-46 (1988); Lagascalia 15 (Extra): 131-137 (1988); Bocconea 1: 7-8
(1991). Reported by Prof. F. M. Raimondo.
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HERBARIUM NEWS
edited by PALOMA BLANCO
HERBARIUM
OF THE BALKAN PENINSULA (BEO)
Natural History Museum, Belgrade,
Yugoslavia
by OLGA VASIC
BEOGRAD (BEO): Herbarium of the Balkan Peninsula
Botany Department, Natural History Museum
Tel./Fax: +381 11 4442263
- Location: Njegoševa 51, 11000 Beograd,
Yugoslavia
- Foundation: 1895
- Number of specimens: Vascular plants (more than
450.000), Bryophyta (1.000), Fungi (10.000), Lichens
(4.000).
- Herbarium: the former Yugoslavia, now Yugoslav
countries (Yugoslavia-Serbia and Montenegro;
Slovenia, Croatia, Bosnia Herzegovina, FYR
Macedonia), Greece, Bulgaria, Albania.
- Important collections: L. ADAMOVIC, H. DIKLI&, N.
KOŠANIN, V. NIKOLIC, J. PANCIC, S. PETROVIC.
- Head Curator: Olga VASIC.
- Curators: Marjan NIKETIC - vascular plants, Boris
IVANCEVIC - fungi, Sanja SAVIC- lichens.
- Activities: (1) exchange of materials with other
collections; (2) lending of materials for scientific
analysis; (3) work on the Belgrade Natural History
Museum's collection.
The Natural History Museum in Belgrade (Beograd), founded
on 19 December 1895, is one of the oldest institutions of its
type on the Balkan Peninsula. In comparison to famous museums
around the world whose history goes back several centuries, a
hundred-year period might not seem like much. However,
considering that the Balkans have always been, and,
unfortunately, continue to be the scene of tumultuous events,
wars and destruction, a hundred years' continuity mustn't be
underestimated. (For additional information, see: Vasi6, O.
1993: Herbarium of the Natural History Museum in Belgrade as
a basis for the shaping and publishing of the Flora of Serbia
I-X [Ed. 1, 1970-1986. Webbia 48, 259-265).
Although the Natural History Museum is housed in a
building which is unsuitable and inadequate in every respect,
its numerous, diverse, and rich collections represent a
priceless naturalist, scientific, cultural and national
treasure.
One of the richest and most valuable collections is the
Herbarium of the Balkan Peninsula. The Museum's botanical
collection rightfully bears this name, as, in addition to
material from all parts of the former Yugoslavia, it includes
ample material from Bulgaria, Greece, and Albania. Over the
last hundred years, several generations of notable botanists,
as well as amateur botanists, enthusiasts, and nature lovers,
have helped the Natural History Museum's Herbarium acquire
specimens of almost all species whose range is currently
known to be partly or wholly in the territory of Serbia.
The greatest part of the Herbarium consists of plants of
the Angiospermae group, as well as the Gymnospermae and Pteridophyta groups. The total number of herbarium
sheets is 122.341. The scope of collection is estimated at
450.000 specimens; since depending on plant dimensions, more
sheets contain more than one specimen. Herbarium specimens
have been supplied with standard Museum labels, and have been
inventoried and classified under E. Janchen's system.
Of smaller scope, but no less important are the fungi,
lichen, and Bryophyta collections.
The Museum's Herbarium offers exceptional insight into the
diversity, complexity, and wealth of the flora not only of
Serbia, but also of the Balkan Peninsula, and is, in fact, a
kind of database of the diversity of the region's flora. Even
though every specimen has its value and importance, the most
precious specimens are those that represent holotypes for the
science of new species, subspecies, varieties and forms;
specimens of species endemic to Serbia, or to the Balkan
Peninsula, and specimens of relict species. Nowadays, at a
time when man unthinkingly destroys plants' natural habitat,
this evidence of past times is invaluable for the
reconstruction of flora composition in the more recent
historical, as well as in the more remote geological past,
not only of Serbia and the Balkans but of the whole of Europe
as well. Accordingly, a significant asset of the collection
are plants existing today solely as herbarium specimens,
since they can no longer be found in the natural environment.
The Herbarium of the Balkan Peninsula has served as a
source of information for numerous works in the field of
floristics, taxonomy, phytogeography, and phytocoenology, and
it was also the basis for the production of the ten-volume
work FLORA SR SRBIJE (1970-1986) [The Flora of the Socialist
Republic of Serbia]. It is also indispensable in the
preparation of the new expanded edition, FLORA SRBIJE [The
Flora of Serbia], which is currently under way.
This botanical collection, the largest in scope in the
Balkans, unfortunately still lacks adequate housing, as
regards both space and equipment. The herbarium sheets are
stored in cardboard boxes, which can only afford protection
against dust. The boxes are kept on rough, makeshift wooden
shelves. As there are no facilities or means of providing
adequate protection whatsoever, the herbarium specimens are
exposed to considerable fluctuations in temperature and
humidity, a characteristic of the continental climate of
Belgrade. It is only thanks to the devoted care of
generations of curators that the collection has been
preserved in good condition to this day. Thanks to regular
checks and chemical treatment, it has been successfully
protected from various museum parasites.
On the eve of the unfortunate disintegration of the former
Yugoslavia, a solution to the problem of the Natural History
Museum premises, and consequently of adequate housing for the
herbarium, seemed to be in sight. However, even though it is
necessary to ensure that the collection is stored in suitable
rooms, which should be furnished with metal cupboards
specifically for this purpose, and in which constant
temperature and humidity can be maintained, as well as
protection afforded to herbarium material from all potential
damage, this will, considering the circumstances our country
is currently in, probably have to await better times.
Unfortunately, the preservation of the collection will
undoubtedly continue to depend for the most part on the
enthusiasm of us botanists curators. It is quite
understandable that the funds allotted to culture and science
are extremely meagre, when the state, until recently
labouring under sanctions, is in a difficult economic
situation.
It is a great comfort that the latest destruction and
suffering caused by war on the territory of the former
Yugoslavia had no direct impact on the Herbarium of the
Balkan Peninsula, simply because the war was not fought on
the territory of the present Yugoslavia. We do, however,
encounter the effects of indirect impact daily.
In addition to the problem of inadequate storage, plaguing
the collection for several decades now, over the last few
years, as a consequence of the indirect impact of the war in
our vicinity and the direct impact of the economic blockade
of Yugoslavia, difficulties have arisen regarding the
enlarging of the collection as well as its technical
treatment and protection.
The collection of material for the Herbarium has been
reduced to a minimum, and it has also become territorially
restricted. Due to the very meagre funds at their disposal,
and difficulties in petrol supply, the curators were forced
to give up most of the previously planned excursions in the
territory of Serbia and Montenegro. Moreover, due to the war
and administrative-political measures, it was no longer
possible to collect plants in the territory of other former
Yugoslav republics. Although well aware that plants either
know nor recognize our man-made frontiers, we were forced to
limit ourselves, in our rare and brief field trips, to the
territory of the FR Yugoslavia. Thus, the specimens in our
Herbarium that were acquired in the past, from territory now
inaccessible to us, have gained in value.
Even when we succeed in going out into the field to
collect plants, on our return to the Museum we are faced with
difficulties in the technical treatment and protection of the
material, also caused by lack of funds. The pressing and
drying of plants by means of old newspapers, although not so
practical and fast a process as the use of special absorbent
paper or dryers, fortunately gives no poorer results.
However, we have a shortage of paper for herbarium sheets,
and also of cardboard boxes, so that we are forced to keep
the plants in newspapers even after they have been dried. We
are not complaining about the fact that this manner of
material storage makes handling somewhat more difficult. We
are worried because the material is much more liable to
damage and not as well protected from museum parasites, than
it would be if it were preserved according to regulations. I
suppose that our colleagues in museums throughout the world
will find our discussion of these problems unusual, at the
very least. I believe that they may not even be aware of the
fact, not having had similar experiences, that war can cause
numerous negative consequences indirectly as well, in fields
to which we give no thought, as they tend to be overshadowed
by the horror of direct destruction.
We consider it a question of personal honour as well as of
museum and scientific ethics that in this difficult period we
succeed in preserving the scientific and museum treasure of
the Herbarium of the Balkan Peninsula in the Natural History
Museum in Belgrade, until the better times we all hope for
finally come.
Olga Vasic is Head Curator of the Herbarium of the
Balkan Peninsula at Beograd, Yugoslavia
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WEB NEWS
OPTIMA WEBSITE UNDER CONSTRUCTION
A preliminary version of OPTIMA homepages on the Web is
already on the net at htpp://www.bgbm.fu-berlin.de/OPTIMA/ .
The Botanischer Garten und Botanisches Museum at Berlin is
kindly giving OPTIMA a place in its server. A mirror site
will also be placed at the Universidad Politécnica de
Madrid. The OPTIMA website contains general information on
the organization and on the activities of its commissions.
The latest news on the next OPTIMA Meeting, OPTIMA
expeditions, OPTIMA Newsletter, OPTIMA databases, etc.
will also be presented as well as a selection of links to
other botany areas.
VASCULAR PLANT FAMILIES AND GENERA AND AUTHORS OF PLANT
NAMES AVAILABLE ON THE NET
Since July 1996, Kew's external web site holds two
databases containing Vascular Plant Families and Genera (comp.
R.K. Brummitt) and Authors of Plant Names (eds. R.K.
Brummitt & C.E. Powell). The service is located at
http:/www.rbgkew.org.uk/web.dbs/web-dbsintro.html and it is
compatible with any regular web browser. In this way, data on
about 25,100 genus names and approximately 29,700 authors is
made available online to a worldwide audience. We tested the
site with a few enquiries and it worked to our satisfaction.
VISIT THE BOTANICAL GARDEN OF CATANIA, ITALY
Thanks to the project "L'Orto Botanico
Multimediale" financed by the Italian Ministry of
Universities and Scientific and Technological Research and
directed by Prof. Francesco Furnari, it is now possible to
take a break from work and visit the Botanical Garden of the
University of Catania right from your computer. At
http://www.dipbot.unict.it/orto/orto.html you will be able to
learn about its history and organization, study a general map
of the garden or take a look at beautiful pictures from any
of the species present in the garden.
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PERSONALIA
At the meeting of the IUCN World Conservation Congress in
Montreal, 13-23 October 1996, Dr. George Rabb retired as
Chair of the Species Survival Commission after 7.5 years in
the post. He was awarded with the Peter Scott Award for
Conservation Merit, and with the creation of the George B.
Rabb IUCN/SSC Internship. An endowment fund will support one
internship per year, to be awarded to a graduate student
pursuing study in the area of conservation biology or related
communications. Mr. David Brackett, Director General of the
Canadian Wildlife Service, was elected as the new Chair of
the SSC.
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PROJECTS
ARABIAN PLANT
SPECIALIST GROUP FORMED IN IUCN
Sixty-five botanists from ten countries gathered in a
workshop whose purpose was to discuss the state of floristic
knowledge and plant conservation in the Arabian Peninsula and
formed the Arabian Plant Specialist Group. A Steering
Committee was elected with Dr. Abdulaziz Abuzinada as Chair,
Dr. Dawud Al-Eisawi, Dr. Ahmad Al-Farhan and Dr. A. Miller as
Vice-Chairs and Dr. Said Zaghoul as Secretary. At the
meeting, the need for botanists to initiate projects in the
region, especially multidisciplinary projects, was stressed.
Among the recommendations arising from the APSG Workshop was
the need to develop a Regional Arabian Herbarium, a Regional
Botanical Garden with a germplasm bank and a Regional Plant
Database.
THISTLES WANTED
ALIVE!
Two young scientists (Eva Häffner and Peter Hein) at the
BGBM Berlin, Germany, are presently working on taxonomy and
systematics of the Carduinae (tribe Cardueae, Compositae).
This huge subtribe of the Compositae comprises
about 1600 species in about 36 genera. It is distributed
mainly over Europe and Asia with some representatives in
Africa, America and Australia. A great diversity of Carduinae taxa has developed especially in the Mediterranean area and
in Southwest and Middle Asia.
The subject of P. Hein´s work is a revision of the genus Onopordum L., which comprises about 50 species occurring mainly in the
Mediterranean region and Southwest Asia.
E. Häffner is preparing a phylogenetic analysis of the
subtribe Carduinae on an anatomical and (micro-)
morphological basis.
"For our work, living material of defined origin is
required, but not easily available. For this reason, we would
like to ask collectors who are planning field work in one of
the areas mentioned above, for help. Seeds of the Carduinae genera Aegopordon, Arctium, Alfredia, Carduus, Cirsium, Cousinia, Cynara, Galactites, Jurinea, Jurinella, Lamyropsis, Myopordon, Notobasis, Onopordum, Olgaea, Picnomon, Ptilostemon, Saussurea and Silybum are very welcome to us! If anyone encounters seed material of
the above-named genera, we would be grateful for being taken
into consideration.
We would like to thank everybody who is going to help us
in advance."
Contact address:
Eva Häffner & Peter Hein
Botanischer Garten und Botanisches Museum (BGBM)
Königin-Luise-Str. 6-8
D-14191 Berlin, Germany.
A
DOMESTICATION PROGRAMME OF MEDITERRANEAN LEGUME SHRUBS
In 1985, a living collection of shrubby, non-spiny
leguminous plants was established as a complement to the seed
bank at the Department of Plant Biology of the Escuela
Técnica Superior de Ingenieros Agrónomos in Madrid. After
over 10 years of direct sampling from wild populations and
germplasm exchange with botanical gardens and similar
institutions, over 400 taxa are stored as seeds and a growing
plant collection of 50 different taxa and 70 different
populations is now being grown at the experimental fields of
the university. Moreover, a frozen collection of strains of
potentially specific Rhizobium taxa complete this
effort. The main genera present in this collection are:
Anthyllis, Chamaecytisus, Colutea, Coronilla, Cytisus,
Dorycnium, Genista, Hedysarum, Hippocrepis, Medicago,
Onobrychis, Teline and Trigonella.
Some of the above-mentioned taxa have been intensively
propagated due to scarcity in nature or remarkable usefulness
in forage production during unfavourable seasons, in
rehabilitation of degraded soils or in increasing growth
speed in native trees of the Mediterranean spontaneous woods.
We are now looking for further collaborations with other
interested institutions with the purpose of increasing our
collection and exchanging samples and bibliography on the
leguminous flora of the Mediterranean basin.
Contact address:
José Luis Ceresuela & Fernando González Andrés
Dept. Biología Vegetal
Escuela Técnica Superior de Ingenieros Agrónomos
Ciudad Universitaria
E-28040 Madrid, Spain.
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MEETINGS
IV CONFERENCE ON PLANT
TAXONOMY
The IV Conference on Plant Taxonomy (following the I
-Sevilla, 1987, the II -Madrid, 1990- and the III -Munich,
1993) took place in Barcelona from September 19 to 22, 1996,
organized by the University of Barcelona and the Botanical
Institute of Barcelona. The main subjects were taxonomical
studies on Mediterranean floras (Catalan Countries, Iberian
Peninsula and Northern Africa) and the contributions of
Cytogenetics and Molecular Biology to Systematics. 190
botanists from 20 countries -with a relevant presence of
Maghribian (Moroccan and Algerian) scientists- who attended
the Conference contributed with 13 invited plenary lectures
and 106 poster communications. In addition, two computer
displays on Flora Iberica and Flora Hellenica projects were held. The full Congress and the Cytogenetics
section were dedicated to the memory of two Catalan
botanists, Josep Cuatrecasas (Camprodon, 1903 - Washington,
D.C., 1996), one of the most important world specialists in
neotropical flora, and M. Àngels Cardona (Ferreries, 1940 -
Barcelona, 1991), pioneer in the Iberian studies on karyology
and cytotaxonomy of vascular plants. In the closing session,
the decision was taken to celebrate the V Conference in 1999
in Portugal, organized by the University of Lisbon. In this
session, the following document was approved:
"We botanists, numbering 190, coming from 20
countries, meeting in Barcelona at the IV Conference on Plant
Taxonomy, accord:
- To claim from the authorities the recognition of the
scientific task of taxonomists and the necessary
financial support in this field. This research is
mandatory for getting the appropriate level of
knowledge on biodiversity, increasingly threatened by
the impact of human activities. Only on the basis of
this knowledge shall we be able to preserve our
natural resources and to ensure their sustainable
use.
- To manifest publicly the interest of continuing
taxonomic studies on the Western Mediterranean flora
without regard to any kind of frontier, especially to
those that separate the North and the South of the
Mediterranean.
- To declare that Herbaria are a basic reference for
all works on biodiversity, systematics and evolution
of plants. Thus, it is an exigency of the scientific
community to support the institutions that maintain
them, to ensure their conservation, accessibility and
the dissemination of the information they convey.
- To call the attention of the competent authorities in
scientific research to the need for accepting the
challenge of providing suitable housing for the
scientific collections in Catalonia, with particular
emphasis on the collections of the Botanic Institute
of Barcelona, and for making them available to the
international scientific community.
Barcelona, September 21, 1996.
[Reported by J. Vallès i Xirau].
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WORLD CONSERVATION
CONGRESS- MONTRÉAL (13-23 October 1996).
Scientists, politicians, environmentalists and business
leaders debated global environmental issues under the theme
"Caring for the Earth". As well as holding its 20th
General Assembly during the Congress, IUCN also opened its
doors to the public inviting everyone to the exhibition and
workshops.
In the General Assembly, the IUCN President, Treasurer,
Regional Councilors and Chairs of Commissions were elected
and the Triennial Programme 1997-1999 was approved.
The exhibition was held from October 17-21 at the Montreal
Convention Centre. Over 150 exhibitors focused on
leading-edge developments in the field of integrated and
sustainable natural resource management, featuring
technologies, organizational issues and so on.
In three and a half days over 20 workshops were held,
organised into nine main streams. Enhancing sustainability examined the different ways people use nature around the
world and identified global principles of sustainability. Conserving vitality and diversity concentrated on new
approaches, with an emphasis on support for the Convention on
Biological Diversity. Protecting and managing land for
conservation focused on the idea of
"stewardship" to encourage personal and community
responsibility for sound land management. This workshop also
addressed such questions as the involvement of resource
users, landowners and municipalities in extending
conservation practices beyond the boundaries of protected
areas. Sharing nature's bounty provided an
opportunity to review trends in resource use patterns and
look at new methods for improving integrated management of
coastal and marine systems, mountains, freshwater wetlands,
and arid lands. Other topics such as deforestation and
desertification were also examined. The next workshop series Implementing strategies for sustainability was both
practical and hands-on, bringing "thinkers" and
"doers" together in small groups to examine
real-life experiences to look at the tools and methods
available to turn plans into action. Involving people in
conservation explored the principles, requirements,
process steps and institutional arrangements of successful
partnerships for conservation. Using economics as a tool
for conservation (or Putting the Eco back into (Eco)nomics) took a look at how to bridge the gap between economic theory
and conservation practice. Acting on global issues looked at the urgency of relating conservation work to the
wider context of events. The workshop programme concluded
with a series on Learning from the Canadian experience.
The overall goal of these workshops was to present and
discuss the Canadian experience in a perspective to allow the
world community to benefit from the lessons learned in areas
of conservation and sustainable use.
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ANNOUNCEMENTS
4-8 November 1996
International Symposium on In-Situ Conservation
of Plant Genetic Diversity - Antalya.
The Symposium was a component of the In-situ
Conservation of Genetic Diversity Project whose
objectives are to establish and manage in-situ gene
conservation areas in Turkey, for the protection of genetic
resources of wild relatives of globally significant crops and
forest tree species originated in Turkey. Sponsored by the
Global Environment Trust Fund (GET) in collaboration with the
Turkish Ministries of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Forestry
and Environment.
Contact: Dr. Nusret Zencirci, Central Research Institute
for Field Crops, P.O. Box 226, 06042 Ulus, Ankara, Turkey.
Tel: (90) 312 2878957; Fax: (90) 312 2878958.
( ( ( ( (
12-14 November 1996
Methodological Approach to the Definition of the
Mediterranean Physical and Biological Environment: A Project
for the Mediterranean - Castro Marina .
Sixth Edition of "Colloquia Mediterranea".
Working Group on Plant Biorhythms and Phenology. Società
Botanica Italiana.
Contact: Prof. Fabio Garbari, Società Botanica
Italiana,Via Giorgio La Pira 4, I - 50121 Firenze, Italy.
( ( ( ( (
15 November 1996
Qualitative and Quantitative Aspects of Italian Flora
Worthy of Conservation - Castro Marina.
Working Groups on Plant Biosystematics, Nature
Conservation and Floristics. Società Botanica Italiana.
Contact: Prof. Fabio Garbari, Società Botanica
Italiana,Via Giorgio La Pira 4, I - 50121 Firenze, Italy.
( ( ( ( (
15 November 1996
Demonstration of Simulation Models on the Dynamics of
Mediterranean Vegetation: ModMed Programme - Castro Marina.
Working Group on Ecology. Società Botanica Italiana.
Contact: Prof. Fabio Garbari, Società Botanica
Italiana,Via Giorgio La Pira 4, I - 50121 Firenze, Italy.
( ( ( ( (
15-16 November 1996
Algology Working Group, Società Botanica Italiana -
Rome.
Annual Scientific Meeting. Organized by N. Abdelahad.
Contact: Prof. Fabio Garbari, Società Botanica
Italiana,Via Giorgio La Pira 4, I - 50121 Firenze, Italy.
( ( ( ( (
7 December 1996
Recent Progress in Research on Truffles of Commercial
Interest - Perugia.
Micology Working Group. Società Botanica Italiana.
Contact: Prof. Fabio Garbari, Società Botanica
Italiana,Via Giorgio La Pira 4, I - 50121 Firenze, Italy.
( ( ( ( (
25-27 May 1997
Plant Biotechnology as a Tool for the Exploitation of
Mountain Land - Torino
Contact: Fondazione per la Biotechnologie, Viale S. Severo
63, I-10133 Torino, Italy. Tel/Fax: (39) 11 6600187
( ( ( ( (
8-9 August 1997
Chorological Problems in the European Flora - Helsinki.
The Botanical Museum of the Finnish Museum of Natural
History, University of Helsinki will host the VIII meeting of
the Committee for Mapping the Flora of Europe. After the
meeting there will be a three-day botanical excursion in
southern Finland. The registration fee is 800 FIM (c. 800
SFr.) and it includes the material for the meeting and the
Proceedings published afterwards, refreshments in coffee
breaks and the local trips. The botanical excursion will have
an approximate cost of 1,200 FIM (c. 330 SFr.) and it will
include bus transport, accommodation and meals.
Contact: Leena Helynranta or Raino Lampinen; Botanical
Museum, P.O. Box 7, FIN-00014 University of Helsinki,
Finland. E-mail: Leena.Helynranta@Helsinki.Fi or
Raino.Lampinen@Helsinki.Fi. Complementary information at:
http://www.helsinki.fi/kmus/
( ( ( ( (
23-27 September 1997
ISHS Symposium on Brassicas. Tenth Crucifer Genetics
Work-shop - Rennes.
Contact: Dr. Grégoire Thomas, Science du Végétal, Ecole
Nationale Supérieure Agronomique de Rennes, 65 rue de
Saint-Brieuc, F-35042 Rennes Cedex, France. Tel: (33) 99
285476; Fax: (33) 99 285480; E-mail: brassica@rennes.inra.fr
( ( ( ( (
10-15 November 1997
Second World Conference on Medicinal and Aromatic
Plants for Human Welfare (WOCMAP II) - Mendoza, Argentina.
Contact: Dr. A. Bandoni, SAIPA, Av. de Mayo 1324 - 1º
piso, oficina 36, 1085 Buenos Aires, Argentina. Tel: (54) 13
832360; Fax: (54) 19 617637; E-mail: postmaster@saipa.org.ar
( ( ( ( (
14-19 June 1998
The IX International Congress on Plant Tissue and Cell
Culture - Jerusalem
Contact: IX IAPTC Congress, KENEX, Organisers of
Congresses and Tour Operators, Ltd., PO Box 50006, Tel Aviv
61500, Israel. Tel: (972) 3 5140000; Fax: (972) 3 5175674;
E-mail: PLANT@Kenes.ccmail.compuserve.com
Back to index
NOTICES OF
PUBLICATIONS
by Werner Greuter
Index
OPTIMA
- Werner Greuter (ed.) – Proceedings of the VII
OPTIMA Meeting, Borovec, 18-30 July 1993. Part
one: symposium lectures [Bocconea, 5(1)].
– Herbarium Mediterraneum Panormitanum, Palermo,
1996 (ISBN 88-7915-003-0). 394 pages, black-and-white
illustrations, paper.
Long overdue, the first half of the Proceedings volume of
the Borovec Meeting of OPTIMA has at last been published. It
includes the full texts corresponding to 37 of the 44
lectures given by invited speakers at the 9 symposia of the
Meeting. Thus, only 7 of the speakers (three in the Balkan
symposium, one in that on Mediterranean-European
relationships, and three in that on dysploidy) did not manage
to produce a paper – a fairly gratifying rate. The 58
authors came from 14 different countries.
By its contents, the volume is as varied as OPTIMA itself
and will be of interest to virtually anyone working with
Mediterranean plants. The symposium titles may suffice to
give an idea of the range of topics covered: the Bulgarian
contribution to phytotaxonomy and phytogeography; the
contribution of the Balkan countries to phytotaxonomy and
phytogeography; relationships of the Mediterranean flora with
Central and Eastern European floras; studies on threatened
plant taxa; pollination and dispersal in Mediterranean
plants; dysploidy and evolution in the Mediterranean flora;
classification and evolution of Mediterranean Liliiflorae; studies on Mediterranean bryophytes and pteridophytes; and
mycological studies in the Mediterranean area. Three of the
papers are in French, all the others in English. W.G.
Index
Cryptogamae
- Pier Luigi Nimis (ed.) – Contributions
towards a checklist of Mediterranean lichens. OPTIMA Commission for Lichens – publication no.
2 [Bocconea, 6]. – Herbarium
Mediterraneum Panormitanum, Palermo, 1996 (ISBN
88-7915-004-9). 294 pages, 4 maps, paper.
Following a general introduction by the editor and
programme co-ordinator, explaining the roots, structure and
prospects of the Lichen Med-Checklist Project, the present
volume includes five distinct and separately authored
checklists of lichens, each for an individual country or part
thereof: Morocco (by José Egea), Tunisia (by Mark Seaward),
Israel (by Margalith Galun and Avihay Mukhtar), the
Mediterranean provinces of S and W Turkey (by Volker John),
and the Ukraine (by Sergej Kondratjuk, Irina Navrockaja,
Aleksander Hodosovcev and Olena Solonina). The number of
species varies from 227 (Israel) to 1147 (Ukraine), and the
treatments themselves, also, vary to quite some extent –
which will not go without causing some problems when their
information is merged.
Except for Tunisia, data on within-country distribution
are provided, either by political provinces (Turkey) or by
phytogeographically defined territories. Literature or source
references may be given either globally under each taxon
(Israel, Ukraine) or under the individual territorial units.
Ecological (substrate) indications are provided for Israel
alone. Some of the lists give data on non-lichenized
lichenicolous fungi, or even on some other fungi
