1. 
All life depends upon plants.All life depends upon plants. Plants are the foundation of our existencePlants are the foundation of our existence
and of all life on this planet. They are the source of the food we eat, theand of all life on this planet. They are the source of the food we eat, the
clothes we wear, the cures for disease, our shelter, the very air we breathe.clothes we wear, the cures for disease, our shelter, the very air we breathe.
The disappearance of one single species is a lost chance: a chemical orThe disappearance of one single species is a lost chance: a chemical or
genetic answer that could change the way we live. A possibility that oncegenetic answer that could change the way we live. A possibility that once
lost can never be realized.lost can never be realized.
By midcentury, we may lose 34,000 plantBy midcentury, we may lose 34,000 plant
species worldwide. During that same timespecies worldwide. During that same time
period in the United States, we are in danger ofperiod in the United States, we are in danger of
extinguishing 29 percent of our plant species.extinguishing 29 percent of our plant species.
These grim statistics reflect only the speciesThese grim statistics reflect only the species
we have already identified; they do not includewe have already identified; they do not include
those we have yet to find or those that havethose we have yet to find or those that have
already been lost.already been lost.
Are we concerned enough to hear this message and take action? Now,Are we concerned enough to hear this message and take action? Now,
before it is too late? The Chicago Botanic Garden is. With you, we arebefore it is too late? The Chicago Botanic Garden is. With you, we are
taking responsibility and teaching others.taking responsibility and teaching others.
With your help we can save the world’s plants.With your help we can save the world’s plants.
Now theNow the
world’sworld’s
plantsplants
dependdepend
upon you.upon you.


2. 
Grounded in the Chicago BotanicGrounded in the Chicago Botanic
Garden’s mission to promote theGarden’s mission to promote the
enjoyment, understanding andenjoyment, understanding and
conservation of plants and theconservation of plants and the
natural world, and in concert withnatural world, and in concert with
Botanic Garden ConservationBotanic Garden Conservation
International’s Global Strategy forInternational’s Global Strategy for
Plant Conservation, our scientistsPlant Conservation, our scientists
endeavor to:endeavor to:
1. Increase knowledge that addresses threats to endangered flora
2. Mobilize that knowledge into action
3. Train plant conservation leaders
4. Utilize research findings to shape national and global plant
conservation policy
The common thread in all our research activities is a willingness and a com-The common thread in all our research activities is a willingness and a com-
mitment to partner with scientists and experts from academic institutions,mitment to partner with scientists and experts from academic institutions,
government agencies, gardens, and other centers of plant research. Withgovernment agencies, gardens, and other centers of plant research. With
limited resources, we have become a global leader in plant conservation,limited resources, we have become a global leader in plant conservation,
but we are quickly becoming root bound. We need your help to securebut we are quickly becoming root bound. We need your help to secure
requisite space, facilities, staff, and equipment. This endeavor requiresrequisite space, facilities, staff, and equipment. This endeavor requires
vision, collaboration, and a roll-up-your-sleeves dedication to the workvision, collaboration, and a roll-up-your-sleeves dedication to the work
ahead. We can save the world’s plants, but we need your leadership.ahead. We can save the world’s plants, but we need your leadership.
By creating new and expanded facilities for the Chicago Botanic Garden’sBy creating new and expanded facilities for the Chicago Botanic Garden’s
Plant Conservation Science program, including a state-of-the-art labora-Plant Conservation Science program, including a state-of-the-art labora-
tory center, plant production center, and horticulture science center, youtory center, plant production center, and horticulture science center, you
will foster discovery and create hope.will foster discovery and create hope.
CreateCreate
hope:hope:
fosterfoster
discovery.discovery.
The work of scientists at the Chicago Botanic GardenThe work of scientists at the Chicago Botanic Garden
has positioned the institution as one of the nation’shas positioned the institution as one of the nation’s
finest teaching gardens and home to a premier plantfinest teaching gardens and home to a premier plant
conservation science program, recipient of the Plantconservation science program, recipient of the Plant
Conservation Alliance’s 2007 Leadership Award.Conservation Alliance’s 2007 Leadership Award.
Focusing our strengthsFocusing our strengths
in research, training, andin research, training, and
education, we seek toeducation, we seek to
preserve and protect thepreserve and protect the
foundation of all life—foundation of all life—
and to teach others toand to teach others to
continue this importantcontinue this important
work.work.
The needs of our planet are becoming critical. World-The needs of our planet are becoming critical. World-
class, high-impact research requires significantclass, high-impact research requires significant
resources, and the Garden’s current facilities areresources, and the Garden’s current facilities are
outdated and bursting at the seams.outdated and bursting at the seams.
We must ensure that the Garden has the tools toWe must ensure that the Garden has the tools to
meet the planet’s urgent needs. This is a bold plan,meet the planet’s urgent needs. This is a bold plan,
but we are confident in our ability to effect change.but we are confident in our ability to effect change.
The timeThe time
is now.is now.
The placeThe place
is here.is here.


3. 
More than two hundred Chicago Botanic GardenMore than two hundred Chicago Botanic Garden
scientists, research associates, adjunct scientists,scientists, research associates, adjunct scientists,
graduate and undergraduate students, and researchgraduate and undergraduate students, and research
technicians are making vital discoveries about planttechnicians are making vital discoveries about plant
survival, habitat destruction, invasive species, andsurvival, habitat destruction, invasive species, and
restoration. We are examining the means by whichrestoration. We are examining the means by which
rare and endangered plants reproduce so we canrare and endangered plants reproduce so we can
conserve them more successfully and efficiently. Weconserve them more successfully and efficiently. We
are learning how habitat fragmentation impacts plantare learning how habitat fragmentation impacts plant
communities. We are finding connections between soil microbes andcommunities. We are finding connections between soil microbes and
species survival.species survival. Here are two of the many ways our scientistsHere are two of the many ways our scientists
impact plant conservation on an international level.impact plant conservation on an international level.
In spite of diminished, isolated habitats, some native plants thrive.In spite of diminished, isolated habitats, some native plants thrive.
Chicago Botanic Garden scientists are identifying which plantsChicago Botanic Garden scientists are identifying which plants
thrive and how to help land managers care for the habitats thatthrive and how to help land managers care for the habitats that
remain.remain. The prairie once stretched from Illinois to Kansas andThe prairie once stretched from Illinois to Kansas and
from Canada to Texas. But agriculture and development havefrom Canada to Texas. But agriculture and development have
virtually erased the prairie from the map. Less than one-tenth of 1virtually erased the prairie from the map. Less than one-tenth of 1
percent of the Illinois prairie remains. These fragments are in dangerpercent of the Illinois prairie remains. These fragments are in danger
of disappearing completely, and with them, the birds, insects, andof disappearing completely, and with them, the birds, insects, and
other animals that depend upon them. Stuart Wagenius, Ph.D.,other animals that depend upon them. Stuart Wagenius, Ph.D.,
a conservation scientist in quantitative genetics, is studying thea conservation scientist in quantitative genetics, is studying the
impact of fragmentation onimpact of fragmentation on Echinacea angustifoliaEchinacea angustifolia (purple coneflower) to(purple coneflower) to
determine the most significant environmental and genetic threats facingdetermine the most significant environmental and genetic threats facing
native plants. Because, like many other prairie plants,native plants. Because, like many other prairie plants, EchinaceaEchinacea isis
self-incompatible (cannot be fertilized with pollen from itself) andself-incompatible (cannot be fertilized with pollen from itself) and
long-lived, it makes a good research model; findings can belong-lived, it makes a good research model; findings can be
extrapolated to other species. Dr. Wagenius’ team is investigatingextrapolated to other species. Dr. Wagenius’ team is investigating
both ecological factors (e.g., lack of fire and invasive weeds) andboth ecological factors (e.g., lack of fire and invasive weeds) and
CreateCreate
hope:hope:
increaseincrease
knowledge.knowledge.
