Led by Atlanta Botanical Garden, in collaboration with BGCI and other partners from across the genus’s range, The Global Conservation Consortium for Magnolia has been initiated to address the conservation needs of wild Magnolia species.

The goal of the Global Conservation Consortium for Magnolia is to mobilise a coordinated network of institutions and experts who work collaboratively to develop and implement a comprehensive conservation strategy to prevent the extinction of the world’s Magnolia species.

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About the Global Conservation Consortium for Magnolia

Comprising more than 300 species, magnolias are widely appreciated around the world for their ornamental qualities and as sources of medicine and timber. However, many are also in peril.

 

Threats

Published in 2016, The Red List of Magnoliaceae highlighted that 47% of Magnolia species were threatened with extinction in the wild. Vast numbers of species are subject to habitat destruction, overharvesting and low natural regeneration.

 

Conservation Needs

There are more than 172 threatened species and only 43% of these are found in ex situ collections. This figure is well below Target 8 of the Global Strategy for Plant Conservation, which calls for 75% of threatened plants to be held in ex situ collections. Whilst there is work on-going to protect some Magnolia species, many more are in need of conservation action.

Integrated Conservation

Species identified as at risk of extinction require plans to ensure that they not only survive but are resilient to the threats they face. This involves the protection of threatened wild populations of plants in their natural habitats and ex situ conservation in botanic gardens and seed banks. The Global Conservation Consortium for Magnolia is bringing together the world's Magnolia community to address the conservation needs of this valuable, charismatic genus.

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Lead Institution

The Global Conservation Consortium for Magnolia is led by:

Atlanta Botanical Garden
1345 Piedmont Ave NE
Atlanta, GA 30309
United States
atlantabg.org

For questions or more information, or if you are interested in learning more about current GCC for Magnolia activities please contact Jean Linsky, GCC for Magnolia Coordinator.

Current Steering Committee Members: 

Md. Rishad Abdullah
Plant Conservation and Research Foundation
Bangladesh
Dr. Ana Maria Benavides
Jardín Botánico de Medellín
Colombia
Apolinario B. Carino
Siit Arboretum Botanical Garden
Philippines
Dr. Emily Coffey
Atlanta Botanical Garden
United States
Kevin Conrad
United States National Arboretum
United States
Dr. Luis Gonzalez Torres
Planta! Plantlife Conservation Society
Cuba
Dr. Yong-Shik Kim
Chollipo Arboretum Foundation
South Korea
Jean Linsky
Atlanta Botanical Garden
United States
Dr. Alvaro J. Perez
Herbario QCA, Pontificia Universidad Católica del Ecuador
Ecuador
Dr. Marcela Serna Gonzalez
Tecnológico de Antioquia – Institución Universitaria
Colombia
Dr. Weibang Sun
Kunming Botanical Garden
China
Dr. J. Antonio Vázquez-García
Universidad de Guadalajara
Mexico

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Operational Regions

USA & Canada

There are seven species of Magnolia native to Canada and the United States, ranging from Southern Ontario to Texas along the Eastern US. Some species are threatened by habitat fragmentation and disturbance including M. ashei.

South America

South America is a Magnolia hotspot with 75 species present in the region, of which 59 are threatened with extinction.

Mexico & Central America

Mexico & Central America are home to around 59 Magnolia species, of which 44 are threatened with extinction. With many new species having been described in recent years the GCC for Magnolia has been working to assess these species for the IUCN Red List.

Caribbean

There are 14 wild Magnolia taxa found in the Caribbean region, almost all are threatened with extinction. 

East Asia

With China as a major diversity centre for Magnolia species, the East Asian region hosts 118 Magnolia species. Around 35 species are threatened with extinction, while 49 species are currently assessed as Data Deficient.

South and Southeast Asia

This region also hosts 118 species (35 threatened), many of which are shared with the East Asian Region. Similarly to that region, 52 species here are assessed as Data Deficient.

Resources

Magnolias on the Move

Population study and conservation of Magnolia banghamii, a narrow endemic tree in Sumatra Island, Indonesia

South & Southeast Asia Regional Meetings

Experience in Growing Fraser and Pyramid Magnolia

Conservation Gap Analysis of Native Magnolias of the U.S. and Canada

East Asia Regional Meetings

Recent News on the Global Conservation Consortium for Magnolia

1st Philippine Magnolia Network Meeting

Date

27 July 2023

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New project ‘Conservation actions to protect Magnolia urraoensis, the tree of peace in Colombia’ funded by the Van Tienhoveen Foundation

Date

26 June 2023

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Supporters of the Global Conservation Consortium for Magnolia