XVI International Botanical Congess

Colombia is considered one of the top megadiversity countries in the world, home to an estimated 40,000 - 45,000 vascular plants. Of these, some 700 species are considered to be endangered based on IUCN criteria, and an estimated 19 species have become extinct over the last century. As a signatory to the United Nations Convention on Biological Diversity, Colombia has restructured its national environmental system, and created joint ventures between government, academia and the private sector to promote research. It has also designed a national biodiversity policy that promotes the knowledge, conservation and sustainable use of biodiversity. Important activities include designing a national agenda for research on systematics, with the active involvement of over 150 scientists, as well as a national plan for botanic gardens and gene banks, which includes some 20 ex situ collections nationwide. The active involvement of scientists in these initiatives is helping design research agendas, increase collaboration and strategic alliances, optimize the use of resources, and bridge the gap between science and policy, all of which are critical for plant conservation.