Plant Conservation: Why It Matters and How It Works

Plants’ ability to turn sunlight into energy makes them the basis for all life; without them there is no life. And they are more than just a food source—they provide us with fuel, fibers, and pharmaceuticals.

Global warming and the destruction of natural habitats are a serious threat to many plants, and there are worldwide efforts to mitigate the disaster. Plant Conservation tackles this essential topic head on. Timothy Walker, as the director of the Oxford Botanical Garden, a leader in the field of plant conservation, plays a key role in this effort. He highlights what is happening now, from cataloging the world’s flora to conservation efforts like protecting plants from overcollecting. He also shows home gardeners how they can become involved, whether by growing their own food to decrease reliance on large agriculture or by making smart plant choices by growing natives and avoiding invasives.

Plant Conservation treats a critical topic in an accessible and optimistic way. It is required reading for students, professionals, and anyone with a keen interest in the importance of plants.

Timothy Walker has been Director of the University of Oxford Botanic Garden since 1988. He read Botany at Oxford and five years later was awarded a Master of Horticulture by the RHS. He trained at the Oxford Botanic Garden, Savill Gardens, and the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, before returning to the Oxford Botanic Garden in 1986 as general foreman. In 1996 he was elected to the post of lecturer in Plant Conservation at Somerville College. Walker is a member of the group of conservation biologists helping to develop the Global Strategy for Plant Conservation and has lectured widely to the public, nationally and regionally. Among his previous books are Euphorbias (RHS, 2000) and Plants: A Very Short Introduction (Oxford University Press, 2012).