Ex situ Plant Conservation in Texas and the Ethical and Sustainable Harvesting of Plant Material in the Southwest

The development of the plant conservation program at Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center and subsequent participation in the Millennium Seed Bank Project and Seeds of Success Program was the first statewide conservation program to actively conserve the native flora of Texas through ex situ conservation measures. Because most land in Texas is privately owned, many hurdles had to be overcome and relationships established with private landowners in order to access the wild regions throughout the state. The establishment of sustainable collecting protocols, reassurances to land owners and varied agreements and permits were needed to render the program effective. As the program evolved, long term relationships have been established with private land owners and governmental agencies throughout Texas. These relationships now allow LBJWC extensive access to plant material for research, living botanic garden specimens and continued conservation collections.