Global Survey of Ex situ Ebony Collections
Commissioned by Missouri Botanical Garden (MBG), BGCI undertook a global survey of ex situ Ebony collections in 2016. This report forms part of MBG's Global Ebony Assessment.
The ebonies are an economically important tree group, providing timber, medicine and food.
The report shows that only 24% of ebony taxa (193 of 806 taxa) are reported in ex situ collections. Ex situ collections are a vital conservation measure offering protection to species away from their native habitat and any in situ threats. Ex situ collections can also form the basis of reintroduction and restoration programmes, therefore helping to improve the conservation status of ebony species in the wild.
Species such as Diospyros virginiana and Diospyros kaki are found in more than 100 ex situ collections.
The conservation status of many ebony species is currently unknown. Only 25% of those taxa known to be threatened are reported in ex situ collections. This means that very few ebony taxa have back-up protection if the threatened in situ populations are lost. The report highlights the taxa that are not protected ex situ and should be brought into collections as a priority.
We kindly acknowledge the data shared by botanic gardens to contribute to this survey. We would also like to thank those who shared their Diospyros photos. There is a selection of photos from around the world below.
You can download the full report here.
Left: Gd.Wawan Setiadi, Bali Botanic Garden. Middle: Jardín Botánico de Barcelona.
Top Right: Zoo and BG Plzen. Bottom Right: Orto Botanico ed Erbario dell'Università di Ferrara.
Left: Arboretum i Zakład Fizjografii w Bolestraszycach. Top Middle: Barry Clarke, Hillier Gardens. Top Right: Dominion Arboretum.
Bottom Middle: Clavijero Botanical Garden. Bottom Right: Charco del Ingenio, 2015.