• apply their networks to meeting goals in conservation resarch, particularly towards meeting the requirements of the CBD
• as part of their contribution to EU conservation programmes, establish co-ordinated European plant conservation science databases
• create a network of reference collections for the scientific study of rare and endangered plant species
• within a co-ordinated programme, set up a network of wild germplasm banks to cover as wide a range as possible of the genetic diversity of European threatened plant species
• co-operate with locally based conservation agencies, universities and other interested parties to establish scientifically based recovery programmes for the threatened species in their area of influence

• encourage contacts and exchange between their scientific and horticultural staff
• organise meetings and workshops at both national and EU levels on the application of scientific horticulture to the management of their living collections
• establish contacts with national organisations of commercial growers to improve communication on horticultural and scientific aspects of plant cultivation
• establish an effective means of publication and exchange of botanic garden horticultural information, especially when this relates to the cultivation and propagation of rare or threatened European taxa.

European gardens hold a large proportion of this wealth of plants and it gives them enormous potential as botanical resource centres both within the EU and elsewhere.

Many of them are already involved in ex situ conservation projects, including growing population samples of living plants, germplasm banks (usually in the form of low-temperature seed storage) and the micropropagation of endangered species. These projects, however, are generally not part of a co-ordinated effort to conserve Europe’s threatened plants and rarely take into account conservation priorities on a national, regional or EU scale. They need to be part of a planned, integrated strategy for ex situ and in situ conservation of species and ecosystems.

In situ conservation activities are likely to involve close co-operation with land management agencies and state conservation authorities: botanic gardens have traditionally developed a suite of skills that would make such collaboration desirable; these include taxonomy and plant identification, propagation, and knowledge of reproductive systems in plants.

Plant conservation networks should, where appropriate, include private plant collections of horticultural or conservation value, natural history museums, nature parks and natural history organisations as well as botanic gardens.

To achieve Objective E2, EU botanic gardens should:

• participate in and be active members of such network organisations as Botanic Gardens Conservation International, established to promote biodiversity conservation
• develop conservation programmes in collaboration with the activities of NGOs, state conservation and development agencies, universities and appropriate international agencies to ensure in situ conservation and assessment
• develop research programmes and recovery plans in collaboration with national land and wildlife protection agencies, NGOs and universities, to promote biodiversity conservation and sustainable use of plant resources
• establish links with appropriate development projects and agencies, provide technical assistance for efforts to protect the natural environment to promote biodiversity conservation and the sustainable use of plant resources

To achieve Objective E3, EU botanic gardens should:

• establish formal and informal links with national and local education authorities and keep up to date with national and European education policy, to raise the status of education in botanic gardens (see also Objective D8)
• establish an education network to:
  • facilitate the exchange of educational resources and information between botanic gardens and with BGCI, by means of publications, meetings, electronic media and in other forms
  • produce joint educational materials
  • develop an integrated education strategy for European botanic gardens based on the recommendations of this Action Plan
  • promote collaborative exchange programmes for education staff in botanic gardens throughout Europe
  • run practical training courses in education for staff in European botanic gardens
  • develop novel educational uses of botanic garden resources
  • raise the status of education (see Objective D8)
• develop links between botanic gardens and decision-makers in education; education officers in botanic gardens should establish links with the state education system to explore how the garden could support development of education curriculum content and encourage plant-based environmental education
• work closely with other organisations involved in environmental education; and develop links with other in situ and ex situ conservation groups (e.g. museums, zoos, national parks, wildlife trusts, conservation societies and other groups that work with plants), to promote plant-based environmental education.

• organise regional workshops, Professional development and national co-ordination will be most effectively implemented via the regional networks
• develop policies for staff exchange

To achieve Objective E5, EU botanic gardens should:

• foster links with their local communities by participating in existing local networks
• contact people in local institution e.g. museums, tourist and heritage authorities, horticultural societies, community groups, universities, research establishments, local governments, the media, on matters of common interest
• involve their Friends’ org ions and support groups in making contacts, publicising their aims and fostering goodwill in the local community.

National networks should develop close partnerships with international organisations and network bodies in other countries. Electronic networks can also be established and are often very effective means of exchanging information.

It is likely that in an international context this will become more and more important, although remaining complementary to the other components of an effective network.

To achieve Objective E6, EU botanic gardens should:

• join and become active members of international botanic garden organisations, such as BGCI and IABG and important electronic networks of botanic gardens
• support national networking between national bodies and other national networks in the EU and elsewhere in the world
• encourage and enable staff at all levels to attend national and international conferences.

To achieve Objective E7, EU botanic gardens should:

• ensure that network organisations have clear and well-understood sets of objectives, missions and action plans
• use their networks to provide a forum for members of staff at all levels, gardeners, botanical and horticultural staff, managers and directors, so that all can meet together and become involved in the network, helping to break down any existing barriers between different kinds of staff
• organise talks, workshops, meetings and training sessions open to staff members at all levels
• foster goodwill and a spirit of co-operation in the network between members, recognising their contributions at all levels and convincing them of the value of participating
• facilitate communication between and disseminate information about the network’s activities between and within its membership (institutional and individual)
• aim to set up a permanent secretariat and resource centre to run the network and ensure that sufficient resources are accessed to enable it to achieve its mission
• organise regular meetings to review aims and objectives and progress in achieving them
• organise exchanges and working visits between members of staff within and between botanic gardens and other institutions, nationally and internationally
• use networks to raise awareness of the importance of botanic gardens in a national and international context.