Phipps Conservatory Joins Center for Plant Conservation Network
For Immediate Release: Thurs., June 4
Contact: Joe Reed | Director of Marketing and Communications
412-622-6915, ext. 3801 | jreed@phipps.conservatory.org
Phipps Conservatory Joins Center for Plant Conservation Network
Partnership of institutions across North America strengthens Phipps leadership in protecting rare and endangered plants
Pittsburgh, PA – Phipps Conservatory and Botanical Gardens has been admitted as a Participating Institution of the Center for Plant Conservation (CPC), a nationally recognized network of leading botanical gardens, arboreta and conservation organizations dedicated to preventing plant extinctions and safeguarding biodiversity.
"The Center for Plant Conservation is thrilled to welcome Phipps Conservatory and Botanical Gardens to our Network of Conservation Partners," said Dr. Wesley Knapp, CEO of the Center for Plant Conservation. "As a highly respected botanical institution with expanding conservation initiatives, Phipps will strengthen our collective efforts through its expertise in horticulture, collections stewardship, public engagement, and collaborative research. Their leadership in conserving the unique flora of western Pennsylvania and the broader Appalachian region will be an important asset to our network."
The CPC Board of Trustees unanimously approved Phipps' admission — the second in the state of Pennsylvania, following Longwood Gardens — into its coalition of 85 institutions working together to protect native plants and conserve their habitats throughout the United States and Canada. By joining CPC, Phipps will elevate its region’s role in advancing efforts to conserve rare plant diversity and ensure that endangered species remain available for future restoration and recovery efforts.
"Phipps has long been committed to environmental stewardship and the preservation of biodiversity," said Richard V. Piacentini, president and CEO of Phipps Conservatory and Botanical Gardens. "Joining the Center for Plant Conservation allows us to collaborate with some of the nation's foremost plant conservation experts and further strengthen our efforts to promote and preserve biodiversity through education and action."
As a Participating Institution, Phipps will contribute to CPC's mission by applying recognized best practices in plant conservation, collaborating on research and conservation initiatives and helping expand the National Collection of Endangered Plants. Membership also provides opportunities to participate in network-wide conservation programs, share expertise with fellow conservation practitioners and engage in joint funding and research opportunities.
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About the Center for Plant Conservation: The Center for Plant Conservation (CPC) is a one-of-a-kind network, uniting plant conservationists from botanical gardens, arboreta, and other plant-focused organizations that collaboratively work to save the imperiled plants of the United States, its territories, and Canada, throughout their native range. CPC Conservation Partners maintain the CPC National Collection of Endangered Plants, a living conservation collection of imperiled plants, by working to collect and manage living seeds and plants, advancing our understanding of threats as well as means to save these species, and by communicating with partners within the CPC network to ensure that all are using the best and most up-to-date means possible to save plants. Learn more at saveplants.org.
About Phipps: Founded in 1893, Phipps Conservatory and Botanical Gardens in Pittsburgh, PA is a globally recognized green leader with a mission to inspire and educate all with the beauty and importance of plants; to advance sustainability and promote human and environmental well-being through action and research; and to celebrate its historic glasshouse. Encompassing 15 acres including a historic 14-room glasshouse, 23 distinct indoor and outdoor gardens and industry-leading sustainable architecture and operations, Phipps attracts more than half a million visitors annually from around the world. Learn more at phipps.conservatory.org.
Watch TEDx: What We Can Learn From an Old Glasshouse: A look at the evolving way we connect people to nature at Phipps, demonstrate how human and environmental health are inextricably connected, and show that to age gracefully, we must continually reinvent ourselves to evolve with the rest of the world.
