Ark of Life website & facebook

[marcel]

The Ark of life website can now be visited.
For those who missed this: Stewart McPherson set up a conservation foundation that aims to preserve endangered species in cultivation. This foundation is called Ark of Life. The first ark is the Rare Nepenthes Collection. In cooperation with the Hortus botanicus Leiden and your very own ICPS this ark has moored in Leiden, The Netherlands. The first residents have already arrived and are growing happily in the greenhouses thanks to the generous donors.

I know, it took some time and not everything is working perfectly yet but it is really worth visiting:

www.arkoflife.net/.

There is also a Facebook page:
www.facebook.com/pages/Ark-of-Life/147726941956397?sk=wall

Let us know if you like it

[Brian Barnes]

Fantastic!

I think it's awesome and appreciate all who were involved in making it a reality. Hats off to you guys! ;D

Brian

[bluemax]

I do indeed like it! A wonderful effort with much promise for the future. The little introductory video was very informative. And who cares more than ICPS members?

- Mark

[Apoplast]

That is wonderful news and a great initiative! I'm glad to see that there are specific aims for expansion (especially into flypaper CP plants). Is there any way to follow the progress of new efforts? Unfortunately, I don't think I can help out (really wish I could be useful), but I'd like to know how the process is advancing.

I have the utmost respect and admiration for anyone involved in establishing or expanding conservation programs! This program seems well planned and executed. Organized, live collections in established and reputable botanic gardens are unfortunately the best option many plants have right now. It's great to see people stepping up to the challenge! Right now, it seems to have a CP slant. Is this program meant to expand into to other highly threatened groups of plants?

[marcel]

Apr 19, 2011 21:23:29 GMT Apoplast said:

Is this program meant to expand into to other highly threatened groups of plants?

More Arks are always possible and the founding papers allow for other types of plants and even animals should the foundation decide to do so. Right now people are beginning to look at what can/ should be done for other Nepenthes species and CP's of South Africa.
As most of the people currently involved are CP growers that is however the focus of the moment.
Hopefully more news will follow soon ;D