Ten golden rules for reforestation to optimize carbon sequestration, biodiversity recovery and livelihood benefits.

Urgent solutions to global climate change are needed. Ambitious tree-planting initiatives, many already underway, aim to sequester enormous quantities of carbon to partly compensate for anthropogenic CO emissions, which are a major cause of rising global temperatures. However, tree planting that is poorly planned and executed could actually increase CO emissions and have long-term, deleterious impacts on biodiversity, landscapes and livelihoods.

Conservation of the Threatened Species, Pulsatilla vulgaris Mill. (Pasqueflower), is Aided by Reproductive System and Polyploidy.

Population loss due to habitat disturbance is a major concern in biodiversity conservation. Here we investigate the genetic causes of the demographic decline observed in English populations of Pulsatilla vulgaris and the consequences for conservation. Using 10 nuclear microsatellite markers, we compare genetic variation in wild populations with restored and seed-regenerated populations (674 samples).

The role of botanic gardens in the science and practice of ecological restoration.

Many of the skills and resources associated with botanic gardens and arboreta, including plant taxonomy, horticulture, and seed bank management, are fundamental to ecological restoration efforts, yet few of the world's botanic gardens are involved in the science or practice of restoration. Thus, we examined the potential role of botanic gardens in these emerging fields. We believe a reorientation of certain existing institutional strengths, such as plant-based research and knowledge transfer, would enable many more botanic gardens worldwide to provide effective science-based support to restoration efforts.