Our plant conservation efforts

To stem the loss of biodiversity and cultural diversity we actively conserve rare and endangered plants, apply adaptive management approaches to natural area conservation, preserve regional diversity, control invasive species, and collaborate with national and international organizations, and preserve our plants at Cornell’s herbarium. 

Native rare plant conservation

We conserve dozens of locally, regionally, and globally rare plants including the American globeflower (Trollius laxus) and fringed gentian (Gentianopsis crinita). 

How we safeguard rare plants

An adaptive approach

Through conservation, management, and research, we apply an adaptive management approach to maintain the ecological integrity of our natural areas.

How we do this

Invasive Species Control

A key part of conserving native plant diversity is through the control of invasive species.

Deer Management Program

We protect and restore our natural areas through ongoing deer management.

Future Forests Initiative

Support forests of the future on the Cornell campus.

Protecting globally rare plants in our collections 

Botanic gardens preserve the genetic diversity of plants worldwide. We grow 12 plants in our collection that are classified as globally rare, vulnerable, or endangered, helping to protect these species against extinction.

Learn more about these plants

Collaborating to preserve genetic diversity

We collaborate with other botanic gardens to collectively preserve maples and oaks. Their genetic material is available for taxonomic studies, evaluation, breeding, and other research through the National Plant Collections Network.

About the Plant Collections Network

Preserving Plants as Herbarium Specimens

We preserve many of our cultivated and wild species by creating herbarium specimens which are provided to the Bailey Hortorium (a herbarium) at Cornell—one of the largest university-affiliated collections of preserved plant material in North America.  

Why this is Important

Volunteer to Conserve Plants

Work with our skilled natural areas staff to protect plants in our 3,600 acres of natural areas. 

View current opportunities