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NATIVE WETLAND PLANT SEEDBANKING IN THE SOUTHERN BLUE RIDGE REGION

THE ATLANTA BOTANICAL GARDEN, THROUGH ITS SOUTHEASTERN CENTER FOR CONSERVATION, WILL USE FUNDS TO CREATE A REGION-SPECIFIC TRAINING PROGRAM TO EMPOWER CONSERVATION PROFESSIONALS IN THE CLIMATE-VULNERABLE REGIONS OF THE SOUTHEASTERN CONTINENTAL U.S., PUERTO RICO, AND THE U.S. VIRGIN ISLANDS. THIS PROGRAM WILL FOCUS ON ESSENTIAL SKILLS IN CONSERVATION HORTICULTURE, SEED BANKING, IN VITRO PROPAGATION, AND FIELDWORK BEST PRACTICES. THROUGH THIS PROGRAM, THE GARDEN WILL ENHANCE THE SKILLS OF THE CONSERVATION WORKFORCE, ENABLING PROFESSIONALS TO EFFECTIVELY MANAGE PLANT COLLECTIONS AND BIODIVERSITY. A HYBRID APPROACH COMBINING VIRTUAL LEARNING AND IN-PERSON WORKSHOPS WILL BUILD LONG-TERM, SUSTAINABLE CONSERVATION EXPERTISE, FOSTERING ENVIRONMENTAL STEWARDSHIP ACROSS THE SOUTHEASTERN U.S., PUERTO RICO, AND THE U.S. VIRGIN ISLANDS.

THE ATLANTA BOTANICAL GARDEN WILL LAUNCH “PROPAGATING OUR FUTURE,” AN INNOVATIVE CONSERVATION OUTREACH INITIATIVE. THE PROJECT WILL ESTABLISH A CONSERVATION ENGAGEMENT COORDINATOR TO DESIGN INTERACTIVE EXHIBITS, DIGITAL MEDIA, PUBLIC TOURS, AND EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS, AIMING TO FOSTER PUBLIC UNDERSTANDING OF THE SOUTHEAST'S RARE AND IMPERILED PLANTS. THROUGH HANDS-ON EXPERIENCES AND COMPELLING STORYTELLING, VISITORS OF ALL AGES WILL BE INSPIRED TO CONNECT WITH LOCAL BIODIVERSITY AND SUPPORT CONSERVATION EFFORTS. EDUCATIONAL COMPONENTS, PARTICULARLY FOR HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS, WILL INTEGRATE CONSERVATION SCIENCE INTO CURRICULA, NURTURING FUTURE STEWARDS OF THE REGION’S UNIQUE FLORA. PERFORMANCE METRICS AND AUDIENCE FEEDBACK WILL ENSURE SUSTAINED IMPACT, ALIGNING WITH INSTITUTIONAL GOALS IN CONSERVATION, SCIENCE LITERACY, AND COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT.

THIS PROPOSAL IS BASED ON RECOMMENDATIONS BY THE U.S. FISH WILDLIFE SERVICE RECOVERY PLANS FOR THE DELISTING OF TWO THREATENED PLANT SPECIES AND DIRECTLY ADDRESSES 8 HIGH PRIORITY RECOVERY ACTIONS, INCLUDING 5 PRIORITY 1 ACTIONS. THE TWO FOCAL PLANT SPECIES ARE UNIQUE TO THE SOUTHERN BLUE RIDGE MOUNTAINS, WITH RANGES PRIMARILY OR ENTIRELY CONFINED WITHIN NORTH CAROLINA: ROAN MOUNTAIN BLUET AND WHITE IRISETTE. PROPOSED RECOVERY ACTIONS THAT WILL CONTRIBUTE TO DELISTING THESE SPECIES INCLUDE CENSUSING WILD SUBPOPULATION SIZES, CONDUCTING ON-SITE THREAT ASSESSMENTS, DETERMINING HORTICULTURAL REQUIREMENTS TO PRODUCE PLANT MATERIAL FOR CONSERVATION COLLECTIONS, AND DEVELOPING AND IMPLEMENTING HABITAT PROTECTION ALTERNATIVES I.E., SEED BANKING. THIS WORK WILL BE LED BY THE ATLANTA BOTANICAL GARDEN (ABG), IN COLLABORATION WITH THE U.S. FISH AND WILDLIFE SERVICE ASHEVILLE ECOLOGICAL SERVICES FIELD OFFICE (USFWS AESFO), WHO WILL FACILITATE PERMIT APPLICATIONS, COORDINATE FIELDWORK WITH PARTNERS AND BENEFICIARIES AND ENSURE THAT ACTIVITIES MEET RECOVERY ACTION OBJECTIVES. BENEFICIARIES THAT WILL ALSO ASSIST WITH THIS WORK INCLUDE THE U.S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE FOREST SERVICE, NORTH CAROLINA PARKS RECREATION DIVISION, NORTH CAROLINA PLANT CONSERVATION PROGRAM, NORTH CAROLINA WILDLIFE RESOURCES COMMISSION AND NORTH CAROLINA NATURAL HERITAGE PROGRAM. DELIVERABLES INCLUDE REPORTS ON SPECIES SUBPOPULATION CENSUSES, RISK ASSESSMENTS IDENTIFYING URGENT MANAGEMENT NEEDS FOR SPECIFIC SUBPOPULATIONS, PROTOCOLS FOR PROPAGATING PLANTS, AND RECOMMENDATIONS TO IMPROVE WILD PLANT FECUNDITY. SPECIES WILL BE ADDED TO SAFEGUARDING COLLECTIONS IN THE ABG CONSERVATION SEED BANK AND SAFEGUARDING NURSERY. OBJECTIVES IN THIS PROPOSAL WERE COLLABORATIVELY CONCEIVED AND CONSIDERED BY ABG AND USFWS AESFO, WHO WILL WORK CLOSELY WITH BENEFICIARIES TOWARD THE DELISTING OF THESE TWO UNIQUE AND THREATENED PLANT SPECIES OF THE SOUTHERN BLUE RIDGE MOUNTAINS.

SOUTHEASTERN REGIONAL SPECIES OF GREATEST CONSERVATION NEED PLANT LIST

GEORGIA ASER PLANT CONSERVATION PROJECT

MOUNTAIN BOG SAFEGUARDING PROJECT

DEVELOPMENT OF A REGIONAL SPECIES OF GREATEST CONSERVATION NEED LIST FOR PLANTS TO INFORM CONSERVATION STRATEGIES ACROSS THE SOUTHEASTERN UNITED STATES

GEORGIA PLANT CONSERVATION ALLIANCE SAFEGUARDING DATABASE NORTH GEORGIA MOUNTAIN BOGCOORDINATION FOR FIELD SUPPORT AND HABITAT RESTORATIONTHE CONSERVATION RESTORATION COORDINATOR AT THE ATLANTA BOTANICAL GARDEN IS TASKED WITH SUPPORTING THEGEORGIA PLANT CONSERVATION ALLIANCESAFEGUARDING DATABASE AND MOUNTAIN BOG PROJECTS. WORKING UNDER THE DIRECTION OF DR. EMILY COFFEY- VICE PRESIDENT OF CONSERVATION RESEARCH- THE COORDINATOR OVERSEES THE RARE PLANT SAFEGUARDING DATABASE AND MOUNTAIN BOG AND OTHER HABITAT RESTORATION ACTIVITIES FOR THE GEORGIA PLANT CONSERVATION ALLIANCE. PARTICIPATING IN THE SAFEGUARDING DATABASE IS IDENTIFIED AS A PRIORITY IN THE 2015 STATE WILDLIFE ACTION PLAN.AN ESSENTIAL PART OF THE RARE PLANT CONSERVATION WORK CARRIED OUT BY ATLANTA BOTANICALGARDEN- THE STATE BOTANICAL GARDEN OF GEORGIA- GEORGIA DNR- U.S. FOREST SERVICE AND THEIR PARTNERS IS THE CULTIVATION OF RARE PLANTS FROM KNOWN WILD POPULATIONS AND REINTRODUCTION OF THIS MATERIAL BACK INTO SUITABLE PROTECTED HABITAT. THE CONSERVATION COLLECTIONS MAINTAINED BY GPCA REPRESENT INVALUABLE GENETIC RESOURCES FOR GEORGIA S NATIVE FLORA. INFORMATION ABOUT BOTH EX-SITU AND IN-SITU SAFEGUARDING COLLECTIONS IS HOUSED IN THE GPCA SAFEGUARDING DATABASE. THE TABULAR DATA IN THE SAFEGUARDING DATABASE IS LINKED TO A GEODATABASE IN ARCGIS TO TRACK COLLECTION AND REINTRODUCTION LOCATIONS- AS WELL AS MONITORING- AND SURVIVORSHIP FOR OUTPLANTING ACTIVITIES. MANAGEMENT DATA IS ALSO INCORPORATED INTO THE DATABASE AND INCLUDES MICROSITE- SITE- AND LANDSCAPE LEVEL ACTIVITIES SUCH AS MANUAL AND MECHANICAL HABITAT IMPROVEMENT AND INVASIVE SPECIES REMOVAL- TREATMENT- AND REMEDIATION.UPDATED SAFEGUARDING DATABASE NORTH GEORGIA MOUNTAIN BOG GPCA ORGANIZATIONOBJECTIVES:1) CONDUCT LONG-TERM DATABASE DEVELOPMENT BY PLANNING FOR ITS FUTURE USES IN COOPERATION WITH PARTNER INSTITUTIONS- INCLUDING REMOTE ACCESS OPTIONS AND A PLAN FOR THE NEXT 5 YEARS.2) DUTIES WILL INCLUDE COORDINATION OF GEORGIA PLANT CONSERVATION ALLIANCE (GPCA) MOUNTAINBOG- PINE-OAK WOODLAND- AND OTHER HABITAT RESTORATION AND MONITORING ACTIVITIES ON PUBLIC AND PRIVATE LANDS.3) EVALUATE AND REPORT ON THE SUCCESS OF COLLABORATIVE SAFEGUARDING PROJECTS AND THE BENEFITS OFTHE SAFEGUARDING DATABASE TO KEY PARTNERS ANNUALLY.BENEFICIARIES: BENEFICIARIES WOULD BE USFWS- STATE BOTANICAL GARDEN OF GEORGIA- GEORGIA DNR- U.S. FOREST SERVICE- AND GCPA AND IT S OTHER MEMBER INSTITUTIONS WHO SUPPORT PLANT CONSERVATION FOR THE BENEFIT OF THE CITIZENS OF GEORGIA. THE AREA INCLUDES EX-SITU AND IN-SITU SAFEGUARDING SITES THROUGHOUT GEORGIA.

THE ATLANTA BOTANICAL GARDEN WILL WORK WITH THE FWS AND OTHER SE PCA PARTNERS TO INCREASE CAPACITY FOR RARE PLANT RECOVERY. THIS INCLUDES THE CONTINUATION OF 4 PILOT PROJECTS AND THE INITIATION OF 6 NEW PROJECTS FOR SPECIES PRIORITIZED THROUGH COLLABORATION WITH REGIONAL LEADS IN 2021. THE GOAL OF THIS PROJECT IS TO ADDRESS RECOVERY ACTIONS AND TO ENHANCE THE SE PCA NETWORK WHILE LEVERAGING FINANCES AND RELATIONSHIPS ACROSS THE SOUTHEAST. FUNDING IS REQUESTED TO SUPPORT NEXT-STEP RECOVERY ACTIONS FOR VARRONIA RUPICOLA, PLATANTHERA INTEGRILABIA, RIBES ECHINELLUM, AND SCHWALBEA AMERICANA. PILOT PROJECT SUPPORT IS REQUESTED FOR OXYPOLIS CANBYI, LINUM ARENICOLA, HELIANTHUS SCHWEINITZII, EUPHORBIA TELEPHIOIDES, AND POLYGONELLA BASIRAMIA.

THE ABGS GOAL FOR THIS PROJECT IS TO USE CONSERVATION BIOLOGY PRINCIPLES OF RESILIENCY,REDUNDANCY, AND REPRESENTATION TO ADDRESS PRIORITY 1 RECOVERY ACTION OBJECTIVES IDENTIFIED UNDER THE TORREYATAXIFOLIA RECOVERY PLAN, TO ASSESS THE CURRENT AND FUTURE CONDITION OF THE SPECIES. SPECIFICALLY, ABG SEEKS SUPPORT TO ADDRESS SEVERAL PRIORITY 1 RECOVERY ACTIONS IN THE SPECIES IMPLEMENTATION PROGRESS REPORT FOR THE CRITICALLY ENDANGERED T. TAXIFOLIA. ABG PROPOSES TO ASSESS RESILIENCY OF THE SPECIES FOLLOWING HURRICANE MICHAEL BY CONDUCTING FULL SITE SURVEYS AND ESTABLISH LONG-TERM MONITORING PLOTS IN BIOLOGICAL PRESERVES (ACTION 1.11: MANAGE EXISTING BIOLOGICAL PRESERVES). GIVEN THAT ONLY 14.8 OF THE SPECIES RANGE IS ON PROTECTED LAND, ABG WILL DETERMINE REDUNDANCY OF THE SPECIES BY WORKING WITH LOCAL PARTNERS TO LOCATE NEW TREES ON PRIVATE PROPERTY. THIS WILL INVOLVE OUTREACH TO LOCAL LANDOWNERS REGARDING THE CONSERVATION AND SAFEGUARDING EFFORTS FOR THIS SPECIES. THIS IS INVALUABLE IN SECURING PROTECTION FOR T. TAXIFOLIA GROWING ON PRIVATE LAND (ACTION 1.112: DETERMINE PROTECTION STRATEGIES FOR HABITAT OUTSIDE OF THE PRESERVE). FINALLY, ABG PROPOSES TO ADD TO THE CURRENT REPRESENTATION OF THIS SPECIES IN SAFEGUARDING COLLECTIONS BY WORKING WITH LANDOWNERS TO OBTAIN CUTTINGS AND CONTINUE TO COLLECT CUTTINGS ON PROTECTED LAND. ALL CUTTINGS WILL BE PROPAGATED IN THE ABG CONSERVATION SAFEGUARDING NURSERY (ACTION 1.331: ESTABLISH PROGRAM TO OBTAIN CUTTINGS). THE ABG SAFEGUARDING NURSERY IS NOW AT CAPACITY ITS EXPANSION IS NECESSARY TO ACCOMMODATE ADDITIONAL CUTTINGS FROM PRIVATE AND PROTECTED LANDS (ACTION 1.332: ESTABLISH CUTTINGS). ADDRESSING THESE ACTIONS ARE CRITICAL DATA GATHERED FROM THESE ACTIONS CAN INFORM LONG-TERM MANAGEMENT DECISIONS FOR THE REMAINING WILD T. TAXIFOLIA POPULATION TO PREVENT EXTIRPATION OF THE SPECIES.

ADDRESSING CONSERVATION ACTIONS FOR MACBRIDEA ALBA STANDARDIZING MONITORING, GARDEN PROPAGATION, AND SEED STORAGE

THE ABGS GOAL FOR THIS PROJECT IS TO USE CONSERVATION BIOLOGY PRINCIPLES OF RESILIENCY,REDUNDANCY, AND REPRESENTATION TO ADDRESS PRIORITY #1 RECOVERY ACTION OBJECTIVES IDENTIFIED UNDER THE TORREYATAXIFOLIA RECOVERY PLAN, TO ASSESS THE CURRENT AND FUTURE CONDITION OF THE SPECIES. SPECIFICALLY, ABG SEEKS SUPPORT TO ADDRESS SEVERAL PRIORITY #1 RECOVERY ACTIONS IN THE SPECIES IMPLEMENTATION PROGRESS REPORT FOR THE CRITICALLY ENDANGERED T. TAXIFOLIA. ABG PROPOSES TO ASSESS RESILIENCY OF THE SPECIES FOLLOWING HURRICANE MICHAEL BY CONDUCTING FULL SITE SURVEYS AND ESTABLISH LONG-TERM MONITORING PLOTS IN BIOLOGICAL PRESERVES (ACTION 1.11: MANAGE EXISTING BIOLOGICAL PRESERVES). GIVEN THAT ONLY 14.8% OF THE SPECIES RANGE IS ON PROTECTED LAND, ABG WILL DETERMINE REDUNDANCY OF THE SPECIES BY WORKING WITH LOCAL PARTNERS TO LOCATE NEW TREES ON PRIVATE PROPERTY. THIS WILL INVOLVE OUTREACH TO LOCAL LANDOWNERS REGARDING THE CONSERVATION AND SAFEGUARDING EFFORTS FOR THIS SPECIES. THIS IS INVALUABLE IN SECURING PROTECTION FOR T. TAXIFOLIA GROWING ON PRIVATE LAND (ACTION 1.112: DETERMINE PROTECTION STRATEGIES FOR HABITAT OUTSIDE OF THE PRESERVE). FINALLY, ABG PROPOSES TO ADD TO THE CURRENT REPRESENTATION OF THIS SPECIES IN SAFEGUARDING COLLECTIONS BY WORKING WITH LANDOWNERS TO OBTAIN CUTTINGS AND CONTINUE TO COLLECT CUTTINGS ON PROTECTED LAND. ALL CUTTINGS WILL BE PROPAGATED IN THE ABG CONSERVATION SAFEGUARDING NURSERY (ACTION 1.331: ESTABLISH PROGRAM TO OBTAIN CUTTINGS). THE ABG SAFEGUARDING NURSERY IS NOW AT CAPACITY ITS EXPANSION IS NECESSARY TO ACCOMMODATE ADDITIONAL CUTTINGS FROM PRIVATE AND PROTECTED LANDS (ACTION 1.332: ESTABLISH CUTTINGS). ADDRESSING THESE ACTIONS ARE CRITICAL DATA GATHERED FROM THESE ACTIONS CAN INFORM LONG-TERM MANAGEMENT DECISIONS FOR THE REMAINING WILD T. TAXIFOLIA POPULATION TO PREVENT EXTIRPATION OF THE SPECIES.

THE GOAL OF THIS PROJECT IS TO EXAMINE THE INTER AND OR INTRA-POPULATION GENETIC VARIATION FOR T. PERSISTENS IN ORDER TO AID STATE FEDERAL AGENCIES AND PRIVATE LANDOWNERS IN SETTING GOALS FOR SAFEGUARDING AND MANAGEMENT EFFORTS. OVERALL, THIS PROJECT WILL ENABLE STAKEHOLDERS TO BETTER ADDRESS ENVIRONMENTAL CHANGES THAT MAY AFFECT T. PERSISTENS RESILIENCE, REPRESENTATION AND REDUNDANCY IN THE LANDSCAPE.

A PROPOSAL TO EXAMINE LINKS BETWEEN FOREST DENSITY AND ORCHID-FUNGAL RELATIONSHIPS IN ISOTRIA MEDEOLOIDES.

AWARDTYPE: DIRECT LOANS ACTIVITIES TO BE PERFORMED: PROVIDE LOANS TO THE SURVIVORS OF DECLARED DISASTERS FOR UNINSURED OR OTHERWISE UNCOMPENSATED PHYSICAL DAMAGE. DELIVERABLES: LOANS EXPECTED OUTCOMES: BUSINESSES, NONPROFITS, HOMEOWNERS AND RENTERS TO REPAIR OR REPLACE DAMAGED OR DESTROYED REAL PROPERTY AND/OR PERSONAL PROPERTY TO ITS PRE-DISASTER CONDITION. INTENDED BENEFICIARIES: SURVIVORS OF DISASTER SUBRECIPIENT ACTIVITIES: NA

AWARDTYPE: DIRECT LOANS ACTIVITIES TO BE PERFORMED: PROVIDE LOANS TO THE SURVIVORS OF DECLARED DISASTERS FOR UNINSURED OR OTHERWISE UNCOMPENSATED PHYSICAL DAMAGE. DELIVERABLES: LOANS EXPECTED OUTCOMES: BUSINESSES, NONPROFITS, HOMEOWNERS AND RENTERS TO REPAIR OR REPLACE DAMAGED OR DESTROYED REAL PROPERTY AND/OR PERSONAL PROPERTY TO ITS PRE-DISASTER CONDITION. INTENDED BENEFICIARIES: SURVIVORS OF DISASTER SUBRECIPIENT ACTIVITIES: NA

THIS PROPOSAL ADDRESSES YEAR 1 ACTIVITIES OF WHAT IS ENVISIONED AS A 3-YEAR PROCESS THAT TOGETHER ADDRESSES THE GOAL TO PRIORITIZE CONSERVATION OF AT-RISK AND LISTED SPECIES INNOVATIONS IN WORKLOAD WORKFORCE MANAGEMENT AND, ENSURING THAT OUR CONSERVATION WORK IS CONDUCTED IN A WELCOMING AND INCLUSIVE WORK ENVIRONMENT. THE ATLANTA BOTANICAL GARDEN PROPOSES TO COLLABORATE WITH NATURESERVE AND OTHER PARTNERS THROUGH THE SOUTHEASTERN PLANT CONSERVATION ALLIANCE (SE PCA) TO DISTRIBUTE THE REGIONAL SPECIES OF GREATEST CONSERVATION NEED (RSGCN) PLANT LIST AND CONDUCT PRIORITY ASSESSMENTS AND RANKING UPDATES THAT WILL INFORM ESA LISTING AND RECOVERY. THIS WILL BE ACHIEVED BY EXPANDING THE ESTABLISHED SE PCA NETWORK AND UTILIZING THE RSGCN AND FEDERAL LISTING WORKPLAN TO SELECT TAXA FOR REVIEW AND COLLABORATIVE PLANNING. INCLUSION OF PARTNERS IN PUERTO RICO AND THE U.S. VIRGIN ISLANDS, AS WELL AS TRIBAL NATIONS, WILL SUPPORT MORE COHESIVE COLLABORATION ACROSS THE REGION, INFORM CREATION OF DETAILED CONSERVATION ASSESSMENTS, AND DRIVE THE DEVELOPMENT OF A STRATEGIC APPROACH FOR FUTURE WORK BASED ON A MODEL OF SUCCESS.

A SURVEY OF GENETIC DIVERSITY OF HUDSONIA MONTANA IN 2020 AND 2021, SEED AND STEM CUTTINGS WERE SAMPLED FROM FIVE SUBPOPULATIONS OF THE CRITICALLY IMPERILED G1 HUDSONIA MONTANA IN LINVILLE GORGE WILDERNESS, ITSELF A SECAS BLUEPRINT AREA OF HIGHEST CONSERVATION PRIORITY. DATA AND SAMPLES COLLECTED FROM SUBPOPULATIONS INCLUDED PHENOLOGY ASSESSMENT OF POPULATIONS, FOLLOWED BY SEED COLLECTION AND NONLETHAL STEM CUTTINGS. SEED VIABILITY WAS TESTED, GERMINATION AND PROPAGATION PROTOCOLS WERE DEVELOPED, AND PLANTS WERE GROWN OUT IN THE ATLANTA BOTANICAL GARDENS CONSERVATION GREENHOUSE. A GENETIC SURVEY OF HUDSONIA MONTANA IS NEEDED TO INFORM MANAGEMENT DECISIONS WITH RESPECT TO DISTINCT GENETICS, IF THEY EXIST, AMONG POPULATIONS OF HUDSONIA MONTANA. HUDSONIA MONTANA HAS A PUBLISHED CHROMOSOME COUNT OF 2N 20 LOVE 1985. THE SPECIES PLOIDY IS UNCHARACTERIZED, ALTHOUGH THE THREE REPORTS ON THIS GENUS SHOW NO EVIDENCE OF POLYPLOIDY. WE PROPOSE TO USE MICROSATELLITE MARKERS TO SURVEY GENETIC DIVERSITY METRICS WITHIN AND AMONG EOS. THE STARTING HYPOTHESIS IS THAT THE TABLEROCK AND FLAT LEDGE POPULATIONS OF HUDSONIA MONTANA NUTT. CISTACEAE MOUNTAIN GOLDENHEATHER ARE GENETICALLY DISTINCT. THE PRIMARY OBJECTIVE OF THIS PROJECT IS TO CONDUCT LEAF DNA SAMPLING ACROSS ITS RANGE AND DETERMINE THE GENETIC DIVERSITY OF HUDSONIA MONTANA TO INFORM NEEDED SAFEGUARDING AND IN SITU REINTRODUCTION AND AUGMENTATION ACTIONS.

THE ATLANTA BOTANICAL GARDEN (ABG) WILL IMPROVE STEWARDSHIP OF ITS COLLECTIONS BY CREATING A SEED AND POLLEN BANK TO PROVIDE A PHYSICAL BACKUP OF THE GENETIC DIVERSITY HELD IN THE CONSERVATION COLLECTIONS, THAT WILL DECREASE VULNERABILITY TO LOSS DUE TO CLIMATE CHANGE AND PROVIDE SAFEGUARDS IN THE EVENT OF EXTINCTION IN THE WILD. THE PROJECT TEAM FROM THE SOUTHEASTERN CENTER FOR CONSERVATION AT ABG WILL STORE POLLEN AND SEED FROM FIVE PLANTS FROM EACH OF THE 300 CONSERVATION POPULATION COLLECTIONS (FOR A TOTAL OF 1,350 POLLEN AND 1,200 SEED SAMPLES). IN ADDITION, THEY WILL TRANSFER COLLECTION DATA TO AN ONLINE SEARCHABLE PLATFORM ACCESSIBLE TO THE PUBLIC. UNDERGRADUATE AND HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS WILL PARTICIPATE IN PLANT CONSERVATION RESEARCH FOCUSED ON IMPERILED SPECIES IN THE SOUTHEASTERN UNITED STATES AND WILL ASSIST THE LABORATORY MANAGER AND TECHNICIAN IN ASPECTS RELATED TO COLLECTIONS CURATION, CONSERVATION HORTICULTURE, SEED BANKING, AND MICROPROPAGATION.