In conjunction with the launch of a ground-breaking new report, scientists and policymakers will gather at Kew for the first annual State of the World’s Plants Symposium. Join us as we take stock of the world’s plant diversity, associated research and trends.

The State of the World’s Plants Symposium will accompany the launch of a ground-breaking new report highlighting the global status of plants, to be released on 10 May 2016. An annual review of the major issues affecting plant diversity and abundance, the State of the World’s Plants report will provide baseline data on important indicator metrics that will tell us how plants are faring and how this is changing over time. As well as showing present status, the report will be forward-looking and will include horizon scanning to identify important and emerging issues, as well as research and knowledge gaps.

The symposium will provide a platform to discuss issues raised in the report and to engage the scientific community, policy makers and the public alike.

The meeting will be based around six themed sessions:

    Climate Change
    Protected Areas
    Extinction Risk
    Useful Plants
    Plant Health
    Invasive Plants

Each session will include talks from invited experts, followed by a panel Q&A to discuss the emerging issues.

May 11: Invited talks, discussions and poster session. Conference dinner in the Orangery restaurant (optional).

May 12: Invited talks, discussions and optional tours of Kew's collections.