Conservation & Access Projects Our conservation work Perthshire Conifer Conservation Programme PCCP Expeditions Read about the Perthshire Conifer Conservation Programme's expeditions to collect seeds from and help conserve some of the world's most threatened conifer species in their native countries. Chile – 2017 Who Martin Gardner, Co-ordinator of the International Conifer Conservation Programme at RBGE Peter Baxter, Curator at Benmore Botanic Garden Mauricio Cano, Chilean PhD student at RBGE Tom Christian, former PCCP Project Officer Highlights Seed collections taken from a range of conifer species, including Chilean Plum Yew (Prumnopitys andina) Discovered two previously unknown populations of the Chilean Plum Yew (Prumnopitys andina) Visited two private reserves of 'monkey puzzle' (Araucaria araucana), including a community-owned biological corridor and the privately-owned Nassampulli reserve Observed the ongoing impact of dam-building in the Chilean Andes, which is part of a drive to supply clean, more affordable energy For further information, read ‘New discoveries and collections made on Chilean conservation trip’. Bhutan – 2016 Who Neil McCheyne and David Gray from Benmore Botanic Garden, both horticulturalists and trained arboriculturists Tom Christian, former PCCP Project Officer Local officials in Dangchu Valley, Bhutan Highlights Developed a conservation programme for the Tsenden, or Himalayan cypress (Cupressus cashmeriana), Bhutan's national emblem and most valuable tree used in constructing and restoring sacred temples Seed collections taken from numerous Tsenden trees Established a community tree nursery to cultivate young trees in the Dangchu Valley Established community plantations of Tsenden to create a sustainable timber supply for the future to relieve pressure on the natural forest Surveyed the natural stands of Tsenden in Dangchu Valley to determine area, health, the extent of any regeneration, and to inform future management Surveyed the natural stands of Tsenden in Dangchu Valley and data collection for other minor stands elsewhere in Bhutan to inform a national IUCN conservation assessment for Tsenden For further information, read ‘Conserving Bhutan’s sacred tree’. Morocco – 2015 Who Martin Gardner, Co-ordinator of the International Conifer Conservation Programme at RBGE Tom Christian, former PCCP Project Officer Colleagues from the University of Rabat Highlights Seed collections of the Moroccan fir (Abies pinsapo var. marocana) and Atlas cedar (Cedrus atlantica) from native forests Japan – 2013 Who Peter Baxter, Curator at Benmore Botanic Garden Tom Christian, former PCCP Project Officer Colleagues from the Royal Botanical Gardens, Kew Highlights Seed and specimen collections of rare and threatened Japanese conifers, including Japanese umbrella pine (Sciadopitys verticillata), Japanese Douglas fir (Pseudotsuga japonica), Koyama’s spruce (Picea koyamae) and Japanese bush spruce or Maximowicz’s spruce (Picea maximowiczii) Chile – 2013 Who Martin Gardner, Co-ordinator of the International Conifer Conservation Programme at RBGE Canezza Morales from the University of Santiago, Chile Tom Christian, former PCCP Project Officer Highlights Seed collections from the threatened Chilean plum yew (Prumnopitys andina) from a valley which was due to be flooded as part of a hydro-electric scheme Seed collections from other threatened conifers, including the ‘Ciprés de las Guaitecas’ (Pilgerodendron uviferum) and the Alerce (Fitzroya cupressoides) Looked at developing ways of working with local people to secure the long-term conservation of conifer populations Manage Cookie Preferences