From checklists to an e-flora for southern Africa : past experiences and future prospects for meeting target 1 of the 2020 global strategy for plant conservation

Abstract

The exceptional botanical wealth of southern Africa has been known internationally since the early 17th century. However, it is only during the past 25 years that a succession of regional floristic checklists has been published, culminating in one for southern Africa (Namibia, Botswana, Swaziland, Lesotho, and South Africa) (Germishuizen & Meyer, 2003) and another enhanced with primary biological information such as growth form, plant height, and altitudinal range occurrence for South Africa (Germishuizen et al., 2006). These printed products (Germishuizen & Meyer, 2003; Germishuizen et al., 2006) delivered floristic checklists for southern and South Africa, respectively, on time for achieving Target 1 of the 2010 Global Strategy for Plant Conservation (GSPC). These works reflected the cumulative work of several generations of taxonomists, collectors, recorders, and databasers and were based on extensive regional herbarium collections. Two additional goals are now required for the first 2020 GSPC Target, namely adding descriptive and other Flora-style information, and disseminating such information electronically.