Fauna & Flora works closely with local conservation partners in almost 50 countries worldwide. Together, we are safeguarding some of the world’s most threatened species and the habitats on which they depend, including a wide range of wonderful, beautiful but endangered plants.
Although sometimes overshadowed by animals – particularly the large, charismatic species known as megafauna -plants are a critical part of nature conservation; they are essential to all life on Earth. Plants supply the air that we breathe, help regulate our climate and provide habitat, food and shelter for millions of species, including our own.
If you thought that tulips were from Amsterdam, think again. Most wild tulips are from the mountainous regions of Central Asia.
Next time you buy a bunch of tulips or a bag of bulbs, take a moment to reflect that their wild ancestors face an uncertain future. Despite these flowers’ worldwide popularity, many wild tulips are threatened with extinction.
We are currently working in partnership with Cambridge University Botanic Garden and Bioresource to gather vital field data on tulip distribution, ecology and threats to help to pinpoint priority sites to protect the most vulnerable species. In these areas, we are working directly with pastoralists to help restore larger-scale areas of tulip habitat and grazing pasture by encouraging more sustainable practices that support the recovery of degraded grasslands.