Dear Colleague:

In its 2007 Annual Report, Hope for Healing the Planet, the Chicago Botanic Garden notes that "Worldwide, by 2050, it is predicted that 34,000 plant species will become extinct, and in the United States, we are at risk of losing 29 percent of our plant species.  Scientists say one thing is certain:  If climate change is causing us concern, it should be about the peril of plants."    
 
The Botanic Gardens Conservation International (BGCI) states in its report, Plants and Climate Change:  Which Future, "Plants form the basis of every major terrestrial ecosystem on our planet, but despite their key importance to all life, we currently have an extremely limited understanding of how they will be affected by climate change."  Belinda Hawkins of BGCI also states, "What we do know is that this new climatic era will have its 'winner' and 'loser' species."

If you are in the landscape architecture, golf course design and management, conservation, horticulture, gardening, nursery management, arboreta, botanical gardens or public land management areas, you will benefit from this important event.

As a conference participant, you will:

• Obtain a greater understanding of climate change science and how it may potentially affect the plant sector.

• Learn about and help identify the breadth of issues facing the plant-related sectors as a result of climate change.

• Gain greater awareness of the resources available to help you and your organization better adapt to climate change.

• Provide your views on the types of information products needed to better navigate climate change

This one-and-a-half-day conference will provide an important first step in building a critical information bridge between the climate science community and the numerous, diverse business sectors and public interests that rely on the health and well being of plants.