#7

Amy Byrne, The Morton Arboretum

Christy Powell, San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance

Silvia Alvarez-Clare, The Morton Arboretum

Dan Crowley, Botanic Gardens Conservation International

Abby Meyer, Botanic Gardens Conservation International-US

The Global Conservation Consortium for Oak (GCCO) is a coordinated network of institutions and oak experts working together to implement comprehensive conservation strategies to prevent extinction of the world’s oak species. The GCCO was launched by Botanic Gardens Conservation International (BGCI) and The Morton Arboretum, partly motivated by a 2019 study by Griffith, et al. which showed that gardens must collaborate to conserve genetic diversity, especially for exceptional species, like oaks, whose seeds cannot be conventionally seed banked. In the US specifically, participants are working to conserve the 29 US species of conservation concern, outlined in The Conservation Gap Analysis of Native US Oaks. Out of the 29 species of conservation concern, 10 of them are geographically distributed throughout California. In this presentation, we will highlight the GCCO network, how it came to be, and summarize the progress made in the US, specifically focusing on the work California partners have been conducting, as they are an important region for oak diversity. Finally, we will conclude with recommendations and next steps to participate in oak conservation efforts.