Botanical Monography in the Anthropocene

Unprecedented changes in the Earth's biota are prompting urgent efforts to describe and conserve plant diversity. For centuries, botanical monographs — comprehensive systematic treatments of a family or genus — have been the gold standard for disseminating scientific information to accelerate research. The lack of a monograph compounds the risk that undiscovered species become extinct before they can be studied and conserved. Progress towards estimating the Tree of Life and digital information resources now bring even the most ambitious monographs within reach. Here, we recommend best practices to complete monographs urgently, especially for tropical plant groups under imminent threat or with expected socioeconomic benefits. We also highlight the renewed relevance and potential impact of monographies for the understanding, sustainable use, and conservation of biodiversity.

Fil: Grace, Olwen M.. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew; Reino Unido

Fil: Pérez-Escobar, Oscar A.. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew; Reino Unido

Fil: Lucas, Eve J.. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew; Reino Unido

Fil: Vorontsova, Maria S.. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew; Reino Unido

Fil: Lewis, Gwilym P.. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew; Reino Unido

Fil: Walker, Barnaby E.. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew; Reino Unido

Fil: Lohmann, Lúcia G.. Universidade de Sao Paulo; Brasil

Fil: Knapp, Sandra. Natural History Museum; Reino Unido

Fil: Wilkie, Peter. Royal Botanic Gardens; Reino Unido

Fil: Sarkinen, Tiina. Royal Botanic Gardens; Reino Unido

Fil: Darbyshire, Iain. Royal Botanic Gardens; Reino Unido

Fil: Lughadha, Eimear Nic. Royal Botanic Gardens; Reino Unido

Fil: Monro, Alexandre. Royal Botanic Gardens; Reino Unido

Fil: Woudstra, Yannick. Universidad de Copenhagen; Dinamarca. Royal Botanic Gardens; Reino Unido

Fil: Demissew, Sebsebe. Addis Ababa University; Etiopía

Fil: Muasya, A. Muthama. University Of Cape Town; Sudáfrica

Fil: Díaz, Sandra Myrna. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Córdoba. Instituto Multidisciplinario de Biología Vegetal. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas Físicas y Naturales. Instituto Multidisciplinario de Biología Vegetal; Argentina

Fil: Baker, William J.. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew; Reino Unido

Fil: Antonelli, Alexandre. University of Oxford; Reino Unido. University Goteborg; Suecia