title: Accelerating global access to plant diversity information.
abstract: Botanic gardens play key roles in the development and dissemination of plant information resources. Drivers for change have included progress in information technology, growing public expectations of electronic access and international conservation policy. Great advances have been made in the quantity, quality and accessibility of plant information in digital form and the extent to which information from multiple providers can be accessed through a single portal. However, significant challenges remain to be addressed in making botanic gardens resources maximally accessible and impactful, not least the overwhelming volume of material which still awaits digitisation. The year 2010 represents an opportunity for botanic gardens to showcase their collaborative achievements in delivery of electronic plant information and reinforce their relevance to pressing environmental issues.
authors.affiliation: Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, Richmond, Surrey, TW9 3AB, UK. e.lughadha@kew.org
authors.forename: Eimear Nic
authors.initials: EN
authors.lastname: Lughadha
authors.forename: Chuck
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Miller
mesh_terms: D022126:Access to Information; D044822:Biodiversity; D001901:Botany / Q000379:methods / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D003247:Conservation of Natural Resources / Q000379:methods / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D017753:Ecosystem; D004780:Environment, Controlled; D033181:Information Dissemination; D007391:International Cooperation; D020407:Internet; D063245:Plant Development; D010944:Plants / Q000145:classification