About the Program

U.S. - Russia Botanical Exchange Program began with the 1972 bilateral agreement signed by the U.S.A. and the U.S.S.R. This landmark document created a new level of scientific cooperation between the two nations, as well as a forum for addressing mutual environmental protection concerns. After the break up of the Soviet Union a new Agreement on cooperation in the field of nature protection and conservation of natural resources was signed between the Government of the Russian Federation and the Government of the United Stated of America on June 23, 1994 replacing the previous agreement between the U.S.S.R. and the U.S. of May 23, 1972.

The Botanical Exchange Program has operated, and continues to operate, within the context of these two agreements. From its inception both countries agreed that the objectives of the Botanical Exchange Program should be: 

• Organization of joint botanical expeditions to diverse areas of floristic significance in the two countries;
• Exchange of seeds and other propagules of species native to each country for research purposes and experimental cultivation in the other country, in conformance with regulations governing the introduction of exotic plants and parts thereof;
• Exchange of information on the threatened and endangered plant species in each country;
• Exchange of scientific investigators interested in the comparative evolution of plant taxa occurring in both countries, and the causes of and methods to remedy species endangerment;
• Development of specific programs relating to the cultivation in both countries of threatened and endangered plant species, wild relatives of cultivated plants, and other species which may be useful in meeting human needs.

Through more than 40 years of cooperation, the program has facilitated more than 50 exchange trips between the U.S. and Russia. The resulting transfer of publications, information, plant material, and photographic images has aided in the improvement of conservation efforts employed by both countries.

On June 18-22, 1990 a U.S.-U.S.S.R. Conference on Environmental Conservation for the 1990s was held at the campus of Washington and Lee University in Lexington, Virginia.  The Conference brought together 40 Soviet and 40 American scientists to discuss bilateral and global conservation priorities and to map out a blueprint for U.S.-U.S.S.R. cooperation in natural resources research and management over the coming decade.

15 year later, on September 20, 2005, leaders and scientific experts in the field of botany from Russia and the United States met in Chambersburg, Pennsylvania to celebrate the 30th anniversary of the Exchange Program. A principle objective at the conference was to look towards the future at the new challenges that face both countries as we move into the 21st century. From this conference, the participants agreed and approved a set of recommendations that will help define the purpose and objectives of the Botanical Exchange Program for the future.

The next strategy meeting took place in Washington DC in the US National Arboretum on December 3-4, 2009. The leaders of American and Russian botanical gardens and arboreta discussed perspectives for further cooperation and for the development of a mutual program on the conservation of rare and endangered species of plants. Participants at the meeting made their presentations devoted to projects and topics of futureareas of cooperation, which provided a platform for discussion and an exchange of ideas according to the existing programs in both countries. 

In the final document of the conference the following recommendations were agreed: 

• generalize and distribute the main proposals and projects; 
• identify "key coordinators" for further development of the projects, exchange of information and search of colleagues on interests in regions; 
• suggest that the scientists interested in a bilateral exchange give the contact information, scientific interests to the Russian and American coordinators of the program; 
• evaluate the development of a system for the electronic mailing available to all experts interested in collaboration.

At the end of the meeting Dr Tomas Elias, the coordinator of the Exchange program from the American side during 33 years, made an announcement about his forthcoming retirement. Kevin Konrad and Kevin Tunisson (US National Arboretum, Washington D.C.) temporary took over the responsibility for the program. Dr Alexander Demidov, Director of the Main Botanical Garden RAS, Moscow was approved as a coordinator of the Program from the Russian side. Commenting on the decision, Dr Demidov said that the Council of Botanical Gardens of Russia provides an opportunity to establish links with regional institutions and botanical gardens and their experts. It has been proposed to establish the connections with other network organizations such as the Botanic Gardens Conservation International (BGCI), the American Public Gardens Association (APGA), the American Botanical Society (ABS) and the American Society of Taxonomists (AST) and others.

Conference participants underlined the need for greater use of the web site created in 2005 for the widening of bilateral relations and for the sharing of information. It was also proposed to develop a system of electronic newsletters and a forum to enhance communication.

In the end, the participants unanimously noted that the program continues to work successfully. It promotes the exchange of ideas, the development of contacts and ensures the continuation of cooperation. 

In 2011 at the meeting devoted to the Russian –American cooperation and development of an Action Plan for 2011-2012 was held in Missouri Botanic Garden, St Louis. At the meeting it was proposed to recommend that Dr Peter Wyse Jackson, the President of Missouri Botanic Garden lead the botanical exchange program from the American side. In his comments, Dr Wyse Jackson expressed his willingness to lead the American-Russian Botanical Exchange program and emphasized that it is necessary to return to organising field trips in both countries, with the aim of building one to one relationships between researchers and to help in sharing mutual interests and concerns. He underlined that new possibilities of this Program will be based on the long term friendly relations between Russian and American botanists and the further development of the exchange program will bring benefits to both sides.

In 2015, new impetus has been given to the botanical exchange initiative through establishment of the new website for U.S.-Russia Botanical Exchange Program www.botanicalexchangeprogram.org and several social media accounts. The site provides information about field trips and conferences devoted to the botanical activity and development of cooperation between botanists and horticulturists of both countries.