World Flora Online: The Global Digital Compendium of Plant Species
In the effort to protect Earth's biodiversity, having a clear and accurate record of what exists is the first step toward conservation. World Flora Online (WFO) serves as this essential digital foundation, acting as an internet-based compendium that catalogs the world's plant species. By providing an open-access database, WFO ensures that scientists, conservationists, and the public have access to the most current information regarding plant life across the globe.
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The Mission of World Flora Online
Launched in October 2012, World Flora Online was conceived as a successor to The Plant List. The project was born out of a specific mandate from the United Nations Convention on Biological Diversity. Specifically, it responds to the 2011–2020 Global Strategy for Plant Conservation (GSPC) and its updated Target 1: the creation of an online flora containing all known plants.
An accessible flora is considered a fundamental requirement for effective plant conservation. It provides the necessary baseline for achieving and monitoring various other conservation targets. While the previous GSPC target was met in 2010 with the release of The Plant List, WFO was established to push the boundaries of botanical data further.
Collaborative Botanical Science
The scale of WFO is a testament to international scientific cooperation. What began in 2012 as a collaborative effort between four primary institutions has grown into a massive global consortium. These founding members include:
- Missouri Botanical Garden
- New York Botanical Garden
- Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh
- Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew
Today, the project involves 36 different institutions working together to produce this comprehensive record. In 2024, the consortium expanded further when Pl@ntNet joined the group, strengthening the collective expertise available to the project.
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Evolution of Data: From The Plant List to WFO Plant List
As the project evolved, so did its technical infrastructure. To improve upon the traditional Plant List v.1.1, the consortium developed the WFO Plant List (available at wfoplantlist.org). This update represents a significant step forward in providing more accurate and updated taxonomic data for the scientific community.
Key Facts
- Launch Date: October 2012
- Primary Goal: To publish an online flora of all known plants.
- Access Model: Open-access database.
- Governance: A project of the United Nations Convention on Biological Diversity.
- Collaborators: 36 institutions worldwide.
- Successor to: The Plant List.
Project Overview Summary
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Type of Site | Encyclopedia |
| Language | English |
| Status | Active |
| Key Creators | Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew and Missouri Botanical Garden |
| Official URL | about.worldfloraonline.org |
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the main purpose of World Flora Online?
The main purpose is to provide an open-access, internet-based compendium of all known plant species to support global plant conservation efforts.
How does WFO relate to the United Nations?
WFO is a project of the United Nations Convention on Biological Diversity, helping to fulfill targets set by the Global Strategy for Plant Conservation.
Is World Flora Online the same as The Plant List?
No. WFO is a follow-up project to The Plant List and has developed the WFO Plant List to replace the traditional version 1.1.
Who contributes to the WFO database?
The database is produced by a collaborative group of 36 institutions worldwide, including major botanical gardens such as Kew and the Missouri Botanical Garden.
Can anyone access the data?
Yes, World Flora Online is an open-access database, meaning the information is available to the public and the scientific community without restriction.