
Taxonomy & Macroecology
Covering a broad range of disciplines spanning taxonomic research, biome characterisation and applied ecology, we characterise species and habitats, supporting the conservation and sustainable utilisation of the planet’s natural resources.
Our research
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African Forest Trees
- Building on 20 years of research in Central Africa, our work on forest tree taxonomy and ecology supports sustainable forest management.
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Southeast Asia
- We study Southeast Asia’s rich but threatened flora to deliver vital taxonomic data and support species and habitat conservation.
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Cryptogams
- Our research on cryptogamic plants and fungi, supports genomics, biodiversity monitoring, conservation, policy, and public engagement.
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South Asia
- Working with international partners, we build floristic knowledge to guide conservation and support sustainable use of natural resources in South Asia.
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Global Biomes
- We research the distribution, ecology, and dynamics of global biomes to support conservation, restoration, and sustainable land management in the face of climate change.
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Economic Plants
- Our taxonomic research on crop wild relatives and key plant species supports breeding, sustainable resource use, forest monitoring, conservation, and restoration.
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World Flora Online
- RBGE helps lead World Flora Online—a global, open-access database of plant species—advancing its classification and infrastructure.
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Data Systems
- We develop data protocols and digital tools that enhance RBGE’s biodiversity research and its contribution to solving global environmental issues.
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Professional Journals
- We publish two peer-reviewed, diamond open-access journals: Edinburgh Journal of Botany and Sibbaldia, an international journal of botanic garden horticulture.