Policy & Guidelines

Ethical Collecting: 

TXPCA members will follow CPC guidelines when removing material from wild plant populations. The TXPCA aims to provide workshops and trainings for those who are unfamiliar with CPC best practices. Members are also encouraged to utilize educational videos available on the CPC website. Collections will be made with the intention of supporting species survival in the wild and preserving genetic diversity of native Texas plants. For plants of greatest conservation need, standards limit seed collecting to no more than 10% of a seed crop in any year and only collecting 5 out of 10 years (or once every 10 years for low-seed-yield species, ephemeral species, or otherwise highly sensitive taxa).  If seed production is low, collections will be made over a series of years to ensure minimal impact on the original populations. Our collections will not jeopardize the health of wild populations; however, exceptions will be made for populations under extreme threat. If the population is at risk of complete destruction due to development, TXPCA will justify collecting up to 100% within the boundaries of construction. If there are other factors contributing to the risk of total habitat destruction, collection percentages will be adjusted on a case-by-case basis. These exceptions are contingent upon verification that populations have zero chance of survival in their current habitat. Collections will be made with the intention of reintroducing collected material within the same region, or for a protected ex-situ display.

Permits and Permissions:

TXPCA members will obtain the necessary documentation required for collecting, monitoring, introducing, and rescuing plant species. Members will obey all state and federal law/regulations while working with rare and endangered plant species. TXPCA members will obtain appropriate permissions for accessing and collecting populations including permits and permissions from landowners. 

Records:

Proper record keeping is essential for both in-situ and ex-situ conservation work. Accurate records track progress and inform partners of gaps in work to aid in priortization of future work. Recordkeeping also ensures legal and scientific accuracy of our work. Information on experimental germination protocols, actions taken in the field to ensure the health of the collection, or any treatments performed on plant material before reintroduction to the wild is not considered sensitive and is encouraged to be shared within the TXPCA. Members will be expected to maintain accurate records of provenance for all collections, but these data are considered sensitive, and members will not be expected to share unless proven appropriate based on the guidelines listed in the confidentiality section. Records will not be monitored or maintained by the TXPCA, and each individual or institution involved in the TXPCA will be responsible for housing their own records. 

Confidentiality: 

All TXPCA members agree to maintain confidentiality regarding all site location and project specifics to minimize the potential of jeopardizing sensitive habitats. Organizations leading projects for TXPCA hold the right to share or withhold information based on agreements with landowners or site managers and will ensure collaborators obtain appropriate permissions before sharing sensitive data. It is a priority of TXPCA to protect landowners' privacy and maintain their support of our work. TXPCA members are expected to appropriately obscure location data related to voucher specimens and iNaturalist posts. Members will protect the privacy of landowners, unless given permission to publicize names, coordinates, or any other relevant data. Members must provide justification if requesting information, and all parties must obtain approvals from the appropriate sources before sharing sensitive information.