FLORON, also known as Plant Conservation Netherlands, is a renowned organization in the Netherlands that coordinates the research and monitoring of wild plants. With a rich history dating back to 1988, FLORON leads the way in monitoring flora through the participation of dedicated volunteers. Each year, a significant area of approximately 800-1000 km2, equivalent to 1/30th of the country, is meticulously surveyed as part of a long-standing citizen science project that began over a century ago.

FLORON's key focus is on identifying and mapping plant species distribution across the country, and this invaluable data is stored in the National Database Flora and Fauna (NDFF). FLORON actively encourages participation from volunteers and professionals, enabling them to contribute observations and measurements to the NDFF. The organization ensures the data is accurate and validated by a team of 50 dedicated volunteers.

Moreover, FLORON's established network entails collaborations with government initiatives such as the Network Ecological Monitoring (NEM), further bolstering their efforts in documenting flora trends and conserving endangered species. The enthusiastic involvement of about 250 regular and 1500 occasional volunteers, coupled with FLORON's technical support, ensures the success of their various projects. Thanks to automation, FLORON has streamlined the workflows for data collection, validation, and map production since 2011, utilizing tools like the NDFF Atlas, the VERA Android app, and the NDFF validation portal.

These advancements facilitate seamless collaboration between volunteers and professionals and enhance the overall efficiency of the organization. FLORON's impact extends beyond the borders of the Netherlands through partnerships with international organizations like NLBIF and participation in the European Plant Conservation Strategy and Global Strategy for Plant Conservation. Additionally, FLORON actively contributes to the evaluation and review of plant conservation strategies at both national and global levels.

In their commitment to species conservation, FLORON identifies and safeguards areas inhabited by endangered plants. The organization provides valuable guidance to site owners for their protection, and in some cases, actively intervenes to save threatened populations through techniques such as hand pollination and ex situ propagation. This hands-on approach ensures cost-effective conservation and meaningful long-term preservation efforts.

With a diverse range of partners that includes government bodies, research institutions, and biodiversity centers, FLORON fosters valuable collaborations in the field of flora conservation. Furthermore, FLORON's involvement with NLBIF and hosting an IPT-server for sharing historical observations demonstrates their dedication to global knowledge sharing and plant conservation. FLORON's extensive work contributes to the evaluation of flora trends, the production of national reports, and the regular updates of the national Red List.

They also provide vital information regarding indicator species for the esteemed Living Planet Report series by WWF Netherlands. If you are passionate about plant conservation, FLORON welcomes your contribution. Whether it is through volunteering, participating in citizen science projects, or engaging with FLORON's informative newsletters and social media platforms, there are numerous ways to get involved in their valuable work.

Contact FLORON to join their efforts in protecting and researching the diverse flora of the Netherlands