Introduction

The U.S. - Russia Botanical Exchange Program began with the 1972 bilateral agreement signed by the U.S. and U.S.S.R. This landmark document created a new level of scientific cooperation for the two nations, as well as a forum for addressing mutual environmental protection concerns. From its inception both countries agreed that the purpose of the Botanical Exchange Program should be:

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

Through the last 30 years, the program has facilitated more than 45 exchange trips between the U.S. and Russia. The resulting transfer of books, information, plant material, and photographic images has aided in the improvement of conservation efforts employed by both countries.

On September 20, 2005, leaders and scientific experts 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 Exchange Program for the future.

In the earlier years of the exchange program a field expedition to the northern part of the Russian Far East, north of Magadan, yielded this lunch time photo of Igor Koropachinsky, Ivan Krasnaborov from the Central Siberian Botanical Garden, Novosibirsk, and several people from the Institute of Biological Studies of the North in Magadan including Alexander Galinin and Anna Belikovich. Photo by Tom Elias