Botanical Monography in the Anthropocene.

Area of Science:

• Botany
• Biodiversity Conservation
• Systematic Biology

Background:

• Earth's biota face unprecedented changes, necessitating urgent description and conservation of plant diversity.
• Botanical monographs, comprehensive systematic treatments, have historically been vital for disseminating scientific information.
• A lack of monographs increases extinction risk for undiscovered species.

Purpose of the Study:

• To recommend best practices for urgently completing botanical monographs.
• To highlight the importance of monographs for understanding, sustainable use, and conservation of biodiversity.
• To focus on tropical plant groups under imminent threat or with socioeconomic benefits.

Main Methods:

• Reviewing the current state of botanical monograph completion.
• Identifying challenges and opportunities for accelerating monograph production.
• Leveraging advancements in Tree of Life estimations and digital information resources.

Main Results:

• Progress in phylogenetic and digital resources makes ambitious monographs achievable.
• Specific recommendations are provided for prioritizing monograph completion.
• The renewed relevance of monographs for biodiversity science is emphasized.

Conclusions:

• Urgent completion of botanical monographs is essential for biodiversity conservation.
• Monographs are critical tools for research, sustainable use, and conservation of plant diversity.
• Focusing on threatened tropical groups will yield significant conservation and socioeconomic benefits.