This project aims to help with the preparation of three of the projected five volumes of the New Flora of Chile and a database of Chilean plants. This is a cooperative project among the University of Concepcion, Chile, the Missouri Botanical Garden, The Ohio State University, the University of Reading, England, and the University of Munich. More the 50 international specialists in various plant groups are already participating in this project. The finished work will be the first complete modern Flora for any country in South America, and will stimulate both basic and applied research in Chile and other parts of South America, as well as serving as an important reference for ongoing work in other countries. This Flora will also allow informed management of Chile's natural resources, and with the database will serve as test model for preparation of other country-wide Floras. About 49% of the native flora of Chile is endemic to that country, a high proportion more typical of oceanic islands than continental areas. This highly unusual native flora is not will known, but at the same time is under severe pressure from habitat destruction in response to economic pressures, particularly export logging and agriculture. Study and management of the cooperation is necessary to allow Chile to complete an inventory of its flora in the time available.
