Conserving Oaks, Orchids, and Fan Palms | December Coffee Chat 2025

Modern day plant record management is not just about record keeping,

 it is about empowering everystaff member to protect, manage, and celebrate our living collections. 

- Shari Buckhout, Plant Registrar, San Diego Zoo

In the final Coffee Chat of 2025, San Diego Zoo and Wildlife Alliance's Shari Buckhout shares how she uses IrisBG to support their conservation work with Oaks, Orchids, and Pritchardia — plus an exciting reveal of a newly identified Chamaedorea species found in their collection.

See how the plant records at the San Diego Zoo and Wildlife Alliance‬ (SDZWA) connect the Safari Park, the Native Seed Bank, and the San Diego Zoo, and hear how long-term efforts in data cleanup, digitization, and evolving workflows have strengthened their conservation program over time. 

Thanks to all of you who joined us! The Coffee Chat attendees were a good mix of users with 45% intermediate users, 36% of users identifying as novice, 9% advanced users, and 9% trying out the trial of the software.

The map below shows the gardens and arboreta represented by those who registered for the Coffee Chat - home offices not taken into consideration.  

"With IrisBG SDZWA has the tools to drive conservation, streamline operations, and collaborate globally. Every record, every protocol, and every partnership stregthens our mission and legacy." - Shari Buckhout.

Q & A

Q: How do you manage the many researchers that are working with conservation data?

A: For the seedbank we import data from a separate system to keep the records together. We do have monthly meetings to collaborate on the projects that are going on.

Q: I am curious about the plants that animals might eat or use at the zoo, are they are part of the plant records database?

A: We do provide browse material for our animals but due to the quanitity and types of materials needed the plants do not hold conservation so we do not track them. 

Q: How do you validate the taxonomy in your database?

A: We use Kew's taxonomy and love the "i" button in IrisBG that directly links to that information. We also fill out the information on life forms and habitats. This information is on our signage.

Q: How do you prioritize plant inventory schedules?

A: As a part of our procedures we endeavor to update our information every 5 years; for each of the collections that we have accredited as well as wall to wall inventories of our greenhouse facilities. The other accessions are  inventoried as projects come up. Our horticulturists are trained in doing this as are some of our dedicated volunteers. It is ongoing and neverending?