The American Botanical Council (ABC) presented its inaugural ABC Steven Foster Botanical Conservation and Sustainability Award to the United Plant Savers, a nonprofit grassroots organization dedicated to plant conservation.
 
The award recognizes excellence in conservation, sustainability and regenerative farming efforts related to medicinal and aromatic plants, and was named in honor of the botanist, author, and photographer who died earlier this year.
 
Foster had more than 40 years of experience with sustainability and conservation in the world of herbs and medicinal plants.  He served on ABC’s board of trustees for more than two decades, was a key consultant and content contributor for ABC’s Sustainable Herbs Program (SHP), advocated for industry trade resolutions to protect threatened botanicals, and was a founding member of the UpS advisory board, in addition to serving on the organization’s board of directors for three years.
 
UpS’s Story
 
UpS was founded in 1994 with a mission to “protect native medicinal plants, fungi, and their habitats while ensuring renewable populations for use by generations to come,” according to the UpS website. The organization owns a 379-acre botanical and wildlife sanctuary in Rutland, Ohio, in the northern foothills of the Appalachian Mountains. The sanctuary is home to hundreds of plant species, many of which are native Appalachian plants, including a large population of goldenseal.
 
In 2019, during UpS’s 25^th anniversary, the organization opened its Center for Medicinal Plant Conservation. This facility at the entrance of the sanctuary is open to the public and dedicated to renowned ethnobotanist and ABC co-founder James “Jim” Duke and his wife, Peggy, a botanical artist. The building includes a classroom for organization’s educational programs, a commercial kitchen for use as a teaching apothecary, a library of books about medicinal plants, a museum, an herbarium cabinet, and more. The venue is meant to engage and educate the community and serve as a model to inspire other botanical sanctuaries that will help conserve medicinal plant diversity in their respective regions.
 
UpS’s sanctuary serves as a center of its botanical sanctuary network, in which UpS members designate private land to be used for the conservation of medicinal and other plants, across both the U.S. and Canada. The organization provides certain benefits for members of the network. The organization also runs a Medicinal Plant Conservation Certificate program, in which students learn about medicinal plant identification, sustainable harvesting, preparing these plants for use, and more.
 
UpS also publishes an annual journal, Journal of Medicinal Plant Conservation, and other content, such as its Species-at-Risk List which tracks native species considered to be threatened.
 
“It is such a special and fitting honor for UpS to be selected as the first recipient of the ABC Steven Foster Award,” Rosemary Gladstar, UpS founder, herbalist, and author, said. “I know Steven would be pleased […] Steven brought his many skills and talents, and also his wit and wonderful sense of humor to the board meetings. I remember thinking how much more fun and productive those long board meetings were when Steven was present.
 
“He not only contributed his time and expertise to the board meetings, but also taught at several UpS events and conferences. He was a contributing author of the UpS book Planting the Future: Saving Our Medicinal Herbs [Inner Traditions, 2000], wrote several articles for the Journal of Medicinal Plant Conservation, and contributed many of his beautiful plant photographs for UpS’ At-Risk and To-Watch lists. These are lasting gifts to UpS,” Gladstar continued. “His crowning contribution, however, was at UpS’ 25th Anniversary Celebration and grand opening of its Center for Medicinal Plant Conservation,” Gladstar continued. “Steven, who was a close friend of the Dukes, gave a stunning keynote presentation that highlighted the life and work of Jim and Peggy. It seems a fitting legacy that we are now honoring Steven Foster for his numerous contributions to herbalism, his long-term love affair with the plants, his work with UpS and other plant conservation organizations, and the many gifts he shared with the herbal community over the past several decades.”
 
“We are honored to be the recipient of the inaugural ABC Steven Foster Botanical Conservation and Sustainability Award,” Susan Leopold, PhD, executive director of UpS, said. “Steven leaves a legacy for us all to carry on, as we advocate for the beauty and wisdom medicinal herbs provide. Steven was incredibly supportive of UpS’ most recent project: the Duke Ethnobotanical Archives. Jim and Steven were both mentors to so many. The conservation and sustainability of medicinal herbs depend on the continued mentorship of the next generation. ABC’s Steven Foster Award will elevate the work of those who carry on his spirit of mentorship, research, and advocacy.”
 
“While there are many organizations, companies, and individuals that are doing excellent work in the areas of medicinal and aromatic plant conservation, sustainability development, and regenerative farming, in the United States and internationally, it was clear to all of us involved with the inaugural ABC Steven Foster award that Steven would have wanted us to recognize UpS for its laudable mission and vital work,” said Mark Blumenthal, ABC founder and executive director, and Foster’s close personal friend and colleague. “UpS is really deserving of this recognition and is the obvious organization to receive it.”