Whither rare relict trees in a climate of rapid change?

The conservation challenges presented by Zelkova spp. have attracted the attention of researchers, conservation practitioners and horticulturalists in a joint endeavour to secure the remaining genetic diversity in the genus. Inspired by this shared concern, since 2010, a highly interdisciplinary and international research group represented by partners from Europe, the Caucasus and East Asia have been participating in the development and implementation of an integrated conservation action plan for Zelkova spp. The isolated occurrence and rarity of Z. sicula and Z. abelicea provide an ideal context to practise integrated conservation action and serve as models for safeguarding other threatened species.