This study, which is aimed at the whole Apocynaceae family, will provide the baseline information needed in decision making on habitat conservation and natural resource management. The results may feed into the development of conservation strategies for targeted species in Important Plant areas, a project currently under conceptualisation together with International Botanical Gardens Conservation (IBGC). A complete and accurate alpha taxonomy of the genus will increase our awareness of what we need to conserve in this group. It is imperative that the taxonomic status of the species are determined to ensure that they are given the necessary priority for conservation action. An accurate, unambiguous taxonomy is essential for the working of conservation legislation of this group of plants. WIND will use this plant family as the prototype for all the other revisionary works to be done under the Flora of Namibia Project.

Work on the national Flora addresses various targets set out by the Global Strategy for Plant Conservation (GSPC), which relate to the ultimate objectives of the Convention on Biological Diversity. Taxonomic revisions will lay the basis for the long-term aim of developing a complete world Flora according to Target 1 of the GSPC. The results of this work will also contribute to the National Plant Red List programme, which is linked directly to Target 2. . In addition, the project will also contribute to the fulfilment of Targets 15 and 16 by building human capacity within the country through training and establishing networks at national, regional and international levels respectively.