The International Organization for Succulent Plant Study (IOS) describes itself as a "non-governmental organization promoting the study and conservation of succulent and allied plants and encouraging collaboration among scientists and curators of significant living collections of such plants, professional or amateur." In 1984, it was decided that the Cactaceae Section of the IOS should set up a working party, now called the International Cactaceae Systematics Group (ICSG), to produce consensus classifications of cacti down to the level of genera. Their system has been used as the basis of subsequent classifications. The IOS focuses on global research and conservation of the succulent plant families (Agavaceae, Aloaceae, Cactaceae, Crassulaceae, Portulacaceae, Talinaceae). It later became the first plant conservation organization with a strict code of conduct for all members to follow, detailing principles to conduct field research, specimen collection, maintenance and management of field collected materials.
Organization Structure The IOS is run by a board of 6 executive members, these positions are elected by organization members for 2 year long terms. Executive positions include a President, a Vice-President, a Secretary, a Treasurer, an Assistant Secretary and an Archivist.
Cactus D'Or Award An accolade created by Princess Grace of Monaco in 1978, awarded by the Princess Grace to an outstanding member of the IOS that has greatly contributed to the field of succulent plant study. This award has been granted 17 times since its conception.
Award recipients 1978: Werner Rauh, Germany 1980: Helia Bravo Hollis, Mexico 1982: Gordon Rowley, Great Britain 1984: Lyman David Benson, USA 1988: Leslie Charly (Larry) Leach, Great Britain 1990: Walther Haage, Germany 1992: George Edmund Lindsay, USA 1994: Hans-Dieter Ihlenfeldt, Germany 1996: Susan Carter Holmes, Great Britain 1998: Edward Frederick Anderson, USA 2000: Dietrich (Dieter) J. Supthut, Switzerland 2002: Wilhelm Barthlott, Germany 2004: Gideon F. Smith, South Africa 2006: David Hunt, Great Britain 2008: Len E. Newton, Great Britain 2010: Myron W. Kimnach, USA 2012: Heidrun Hartmann, Germany
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