Design of an Endemic and Native Plant Collection Garden Based on the Integration of Conservation, Propagation, and Exhibition Functions: The Case of Erzincan Horticultural Research Institute

Global biodiversity loss requires integrated ecological conservation and sustainable management approaches. Endemic taxa with restricted distributions and specialized ecological requirements are particularly vulnerable, necessitating both in situ and ex situ conservation strategies. This study presents the design of a native and endemic plant collection garden proposed for the Erzincan Horticultural Research Institute campus, developed through a conservation–propagation–exhibition integration model within a systematic spatial planning framework. The research followed a multi-stage methodology: (i) establishing a literature-based conceptual framework, (ii) conducting ecological analyses of climate, topography, and soil, (iii) applying multi-criteria species selection, and (iv) implementing computer-aided spatial design. Inventory results identified 48 plant taxa, including 19 endemic to Türkiye, with a dominance of geophytes, particularly species from the genus Fritillaria. The garden was structured through functional zoning, incorporating conservation, propagation, exhibition, education, and controlled sales units, aligned with ecological suitability and institutional sustainability. The findings indicate that such collection gardens serve not only as ex situ conservation sites but also as research infrastructures, genetic resource management platforms, and multifunctional landscapes that contribute to biodiversity conservation and regional development.