The book, Rare Vascular Plants of Alberta has been an invaluable resource to educate and identify the approximately 450 rare plant species tracked in Alberta but it is now out of print. Approximately 150 new rare species have also been added to the list since the first publication.

For vegetation specialists and plant enthusiasts to be able to identify the rare vascular plants in Alberta, a second edition is required in order to have the information necessary to be able to confirm the occurrences of imperiled species and facilitate their conservation. 

The project is broken down into two phases. Phase 1 included the preparation of species accounts and updates, forming the new content. This was critical to the overall preparation of the 2nd edition. In Phase 2, with funding from Alberta Ecotrust, Nature Alberta will engage taxonomic experts to review by family group the species descriptions written by their volunteers. Review by family will increase quality and consistency of each species description. The success of Phase 2 will be indicated the number of species accounts that have been reviewed.