Cor Kwant : author / design / website The Ginkgo Pages / blog / twitter / photos / videos. Education: English and Dutch at VU University Amsterdam. I am a retired high school teacher and live in Amsterdam, the Netherlands, Europe.

Why a website about the Ginkgo biloba tree: 
 

The Ginkgo is listed in the IUCN Red List of Endangered Plants. Although it is cultivated and planted by humans, it is endangered, and at risk for loss of biodiversity because of propagation by cuttings rather than by seed, due to human preference for male trees.

I thought it was strange that so little information was available about  the unique Ginkgo biloba tree, a living fossil, so I decided to create a non-commercial website about this tree: The Ginkgo Pages. 
Since I started my website in 1999  I have tried to gather information about all aspects of this tree. I visited trees in several countries, made photos and videos, discovered a lot of the Ginkgo not formerly known (such as the Ginkgo in art) and received reactions, information and photos from readers of my pages etc.  This stimulated me to go on and now (2015) after 16 years of  hard work I have created an extensive website about this fascinating tree, offering free information aimed at a broad public. 
So far (2015) about 7 million people have visited my website (English version), updates are regularly added. My site appears to be an inspiration for other people to make their own website or blog about the Ginkgo, plant Ginkgo trees, use it in designs, make photos etc. It is used as a source of information in education and by media.  This is my greatest reward!  Moreover I have received many awards and recognitions for my efforts (read below).
In addition to my website I maintain a forum-blog and twitter about the Ginkgo.

Specials thanks to:
- My husband for his enduring support and help.
- Eduardo Arancibia Diaz, Chile (Spanish translation, photos).
- Norbert Marxen, high school  biology teacher, Germany (German translation, photos).
- Dr. Jean-Luc Destombes, physicist, France (French translation).
- Dr. Peter del Tredici,  botanist and senior research scientist at the Arnold Arboretum of Harvard University, USA (providing information, photos and advice).
- Prof. Wolfgang Michel-Zaitsu, Faculty of Languages and Cultures of Kyushu University, Japan  (information about  Engelbert Kaempfer, pictures).
- Prof. Z. Zhou, Nanjing Institute of Geology and Palaeontology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Nanjing, China (providing information, advice and pictures).
- Dr. Wei Gong, Laboratory of Systematic Evolutionary Botany and Biodiversity, and State Conservation Center for Gene  Resources of Endangered Wildlife,    College of Life Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China (information, photos).
- Prof. Cindy Q. Tang, Professor of Plant Ecology, Institute of Ecology and Geobotany, Yunnan University, Kunming, China (information, photos and advice).
- Dr. David Scarboro, geologist, U.K. (fossil photos, information).
- Dr. Mandy Conti,  teacher environmental science, Japan (Hiroshima Ginkgos).
- Dr. Sando Tomoki, cell and molecular biologist, Japan (information, photos Japan).
- Prof. Dr. Aleksander Šiftar, University of Maribor, Faculty of Agriculture, Slovenia (information, photos).
- Prof. Fuliang (Sam) Cao, Nanjing Forestry University, China (photos)
- Dr. Thomas Phelan, former scientific staff member Smithsonian Institution, USA (bonsai information, photos).
- Dr. Karl Kreuzer, art historian, Germany (photos Art Nouveau/Jugendstil)
- Atsuko Kato, artist, Germany (paintings, photos). 
- Lewis S. Goodman, USA (information, photos petrified wood).
- Hiroshi Takahashi, photographer, Japan (photos).
- Hung Kuang-chi, graduate student Department of the History of Science, Harvard University, USA  (providing information).