BGjournal - PlantNetwork response to Target 8 of the GSPC South Africa's National Botanical Gardens The Global Trees Campaign - Botanic Gardens ...
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BGjournal
Journal of Botanic Gardens Conservation International
Volume 2 • Number 2 • July 2005
PlantNetwork response to
Target 8 of the GSPC
South Africa’s National
Botanical Gardens
The Global Trees CampaignForthcoming
Meetings
July 18 - 23, 2005 October 23 - 25, 2005 November 12 - 14, 2005
VIENNA, AUSTRIA GLASNEVIN, IRELAND CIENFUEGOS, CUBA
XVII International Botanical Congress (IBC 2005) A Global Partnership for Plant Conservation – The Botanical Gardens in the conservation of the
supporting national implementation of the GSPC vegetable biological diversity
The International Botanical Congress is held every
six years and provides a forum for the presentation The Global Partnership for Plant Conservation is This scientific event is being held at the Cienfuegos
and discussion of the latest advances in plant organising an international conference to promote Botanical Garden, Cuba. It will include sessions on
sciences worldwide. It follows the IBCXVI which and support national implementation of the CBD plant conservation in botanical gardens, herbaria
was held in St Louis, Missouri, USA. in August, Global Strategy for Plant Conservation. The development, floristic taxonomy, phytogeography,
1999, which passed a resolution on the need for meeting will be hosted by the National Botanic the history of botany in Cuba, ecosystem and
the Global Strategy for Plant Conservation (GSPC). Gardens of Ireland, Glasnevin, Dublin and further protected areas management, environmental
details can be found on www.plants2010.org education and community work in botanical
For further information contact Prof. Dr Marianne gardens, the development of horticulture in botanical
Popp, Institute of Botany, University of Vienna, gardens, sustainable forest management, public
Rennweg 14, A-1030 Vienna, Austria. October 29 – November 1, 2005 ornament and landscape and tourism and nature.
Tel: +43-1-4277-54123, Fax: +43-1-4277-9541, HOBART, AUSTRALIA
E-mail: Marianne.Popp@univie.ac.at or botanik@ For further information contact Dr Lázaro J. Ojeda
univie.ac.at, Internet: http://www.ibc2005.ac.at/ BGANZ Congress 2005 Quintana or Lic. Félix Pazos Sánchez,
Jardín Botánico de Cienfuegos, Calle Central Nro.
The 2005 BGANZ (Botanic Gardens of Australia 136, Pepito Tey, Cienfuegos, Cuba, CP: 59290.
August 12 – 14, 2005 and New Zealand) Congress is being hosted by the Tel: +53 (43) 45334, 45326,
CHRISTCHURCH, NEW ZEALAND Royal Tasmanian Botanical Gardens. Hobart. The E-mail: lazaro@jbc.perla.inf.cu,
Congress will explore the following theme: impacts E-mail: felix@jbc.perla.inf.cu.
New Zealand Plant Conservation Network (NZPCN) and influence - the environmental potency of
Conference 2005 botanic gardens and will include four streams:
Restoring our threatened plant life – empowering environmental sustainability for botanic gardens, November 28 – 2, December 2, 2005
our community weeds and urban ecology, collections into the LIMBE, CAMEROON
future and environmental education. Visit
The NZPCN Conference will include a series of http://www.anbg.gov.au/chabg/ to read the online Plants and People for Sustainable Development in
plant conservation workshops on subjects such as: Newsletter for the Botanic Gardens of Australia and Africa
threatened plant propagation, cultural use of native New Zealand prepared by the Council of Heads of
plants and fungi, how to implement the Global Australian Botanic Gardens (CHABG). Following on from the successful 1st African
Strategy for Plant Conservation by 2010, enhancing Botanic Gardens Congress in Durban 2002, which
plant diversity in the urban environment, developing To register online or for more information please saw the launch of the African Botanic Gardens
a national ex situ strategy for threatened plants and visit: Internet: www.cdesign.com.au/bganz2005, Network, the 2nd African Botanic Gardens
introduction to threatened and common fungi. Tel: +61 (03) 6224 3773, Congress will be held in Limbe Botanic Garden,
For information visit the website at http://www.nzpcn. Fax: +61 (03) 6224 3774, Cameroon. The Congress will look at the role of
org.nz/news_events/conference.asp. E-mail: mail@cdesign.com.au. botanic gardens in linking people and plants with
sustainable development in Africa. For further
details of the Congress, please visit
August 22 – 26, 2005 October 30 - November, 5, 2005 www.bgci.org/africa or contact Limbe Botanic
PETROZAVODSK, RUSSIA SAN IGNACIO, BELIZE Garden, P.O. Box 437, Limbe, Cameroon.
Tel: +237 333 2620, Fax: +237 333 2834,
Botanic Gardens in Life of the people 2nd Conference of Caribbean Botanic Gardens for E-mail: lbzg@bifunde.com.
Conservation
This meeting is being organised by the Karelian Caribbean Botanic Gardens: serving a diversity of
Government in the the Petrozavodsk Botanic global, national and local communities June 19 - 25, 2006
Garden in cooperation with BGCI and the Council SANTO DOMINGO, DOMINICAN REPUBLIC
of Botanic Gardens of Russia. For further This conference is being organised by the
information contact Alexei Prokorov, Director, Caribbean Botanic Gardens for Conservation IX Congress of the Latin American Botanical
Botanic Garden of Petrozavodsk University, Lenina (CBGC) Network & Belize Botanic Gardens in Society (IX Congreso Latinoamericano de Botánica)
Av., 33 Petrozavodsk, 185910 Karelia, Russia. collaboration with the Association of Latin Contribuyendo al conocimiento global de la flora
Tel: +7 8 142 784948, Fax: +7 8142 711000, American and Caribbean Botanic Gardens (ALCJB) nativa latinoamericana (Contributing to the global
E-mail: a;pro@onego.ru. hortus@psu.karelia.ru, and Botanic Gardens Conservation International knowledge of the native flora of Latin America)
Internet: http://hortus.karelia.ru/ (BGCI). Further information can be obtained from
the website: http://www.bgci.org/caribbean. The objectives of this Congress are to spread
information about the flora of Latin America and
September 26 - October 1, 2005 bring together the botanical community to develop
ADELAIDE, AUSTRALIA November 9 – 12, 2005 plans for the conservation and sustainable use of
OAXACA, MEXICO its flora.
National Conference of the Australian Network for
Plant Conservation (ANPC) First DIVERSITAS Open Science Conference (OSC) For further information, please contact Sonia
Plant Conservation; the Challenges of Change on Biodiversity Lagos-Witte, President Asociación Latinoamericano
Integrating biodiversity science for human well- de Botánica - ALB and Coordinator, IX Congreso
The ANPC and the South Australian Department of being Latinoamericano de Botánica, Jardín Botánico
Environment and Heritage are organising this Nacional, Apartado Postal 21-9, Santo Domingo,
conference for discussions on the challenges that This conference, DIVERSITAS: OSC1 offers an Dominican Republic. Tel: +1 809 385 2611/2612,
currently face everyone in plant conservation, such opportunity to explore recent advances and probe Fax: +1 809 385 0446,
as the challenges of changing climates, changing pressing issues across the breadth of biodiversity E-mail: tramilca@codetel.net.do,
environmental conditions, changes in government science. For general enquiries about DIVERSITAS: Internet: http://www.botanica-alb.org
and policy focus, or confronting scientific OSC1, please contact the DIVERSITAS Secretariat,
information. The Conference will be held at the DIVERSITAS, 51, bd Montmorency, 75016 Paris,
National Wine Centre, in the environs of the France. Tel: +33 1 45 25 95 25,
Adelaide Botanic Gardens. For further information Fax: +33 1 42 88 94 31,
visit http://www.plevin.com.au/anpc2005/index.htm E-mail: info@diversitas-osc1.org,
Internet: http://www.diversitas-osc1.org/Contents
Editor: Etelka Leadlay
02 Editorial
Co-editors: Suzanne Sharrock and Chris Hobson
03 The BGCI contribution to the implementation of the Global
Cover Photo: Flowering tree in Parque Internacional
La Amistad, Costa Rica (Photo: Juan Pablo Moreiras/FFI)
Strategy for Plant Conservation
(see article on the Global Trees Campaign)
Design: John Morgan, Seascape
E-mail: studio@seascapedesign.fsnet.co.uk
08 Developing a PlantNetwork response to Target 8 of the
Global Strategy for Plant Conservation
Submissions for the next issue should reach the editor
before 20th October, 2005. We would be very grateful
for text on diskette or via e-mail, as well as a hard copy.
Please send photographs as original slides or prints
09 National Botanical Gardens: embassies of South Africa’s
unless scanned to a very high resolution (300 biodiversity and culture
pixels/inch and 100mm in width); digital images need to
be of a high resolution for printing. If you would like
further information, please request Notes for authors. 13 A global initiative to conserve crop wild relatives in situ
BGjournal is published by Botanic Gardens Conservation
International (BGCI). It is published twice a year and is
sent to all BGCI members. Membership is open to all
interested individuals, institutions and organisations that
16 Conservation collections at Meadowlark Botanical Gardens,
support the aims of BGCI (see page 32 for Membership USA: supporting the International Agenda through education
application form) and conservation
Further details available from:
• Botanic Gardens Conservation International, Descanso
House, 199 Kew Road, Richmond, Surrey TW9 3BW
UK. Tel: +44 (0)20 8332 5953, Fax: +44 (0)20 8332 5956
18 REDBAG: the Spanish Network of genebanks for wild plants
E-mail: info@bgci.org, www.bgci.org
• BGCI-Russia, c/o Main Botanical Gardens,
Botanicheskaya st., 4, Moscow 127276, Russia. 21 Saving trees around the world: the Global Trees Campaign
Tel: +7 (095) 219 6160 / 5377, Fax: +7 (095) 218 0525,
E-mail: seed@aha.ru, www.bgci.ru
• BGCI (U.S.) Inc., c/o Dan Shepherd, Director,
1000 Washington Avenue, Brooklyn, New York
24 The ex situ conservation of Tsoongiodendron odorum Chun
11225-1099, U.S.A. Tel: +1 718 623 7200, in Nanyue Arboretum, Hunan Province, China
Fax: +1 718 857 2430, E-mail: dan.shepherd@bgci.org
www.bgci.org/us
• BGCI-Netherlands, c/o Utrecht University Botanic
Gardens, P.O. Box 80162, NL-3508 TD, Netherlands.
26 The Arboretum at The Barnes Foundation USA: an exquisite
Tel: +31 30 253 2876, Fax: +31 30 253 5177, piece of nature and a professional training center for
E-mail: l.j.w.vandenwollenberg@bio.uu.nl,
www.bi.uu.nl/botgard horticulturists
• BGCI-Canarias, c/o Jardín Botánico Canario Viera y
Clavijo, Apartado de Correos 14, Tafira Alta 35017,
Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Gran Canaria, Spain.
Tel: +34 928 21 95 80/82/83, Fax: +34 928 21 95 81,
28 Short Communications
E-mail: jmlopez@grancanaria.es
• BGCI – China and South East Asia, c/o Registry,
Singapore Botanic Gardens, 1 Cluny Road, Singapore
30 Book Notices
259569. E-mail: Bian.Tan @bgci.org,
Anle.Tieu@bgci.org, www.bgci.org/china
• BGCI-Colombia , c/o Jardín Botánico de Bogotá,
Jose Celestino Mutis, Av. No. 61-13 – A.A. 59887,
32 How to join Botanic Gardens Conservation International
Santa Fe de Bogotá, D.C., Colombia. Tel: +57 630 0949,
Fax: +57 630 5075, E-mail: jardin@gaitana.interred.net.co, Publications List and Order Form
www.humboldt.org.co/jardinesdecolombia/
html/la_red.htm
• BGCI-Deutschland, c/o Botanischer Gärten der
Universität Bonn, Meckenheimer Allee 171, 53115 Bonn,
Germany. Tel: +49 2 2873 9055, Fax: +49 2 28731690,
E-mail: biogart@uni-bonn.de
BGCI is a worldwide membership organization established
in 1987. Its mission is to build a global network for plant
conservation. BGCI is an independent organization
registered in the United Kingdom as a charity (Charity Reg
No 1098834) and a company limited by guarantee, No
4673175. BGCI is a tax-exempt (501(c)(3) non-profit
13 21
organization in the USA and in Russia.
Opinions expressed in this publication do not necessarily
reflect the views of the Boards or staff of BGCI or of its
members
BGjournal replaces BGCNews and is published twice a
year. BGjournal has been given a new name as the news
section of BGCNews and Roots (Botanic Gardens
Conservation International Education Review) is now
contained in Cuttings which is published quarterly.
There are 31 issues of BGCNews published twice yearly
from 1987-2003.
09
BGjournal • Vol 2 (2) 01Editorial
The CBD Global Strategy for Plant topics covered by the articles in this
Conservation (GSPC) provides a issue. The major importance of botanic
unique opportunity to address the huge gardens in conserving plants in areas
problems of plant extinction around the of high biodiversity and threat is
world. With its broad political highlighted in the articles on South
acceptance, clear and ambitious Africa and Spain. The National Botanic
targets, strong support from key Gardens of South Africa, for example, year survey that I led at UNEP World
organisations and opportunities for already hold 17 per cent of the Conservation Monitoring Centre on the
involvement at all levels, the Strategy is country’s threatened plant species. global conservation status of trees.
well-placed for success. BGCI and its Their target, in line with Target 8 of the Undertaken in partnership with the
Botanic Garden members are playing a GSPC, is to ensure that 90 percent of IUCN Species Survival Commission
crucial role in promoting, supporting Critically Endangered species are and based on information from over
and implementing the Strategy and this included in collections within the next 300 botanists and foresters, for the first
is one of the reasons I am delighted to five years. The National Botanic time the survey revealed that at least
join BGCI as Secretary General. Gardens are working with the 10 percent of the world’s tree species
Millennium Seed Bank at the Royal were threatened with extinction.
The GSPC complements and Botanic Gardens, Kew, UK to reach
reinforces the International Agenda for this target. The Gardens are also I hope that the successful collaboration
Botanic Gardens in Conservation. This directly contributing to in situ plant between Botanic Gardens and
issue of BGjournal focuses on the conservation within natural areas of Arboreta and the Global Trees
ways that BGCI and its members are their grounds and are working closely Campaign will continue to grow and
taking action to implement the with the Botanical Society of South that similar conservation alliances will
International Agenda and support the Africa to support plant conservation in be formed for other groups of plants.
targets of the GSPC. We can only the wild. The value of the Global Partnership for
highlight a selection of the many Plant Conservation, supported by
examples of innovative and imaginative Through networking and partnerships BGCI, will be to encourage and foster
conservation approaches currently at all levels, Botanic Gardens are in a such conservation partnerships.
underway but hope that these will strong position to ensure the long-term
interest and inspire you! I am deeply conservation of plant species and to The challenge set by the GSPC
impressed by the level of commitment contribute to sustainable development. remains huge but everyone can be
to plant conservation shown by the The article on the Global Trees involved in making the Strategy a
botanic gardens and arboreta that I Campaign highlights some of the ways success. Every conservation action
have visited and worked with over the that Botanic Gardens and Arboreta are large or small is a worthwhile
years – as a network we will continue working with Fauna & Flora contribution. I greatly look forward to
to share and expand our successful International (FFI) to secure the working with all members of BGCI to
conservation experiences. conservation of trees around the world. facilitate, promote, and implement the
When I joined FFI in 1998 one of my Strategy and our Agenda for
In situ and ex situ plant conservation, main tasks was to develop and direct conserving Plants for the Planet.
promoting the cultural values of plants, the Global Trees Campaign. This was
networking, training, education and established in response to the Sara Oldfield
capacity building are some of the publication of the results of a three 18th May, 2005
02 BGjournal • Vol 2 (2)Authors: Etelka Leadlay,
Suzanne Sharrock, Stella Simiyu
The BGCI contribution to the
implementation of the Global Strategy
for Plant Conservation
The Global Strategy for Plant implementation of the GSPC has been continue to contribute to the
Conservation (GSPC) was adopted at generously provided by HSBC, through implementation of the Strategy.
the sixth Conference of the Parties the Investing in Nature partnership. The meeting also invited other
(COP6) to the Convention on Biological Investing in Nature is a US$50 million, organisations to join the Partnership,
Diversity (CBD) held at The Hague, The five year environmental partnership and encouraged BGCI to continue its
Netherlands in April, 2002 in Decision funded by HSBC, working with BGCI, support for the partnership.
VI/9 (CBD, 2003). Earthwatch and WWF. For more
information, visit www.hsbc.com/ The GPPC was launched at a side
The history of Botanic Garden investinginnature. event organised by BGCI on 13th
Conservation International’s (BGCI) February, 2004 at the COP7. The aim
contribution to the development of the Similarly, BGCI collaborated with the of the Partnership, as elaborated in a
GSPC until its adoption by COP6 has CBD Secretariat to convene two Expert statement released at the launch is:
been reviewed by Peter Wyse Jackson Group meetings. The first (Liaison ‘To provide a framework to facilitate
(2002). This paper describes BGCI’s group meeting) was held at the Jardín harmony between existing initiatives
continued contribution to developing, Botánico “Guillermo Pineres”, aimed at plant conservation, identify
promoting and implementing the Cartagena, Colombia, in October 2002 gaps where new initiatives are required,
Strategy at global and national levels and the second meeting (Expert and promote mobilization of the
and its support for such work in meeting) was held in Co. Kerry, Ireland necessary resources’.
botanic gardens and related in October 2003. The meetings were
institutions. held to review the development of sub- In response to CBD Decision VII/10,
targets, milestones and indicators for BGCI agreed to continue to support
Global each of the 16 targets included in the the Partnership over the coming
GSPC, and elaborate baseline data period, by providing the Secretariat
In February 2003, a Memorandum of available and necessary for monitoring. and its Interim Chairman (Peter Wyse
Understanding (MOU) was signed Jackson, former Secretary General,
between the Secretariat to the One of the key recommendations from BGCI) in close cooperation with the
Convention on Biological Diversity these meetings was the establishment GSPC Programme Officer.
(SCBD) and BGCI, thus formalising of the Global Partnership for Plant
BGCI’s contribution to the Conservation (GPPC), open to all An initial ad hoc meeting of
implementation of the Strategy. organisations which would contribute representatives of Partnership member
The aim of the MOU is to promote the to the implementation of the Strategy. organisations was convened by BGCI
further development, implementation in May, 2004, at the Royal Botanic
and monitoring of the GSPC. The Global Partnership for Plant Gardens, Kew, UK. The purpose was
Conservation to review the ways and means of
In the spirit of the MOU, BGCI supporting the national implementation
seconded a member of staff, Ms Stella The 7th meeting of the Conference of of the GSPC by the Partnership, and
Simiyu, based in Nairobi, to the CBD the Parties (COP7) to the CBD review existing and suggesting new
Secretariat to act as GSPC Programme welcomed the establishment of the global level enabling activities.
Officer with effect from 1st August, Global Partnership for Plant Recommendations were made for
2003. Financial support for this Conservation (GPPC) and encouraged potential initiatives. A follow up
position and BGCI’s involvement in the the participating organisations to meeting, again convened by the
BGCI • 2005 • BGjournal • Vol 2 (2) • 03-07 03Partnership Secretariat, BGCI, was e-mail to the gardens concerned and The meeting recommended a separate
recently hosted by FAO (Food and the gardens receiving the message can consultation and BGCI volunteered to
Agriculture Organization of the United decide whether or not to respond. carry out this process as this target
Nations) in Rome. The meeting This means that gardens can add their was closely linked to its own mission
discussed among other matters, the plant collection details to the database at a global level. BGCI was invited to
organisation of an international in the knowledge that they will not be help facilitate a stakeholder
conference on the GSPC due to be putting confidential information about consultation, involving expertise in
held in October, 2005 in Dublin, Ireland the location of rare plants in the public communication, education and public
under the auspices of the Partnership. domain. awareness in relation to plant
conservation.
Plans for the Partnership are being BGCI is adapting their 1992 BGCI
developed and will be available on the Propagation database for PlantNetwork A consultation document on Target 14
Global Partnership for Plant (The Plant Collections Network of of the GSPC was produced and
Conservation website Britain and Ireland) for endangered distributed in January, 2004 to a wide
(www.plants2010.org) which is British and Irish plants (Jebb, 2004). number of organisations including
maintained by BGCI. The Cultivation and Propagation BGCI members, the American
Database Project being developed by Association of Botanical Gardens and
Ex situ conservation Target 8 PlantNetwork will be linked to the Plant Arboreta (AABGA), Plantlife
Search Database; this database will International, IUCN Commission on
Target 8 of the GSPC is: 60 per cent of help to promote the link to in situ Education and Communication, United
threatened plant species in accessible conservation and monitor the Nations Environment Programme
ex situ collections, preferably in the achievement of the second part of (UNEP), WWF, Earthwatch, CBD
country of origin, and 10 per cent of Target 8: 10 per cent of them Secretariat and the U.K Department for
them included in recovery and [threatened plant species] included in Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
restoration programmes. recovery and restoration programmes. (Defra).
There is also a reintroduction database
BGCI, together with the International module under development. In March, 2004, BGCI staff participated
Plant Genetic Resources Institute in a meeting organised by the Botanic
(IPGRI) were requested by the CBD Ex situ conservation Gardens Education Network (BGEN) in
Secretariat to facilitate stakeholder BGCI is supporting many in country ex London, UK to respond to the
consultations to review the scope, situ projects which contribute to the consultation paper. In April, 2004,
terminology, base-line information, achievement of Target 8 in Africa, BGCI held a workshop on Target 14
technical and scientific rationale of Argentina, Brazil, Indonesia, India, at the 2nd World Botanic Gardens
Target 8 (Anon, 2003). Further, BGCI China, Mexico and Russia through the Congress in Barcelona, Spain.
and IPGRI organised a stakeholder HSBC Investing in Nature Programme Comments from the workshop have
consultation meeting on Target 8 in (see examples in the box: BGCI been useful in developing the next
July, 2003 at the National Botanic supporting local initiatives to stages of the consultation process.
Garden, Brussels, Belgium (Wyse implement the GSPC).
Jackson et al., 2003). BGCI education staff have held
Education and public awareness workshops and given many
Plant Search Database Target 14 presentations on the GSPC and the
To monitor the achievement of Target importance of Target 14 over the last
8, BGCI has developed a Plant Search Target 14: The importance of plant year to botanic garden and zoo
Database to provide a record of taxa in diversity and the need for its educators in UK, Germany, Hong
living collections. This database was conservation incorporated into Kong, Russia and Canada.
launched on BGCI’s website communication, educational and
(www.bgci.org) in 2003. By March public-awareness programmes. BGCI, botanic gardens and other
2005, the database held 125,961 taxa, botanical organisations have
of which 8,816 are known to be rare Initially, the CBD Secretariat did not contributed to an important reference
and threatened. The plant records are invite institutions to facilitate book, Plant, the international version of
linked to three databases – the 1997 stakeholder consultations on this target which was published this year
and 2004 IUCN Red Lists of threatened as it was considered a cross cutting (Marinelli, 2005). This valuable
plant species, the International Plant target together with Targets 3, 15 and reference book will contribute to the
Names Index (IPNI) and Google’s 16; these targets were expected to be public understanding of the
image service which finds pictures on considered by the consultations on relationship between plants and the
the web. The ability to cross reference each of the other targets. However the environment from a horticultural
the species with current red list data Expert meeting held in Ireland on perspective.
shows which threatened species are in reviewing the progress in stakeholder
cultivation and which need to be consultations recognised that this was The Education Department of BGCI
conserved. A user is able to identify a an important target and was not likely has developed a series of informative
taxon in cultivation but not where it is to be adequately considered as a cross and thought-provoking pages on the
being held; the user can send a ‘blind’ cutting target. BGCI website within the education
04 BGjournal • Vol 2 (2)section to look at how education feeds et al.). BGCI collaborated with the Plant Conservation through a
into and contributes to the GSPC Ministry of Environment and Natural committee made up of four partner
(http://www.bgci.org/education/index. Resources of The Seychelles and a organisations: BGCI (U.S.), CBCN
html). local NGO, the Plant Conservation (Canadian Botanical Conservation
Action Group (PCA) to plan a response Network), CPC (Center for Plant
Promotion: communication and by The Seychelles to the GSPC at a Conservation) and the AABGA. BGCI
raising awareness two-day workshop in March, 2004 staff from the UK contributed to the
(Beaver et al., 2005). first meeting in Atlanta, Georgia
In May, 2003, a colour brochure of the (January, 2004). Subsequently, a work
GSPC in English was produced and The GSPC and botanic gardens plan was devised and discussed at the
published by the Secretariat of the 2nd World Botanic Gardens Congress
Convention in association with BGCI BGCI is developing, promoting and by representatives from US gardens.
and supported by HSBC through the supporting the implementation of the HSBC’s Investing in Nature Programme
Investing in Nature partnership (CBD, GSPC through the botanic garden sponsored a round table meeting
2003). A large print-run of 40,000 community. This also supports the (October, 2004) to review a document
copies of the brochure1 was made to cross-cutting Targets 15 (The number which had been revised at the annual
enable a wide distribution. BGCI has of trained people working with AABGA meeting in Dallas (June, 2004)
sent copies to over 2,200 botanic appropriate facilities in plant and another meeting of the partners
gardens worldwide. By the end conservation increased, according to was held in March, 2005 to review the
December, 2004, 15,730 brochures had national needs, to achieve the targets final draft which consists of 19 clear
been distributed. Several language of this Strategy) and Target 16 outcome-orientated targets. The
versions of the GSPC brochure have (Networks for plant conservation review process included the circulation
been prepared (Chinese, Russian and activities established or strengthened at of the document to hundreds of
Spanish and a pdf version in French); national, regional and international members of the botanic garden
the Chinese and Russian versions levels). Examples of BGCI supporting community.
through the Investing in Nature local initiatives to implement the
Partnership. BGCI produced a CD- Targets of the GSPC through the References
Rom, Plants for the Planet (BGCI, botanic garden community can be
2004) which included the text of the seen in the Box: BGCI supporting local ➡ Anon., 2003. Global Strategy for
GSPC in four languages (English, initiatives to implement the GSPC Plant Conservation: Target 8.
French, Russian and Chinese). BGCNews 3(10): 30-32.
An important outcome of the 2nd [http://www.plants2010.org/targets/
In addition to the website for the World Botanic Gardens Congress was target8.html]
Global Partnership for Plant the development of the 2010 Targets
Conservation at http://www.plants for Botanic Gardens; these are a series ➡ Beaver, K, Matatiken, D., Dogley, D.
2010.org, BGCI has developed a of 20 targets for botanic gardens to be & Kueffer, C, 2005. The challenge
variety of web-based resources related achieved by 2010, to help measure the of GSPC – how a small tropical
to various targets of the Strategy achievement of the objectives of the island state is responding.
(www.bgci.org). BGCI also publicises International Agenda for Botanic BGjournal 2(1): 5-6.
the progress of the GSPC in its serial Gardens in Conservation (Wyse [http://www.geobot.umnw.ethz.ch/st
publications, BGjournal, Roots and Jackson & Sutherland, 2000) and as a aff/keufferfor download copies of
Cuttings and on its website at contribution towards the GSPC (Wyse the PCA newsletter Kapisen]
www.bgci.org. Jackson, 2004).
➡ CBD, 2003. Global Strategy for
BGCI staff have made presentations on The GSPC Targets and the 2010 Targets Plant Conservation (GSPC)
the GSPC at national and international for Botanic Gardens have provided a Secretariat of the Convention on
meetings and facilitated workshops for framework for the development of Biological Diversity
the development of strategies to botanic garden targets and strategies at [http://www.biodiv.org/programmes/
implement the GSPC at national level national levels. For example BGCI staff cross-cutting/plant/default.asp,
and through botanic gardens. contributed to the development of the 2005; See also 2005, www.bgci.org/
draft Strategic Framework and Action conservation/strategy.html]
BGCI and national responses Plan for the African Botanic Gardens
to the GSPC Network (ABGN) which were aligned ➡ Cheffings,C., Harper, M. & Jackson,
with the GSPC which was an outcome A., 2004. Plant Diversity Challenge -
BGCI staff have given presentations of the African Botanic Garden Congress The UK’s response to the Global
and contributed to workshops on – Partnerships and linkages in Durban, Strategy for Plant Conservation.
developing national responses to the South Africa (November, 2002) (Willis et JNCC, Plantlife & RBG, Kew
GSPC. For instance, BGCI staff were al., 2002).
involved with the development of The ➡ Jebb, Matthew, 2004. Cultivation
Plant Diversity Challenge, the UK’s BGCI (U.S.) has taken the lead in and Propagation Database.
response to the GSPC which was facilitating the development of a North PlantNetwork Newsletter 26:11.
published in February, 2004 (Cheffings American Botanic Garden Strategy for
1
Copies are available from the Secretariat of the Convention on Biological
Diversity, World Trade Centre, 393 St. Jacques, Suite 300, Montreal, Quebec,
Canada H2Y 1N9. Tel: +1 (514) 288-2220; Fax: +1 (514) 288 6588; BGjournal • Vol 2 (2) 05
E-mail: secretariat@biodiv.org; website: http://www.biodiv.org, or from BGCI.➡ Marinelli, J., 2005. Plant. DK ➡ Wyse Jackson, P., 2002. ➡ Wyse Jackson, P., Gibbs, D. &
Publishing, New York. Development and adoption of the Dulloo, E., 2003. Global Strategy
Global Strategy for Plant for Plant Conservation: Target 8.
➡ Sharrock, S., 2004. Databases and Conservation by the Convention on BGCNews 4(1): 27-30.
local action: Progress from BGCI on Biological Diversity: an NGO’s
ex situ conservation Plant Talk 38: perspective. BGCNews 3(8): 25-32. Etelka Leadlay, Suzanne Sharrock
34-35 [http://www.bgci.org/conservation/d and Stella Simiyu
evelopment_global_strategy_plant_c BGCI, Descanso House
➡ Simiyu, S. & Wyse Jackson, P., onservation.html] 199 Kew Road, Richmond, Surrey,
2003. Progress during 2003 in the TW9 3BW, UK
implementation of the Global ➡ Wyse Jackson, P. 2004. Developing Tel: +44 (0)20 8332 5953
Strategy for Plant Conservation. international targets for botanic Fax: +44 (0)20 8832 5956
BGCNews 4(1): 4-5. gardens in conservation: a E-mail: Etelka.Leadlay@bgci.org,
consultation document. BGjournal Suzanne.Sharrock@bgci.org and
➡ Willis, C.K., Owusu-Afriyie, G. & 1(1): 4-6 stella.simiyu@iucn.org
Dalzell, C., 2002. Launch of the Internet: http://www.bgci.org
African Botanic Gardens Network ➡ Wyse Jackson, P.S. & Sutherland,
BGCNews 3(9): 35-38. L.A., 2000. International Agenda for
Botanic Gardens in Conservation.
BGCI, London, U.K.
Right: Planting BGCI supporting local
in the initiatives to implement the
arboretum of GSPC
the Coimbatore
Zoological Park
and Through the Investing in Nature
Conservation Programme 42 small grants have
Centre, Tamil been awarded for plant conservation
Nadu in botanic gardens in Africa (5),
Argentina (4), Brazil (9), India (21) and
Russia (3). All these projects support
several GSPC Targets. Examples
from completed projects are given
below from India and Brazil.
India
Auroville Botanical Gardens, Tamil
Nadu has upgraded the
infrastructure at the garden’s nursery
to increase capacity for seedling
production of Tropical Dry Evergreen The Coimbatore Zoological Park and also organised an awareness
Forest (TDEF) plant species of South Conservation Centre (CZPCC), Tamil workshop on biodiversity
India. The Botanic Garden has Nadu is establishing an arboretum of conservation for school students,
propagated and multiplied a total of 100 endemic and endangered plants of teachers and parents in April 2004.
3,607 accessions of the 17 TDEF the Nilgiri Biospere Reserve (NBR).
species at Auroville nursery. CZPCC has undertaken extensive field The Community Agrobiodiversity
trips in several localities of the NBR Centre (CABC) MS Swaminathan
Right: Orchid and have introduced six endemic Research Foundation at Wayanad,
House at the species to the arboretum (Arenga Kerala has made significant initiatives
Auroville wightii, Diospyros bourdilloni, Vepris in the collection, propagation and
Botanical bilocularis, Entada rheedii, Decalepis management of seven rare,
Gardens, Tamil hamiltonii, Elaeocarpus tuberculatus). endangered and threatened and
Nadu About 30 living plants were raised from important species identified for the
these collections and maintained at the project. A total of 62 living
arboretum site. CZPCC, in association collections of seven species
with the Centre for Environment, Tiripur (Aristolochia tagala, Dioscorea
06 BGjournal • Vol 2 (2)Far left: MS
Swaminathan
Research
Foundation at
Wayanad,
Kerala
Left:
Pilosocereus
pachycladus
The team also established excellent (Photo:
relationships with local organisations F.M.Fernandes)
and collected data on the socio-
cultural and environmental aspects
of the region. A number of schools
and community groups were
involved and education materials on
the project were developed for the
local population.
As part of the project the
hamiltoni, Dendrobium aqueum, Brazil greenhouse at the botanic garden
Embelia ribes, Ipsea malabarica, has been redeveloped and is now
Ochlandra travancorica, Sarcostigma The Belo Horizonte Zoo-Botanic home to an outstanding educational
kleinii) were collected. Propagation Foundation, Minas Gerais has carried exhibit aimed at raising awareness of
and multiplication through vegetative out surveys of six Caatinga habitats. the social and cultural importance of
methods and seed germination were The Caatinga is a unique habitat which the unique Caatinga plants, the
carried out for Aristolochia tagala, covers 10% of Brazil and is people they support and the threats
Dioscorea hamiltoni and Ochlandra characterised by its semi-arid climate they face. Around 100,000 visitors
travancorica. CABC is planning for and thorn forest. Unfortunately it is per year are expected to visit the
mass multiplication of Ipsea becoming increasingly degraded and new glasshouse.
malabarica and Dendrobium aqueum threatened due to extensive cattle
in collaboration with the Kerala rearing and charcoal production. Many Left: Barriguda
Forest Research Institute (KFRI) for of the endemic species of this region (Ceiba
reintroduction into local habitats. are now considered endangered. ventricosa), a
CABC has also established a species of the
partnership with the Gram As a result of the project, 187 Caatinga in the
Panchayats in Wayanad through the specimens of Caatinga flora are now dry season (left)
State Planning Board for preparation cultivated in the glasshouses and and in flower
of a Plant Biodiversity Register which thematic gardens of the botanic (bottom left)
includes the ten target species garden. Of these 24 are species of (Photo:
identified for the IiN-India small cacti considered of particular F.M.Fernandes)
grants project. CABC has also importance for conservation.
formed a Biodiversity Conservation Herbarium samples were prepared of
Group in Wayanad District for linking 339 species, and fruits and seeds of 86 Mid left: Seeds
their project programme with the species have been added to the of Amburana
people, elected bodies and carpological collection. These samples cearensis
government organisations. have already proved of great (Photo: Inês
educational value and have been used Ribeiro)
in the production of seeds and fruit kits
for use by local schools. Far left:
Inauguration of
the Caatinga
Greenhouse at
the Belo
Horizonte Zoo-
Botanic
Foundation
(Photo:
F.M.Fernandes)
BGjournal • Vol 2 (2) 07Developing a PlantNetwork response to Target 8 of
the Global Strategy for Plant Conservation
Target 8 of the Global Strategy for Plant PlantNetwork Target 3: Cultivation and PlantNetwork Target 7: Build the
Conservation aims to secure 60 per cent of propagation protocols available for all capacity required in PlantNetwork
threatened plant species in accessible ex threatened plant species member institutions to achieve the
situ collections, preferably in the country of PlantNetwork targets for Target 8 of
origin, and 10% of them included in Sub-targets the Global Strategy for Plant
recovery and restoration programmes. 3a: On-line database of cultivation and Conservation
propagation protocols launched by end
At a meeting of PlantNetwork: the Plant of 2006. Sub-targets
Collections Network of Britain & Ireland, on 3b: Duplication of effort minimised through 7a: Side-by-side living collections of critical
6–7th April 2005 at the National Botanic the collation and dissemination of native species developed in
Gardens, Glasnevin, Ireland, eight targets available datasets. PlantNetwork member institutions, with
were elaborated for botanical collections in at least one such collection in each
Ireland and Britain to develop a co- PlantNetwork Target 4: Participate in region (England, Scotland, Wales,
ordinated response to support efforts to species recovery or management Ireland).
meet the 2010 target. programmes with partners 7b: Expertise in native plant taxonomy
available and accessible in 50% of
In particular the role of ex situ collections in Sub-target PlantNetwork member institutions.
serving the broader remit of plant 4a: 100% of UKBAP & Irish Priority Species
conservation through public awareness, included in recovery programmes. PlantNetwork Target 8: Best practice
building and sharing cultivation expertise, achieved in the implementation of
collaborating with in situ conservation PlantNetwork Target 5: Develop actions needed to meet the targets of
programmes, and in lobbying at complementary collections of the Global Strategy for Plant
governmental level were all seen as vital threatened bryophytes in cultivation Conservation
elements that plant collections and their
staff can bring to conservation work in Sub-target Sub-targets
these islands. The meeting included 5a: A PlantNetwork Conference organised 8a: Website established to disseminate
representatives of 53 institutions in Britain with the British Bryological Society protocols and best-practice information,
and Ireland. (BBS) on how horticulture and botanical and to highlight gaps, as a clearing-
collections can contribute to bryophyte house mechanism.
Targets conservation. 8b: Available guidelines for the collection,
acquisition and maintenance of genetic
The following eight targets were adopted to PlantNetwork Target 6: Public and diversity of ex situ material applied and,
be achieved by 2010: political awareness raised of native where necessary, developed, for the
flora and the need for its conservation management of collections.
PlantNetwork Target 1: 100% of 8c: PlantNetwork member institutions to
critically endangered vascular plant Sub-targets have accessible, effective and
species in managed ex situ collections 6a: 25% of PlantNetwork gardens working comprehensive documentation systems
with appropriate partners or community for their native plant collections.
Sub-targets groups to develop public-awareness
1a: PlantNetwork Gardens involved in every programmes for plant conservation. For further information please contact:
Right: appropriate national, regional or local 6b: Positive stories on plant conservation Matthew Jebb
Polystichum Biodiversity Action Plan (BAP) or Irish promoted in the media, with articles in Chairman PlantNetwork
lonchitis - Holly Priority Species conservation all major horticultural-news journals by Curator of the Herbarium
Fern programme. 2007. National Botanic Gardens, Glasnevin,
This species is 1b: Species in the Extinct in the Wild (EW) 6c: A 20% increase in public understanding Dublin 9, Ireland. Tel: +3531 804 0329
Vulnerable. category secured in no fewer than two of need for conservation of native plants Fax: +3531 836 0080
Small living collections. needs achieved. E-mail: Matthew.Jebb@opw.ie
populations 1c: Species in the Endangered (E) category, 6d: Coherent shared themes for plant
exist in Wales with high rates of decline, secured in no conservation developed and
and the Lake fewer than two living collections. implemented throughout PlantNetwork
District; it is gardens, including the production of
more frequent PlantNetwork Target 2: Genetically framework documents to assist with
in the Scottish representative conservation individual education projects.
uplands and collections established for all vascular 6e: 50% of PlantNetwork member
western plant species with small, limited or institutions participating in International
Scotland rapidly declining extant populations Biodiversity Day (22 May) every year.
08 BGCI • 2005 • BGjournal • Vol 2 (2) • 08Author: Christopher K. Willis
National Botanical Gardens:
embassies of South Africa’s
biodiversity and culture
Above: Map
showing the
Introduction location of
South Africa’s
South Africa has a network of eight eight national
National Botanical Gardens (NBGs) botanical
managed by the South African gardens (drawn
National Biodiversity Institute (SANBI). by Linette
This was previously the National Ferreira)
Botanical Institute or NBI which from
1 September 2004, with the Left: Tranquil
promulgation of South Africa’s new scenes in the
National Environmental Management: Harold Porter
Biodiversity Act 2004, the NBI became NBG (Photo:
SANBI, a parastatal organisation under Hans
the national Department of Heilgendorff)
Environmental Affairs and Tourism.
The focus of the NBGs is growing and
conserving South Africa’s indigenous
plants and together conserve over
1,350 ha of natural vegetation and
associated biodiversity within their mediterranean climates (Kirstenbosch biome not represented is the Desert
boundaries and promoting and raising and Harold Porter NBG) to semi-arid Biome, represented in Namibia almost
environmental awareness at home and climates (the Karoo Desert NBG) and exclusively by the Namib Desert.
abroad. The botanical gardens are from summer rainfall subtropical and Further, Kirstenbosch NBG was
centres of excellence for plants; they tropical climates (Lowveld and KwaZulu- entrusted in 1957 with the
provide information, professional skills Natal NBG) to South Africa’s interior management of both the Edith
in horticulture and tourism and support plateau areas that can receive frost Stephens Wetland Park (3,42 ha) on
national, regional and international during the dry, cold winter months (Free the Cape Flats and the Tienie Versfeld
networks for the conservation, State, Pretoria and Walter Sisulu NBGs). Reserve (20,72 ha) near Darling in the
sustainable use and appreciation of the This range of climatic conditions means western Cape. Both reserves are
flora of South Africa. that different gardens are able to grow situated outside Kirstenbosch.
plants that might not be grown so
Living Collections successfully in other gardens without Each NBG has a dedicated collecting
artificial structures having to be built. policy, with an overall Living
The eight NBGs–Free State, Harold Collections Policy covering all of the
Porter, Karoo Desert, Kirstenbosch, The NBGs include natural vegetation gardens. As there is some overlap
Lowveld, KwaZulu-Natal, Pretoria and representative of six of southern between gardens’ collecting areas,
Walter Sisulu NBGs–are located in five of Africa’s seven biome units, namely many collaborative field trips are
South Africa’s nine provinces (see map). forest, fynbos (characterized by the undertaken between gardens.
The NBGs are situated in different parts presence of ericas, restios and Wherever possible the gardens try to
of the country, ranging from proteas), grassland, savanna, Nama grow plants that have been collected
predominantly winter-rainfall Karoo, and Succulent Karoo. The only from the wild, after the necessary
BGCI • 2005 • BGjournal • Vol 2 (2) • 09-12 09permits and permission have been
obtained from the provincial
Right: The conservation agencies/authorities and
Walter Sisulu landowners.
NBG’s succulent
rockery (Aloe in Horticulture
foreground) In recent years maintenance or
serves an continuance plans have been
important role developed by horticulturists for plant
in its garden- collections requiring special cultivation
based education attention and techniques, such as some
programmes of the succulent plant groups (e.g.
(Photo: Hans Haworthia spp.). Special collections
Heilgendorff). that are currently held across the
various NBGs include cycads,
pelargoniums, haworthias, Lithops,
Plectranthus, and various bulb species. cent of South Africa’s indigenous flora Plant records
(estimated at 23,420). The number of An IT Review is currently being
indigenous plant taxa per garden conducted for the new SANBI, with the
ranged from 347 taxa in the Free State garden records database a priority area
NBG to 5,538 in the Kirstenbosch NBG for development. Attempts have been
(24% of South Africa’s flora), SANBI’s made in the past to develop a plant
flagship garden. A total of 813 Red List records database compatible with
plant species are represented SANBI’s in-house PRECIS (National
throughout the NBGs, 384 being Herbarium, Pretoria (PRE)
regarded as threatened (see Golding, Computerised Information System)
2002). The NBGs collectively hold 17 database. The ideal situation will be
per cent of South Africa’s estimated where each NBG, despite being in
2,301 (9.8% of South Africa’s flora) eight different centres, has direct
threatened plants. Low priority taxa access to a centralized, regularly
(Rare and Lower Risk) accounted for updated, database system.
about 50 per cent of all the Red List
species in the NBGs. With each garden having relatively
large areas of natural vegetation within
Threatened species from the families their boundaries, they should, through
Proteaceae, Amaryllidaceae, Aloaceae appropriate partnerships with both
Above: Descriptive notes and and Iridaceae are the most well- amateur and professional biologists,
Botanical cultivation/propagation techniques for represented in the NBGs. They are continue to develop and refine existing
Society South Africa’s indigenous plants are mainly showy, well-known and highly checklists of biodiversity recorded in
volunteer currently made available electronically attractive species that appeal to each NBG.
looking after the to the general public through a SANBI- garden visitors. Of concern is that the
proteas at the managed web site, majority (65%) of Red List species in Training
Kirstenbosch www.plantzafrica.com. SANBI staff South Africa’s NBGs occur in only a
Garden Fair have, in addition, over the past few single collection. Horticultural protocols The NBG provide training for staff and
(Photo: Dave years also contributed towards a series for individual threatened plant taxa other conservation workers in
McDonald) of guides to the cultivation and need to be developed so that horticulture, tourism and service skills,
propagation of various indigenous conservation collections can be held in which builds competence for
South African plants, known as the several botanical gardens. Surveys set conservation and making gardens
Kirstenbosch Gardening Series. Titles meaningful targets, particularly those environments for learning.
in this series, amongst others, have linked to Target 8 of the Global
included Grow South African Plants, Strategy for Plant Conservation In line with national health and safety
Grow Bulbs, and Grow Clivias. (GSPC). regulations, staff in all eight gardens
have received training in various
Conservation collections Based on this preliminary review aspects of the national Health and
A survey completed in 2002 of living (Golding & Heilgendorff, 2002), South Safety Act, chemical safety, fire fighting
collections across the eight NBGs Africa’s NBGs are currently working on and first aid. In addition, horticultural
provided some interesting results developing a plant conservation skills training programmes (facilitated in
(Golding & Heilgendorff, 2002). Based strategy, linked to the targets of the mother tongue) for ground staff have
on a preliminary data set of living GSPC, together with other sections now been implemented at all eight
collections in South Africa’s NBGs, the and programmes of SANBI, to serve as NBGs. In line with legislation regulating
eight gardens together house some a framework for the various gardens’ training in South Africa, these courses
8,500 indigenous plant species, 36 per conservation programmes. are nationally registered and offered by
10 BGjournal • Vol 2 (2)an accredited training provider. Training Networks Key partnerships have also been
courses and workshops have also developed within the past five years
been presented to various staff on The NBGs work very closely with with the Millennium Seed Bank (Royal
topics such as supervisory and organisations and institutions in South Botanic Gardens, Kew, U.K.) and a
personal skills improvement and Africa for the conservation and strategic partnership with the Ball
financial life skills training. Service sustainable use of plants in the region. Horticultural Co. based in Chicago,
standards in the NBGs have also been USA.
improved through a nationally For instance, the NBGs are very closely
recognised South Africa Host involved with, and supported by, the Environmental Education
Programme. Selected staff in the NBGs Botanical Society of South Africa, a
have also been assessed and non-governmental organisation. The Education is defined as one of the key
registered with their provincial Botanical Society of South Africa was functions of a botanical garden. South
registrars as tourist guides, both on a established in 1913 to support the Africa’s NBGs have been serving an
site and regional level. development of Kirstenbosch NBG and education role for learners, teachers
now works with the other seven NBGs. and the general public for many
For several years now, SANBI has The members act as the ‘friends’ of the decades.
contributed towards the academic and gardens and support both garden-
in-service training of the next based and in situ conservation efforts. There has been major investment in
generation of professional The Botanical Society has also Kirstenbosch, over the last 15 years, in
horticulturists. Practical training (six contributed significantly to the upgrading visitor amenities with new
months) in indigenous flora is offered infrastructural development of South garden management facilities, a
to second and third year students who Africa’s NBGs, particularly in conservatory, restaurant, nursery,
study horticulture through the South Kirstenbosch, where the largest branch herbarium, library and research
African education system. of the society and it’s Head Office is facilities and since 2000, significant
based. investment has also been made in Below: South
At Kirstenbosch NBG, newly qualified upgrading facilities in the other seven Africa’s
horticulturists also receive training in South Africa’s NBGs have also made a NBGs. This has included new Millennium
the practical application of theoretical significant contribution towards restaurants, visitors’ centres, new and Seed Bank team
principles in horticulture, with specific supporting other gardens in southern upgraded parking areas, environmental collecting
reference to botanical gardens. The Africa through the successful education centres, function facilities Pavonia
duration of the internship is two years. GEF/UNDP and USAID/IUCN ROSA- and pathways. Combined, South senegalensis in
Since 2000, SANBI has accommodated supported Southern African Botanical Africa’s NBGs receive over one million the Kalahari
12 students, four of whom have been Diversity Network (SABONET) visitors per annum, with Kirstenbosch (Photo: Erich
appointed as horticulturists in the Programme. The project was aimed at receiving over 685,000 visitors. van Wyk)
various NBGs of South Africa. upgrading facilities and strengthening
the level of botanical diversity expertise
A Kirstenbosch Scholarship is also throughout the subcontinent. The
provided every year to one qualified participating countries are Angola,
horticulturist with a special aptitude for Botswana, Lesotho, Malawi,
botany and research work connected Mozambique, Namibia, South Africa,
with indigenous flora. The duration of Swaziland, Zambia and Zimbabwe.
the scholarship is one year.
New environmental education centres Left: New
have been built in the Walter Sisulu, Kirstenbosch
Pretoria, Free State and Lowveld Tea Room set
NBGs, allowing dedicated education against the
staff to be housed and garden-based dramatic
programmes to be hosted in the backdrop of
various NBGs. This has allowed the Table Mountain,
expansion of the formal education Cape Town
programmes to gardens beyond (Photo: Hans
Kirstenbosch. Heilgendorff)
BGjournal • Vol 2 (2) 11signage certainly does promote the • Possible sites for new gardens in
links and dependence between the Northern Cape and Eastern Cape
animals, people and plants. Interpretive provinces evaluated.
labels in the various gardens include a • 50% of South Africa’s threatened
range of indigenous South African plants in NBG collections and/or the
languages, particularly the languages Millennium Seed Bank (UK) (MSB).
spoken in those areas where the • 90% of Critically Endangered South
gardens are located. Languages African plant taxa in NBG collections
generally used in interpretive signage and/or the MSB.
are English, Afrikaans and the local • 100% of Extinct in the Wild South
African language spoken. These include African plants held in NBGs and/or
Above: A picture During the past ten years, outreach Siswati, Zulu, Xhosa and Sotho. MSB.
of Pretoria greening programmes have been • NBG plant collections computerized.
NBG’s developed and expanded to extend Both standardised permanent and • Gap analysis of plants in cultivation in
Environmental beyond the boundaries of the botanical temporary interpretive signs are used in NBGs and South Africa’s flora.
Education gardens. Much of this focus has been South Africa’s NBGs. SANBI has also • Collecting areas for NBGs reviewed.
Centre, using on working together with local standardised the directional signage • Review the implementation of the
materials communities, using indigenous plants, used in the various NBGs. International Agenda for Botanic
from the natural to ‘green’ disadvantaged schools in Gardens in Conservation within
grassland in the township areas around the gardens in Since 1976, Kirstenbosch and other NBGs.
garden (Photo: Cape Town, Pretoria and gardens in the national network have • Back-up collections of threatened
Eugenie Johannesburg. been participating in the world- plants cultivated in NBGs stored in
Novellie) renowned Royal Horticultural Society’s the MSB.
In recent years, since its first Chelsea Flower Show held every year in • Continued implementation of
democratic elections took place in London, UK. To date the integrated threatened plant
1994, South Africa has become known Kirstenbosch/SANBI exhibition has won programmes in each NBG.
as the ‘rainbow nation’, due to it’s 26 gold medals at this annual show.
many diverse cultures, languages Participation by SANBI in this event is As part of a broader institutional review
(South Africa has 11 official languages) currently made possible through a process, progress with the
and peoples. In order to promote and generous public-private sector implementation of the International
share this cultural diversity with visitors, sponsorship involving Old Mutual SA, Agenda for Botanic Gardens in
South Africa’s NBGs have been the City of Cape Town and the Western Conservation (IA) by South Africa’s
developing demonstration gardens with Cape Provincial Government. This NBGs was reviewed for the first time in
associated buildings in many of the sponsorship has enabled young 2004. Results from the survey indicated
gardens to promote the association of horticulturists from the NBGs to that on average across the eight NBGs,
various cultures with South Africa’s experience and participate in the show 53% of the activities listed in the IA are
indigenous plants. These range from on an annual basis. being implemented.
water wise gardens, useful plants and
medicinal gardens to traditional huts Corporate strategic plan and References
and a traditional cooking shelter (used business plans
in the arid Richtersveld area in the north ➡ Golding, J, 2002 (ed.) Southern
western corner of South Africa) in the Each of the NBGs prepare, on an African Plant Red Data Lists.
Karoo Desert NBG. annual basis, business plans linked to SABONET Report No. 14,
the objectives of SANBI’s Corporate SABONET, Pretoria, South Africa
Interpretation Strategic Plan. These plans help the
Interpretation has received increased gardens define their programmes and ➡ Golding, J.S. & Heilgendorff, J.P.
support in South Africa’s NBGs in the activities for the forthcoming year. More 2002. An evaluation of the extent to
past five years, and several gardens recently, targets for South Africa’s which the NBGs contribute to the ex
currently have dedicated Interpretation NBGs have been set within the latest situ conservation of South Africa’s
Officers. Each of the gardens has SANBI Corporate Strategic Plan threatened plants: Results.
dedicated interpretation themes and (2005–2009). These include the Occasional report of the Directorate:
plans that assist in guiding their following: Biodiversity Policy and Planning.
interpretive work. The overall slogan for • 45% of South Africa’s plant taxa
interpretation in South Africa’s NBGs is represented in NBGs. Christopher K. Willis
‘indigenous plants enrich our lives–let’s • Maintenance or continuance South African National Biodiversity
care for them’. Each of the gardens’ programmes in place for all Institute, Private Bag X101,
natural areas includes an interpreted conservation collections within Pretoria, 0001, South Africa
self-guided hiking/walking trail. NBGs. Tel: +27 (0)12 843 5226
• Increased income (10% per annum) Fax: +27 (0)12 843 5354
Although the gardens do not have through new tourism related E-mail: willis@sanbi.org
collections of animals maintained in infrastructure and programmes in Internet: www.sanbi.org,
enclosures or cages, the interpretive NBGs. www.sabonet.org
12 BGjournal • Vol 2 (2)You can also read
