Botanical Garden Importance Essay

botanic garden Importance EssayThe egress for this essay is the role of botanical gardens in launch saving. The essay lead be divided into four main crock ups. The first pause hash out about the botanical garden. This part allow include the introduction, history and development, meshwork and function of botanical garden. Second part will explain the grandeur of bring preservation and the global strategy for instal conservation. The third part is the role of botanical garden in plant conservation. The fourth part will be the example of botanical garden in Malaysia and its roles in plant conservation. The last part will be the conclusion of the essay.2.0 botanicalal Gardens2.1 Introductionbotanical gardens or botanic gardens be generally well-t oddmented park breaking a wide ramble of plants labelled with their botanical names. They may cease specialist plant allurements such as cacti and succulent plants, herb gardens, plants from occurrence parts of the worl d, and so on there may be greenhouses, over again with special collections such as tropic plants, alpine plants or early(a) exotic plants.botanical gardens be a good deal run by universities or otherwise scientific investigate organizations and often produce associated herbaria and query programmes in plant taxonomy or round other aspect of botanical science. In principle their role is to corroborate documented collections of living plants for the purposes of scientific research, conservation, dis run for and education, although this will depend on the resources available and the special c atomic number 18s pursued at each particular garden.2.2 History and DevelopmentThe origin of modern botanical gardens gage be traced to European medieval medicinal gardens known as physic gardens, the first of these being founded during the Italian Renaissance in the sixteenth century. This early tutelage with medicinal plants changed in the 17th century to an interest in the new pl ant imports from explorations outside Europe as plant living gradually pitched its independence from medicine. In the 18th century systems of spoken communication and classification were devised by botanists workings in the herbaria and universities associated with the gardens, these systems often being displayed in the gardens as educational order beds. With the rapid rustle of European imperialism in the late 18th century botanic gardens were established in the tropical z unity and economic botany became a focus with the hub at the Royal botanic Gardens, Kew, near London.Over the age botanical gardens, as cultural and scientific organisations, have responded to the interests of botany and horticulture. Nowadays most botanical gardens display a mix of the themes mentioned and much having a strong connection with the general popular there is the opportunity to provide visitors with information relating to the environmental issues being set about at the start of the 21st c entury, especially those relating to plant conservation and sustainability.2.3 intercommunicateWorldwide there ar now about 1800 botanical gardens and arboreta in about 150 countries ( in the main in temperate regions) of which about 400 are in Europe, 200 in North America, 150 in Russia and an change magnitude number in East Asia. These gardens attract about 150 million visitors a year so it is hardly surprising that legion(predicate) hoi polloi gained their first exciting introduction to the wonders of the plant world in a botanical garden.Historically, botanical gardens exchanged plants by means of the publication of seed lists. This was a means of transferring both plants and information between botanical gardens. This system continues today although the possibility of hereditary piracy and the transmission of trespassing(a) species have real greater attention in recent times.The Inter issue connexion of botanic Gardens was formed in 1954 as a worldwide organisation assort to the International Union of Biological Sciences. More recently coordination has overly been provided by botanical Gardens Conservation International (BGCI) which has the mission To mobilise botanic gardens and contract partners in securing plant change for the well-being of people and the major planet. BGCI has over 700 members- mostly botanic gardens- in 118 countries and strongly leap outs the spheric strategy for plant conservation by producing a frame resources and publications, and by organizing international conferences and conservation programs. confabulation besides happens regionally. In the United States there is the American Public Gardens Association and in Australasia there is the Botanic Gardens of Australia and New Zealand (BGANZ).2.4 Role and FunctionBotanic gardens have had a changing role throughout history, beginning often as medicinal gardens for the study and finish of plants with healing properties and going through many phases including of c ourse as pleasure gardens. But the fact that their collections are more or less scientific means they are continually adapting and serving the needs of their societies in evolving rooms as new challenges nervus those societies.In veritable times, they are becoming separate players in both the conservation of plants and in the education of the people who come to see them. They are also starting to play a role in the easing of the effects of climate change, and could be absolutely indispensable to the survival of the planet as they are perfectly placed to help move species almost and help ecosystems to adapt to new climates in different regions.3.0 fructify conservation3.1 ImportancePlants are universally recognized as a vital part of the worlds biological revolution and an essential resource for the planet. In attachment to the small number of crop plants used for basic food and fibres, many thousands of hazardous plants have great economic and cultural importance and pote ntial, providing food, medicine, fuel, garment and shelter for vast numbers of people throughout the world. Plants also play a key role in maintaining the planets basic environmental equaliser and ecosystem stability, and provide an great component to the habitats for the worlds animal life.At present we do not have a complete inventory of the plants of the world, but it is estimated that the join number may be in the order of 300,000 species. Many of these species are in danger of extinction, jeopardize by habitat transformation, over-exploitation, alien invasive species, pollution and climate change. The disappearance of such vital and large amounts of biodiversity poses one of the greatest challenges for the world community to halt the destruction of the plant diversity that is so essential to meet the present and future needs of humankind.Plant conservation, long the poor relation of the conservation world, has started to come into its own since the rise of conservation bi ology as a recognized discipline in the 1980s. Plant conservation, and the heritage harbor of exceptional historic landscapes, was treated with a growing sense of urgency. Specialist gardens were sometimes given a discipline or adjoining site, to display native and indigenous plants.3.2 Off-site plant conservationOff-site conservation is the conservation of plants away from their areas of natural occurrence. The confines ex situ is frequently used to describe the send off-site conservation. Off-site conservation not only include growing the plants in botanic gardens, the pattern extends as well to field gene banks, clonal collections, and germ plasm banks where propagating tissues and seeds are preserved for growing in the future. Off-site conservation can involve a range of plant parts-the whole plant, seed, other tissues, or transmittable material in culture.Whole, living plants have particular value for conservation and will continue to be a major concern of off-site conser vation. But conserving whole plants is not simple. To capture the range of genetic variation, such collections require large number of plants these are expensive to establish and maintain. If the plants are annuals, they will require seasonal replication. Outside their natural habitat some plants may require hand pollination and special manipulation of fruit and seeds to ensure germination. It is fortunate that improving technology is making computer memory as seeds, seedlings, rhizomes, tissues in culture, and even DNA an option for many plants.3.3 Global Strategy for Plant ConservationThe entry point for the strategy is plant conservation other aspects such as sustainable use, receipts-sharing and capa urban center grammatical construction are also included. The Strategy provides an innovative mannequin for actions at global, regional, national and local levels. The strategy is supported by a wide range of organizations and institutions governments, intergovernmental organiz ations, conservation and research organizations (such as protected-area management boards, botanic gardens, and gene banks), universities, research institutes, nongovernmental organizations and their networks, and the private sector. The most innovative element of the Strategy is the inclusion of 16 outcome-orientated targets, aimed at achieving a series of measurable goals by 2010.3.3.1 ObjectivesThe ultimate and long objective of the Global Strategy for Plant Conservation is to halt the current and continuing loss of plant diversity.The Strategy will provide framework to facilitate harmony between existing initiatives aimed at plant conservation, to rate gaps where new initiatives are required, and to force mobilization of the necessary resources.The Strategy will be a tool to enhance the ecosystem approach to the conservation and sustainable use of biodiversity and focus on the vital role of plants in the mental synthesis and functioning of ecological system and assure provis ion of the goods and operate such systems provide.4.0 Role of botanic Gardens in Plant ConservationBotanic gardens have collectively accumulated centuries of resources and expertise that now means they play a key role in plant conservation. Many of these activities contribute to ex situHYPERLINK http//www.bgci.org/ourwork/ex_situ/ conservation, but botanic gardens also play an essential role in in situHYPERLINK http//www.bgci.org/ourwork/Ecosystems/ conservationHorticulture and cultivation skills allow us to grow plants that readiness be lost in nature, which means their plants diversity can be conservesd in the gardens, but also allows us to consider tax return and rehabilitation of degraded habitats.Living collections of plants collect species under various rootings, to maintain a living store of genetic diversity that can support many activities in conservation and research.Seed banks and collections of living plants allow species to be safeguarded. Plants must be carefully collected stored to ensure maximum genetic diversity is retained, and much research is required to determine the best way of storing each species. This is the conservation of plant diversity in situ, and botanic gardens are key to this strategys capacity and success..Research and development into plant taxonomy and genetics, phytochemistry, useful properties, informing selection of plants that can withstand degraded and changing environments (especially important in face of the threats posed by climate change).Education is a enduringness of botanic gardens that allows them to communicate the importance of conserving plants, reaching out to diverse audiences, and also to communicate how this may be achieved.Linking plants with the well-being of people, and also helping conserve indigenous and local knowledge, to encourage the sustainable use of plant resources for the benefit of all, as part of sustainable development.The conservation of plant diversity is deprecative for sustain able development and botanic gardens are playing a key role as centres of conservation action. Gardens maintain a wide range of species as living plants, in seed banks and tissue culture agree to estimation of BGCI, there are probably over 80,000 species in cultivation in botanic gardens of the current estimate of 270,000 known plant species in the world. Botanic gardens contain collections of plants for education, scientific purposes and display they can beTaxonomically-based collections of a particular family, genus or group of cultivarsCollections of native plantsPlants which share a jet geographical or ecological origin such as Mediterranean, vacate or alpineWild relatives or cultivars of useful species such as medicinal, aromatic or textile plantsShared habit or life form such as an orchard, arboretum or succulent collection.Botanic gardens also have important conservation collections particularly of rare and peril plants. According to the IUCN Red List of threatened plant s 34,000 taxa are considered globally threatened with extinction. Currently, over 10,000 threatened species, approximately a third, are in botanic garden cultivation. These plants contribute to species reco very(prenominal) programmes and provide long-term backup collections.Botanic gardens undertake research from plant taxonomy, ecology to breeding systems. With their expertise in horticulture, botanic gardens develop propagation and cultivation methods for plants which have never been in cultivation. All these areas are essential for species recovery programmes and reintroduction of plants into the wild, such as maturation techniques to reintroduce the Dragon Trees into the wild.A major cause of biodiversity loss is the over-collection of wild plants for horticulture, medicine and food. Bringing plants into cultivation can take the pressure off the wild populations, and also support livelihoods by generating income and upraise trade Botanic gardens also manage protected areas w ithin and outside their garden to promote biodiversity. These ecosystems such as woodwind instruments, bush land, catchment areas, and coastal areas provide essential services from the generation of water, cycling of nutrients and replenishment of soil fertility and prevention of wear which are vital to the livelihoods of all people.One of the major causes of species decline is invasive alien species which threaten plants, plant communities and ecosystems. Botanic gardens with their skills in identification and horticulture admonisher invasive species and work locally and nationally to restore habitats that are important for diversity.Botanic gardens work with their local communities and visitors on education and environmental conservation programmes which promote environmental awareness and sustainable living. Globally, botanic gardens receive more than 200 million visitors a year.Further, botanic gardens are key institutions working with their governments and other organisation s on key policies, national biodiversity strategies and action plans.5.0 Botanic Garden in Malaysia Rimba Ilmu5.1 IntroductionRimba Ilmu is a tropical botanical garden, set up in the University of Malaya campus in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. It is modelled after a rain forest garden concept rather than a formal flower garden. It emphasises the flora of the Malayan and Indonesian region. Together with the living collections of over 1,600 species, the Rimba Ilmu also houses the University of Malaya herbarium (acronym KLU) and has its own environmental Education Programme. The Rimba Ilmu is a member of the Botanic Gardens Conservation International (BGCI) and the mho East Asia Botanic Gardens Network.Rimba Ilmu means The Forest of Knowledge in the Malay language. The garden, established in 1974, occupies an area of 80 hectares. It is partly buffered by oldish rubber plantings and the living collections, mostly from Malaysia, are one of the most important biological conservatories in Ma laysia. There are also plant species from other parts of tropical Asia, the Pacific islands, Australia, South America, Africa and Madagascar.Rimba Ilmus mission is to generate and promote awareness and knowledge of tropical plant life and its environment, ecology and conservation through the development and management of facilities and activities appropriate to its function in a university located within Malaysias most developed and populated landscape.The Herbarium (a reference depository library of preserved plant specimens) is Malaysias largest university collection containing some 63,000 accessions. In the Garden, there are several main show collections, including medicinal plants, palms, and the citrus and citroid collection. The Conservatory of high-flown Plants and Orchids, opened in 2000, and the Fernery, with planting establishments made over several years and commissioned in 2003, are accessible only to special group visits and research contacts, and a new bambusetum (liv ing collection of bamboos) was completed at the end of 2003 and generally accessible to the public. There is also a small research collection of bananas. A highlight in the development of the Rimba Ilmu is the establishment of a special arboretum (living collection of trees) beginning in 2001 as the mainstay for our Millenium Forest project, which seeks to engage friends and concerned parties in establishing biologically diverse forest plantings in making a new forest within the city of Kuala Lumpur.Besides having a general collection of species from a variety of plant families selected for teaching, Rimba Ilmu is also developing various special collections ranging from those of medicinal plants, wild orchids, palms, pandan, tropical fruit trees, gingers, aquatic plants, wild citrus relatives to rare and endangered plants in need of conservation.5.2 Role in Plant ConservationRimba Ilmu is an important secretarial assistant for many types of plants, including conservation collectio ns of rare and endangered plants, and special collections of the useful plants (such as citruses and starch palms) and their wild relatives. In 2001, two other special collections, bamboos (sponsored by the International Plant Genetic Resources Institute) and bananas (anchored by one of the universitys research groups in banana cytology), were also begun. Over 2004-5, with the assistance of DHL and involving their employees, a special collection of Malaysian forest trees has also been established. Outside of the Rimba Ilmu, it may be very difficult to observe so many different species of some groups, and the habitats of some of these plants may have already been altered or damaged. Conservation also involves public awareness, and visitors are first treated to a permanent expo on Rain Forests when they start to get familiar with the Garden.6.0 ConclusionBotanical gardens maintain a wide range of species as living plants, in seed banks and tissue culture. Thus, botanic gardens contai n collections of plants for education, scientific purposes and display. In conclusion, the botanical garden play an important role as the ex situ conservation for plant and also in situ conservation site. The conservation of plant diversity is critical for sustainable development and botanic gardens are playing a key role as centres of conservation action.