Botanic gardens and their contribution to the …...Journal of Botanic Gardens Conservation...

Journal of Botanic Gardens Conservation International

Volume 15 • Number 1 • January 2018

Botanic gardens andtheir contribution tothe SustainableDevelopment Goals

BGCI • 2018 • BGjournal • Vol 15 (1) 01

BGjournal is published by Botanic Gardens ConservationInternational (BGCI). It is published twice a year.Membership is open to all interested individuals, institutionsand organisations that support the aims of BGCI.

Further details available from:

• Botanic Gardens Conservation International, DescansoHouse, 199 Kew Road, Richmond, Surrey TW9 3BW UK.Tel: +44 (0)20 8332 5953, Fax: +44 (0)20 8332 5956, E-mail: [email protected], www.bgci.org

• BGCI (US) Inc, The Huntington Library, Art Collections and Botanical Gardens, 1151 Oxford Rd, San Marino, CA 91108, USA. Tel: +1 626-405-2100, E-mail: [email protected]: www.bgci.org/usa

• BGCI (China), South China Botanical Garden,1190 Tian Yuan Road, Guangzhou, 510520, China. Tel: +86 20 85231992, Email: [email protected], Internet: www.bgci.org/china

• BGCI (Southeast Asia), Jean Linsky, BGCI Southeast AsiaBotanic Gardens Network Coordinator, Dr. Cecilia Koo Botanic Conservation Center, No. 31, Tongsing Rd., Gaoshu Township, Pingtung County90646, Taiwan, China. Tel: +886 8 796 0913, Mobile: +886 966484475, Email: [email protected], Internet: www.bgci.org; www.kbcc.org.tw/en

• BGCI (Africa), Kirsty Shaw, BGCI Africa Office, IUCNEastern and Southern Africa Regional Office (ESARO), P.O. Box 68200 - 00200, Nairobi, Kenya, Tel. +254(0)725295632 Skype: bgci_kirsty, Email:[email protected], Internet: www.bgci.org

• BGCI (Russia), c/o Main Botanical Gardens, Botanicheskaya st., 4, Moscow 127276, Russia. Tel: +7 (095) 219 6160 / 5377, Fax: +7 (095) 218 0525, E-mail: [email protected], www.bgci.ru

BGCI is a worldwide membership organisation establishedin 1987. Its mission is to mobilise botanic gardens andengage partners in securing plant diversity for the well-being of people and the planet. BGCI is an independentorganisation registered in the United Kingdom as a charity(Charity Reg No 1098834) and a company limited byguarantee, No 4673175. BGCI is a tax-exempt 501(c)(3)non-profit organisation in the USA and is a registered non-profit organisation in Russia.

Opinions expressed in this publication do not necessarilyreflect the views of the Boards or staff of BGCI or of itsmembers.

Suzanne SharrockDirector of GlobalProgrammes

Paul SmithSecretary General

EDITORS

Volume 15 • Number 1

Cover Photo: Girl planting a tree (Chaleow Ngamdee/Shutterstock)

Design: Seascape www.seascapedesign.co.uk

EDITORIAL: BOTANIC GARDENS AND THE SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT GOALS

FEATURES

NEWS FROM BGCI

PLANT HUNTING TALES: BOTANICAL SURVEYS IN JAPAN - FINDING OUT WHAT’S THERE AND WHAT'S NOT

FEATURED GARDEN: BAEKDUDAEGAN NATIONAL ARBORETUM

INTERVIEW: TALKING PLANTS

ARTICLES

BOTANIC GARDENS AND THE 2030 SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT AGENDA Suzanne Sharrock

SDG 1: NO POVERTYBALANCING CONSERVATION AND LIVELIHOODS IN THE CHIMANIMANI FOREST BELT, MOZAMBIQUE Alex Hudson, Jonathan Timberlake, Hercilia Chipanga and Tiziana Ulian

SDG 4: QUALITY EDUCATIONBUILDING ENVIRONMENTAL AWARENESS THROUGH INFORMAL OUTREACH OPPORTUNITIES Pamela Thompson

SDG 6: CLEAN WATER AND SANITATION TWENTY YEARS OF ECOLOGICAL RESTORATION OF WETLAND HABITATS BY THE ROYAL BOTANICAL GARDENS, ONTARIODavid Galbraith and Tÿs Theÿsmeÿer

SDG 11: SUSTAINABLE CITIES AND COMMUNITIES FROM BACKYARDS TO BIOLINKS: ROYAL BOTANIC GARDENS VICTORIA’S ROLE IN URBAN GREENINGChris Russell

SDG 12: RESPONSIBLE CONSUMPTION AND PRODUCTION BOTANIC GARDENS IN MIGRATION SETTINGSMarie-Cakupewa Fundiko and Bartjan Bakker

SDG 13: CLIMATE CHANGEBEING LESS BAD IS NOT GOOD ENOUGH ANYMORERichard Piacentini

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IN THIS ISSUE...

The theme of thisedition of BGjournalis botanic gardenssupporting theSustainableDevelopment Goals,highlighting theintersections betweenplant diversity and

sustainable development – intersectionswhich occur pretty much everywhere interrestrial ecosystems! As always, when wetry to make the case for biological diversityunderpinning our life support systems, wequickly come up against the question of‘How much biodiversity do we need?’When he was Director of the MillenniumSeed Bank, my former boss Roger Smithused to say to people who asked thisquestion ‘Well, you tell us which plantspecies to ignore, and let’s see if historyproves you right.’ The point he was makingis that although we do not know how muchdiversity we need, we do know that themore plant diversity we can conserve andmanage sustainably, the more options forhuman innovation, adaptation andresilience there will be. This point is madeeloquently by Marie Haga (ExecutiveDirector of the Crop Trust) and RichardDeverell (Director of the Royal BotanicGardens, Kew) in their conversation aboutplants and food security (p.10). As Mariesays, ‘we have an untapped resource: theamazing wealth of agricultural biodiversity -the thousands upon thousands of edibleplants – that nature has given us. By fullytapping into this global public good, wemake miracles possible; like developingplants that can stand higher temperatures,that can fight a new pest or provide highernutritional value.’

Unfortunately, there are schools of thoughtthat technology alone will solve all of ourproblems – food security, water scarcity,energy, health and climate change.

To slightly paraphrase Matt Damon inthe Hollywood movie ‘The Martian’, ‘weare going to science the hell out of this’.While advances in biotechnology areundoubtedly essential if we are going tofind ways to live more sustainably, theidea that we can simply research ourway out of trouble, without caring forwhat nature has provided us with, isboth naïve and dangerous. At the recentInternational Botanical Congress inShenzhen – a conference at whichgenomics and biotechnology had astrong presence – I was asked in apublic question and answer session‘Why do we need to conserve plantswhen we can simply manufacture theplant species that we need?’ My answerwas that (a) we can’t (yet) manufacturethe plants that we need withoutsourcing genetic material from plants innature and (b) if we don’t get into thehabit of looking after what we alreadyhave, what hope do we have ofmanaging anything sustainably?

With a global footfall of 500 millionvisitors a year, botanic gardens have thepower to change attitudes. However,recent research from the zoo communitysuggests that simply informing peoplethat there is a problem is not enough tochange behaviour significantly1.Education programmes have impactwhen they both inform and empowerpeople to do things differently. Thismeans venturing outside our gardenwalls to work with society. It is striking inSuzanne Sharrock’s article on botanicgardens and the 2030 SustainableDevelopment Goals (p.14) that the vastmajority of botanic garden activitieslisted in Table 1 are doing exactly that.They are working with urban and ruralcommunities helping them to conserve,grow and use plants sustainably. Thisapproach is epitomised in the article on

responsible consumption and productionof traditional plants in a migration settingin the Democratic Republic of Congo (p. 34) where the authors are workingwith rural migrants to ensure they haveaccess to medicines and food. Similarly,the botanical knowledge of experts at theRoyal Botanic Gardens Kew, combinedwith traditional knowledge, is being usedto alleviate poverty (SDG1) inMozambique (p.18).

In completely different, urban, developedcountry settings, the Royal BotanicalGardens in Ontario is working with localauthorities and nature conservationgroups to clean up urban wetlands onLake Ontario (p.26), while the RoyalBotanic Gardens Victoria collaborateswith urban planners in Melbourne toincorporate wildlife corridors and greenspaces into the planning process,helping both to protect native speciesand improve the quality of people’s lives.One of the most inspiring urban storiesin this edition of BGjournal comes fromPhipps Conservatory in Pennsylvannia.Through a combination of showing howit can be done, demonstrating the costof fossil fuel use and offering incentivesto encourage visitors to change, 2,000families have switched to renewableelectricity – the equivalent of 32,000barrels of oil not being burnt each year.

In all of these cases, botanic gardens areworking outside their garden walls,helping broader society to live moresustainably. I hope you find this asinspiring as I do!

Dr Paul SmithBGCI Secretary General

BGCI • 2018 • BGjournal • Vol 15 (1) • 0202

EDITORIAL:BOTANIC GARDENS ANDTHE SUSTAINABLEDEVELOPMENT GOALS

1Moss, Jensen & Gusset. 2017. Probing the link between biodiversity-related knowledge and self-reported pro-conservation behavior in a

global survey of zoo visitors. Conservation Letters 10 (1), 33-40.


FEATURES

NEWS FROM BGCI

PLANT HUNTING TALES:BOTANICAL SURVEYS IN JAPAN - FINDING OUT WHAT’S THERE AND WHAT'S NOT

FEATURED GARDEN:BAEKDUDAEGAN NATIONAL ARBORETUM,BAEKDUDAEGAN, SOUTH KOREA

INTERVIEW: TALKING PLANTS

Arboretum Wespelaar

HOW DID WE DO IN 2017?

BGCI has recentlypublished its 2017Member’s Review. The review provides a synthesis of ouractivities over the year,and has producedsome impressivestatistics. For example,in 2017, BGCI trained957 people from 310

institutions in 48 countries, while ourwork with the Global Trees Campaignsupported the integrated conservation of 120 tree species in 17 countries,generating over 450,000 seedlings for reintroduction and reinforcementplanting. During the year, BGCIdisbursed funds totalling US$ 1,048,250to botanic gardens and other botanicalinstitutions. As always, this figure ismany times what we receive inmembership subscriptions and we hope is an indication that membership of BGCI is a good investment in ourcommunity of botanic gardens.

For more information about BGCImembership, visit: www.bgci.org/joinin

WANTED! CASE STUDIES ONHOW YOUR BOTANIC GARDENHAS CONTRIBUTEDFINANCIALLY, SOCIALLY ORENVIRONMENTALLY TO LOCALSOCIETY

BGCI is compiling a Technical Review onhow botanic gardens and arboretarepresent excellent value for money andreturn on investment, financially, sociallyand environmentally. We are particularlyinterested in reports commissioned bybotanic gardens, and carried out by thirdparties, that show how botanic gardens:

• Contribute financially to the local,regional or national economy;

• Deliver educational services for localauthorities (e.g. schools programmes,adult education);

• Deliver social services to the localcommunity (e.g. mental health andwell-being; volunteering opportunities,act as cultural hubs etc.);

• Deliver environmental data, services oradvice to government or civil society.

If you are aware of any such studies,please contact [email protected].

RAISING FUNDS FOR ISLANDTREE CONSERVATION

At the end of 2017, BGCI took part in theUK’s Big Give Christmas Challenge andraised nearly £20,000 to support treeconservation on islands. The Big GiveChristmas Challenge is a yearlyfundraising event that sees donationsdoubled by matched funds.

BGCI is currently working to safeguardtree species from extinction in Fiji,Mauritius, the Seychelles and Haiti. In2018. BGCI will extend this to includeother islands where tree species run therisk of being lost forever, facing threatssuch as extreme weather and invasivespecies.

Find out more: www.bgci.org/news-and-events/news/1448/

THE WORLD’S BOTANICGARDENS CONTAIN A THIRD OFALL KNOWN PLANT SPECIES

In collaboration with BGCI, researchersfrom the University of Cambridge havecarried out the most comprehensiveanalysis to date of diversity in ex situcollections. The researchers analysedthe species records of a third of theworld’s botanic gardens, some 1,116institutions, compiled by BGCI in itsPlantSearch database, cross-referencingthis with the working list of known plantspecies – currently sitting at 350,699.

BGCI • 2018 • BGjournal • Vol 15 (1) • 04-0504

FEATURE

NEWS FROM BGCI

Coline Amos

Mélanie Zogheb

The study found an “astonishing array”of plant diversity in the global botanicgarden network, with the world’s botanicgardens containing at least 30% of allknown plant species, including 41% ofall those classed as ‘threatened’.However, the researchers also found asignificant imbalance between tropicaland temperate plants, and recommendthat even more capacity should be givento conservation. The study, published inthe journal Nature Plants, found that theglobal network of botanic gardensconserves living plants representingalmost two-thirds of plant genera andover 90% of plant families.

To find out more and read the full paper,visit: www.bgci.org/news-and-events/news/1428/

As a result of the study, BGCI hasidentified 20 Angiosperm families andalmost 7,000 threatened tree speciesthat appear to be completely missingfrom botanic garden living collections.To see the full list of plants missing fromex situ collections and to help fill thegaps, visit: www.bgci.org/news-and-events/news/1432/

10TH INTERNATIONALCONGRESS ON EDUCATION IN BOTANIC GARDENS

The call for abstracts for BGCI's 10thInternational Congress on Education inBotanic Gardens is now open. This evententitled "Bringing Life to the City" will takeplace at the University of Warsaw BotanicGarden on 9-14th September 2018. TheCongress sessions will be based aroundthe seven themes of the Congress:

• City gardens;• New educational tools;• Working together;• Supporting formal education;

• Reaching new audiences;• Measuring impact;• Education in Polish botanic gardens.

For further information and to submityour abstract, visit the Congresswebsite: www.ogrod.uw.edu.pl/en/congress2018

We hope to see many of you there.

THE RED LIST OF THEACEAE

BGCI’s latestRed List reportwas published atthe beginning of2018. The RedList of Theaceae,the tea family,reported thatmore than a thirdof the world’sTheaceae

species are threatened with extinction. In preparing the report, BGCI completedassessments for 254 Theaceae speciesand identified 85 as threatened withextinction. Sadly, the report alsoidentified two species as Extinct in theWild, the Franklin tree Frankliniaalatamaha and Camellia amplexicaulis,highlighting the urgent need forconservation action.

Tea itself (Camellia sinensis) wasassessed as Data Deficient; despite itsglobal cultivation there is a lack ofavailable information on wild populationsof the species and nearly half of all otherCamellia species are at risk of extinctionin the wild.

An associated ex situ survey revealedthat currently only 51% of threatenedTheaceae species are present in ex situcollections, with the majority of DataDeficient species not being incollections. The results of the full ex situsurvey are included in the report.

For more information and to downloadthe report, visit: www.bgci.org/news-and-events/news/1452/

Watch out for our next Red Listpublication. The Fraxinus Red List –coming soon…..

CARE FOR THE RARE

As part of the Care for the Rareinterpretation program, BGCI-US, inpartnership with the United StatesBotanic Garden, has launched a multi-site mobile app for gardens to use tohighlight the important plants in theircollections. The app is currently beingpiloted across 10 gardens in the UnitedStates with plans to expand to a globaluser group in 2018.

EX SITU SURVEY OF ORCHIDS

An ex situ collections assessment oforchids was completed by BGCI-US inpartnership with the United StatesBotanic Garden, using a list of 30,477orchid species from the World Checklistof Orchids and information from 468 plantand seed collections of orchids reportedin BGCI’s PlantSearch database. Of 789orchid genera, 516 (65%) are reported inex situ collections. The majority (64%) ofthe 604 globally threatened orchidspecies are not yet reported in any ex situcollections, and 20% are reported in fiveor fewer collections.

CONSERVATION OF NORTHAMERICAN THREATENEDSPECIES

An ex situ gap analysis of NorthAmerican threatened species wasconducted by BGCI-US in partnershipwith the United States Botanic Garden.Data from BGCI’s PlantSearch andThreatSearch databases identified that3,598 (47%) of the 7,662 globallythreatened species in North America are currently reported in 706 ex situcollections around the world. One-third(1,100) of those species are reported byonly one ex situ collection.


Franklinia alatamaha(Arboretum Wespelaar)

(BaekdudaeganArboretum)

document the flora of the country toinform conservation initiatives forthreatened species. This data is gatheredthrough botanical surveys which quicklyquantify the species diversity of a givenarea. Plant diversity data strengthenshotspot designation and providesvaluable information for a range ofresearch and conservation activities suchas species status assessments, ex situconservation planning and restorationinitiatives. Partnerships with botanicgardens across the country such as thosewith Toyama and Tsukuba botanicgardens on Honshu Island are key tocollating the data from these surveys andfor collecting species for ex situconservation in the UK.

During my visit to Japan, I joined BenJones, Curator of the Harcourt Arboretumand Chris Thorogood, Director of Scienceand Public Engagement at OBGA

BGCI • 2018 • BGjournal • Vol 15 (1) • 06-07 06

FEATURE

Plant hunting may evoke an imageof an intrepid explorer strugglingfor weeks in hard conditions for

that one target species, with thoughts ofall other species forsaken. However,today, plant hunting is usually is moreabout gathering information on plantcommunities and understanding thedistribution of species in order to informconservation prioritization and action.This I learned during a trip to ToyamaPrefecture, Japan in July 2017 to join

botanists from the University of OxfordBotanic Garden and Harcourt Arboretum(OBGA) and the Toyama Botanic Gardento carry out surveys and gatherimportant botanical data.

Japan is a biodiversity hotspot withapproximately 7,000 native plant species.The diversity of species across thecountry has long been to the focus of an ongoing project led by the OBGA. The project’s aim to is to collect and

PLANT HUNTING TALESBOTANICAL SURVEYS IN JAPAN -FINDING OUT WHAT’S THERE ANDWHAT'S NOTSurveys for plant species in temperate Japan provide

important information for conservation activities

Author: Jean Linsky

Tateyama Caldera (Jean Linsky)

The group collecting specimens (Ben Jones)


to conduct botanical surveys of areaswhere the OBGA had surveyed and madeplant collections in previous years, and togather new data from un-surveyedlocations. After meeting the local expertteam at Toyama Botanic Garden, we wereready to visit our first site, the impressiveTateyama Caldera, a natural basin formedas a result of volcanic activity and erosion.

Tateyama Caldera has been a major areafor research in erosion control for over100 years and more recently a researcharea for natural history. Exploring theflora surrounding the disused Tateyamahot spring requires hard hats and firmfootwear. This area had not beensurveyed by the OBGA project previouslyand results of the survey work and floralobservations will add direct data to verifypredictions of species distributions andclarify areas containing rare species. TheTateyama Caldera area hosts some therecognizable temperate species of Japansuch as those from the genera Acer andHydrangea as well as the Honshuendemic Salix rupifraga, recognized asVulnerable in Japan.

During the week, the real excitementbegan during the re-sampling of a site atthe Nei No Sato, Toyama OutdoorMuseum. This site had been previouslysampled during the autumn season inOctober so re-sampling during thesummer was expected to reveal seasonalspecies and build our understanding ofthe species diversity in the area.

The team spread out across the samplingsite, making collections of every speciesencountered. In addition to theherbaceous and shrub plants found, acanopy tree count for each sampled sitewas made. After the sampling, weregrouped to identify what had beencollected in order to create an inventoryof species for that site. Any species foundmore than once was deemed ’onaji’,meaning ‘the same’ in Japanese as only asingle voucher of each species ismaintained as a representative of thediversity of that area. This process ofidentification requires local experttaxonomic botanists and we were luckyto have such expertise from the ToyamaBotanic Garden. While my skills inidentification of species in the Japaneseflora were rough to start with, by the endof the trip, I was able to recognize someof the more common species foundduring our surveys. The list compiled inthe Nei No Sato site will be compared bythe team at OBGA to the survey made inOctober and provide valuable informationon species distribution in Japan as wellas species community-level data, whichwill be useful for restoration initiatives inareas with similar characteristics.

With the plant hunting on Honshucomplete, the OBGA team moved on tothe northern island of Hokkaido, toconduct further surveys and tostrengthen ex situ collections of Japanesespecies at OBGA. One of their mostinteresting finds was the rare parasiticplant Phacellanthus tubiflorus, a speciesnot known in cultivation. Seed of thisspecies will be grown at OBGA to

contribute to the conservation of thespecies and to enrich their collection ofrare and unusual parasitic plants – a keypriority for OBGA.

The results of the botanical surveys - dataand living plant collections - allow teammembers in the UK and Japan to advanceplant conservation knowledge and actionthrough collaboration. The conservationvalue of botanic garden collections isimproved through field data collection,information which is sometimes missedwhen the blinders are on in the hunt for asingle plant species. So, as the work ofthe Oxford Botanic Garden and HarcourtArboretum continues, additional surveyingtrips will collect information from thesouthern, tropical areas of Japan, whichmeans there are many more plant huntingstories to come!

Collecting data in the field (Jean Linsky)

Sorting species specimens (Chris Thorogood)

Phacellanthus tubiflorus (ChrisThorogood)

Establishing the arboretum

Founded in 2015, BaekdudaeganNational Arboretum (BDNA), is anewly established arboretum in

South Korea, due to officially open to thepublic in 2018. Located in the centre of

Baekdudaegan, the largest and longestmountain range on the Korean Peninsula,BDNA plays a key role in plantconservation, addressing climate changeissues, the sustainable utilization of plantresources and public education. Inaddition, BDNA has the extensive facilitiesfor scientific research, including a SeedVault and an Alpine House to conserveendangered plant species, especiallythose affected by climate change.

Strategic planning

Loss of biodiversity due to rapidenvironmental changes and risingtemperatures, requires a global response.To address this, the Korea Forest Servicehas developed the National ArboretaExpansion Plan, which aims to develop aseries of national arboreta in differentclimates and eco-zones for plantconservation and restoration ecology.


FEATURE

FEATURED GARDENBAEKDUDAEGAN NATIONAL ARBORETUM

BDNA was founded in 2015 as part of theNational Arboreta Expansion Plan. Sinceits establishment, BDNA has developed aScience Strategic Plan to be achieved by2030, with the aim of fulfilling SustainableDevelopment Goals 13 and 15 (ClimateAction and Life on Land). BDNA’s sciencestrategic plan includes the following;

1) Plant diversity and conservation; 2) Creating new value by promoting the

sustainable use of ecosystems andmanaging forest resources;

3) Delivering public value and providingenjoyable and inspiring forest services.

Conservation activities

For plant diversity conservation, BDNAfocuses on the banking of wild plantspecies, especially endangered andendemic species. BDNA has a SeedVault facility and expertise to carry out

Author: Min Kim

Rémy Gindroz

The Alpine House

seed conservation research. The SeedVault will be used to study seedphysiology for the long-term storage offorest seeds.

Furthermore, in order to protect, restoreand promote the sustainable use ofecosystems and manage forestresources, BDNA carries out a range ofstudies and activities. These include:

• biodiversity conservation in theBaekdudaegan area;

• studies of climate change impacts onforest ecosystems;

• ex situ conservation of alpine plantsfrom the Asian region (BDNA AlpineHouse);

• ecological restoration of degradedecosystems in Baekdudaegan;

• preservation of natural productsderived from forest biodiversity.

BDNA also provides an enjoyable andinspiring service to visitors. It iscontinually improving its gardenmanagement systems and provides highquality education to the public in orderto promote awareness of plant diversity.BDNA directly supports the Korea ForestService in achieving their priorities forimproving the forest and theenvironment, and we believe theseoutputs will have positive impacts onglobal environmental issues.

Seed Vault

The mission of BDNA’s Seed Vault is tosecure plant diversity from the risks ofclimate change and national disasters,and to store seeds from South Koreaand across the globe. It is Asia’s firstand largest permanent seed store, withan underground tunnel-type structure,covering an area of 4,327m2 at 40mbelow the surface. It has the capacity tostore more than 2 million seeds.

Alpine house

BDNA’s Alpine House is a large-scalecool greenhouse, built to support ex situconservation and to exhibit alpine plantsof the world. It is designed to conserveforest resources that are threatened dueto climate change. BDNA’s Alpine Houseconsists of three buildings with threedifferent kinds of alpine environmentsfrom around the world. It has an area of1,565m2 and is arranged on 2 levels(ground floor and underground floor).

BDNA is an arboretum managed bythe Korea Institute of ArboretumManagement (KIAM) and is supportedby the Korean government, KoreaForest Service (KFS). KIAM has beendirected in the Creation andFurtherance of Arboretums andGardens Act (Article 18-13), andsupports wider Korean governmentobjectives, through internationalcollaboration, research anddevelopment across the globe.

BDNA has extensive facilities forscientific research, including a SeedVault, Seed Bank, scientificlaboratories and gardens with 27different themes, such as a RockGarden, Rhododendron Garden andBaekdudaegan Native Plants Garden.


Seed Vault

Rock Garden


INTERVIEWTALKING PLANTS

In this issue of BGjournal, our interview consists of a conversation between Marie Haga, ExecutiveDirector of the Crop Trust, and Richard Deverell,Director of the Royal Botanic Gardens Kew, UK,

FEATURE

Marie Haga (MH): Hi Richard. Greatspeaking to you. Our organizations havea common goal in contributing to foodand nutritional security for each one ofus on the globe – today and in the future.Agriculture is facing its biggestchallenges ever due to climate change,population growth and growingcompetition for diminishing naturalresources. We are all up for trouble.

Business as usual is just not an option.We cannot rely on more water, moreland, more fertilizers, and morepesticides to produce sufficient amountsof the right food. However, there isreason for hope. We have an untappedresource: the amazing wealth ofagricultural biodiversity - the thousandsupon thousands of edible plants – thatnature has given us. By fully tapping intothis global public good, we makemiracles possible, like developing plantsthat can stand higher temperatures, thatcan fight a new pest or provide highernutritional value. To make the most of

this resource, we need to safeguard it.The international community has finallyacknowledged the urgency of doing so.

Under the Sustainable DevelopmentGoals, the United Nations has made acall to action for this very purpose underSDG 2, which aims to end hunger andpromote more sustainable agriculture.SDG Target 2.5 states that all agro-biodiversity has to be safeguarded by2020. How do you see botanicalgardens, such as the Royal BotanicGardens, Kew, contributing to this?

Richard Deverell (RD): Hello Marie,good to be speaking with you again.Botanic gardens have an incrediblyimportant role in helping secure asustainable food supply for humanity. As you say, we are currently facing somegrave challenges. How will we feed 2billion extra people on earth in the next30 years, at a time of unprecedentedclimate change, while also facing whatmany refer to as the sixth global

extinction event? Botanic gardens havesignificant knowledge of plant diversityand its uses across the globe. We are aresource for scientists and agronomistswho are trying to achieve food securityand end hunger. But we also play anactive role in educating and engaging thepublic about the importance of plants inhelping answer that question. Plants areoften forgotten, but it is our role to speakout and to excite the public about howvital plants are for all of us. We have aduty to promote the importance ofplants, both in our gardens and acrossthe communities we serve.

MH: The experiential learning botanicgardens offer is one of the best andmost effective ways to deliver thatmessage. More and more people areconcerned about what they eat; wheretheir food comes from; and the impact ofour environmental footprint. I believe thatbotanical gardens are well situated forthis conversation because they reachmore than 500 million visitors a year,

Richard and Mariatalk about the rolebotanic gardensshould play in

achieving Target 2.5 of the UnitedNations Sustainable Development Goals.Marie and Richard are part of the FoodForever Initiative (FFI), a platform thataddresses Target 2.5 by raisingawareness for the importance andurgency to conserve and use agriculturalbiodiversity for enhanced food andnutritional security.

Ground nuts cleaned and shelled (ICRISAT)

SDG2: End hunger, achievefood security and improvednutrition and promotesustainable agriculture

Target 2.5:By 2020, maintain thegenetic diversity of seeds, cultivated plantsand farmed and domesticated animals andtheir related wild species, includingthrough soundly managed and diversifiedseed and plant banks at the national,regional and international levels...

Botanical gardens can help bridge theknowledge gap, allowing visitors – us,city-dwellers – to actually see how theproducts found in markets are grown.Can you tell us more about these livingcollections?

RD: I often like to remind people thatmuch of the food we eat today isn’t‘natural’. You won’t find broccoli or aquintessentially English granny smithapple growing in the wild. They are theproduct of generations of domesticationand careful breeding, just like my petspaniel relates to a wolf. Botanicgardens’ living collections are generallyfull of wild species, so there might beapple species that represent theancestral type of the shiny fruit we buytoday. And these wild relatives will holddifferent genetic material that makesthem probably more robust and resilientto variable environments. It is cruciallyimportant to preserve this geneticresource to allow agronomists to breedthese traits back into our domesticatedvarieties if and when they are needed.When we display these wild plants inKew, we try to tell these stories. I amvery keen to see more and find ways toengage our visitors to think and talkabout these topics.

While many people know Kew for ourbeautiful gardens, at our heart we are aglobal scientific and conservationorganization. Some of the science we dowith partners around the world isincredibly inspiring. You mentionedcoffee, which is the second most tradedcommodity around the world by valueafter oil. In Ethiopia it is estimated tosupport the livelihoods of 15 millionpeople and it generates a quarter of thecountry’s export earnings. Ethiopia alsohappens to be the evolutionary home ofArabica coffee, which is very sensitive tovariability in weather patterns. Kew’sscientists, led by Dr. Aaron Davisworking with colleagues from AddisAbaba University, recently modeled theimpacts of potential climate scenariosand generated managementrecommendations for the Ethiopiangovernment on this vital and culturallyimportant crop. Even though the modelsestimated that up to 60% of the currentgrowing area would become unsuitablefor coffee production by the end of thecentury, decisions made now wouldallow adaptation that would actually leadto increased coffee production.


from all walks of life. People can actuallyengage physically with the amazingsights, tempting smells and the texturesof all that nature has to offer.

The work and mission of botanicalgardens fits perfectly with the newtrends related to the growing concernpeople share towards the food they eat.But even more, people need tounderstand and appreciate how the foodwe eat is directly linked to the land, theplants, and the people that nourish us.There is a huge gap that must beaddressed here.

RD: At Kew Gardens, we address this bynot only connecting with those who visitus personally, but also with people wellbeyond our garden walls through theinternet and outreach programs such asGrow Wild. Botanic gardens are placeswhere people can lose themselves in thebeauty of plants. But they are placesthat feed the mind too. Over 80% of ourvisitors tell us that they learn somethingduring their visit to Kew Gardens, and Ihope that all 100,000 school children wehost on educational visits come awaywith new knowledge and a sense ofwonder about the plant kingdom. At themost basic level, everyone needs foodand therefore food is a great place tostart a conversation about theimportance of plants to their lives.

MH: Many botanical gardens also have living plant collections, actual'conservation-in-action' gardens. The Royal Botanic Garden, Edinburgh,comes to mind, which I know has anedible gardening project. In my view weneed more of these efforts. Because thetruth is that most of us are very farremoved from the realities that farmersface, everyday. Many of us drink coffeeevery morning. Yet few people know theintricacies of the coffee tree and itsextreme climate sensitivity.

We showcased this research in one ofour cafes, and it’s proving really popularwith our visitors.

MH: What you say is very true, andindeed inspiring. Every time I visit Kew,the beauty and stories amaze me. In ashort time, one can learn so much. But asyou mentioned, Kew is much more thanthat. I’ve witnessed that through our CropWild Relatives (CWR) Project, wherein aglobal network of actors is working hardto collect, conserve and use the diversityfound in the cousins of our food crops.

These wild relatives of domesticatedcrops are part of the untapped resourceswe were speaking about, which we need– and will depend on more so in the future– to help adapt our crops to newchallenges brought about by climatechange. These wild plants, with theirthorns, colorful flowers and weird shapes,have traits often lost in the domesticationprocess, over agriculture’s 12,000-yearevolution. The CWR Project is one clearexample that contributes directly to theimplementation of Target 2.5, and we arecertainly proud and grateful to have theMillennium Seed Bank, Kew as a keypartner in this ten-year global effort.

RD: In our living collections we havehundreds of species that are globallythreatened, including some that we havesaved from the brink of extinction. Ourwild botanic garden at Wakehurst is thehome of the Millennium Seed Bank, anambitious global partnership project thataims to conserve 25% of the world’splant species in viable seed collectionsby 2020. We focus on endangered,endemic and economically importantspecies in this work. As part of theeconomically important species, we aredelighted to be working with the CropTrust to collect and conserve the wildrelatives of 29 globally important cropspecies. The Millennium Seed Bank is an invaluable insurance policy againstextinction, and also a resource foragricultural research. As you know,under our joint project, we recently sent70,000 seeds from 50 species related towheat, barley and lentils to ICARDA(International Center for AgricultureResearch in the Dry Areas) in Lebanon to allow them to include the materials intheir collections for further distributionand research on improving crops forbetter climate resilience and otherbreeding objectives.

Luis Salazar

MH: Are there major trends in howbotanical gardens are expanding theircore activities to embrace currentconcerns?

RD: Each botanic garden is different,with some focusing more on nativeplants and others on exotics, or perhapssome being more active in research andothers focusing more on publicengagement and education. But I thinkall of us are acutely aware of the 21stCentury challenges facing humanity, andthe vast majority of us are trying to helpsolve them. I am strongly in favor of aplural approach, we should each betrying new things that are right for us,and learn from the experiences of oneanother. But on some topics, such asfood security, I would like to see morecollaboration to make a bigger impact.With the proximity of the targets aroundSDG 2.5, I would love to see botanicgardens around the world speaking witha loud voice on the importance of theprotection of wild plant diversity for thebenefit of food security over the comingcentury. It is such an important issue.

MH: What about small botanical gardens?What is their role in helping their countriesachieve Target 2.5 by 2020?

RD: Every botanic garden has a role,even where their resources or capacitymight be modest. Many of the people inbotanic gardens we have worked withhave incredible knowledge about plantdiversity, its uses and conservationpriorities. Many of them work with other

institutions nationally and abroad or with BGCI to combine resources todocument local plant diversity, engagecitizens with that knowledge and activelyconserve the species they hold so dear.

MH: And the same can be said for manyof the dedicated staff working in localgenebanks as well. However, manypeople still do not understand the valueof crop diversity. Wheat originated in theFertile Crescent, in Turkey and Syria, andtoday it is grown across the world, evenin the coldest regions of Canada andSiberia. Who would have thought thiswould be possible? Crop diversityprovides us with the traits– like drought,heat, flood or disease-resistance thatmake our food crops more resilient tonew climates, such as with wheat. Theyare amazing! But how can we expectpeople – from politicians and CEOs toconsumers worldwide– to helpsafeguard the foundation of our food, ifthey are not aware of it? Nor the urgentneed to conserve it?

This is why we launched the FoodForever Initiative, which – in support ofTarget 2.5 – aims at raising awarenessfor the importance and urgency toconserve and use this agriculturalbiodiversity. And I am pleased that youhave decided to add your name to thenotable list of Champions of the FoodForever Initiative. Why did you commit tothis global effort?

RD: When I first heard about the FoodForever Initiative, it made perfect senseto me. Global food security is, in myview, one of the most important issuesthat botanic gardens can help solve.Knowing that humanity relies on such anarrow stream of genetic diversity –consuming around 60% of our caloriesglobally from just three species of plant –the Initiative’s aim of raising awarenessof biodiversity for the benefit of foodsecurity felt like something that I had tosupport. Seeing the other Champions, Iam rather humbled to be amongst them,but I hope that I will be able to make acontribution that makes a difference.Together, I am confident that theChampions and all the partnerorganizations can make a real changefor the benefit of humankind.

MH: These Food Forever ‘Champions’come from a range of demographic andprofessional backgrounds -- we have

high-level government officials, seniorexecutives, civil society leaders, andother eminent personalities. This effortaims to reach the world’s decisionmakers, and thankfully, many stronginfluencers have already joined FFI,starting with the FFI Chairperson, thePresident of Mauritius, Ameenah Gurib-Fakim. Other distinguished Championsinclude the Vice President of Peru,Mercedes Aráoz; Kees Kruythoff,President of Unilever North America; andNikolay Dzyubenko, Director of theVavilov Research Institute of PlantIndustry (VIR).

There are many more Champions; toomany to list here. But together, you areright, we can make a difference.Awareness will lead to concern, which inturn will lead to action.

RD: People often feel remote from beingable to make an impact on global issuessuch as food security. I believe that themore people know about the importanceof plant diversity for food security, themore they will value plants and thereforedemand action from their politicians andinstitutions. So, I hope that the FoodForever Initiative will be able to reach outto people around the world, throughbotanic gardens, but also beyond, toengage citizens in understanding andcaring about this topic. I spent most ofmy career before joining Kew working atthe BBC and saw first-hand how good,engaging and enchantingcommunications can make a real,positive and lasting impact.

MH: Thank you so much, Richard. It’salways inspiring to talk with suchcommitted individuals, whose efforts arehelping to secure the biodiversity we allneed to ensure our food, forever. Anylast words?

RD: Botanic gardens can do a lot, interms of the science we do, thecollections we hold and the way that weengage with the public. But botanicgardens are only one part of the answerto the challenge of food security. I amparticularly thankful that we are able towork with the Crop Trust in this sharedendeavor; your leadership in this area isto be applauded.

More information about the Food ForeverInitiative is available at:https://www.food4ever.org/

BGCI • 2018 • BGjournal • Vol 15 (1)12

Luis Salazar

ARTICLESBOTANIC GARDENS AND THE 2030

SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT AGENDA

SDG 1: NO POVERTYBALANCING CONSERVATION AND

LIVELIHOODS IN THE CHIMANIMANI FOREST BELT, MOZAMBIQUE

SDG 4: QUALITY EDUCATIONBUILDING ENVIRONMENTAL

AWARENESS THROUGH INFORMALOUTREACH OPPORTUNITIES

SDG 6: CLEAN WATER AND SANITATION TWENTY YEARS OF ECOLOGICAL

RESTORATION OF WETLAND HABITATS BY THE ROYAL BOTANICAL GARDENS, ONTARIO.

SDG 11: SUSTAINABLE CITIES AND COMMUNITIES

FROM BACKYARDS TO BIOLINKS: ROYAL BOTANIC GARDENS VICTORIA’S

ROLE IN URBAN GREENING

SDG 12: RESPONSIBLE CONSUMPTION AND PRODUCTION

BOTANIC GARDENS IN MIGRATION SETTINGS

SDG 13: CLIMATE CHANGEBEING LESS BAD IS NOT

GOOD ENOUGH ANYMORE


Alex Hudson

The SDGs call for action by allcountries, poor, middle-incomeand rich, to promote prosperity

while protecting the planet. Theyrecognize that ending poverty must gohand-in-hand with strategies that buildeconomic growth and address a range ofsocial needs including education, health,social protection, and job opportunities,while tackling climate change andenvironmental protection.

While the SDGs are not legally binding,governments are expected to takeownership and establish national

frameworks for their achievement.Countries have the primary responsibilityfor follow-up and review of the progressmade in implementing the Goals, whichwill require quality, accessible and timelydata collection.

Biodiversity and the SDGs

Biodiversity is at the centre of manyeconomic activities, particularly thoserelated to agriculture, forestry andfisheries. Globally nearly half of thehuman population are directlydependant on natural resources for their


ARTICLE

BOTANIC GARDENS AND THE 2030SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT AGENDA

The 2030 Sustainable Development Agenda and associated Sustainable Development Goals

(SDGs) were developed to succeed the Millennium Development Goals and were adopted in

2015 by the international community through the United Nations. With 17 goals and 169

targets, the SDGs recognise the inter-relationships between human development and the

environmental, economic, social and political context in which it occurs.

Author: Suzanne Sharrock


livelihoods, and many of the mostvulnerable people depend directly onbiodiversity to fulfil their dailysubsistence needs. The conservation,restoration and sustainable use ofecosystems is essential for sustainabledevelopment. Biodiversity is also a keyfactor in the achievement of foodsecurity and improved nutrition. Geneticdiversity in food crops helps to ensurethe evolution of species, allowing themto adapt to changing conditions andbuild resilience to stress. Healthyecosystems also underpin the delivery ofwater supplies and guard against water-related hazards, while wood, coal andcharcoal provide energy for cooking andheating to over 3 billion people aroundthe world. In cities, urban planning thatintegrates the considerations ofbiodiversity can contribute to moresustainable communities. For example,strategic placement of trees in urbanareas can cool air between 20C and 80C,reducing air conditioning needs andsaving energy.

Botanic gardens and the SDGs

Botanic gardens, with their focus onunderstanding, conserving andsustainably using plant diversity, as wellas raising awareness of environmentalissues, are involved in many activitiesthat contribute to the achievement of theSDGs. Table 1 provides some examplesof these activities

The SDG framework

It can be seen from Table 1 that botanicgardens are able to contribute to all 17of the SDGs, and the SDG frameworktherefore provides a useful tool to linkthe work of botanic gardens to that ofnational development initiatives. Whilethe Global Strategy for PlantConservation (GSPC) provides a clear‘road map’ for the conservation work ofbotanic gardens, the SDGs go beyondplant conservation, encompassing thefull diversity of activities carried out bybotanic gardens.

The SDGs are not a set of stand-alonegoals, but should be seen as a networkof goals and associated targets, in whichlinks among goals exist through targetsthat address more than one goal. As anintegrated system, the SDGs aim tofacilitate policy integration acrosssectors. For example, activities carriedout under SDG 12 (Sustainableconsumption and production) areconsidered to be relevant to theachievement 14 of the 17 SDGs (LeBlanc, 2015). From a botanic gardenperspective, this may provide amechanism to help demonstrate therelevance of a garden to governmentdepartments other than the one to whichit is administratively linked.

Some botanic gardens are already usingthe SDGs to guide their owndevelopment policies – framing theirwork in an agenda that links their moreconventional plant documentation,research and conservation activities withtargets for poverty alleviation and foodsecurity. Projects that use scientificknowledge to support livelihooddevelopment demonstrate theimportance of the expertise availablewithin the global botanic gardencommunity. The combined knowledgeof the world’s plant diversity isincreasingly being made availablethrough a range of tools and resourcesdeveloped within the community, and isa unique resource that policy makersand governments can draw on as theydevelop and implement national SDGframeworks.

References

, Le Blanc, D. 2015. Towardsintegration at last? The SustainableDevelopment Goals as a network oftargets. DESA Working Paper No. 141.ST/ESA/2015/DWP/141.

Suzanne SharrockBGCI199 Kew Road, Richmond, TW9 3BW UK

Harvesting agricultural trial plots (ICARDA Terbol)


Table 1: Botanic gardens contributing to the SDGs

SDG1:End poverty in all its formseverywhere

SDG 2: End hunger, achieve foodsecurity and improved nutritionand promote sustainableagriculture

SDG 3:Ensure healthy lives andpromote well-being for all at all ages

SDG 4:Ensure inclusive and equitablequality education and promotelifelong learning opportunitiesfor all

SDG 5: Achieve gender equality andempower all women and girls

SDG 6:Ensure availability andsustainable management ofwater and sanitation for all

SDG 7:Ensure access to affordable,reliable, sustainable and modernenergy for all

SDG 8:Promote sustained, inclusive andsustainable economic growth, fulland productive employment anddecent work for all

SDG 9:Build resilient infrastructure,promote inclusive andsustainable industrialization andfoster innovation

SDG Examples of botanic garden activities

• Working with local communities to develop value-added productsfrom local plant resources

• Assisting local communities to document and safeguard traditionalknowledge and practices so that they remain available to supportsustainable plant use.

• Creating employment locally

• Conservation of crop wild relatives and other plant speciesimportant for food security at the local level

• Raising awareness of the importance of agro-biodiversity and itsconservation needs

• Supporting local food production initiatives

• Documentation, conservation and research on medicinal plants • Horticultural therapy • Promoting healthy living to visitors and local communities

• Education and awareness raising on biodiversity and sustainabilityissues for all ages, both through the formal and informal educationsectors

• Working with women’s groups at local community level toempower and educate

• Ensuring gender equality within the garden staff structure

• Conservation and restoration of wetlands• Restoration of key watershed areas

• Carrying out research on plant species suitable for use as biomassor for oil production

• Demonstrating low-energy life-style choices• Waste-to-energy projects

• Supporting and promoting local ecotourism initiatives• Promoting the sustainable use of plant resources as a livelihood

option

• Developing innovative solutions using plant mimicry• Demonstrating innovation in sustainable buildings


SDG 10:Reduce inequality within andamong countries

SDG 11: Make cities and humansettlements inclusive, safe,resilient and sustainable

SDG 12:Ensure sustainable consumptionand production patterns

SDG 13: Take urgent action to combatclimate change and its impacts

SDG 14:Conserve and sustainably usethe oceans, seas and marineresources for sustainabledevelopment

SDG 15: Protect, restore andpromote sustainable use ofterrestrial ecosystems,sustainably manage forests,combat desertification, and haltand reverse land degradationand halt biodiversity loss

SDG 16: Promote peaceful and inclusive societies forsustainable development,provide access to justice for alland build effective, accountableand inclusive institutions at all levels

SDG 17: Strengthen the meansof implementation and revitalizethe global partnership forsustainable development

SDG Examples of botanic garden activities

• Building the ‘social role’ of the botanic garden• Working with disadvantaged groups

• Conservation of urban biodiversity• Involvement in city greening initiatives• Providing open and inclusive green spaces in urban settings

• Research on sustainable harvesting levels for socio-economicallyimportant plant species

• Demonstrating sustainability in all aspects of the gardens’operations, including retail outlets.

• Research on the impacts of climate change on plant diversity;phenological studies

• Education and awareness raising on climate issues• Conservation of plant species most affected by climate change

• Conservation and restoration of marine habitats, e.g. mangroves• Education and awareness raising of challenges facing the marine

environment

• Identification of species most under threat and conservation ofthese

• Ecological restoration• Conservation of important areas for plant diversity• Management of invasive species• Public engagement and raising awareness of conservation needs

• Working with authorities to combat illegal plant trade• Building capacity of local organisations to manage their natural

resources

• Participating in local, national and international partnerships andcollaborations

Chimanimani TFCACore zoneChimanimani TFCA buffer

Introduction

Mozambique is one of the leastdeveloped countries in theworld, recently ranked 181st of

188 by the United Nations’ humandevelopment index (Jahan, 2016). Muchof the population live in poverty, manyliving in rural areas as smallholderfarmers with an average of just 1.2hectares of land (Anderson & Learch,2016). Historic migration has been animportant driver of instability for thesefarmers. This continues today as largeeconomic interests, such as governmentor private backed farms, push farmersonto marginalised land, like that found inprotected areas.

The Chimanimani Trans-FrontierConservation Area (TFCA) is a protectedarea that brings together the ChimanimaniNational Park (Zimbabwe) with theReserva Nacional de Chimanimani(Mozambique). This creates a cross-border protected area. It is divided intotwo zones: the core zone, for strict natureprotection; and the buffer zone, wherecurrent communities are allowed thesustainable use of resources as long astropical lowland rain forest and the corezone are protected (SADC, 2013).

For local TFCA communities, farming isimportant to their daily lives. Maizeprovides the main staple crop, althoughproduction is low. Communities still use

forests and natural areas to supplementtheir food, and to get materials andmedicines. Population expansion, someof which is due to migration, has graduallyincreased farmland and pressure on wildharvested species (Ghiurghi et al., 2010).


Authors: Alex Hudson, Jonathan Timberlake, Hercilia Chipanga and Tiziana Ulian

SDG 1: NO POVERTYBALANCING CONSERVATIONAND LIVELIHOODS IN THE

CHIMANIMANI FOREST BELT,MOZAMBIQUE

The botanical knowledge of experts at theRoyal Botanic Gardens, Kew is being used toaddress rural poverty in Southern Africa

A women using the local ‘peneira’ (sieve) to separate maize from the maize husks after pounding (Alex Hudson)

ARTICLE

ZIMBABWE

MA

LAW

I

ZAMBIA

MO

ZAM

BIQUE

Under these conditions the reserve is inneed of new sustainable options thatprovide for communities and keep naturalareas safe.

Conservation in protected areas canprove to be a problem to localcommunities when access to resourcesis restricted. This is particularlydamaging to those already in or close topoverty. Compromises need to be foundthat allow both the continued survival ofpeople as well as protection for nature.Working with communities to decidehow they use and conserve theirresources, with scientific evidence andtechnical support, offers a way to try totackle these issues.

Aims and Objectives/Outputs

The Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew’s (RBGKew) Darwin Initiative Project wascarried out between 1st April 2014 until31st March 2017 with communities inthe Chimanimani TFCA. We aimed toprovide an effective and sustainablebalance between biodiversityconservation, poverty alleviation andscaled development. We worked toachieve this by combining our expertisewith Mozambican partners that havedifferent but complementary strengths toour own. Working as a team and withcommunities, we collected informationon areas of conservation importance andplants of conservation and economicvalue and created new land use plans.Furthermore we supported communities

with new livelihoods activities, such asbee keeping, and improved conservationagricultural practices and tourism.

Expertise and communities

As the leading partner, we at RBG Kewbrought our global expert plantknowledge to drive conservation in thearea. Our partnering lead organisation,the Micaia Foundation (Micaia), broughtits experience and knowledge of workingwith local communities in Manicaprovince to achieve sustainabledevelopment. The Instituto deInvestigação Agrária de Moçambique(IIAM) provided its own nationalexpertise in Mozambican biodiversity.

RBG Kew and IIAM carried out plantsurveys in the community areasidentifying important plants and habitats.Micaia managed all livelihoods activitiesand completed valuable training with

community Natural ResourceManagement Committees, rangers andcommunity members. They provided alink between the communities andgovernment organisations andbusinesses, particularly important fornew development opportunities.

The Chimanimani TFCA

Communities within the TFCA buffer zoneare organised into traditional groupscalled regulados. We focussed on workingwith four of these regulados (roughy 2,281households): Mahate, Maronga, Mpungaand Zomba (Ghiurghi et al., 2010). Thedominant vegetation of these areasinclude mixed miombo woodlands, drymontaine forest, grasslands andswamplands (Timberlake et al., 2016a,Timberlake et al., 2016b). Areas of moistevergreen forest are also present, knownto be of conservation interest due to theirdwindling area across southern Africa.

Results

Community conservation areasFollowing two extensive plant surveys, wehave collated valuable plant diversityinformation for all community areas.Important habitats and plants forconservation, as well as potentiallyvaluable economic species, are nowknown and recorded (such as Uapacakirkiana, Cyperus papyrus and Funtumiaafricana). Collating this information, we suggested to communities which areaswithin their land we believe would be mostbeneficial for conservation of plants.


Harvested sesame (Sesamum indicum) (Alex Hudson)

Man with a basket made from local bamboo (Alex Hudson)

SDG1: End poverty in all its forms everywhere

Target 1.5:Build the resilience of the poor and those invulnerable situations andreduce their exposure and vulnerability toclimate-related extreme events and othereconomic, social and environmentalshocks and disasters….

end of the project. This was largely dueto the need to generate interest in theactivities first: once a benefit wasdemonstrated for early participantsremaining households become moreeager to get involved.

Empowering communities Since NRMC’s ability to function hasimproved, communities have becomemore involved in recording how they wanttheir land to be managed. Knowledge andunderstanding of the TFCA managementplan has also spread so people are awareof what it is trying to achieve and how itcan be done. As a result of these actions,local communities have been empoweredto be more actively involved in thedecisions and management of the TFCAat many levels.

Ensuring benefits of developmentprogrammes are shared equitablybetween all community members istricky. Women in particular can receiveleast due to local cultural norms. With60% of beekeeping beneficiaries beingwomen, there has been a change inattitudes on who can undertakebeekeeping, and so the project hasworked to improve women’s place intheir local society.

Livelihoods diversificationA broader array of livelihoods optionsmakes people in poverty more resilientto environmental or economic shocks.Economic shocks come when globalisedmarkets fail.

These areas correspond well with landselected for conservation by eachregulado, used to create their own landuse maps and strategies. These showareas which members have agreed toset aside for conservation and areaswhich they will continue to use in asustainable way. Micaia helped get thesezones registered with the governmentproviding them with official protection.This has added to the protected forestreserves already found within communityareas, increasing the protected areaoutside of the core zone to 30,375 ha.

Natural resource management andprotectionNatural Resource ManagementCommittees (NRMC) already existed inMpunga and Zomba, but were mainlyinactive and unsupported. Micaia hasworked to boost these NRMCs inMpunga and Zomba, and to set up newcommittees in both Mahate andMaronga. They now have the role ofincorporating communities wishes intomanagement decisions and to lead onthe plans that are made.

To achieve this, members were firstselected by the community membersthemselves. They were then trained onhow to operate effectively, how tomanage resources and how to deal withconflicts. Sessions were also run on theChimanimani TFCA management plan,boosting awareness of its goals and howit is expected to be achieved.

Community beekeeping for incomeMicaia trained and provided 330households with beekeeping equipment.Many of these people have then signedcontracts with the Mozambican HoneyCompany to supply them with honeyinto the future. By 2017, 4,394Kg ofhoney has been harvested and sold bythese individuals generating overUS$3,000.

Improved agricultural practicesMicaia also involved 427 households innew conservation agriculture activitiesand following training, by 2017 extraincomes were generated for 408 ofthese. Purely from extra production, theyhave been able to increase their incomesfrom horticultural practices by betweenUS$8 and US$84.

Sustainable Development Goal1: End poverty in all its formseverywhere

Whilst we have not eradicated poverty inthe TFCA completely, we have madesignificant progress in enabling localcommunities to generate more income.This is the start of a process that oftentakes much longer than the three years ofa single project’s life cycle. With Micaiacontinuing to work with communities, thisprogress is likely to carry on. Beyondimmediate economic benefits, we havealso helped to empower localcommunities and increased theirresilience to environmental or economicshocks by giving them a broader array oflivelihoods options.

Economic increasesFor conservation agriculture andbeekeeping, a smaller number of leadexperts were also trained. They canexpand the future influence of the projectby teaching other community membersthese skills. It is also expected thatincome gains are likely to increasebecause training occurred towards the


A local women using a bamboo basket to wash maize in the river (Alex Hudson)

A hut roof constructed from local timber (Alex Hudson)


During the recent financial crash prices forstaple foods, including maize, went down.Sadly the poorest countries in Africa werehit worst and recovered slowest. Formany smallholders already in poverty thisquickly led to a struggle to survive.

Environmental shocks occur during yearsof extreme weather conditions or with theintroduction of new pests and diseases.These often have damaging impacts onstaple crop yields. Again, this impactsmore upon smallholders living withinpoverty because they lack the economicmeans to get food from other sources.More options are now available tocommunities so they will be moreinsulated from some of the worst of thesetwo problems. When a harvest of onecrop fails , the others may provide themoney or nutritional value that they need.

Nutritional benefitsMalnutrition can be a serious problem tothose living in poverty. It can lead tomedical problems and deaths, particularlyfor vulnerable children and the elderly. Ofcourse this can also be compounded byshocks to farming systems.

Increasing the yields of crops improvesthe local food security situation forpeople. Using the conservationagriculture techniques, farmers will beable to provide more of the nutrition theirfamilies need from the same areas ofland], even during harder years.

Future of the TFCAMicaia will continue to work withcommunities in the TFCA. They haveboosted their reputation nationally andinternationally and have subsequentlybeen given the responsibility to expandthis work with the other five regulados inthe buffer zone. This will help ensure theproject impacts extend into morehouseholds of the TFCA long into thefuture.

Potential economic species also remainoptions for further research anddevelopment. Fruit species like Uapacakirkiana and Strychnos madagascariensisare already important to communitiesand have local markets in Manica towns.Other species are used to make goodsand products which people use in theirdaily lives and sometimes profit from.For example, mats are made fromCyperus papyrus and Cyperusalternifolius whilst the local bamboo,

Oxytenanthera abyssinica, is used toweave ornate baskets. Other speciescould even have broader economicvalue, like Funtumia africana, whose fineseed hairs have a potential use in theproduction of high quality glossy paper.These species, identified through thisproject, represent options for furtherlivelihoods diversification and futuresustainable development in the TFCA.Combining research with developmentthat supports communities, to capturemost of the value made, offers someexciting prospects for work to continue.

Further information:

For further information visit:https://www.kew.org/science/projects/balancing-conservation-and-livelihoods-in-the-chimanimani-forest-belt-mozambiqueOr email: [email protected] (RBG Kew) [email protected] (MicaiaFoundation)

References

, Anderson, J., & Learch, C. 2016.National Survey and Segmentation ofSmallholder Households inMozambique. The Consultative Groupto Assist the Poor (CGAP), Washington.

, Ghiurghi, A., Dondeyne, S., &Bannerman, J. H. 2010. ChimanimaniConservation Area Management Plan,volume 1. Report prepared byAgriConsulting for Ministry of Tourism,Maputo, Mozambique.

, Jahan, S. 2016. Human DevelopmentReport 2016. United NationsDevelopment Programme, New York.https://doi.org/eISBN: 978-92-1-060036-1

, Timberlake, J., Darbyshire, I., Cheek,M., Banze, A., Fijamo, V., JoãoMassunde, Chipanga, H., & Muassinar,D. 2016a. Plant Conservation inCommunities on the Chimanimanifootslopes, Mozambique. Unpublishedreport, Darwin Initiative Project“Balancing conservation andlivelihoods in the Chimanimani Forestbelt, Mozambique”, 2014-2017 (ref:21-006). RBG, Kew, London.

, Timberlake, J., Darbyshire, I.,Wursten, B., Hadj-hammou, J.,Mapaura, A., Matimele, H., & Banze,A. 2016b. Chimanimani Mountains:Botany and conservation.Unpublished report, CriticalEcosystem Partnership Fund project,2013-2016. RBG, Kew, London.

, SADC Secretariat 2013. SouthernAfrican Development CommunitySADC Programme for TransfrontierConservation Areas. SADCSecretariat, Gaborone. Available from:http://www.sadc.int/files/4614/2122/3338/SADC_TFCA_Programme_FINAL_doc_Oct_2013.pdf

Tiziana UlianRoyal Botanic Gardens, KewWakehurst Place, West Sussex, RH17 6TN, U.K.

Above: Sesamum indicum being dried behind hut inZomba Centro and right: Basket made from the localbamboo (Alex Hudson)

Introduction

The Arnold Arboretum is a universityresearch institution and a publicpark with extensively curated

historical living collections of temperatewoody plants. As such it is wellpositioned to share its collections andcommunicate associated research withthe general public to increase knowledgeof plants. Much of our public outreachabout science emerges from the wealthof ongoing on-site research. We engageour audience in the work of anarboretum and in botanical science to


Author: Pamela J. Thompson

SDG 4: QUALITY EDUCATION BUILDING ENVIRONMENTAL

AWARENESS THROUGH INFORMALOUTREACH OPPORTUNITIES

On-site research provides the basis for theoutreach programs developed by the ArnoldArboretum to encourage an interest in scienceand the environment amongst its visitors.

Biologist David George Haskell, author of The Forest Unseen and The Songs of Trees, implored Tree “mobsters” to use all of their senses to appreciate the naturalenvironment. (Pamela J. Thompson)

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encourage curiosity about plants,biodiversity, and conservation. To thisend, we offer a spectrum of formal andinformal engagement opportunities. Asat many public gardens and arboreta,the Arnold Arboretum offers formalprograms that include lectures andclasses for adults, grade-school fieldstudies, and teacher trainingopportunities, all requiring staffing andfunding. It is our informal outreach that isperhaps most transferable to gardensand parks--of any size, with or withoutfunding--that can be replicated andadapted to reinforce the importance of

natural systems to human life. Thoughwe rarely use the word “sustainability,”our activities present foundational ideasin science and nature awareness thatfuel commitment to sustainability. Thefollowing are examples of our informalopportunities that encourage a deeperappreciation for the environment (withage groups served in parentheses).

SDG4: Ensure inclusiveand quality education forall and promote lifelonglearning

Target 4.7:By 2030, ensure that alllearners acquire the knowledge and skillsneeded to promote sustainabledevelopment, including, among others,through education for sustainabledevelopment and sustainable lifestyles…

Tree Spotters (Adults) is a volunteer-runand -staffed citizen science program toobserve tree species through the growingseasons at the Arnold Arboretum. Trainedvolunteers record observations ofphenological changes in specific treeswith the National Phenology Network.The program encourages people to returnfrequently and challenges participants tolook at the parts and processes of a tree,thus acquiring observation, terminology,and species identification skills. We havefound that the program affirms thescientific value of such a living collectionto these volunteers and increases theirawareness of climate change locally andworld-wide as they contribute to society’sunderstanding of the changingenvironment.

Tree Mobs® (Adults) are casual, short-notice educational presentations in thelandscape with an expert. Tree Mobsbring deeper insight to the subject,expose research methodologies, andshare the historic and contemporaryimport of our collections in a non-threatening, questions-are-encouragedmanner. Each Tree Mob reveals wondersof the natural world and, directly orindirectly, the value in studying andprotecting all that grows around us.

Loosely modelled after flash mobs, TreeMobs add a social twist to sciencelearning. We find an expert, determine atopic, and choose a date, time, andlocation to gather in the landscape. Afew days in advance of the event, wenotify constituents, and somewhatmagically, individuals appear from alldirections at the location and time

specified. Using this simple model, wehave hosted mobs with topics rangingfrom specific tree species to geneticselection for fruit production; frommeasuring the effects of climate changeto changing landscape managementpractices based on environmentalanalysis; from the physics of dragonflyflight and the habits of cicada-killerwasps, to modelling the cellular structureof bamboo to inform engineering. For abotanic garden or arboretum, topicpossibilities are endless and can trulyreveal the complexities of life.

StoryWalk® (Families) combines literacy,movement, and community in aneducational activity that is perfect for agarden setting. By sequentially postingthe laminated pages of an illustratedchildren’s book along a path in the

landscape, a family, play group, orindividual can proceed along a route,“through” the story. We recently hosted awalk in which the kids exuberantly ranfrom sign to sign (page to page),anticipating both the content as well asthe chance to read aloud. Readers ofvarious abilities chimed in and readilytook turns. In my experience, freelytravelling with the story, rather thansitting restrained to a circle and beingread to, felt liberating and addeddimension to the narrative. Associatingthe story (we choose environmentalthemes) with the immediate naturalenvironment grounds the topic in realityand provides extended teachingopportunities. StoryWalk® was createdby Anne Ferguson of Montpelier, VT andhas developed with the help of RachelSenechal of the Kellogg-HubbardLibrary. Read more atwww.kellogghubbard.org/storywalk.

Posts from the Collections (Adults) is aweekly-to-monthly communication fromArnold Arboretum Director William “Ned”Friedman, reporting ephemeral changesin the landscape. He observes,photographs, and writes a post that isdistributed via social media, email, andon our website. Keys to successful postsare as follow:

• Make the post exciting and time-sensitive, highlighting an ephemeralphenomenon and include greatimages.

• Reveal the topic as a personal questor passion, using the author’s love ofsubject, to draw in readers.


In this Tree Mob, visiting researcher Stephanie Conway explains how Ephedra minuta is related to conifers.(Pamela J. Thompson)

Rhododendron expert and Arboretum volunteerGeorge Hibben explains indumentum duringCollections Up Close. (Arnold Arboretum Archives)

A trio of Tree Spotters examine the developingflowers of Tilia Americana. (Suzanne Mrozak)

• Unroll scientific terminology, startingsimply and shifting to more complexconcepts as the post continues. Onceyou’ve drawn in the reader, teach byexpanding to botanical and scientificlanguage and provide links for furtherlearning.

• Repeat the ephemeral quality of thesubject to entice people to visitimmediately so that they don’t missseeing something special.

The value of Posts from the Collectionsextends well beyond the post itself. As aquality, frequent communication aboutplants from our resident plantmorphologist, it is like “time with aprofessor.” The posts expand vocabularybeyond typical daily language. They bringattention to the complexities andintricacies of plants. They entice locals tovisit while also engaging constituentswho are farther afield to read for amoment about a plant. The postsconnect constituents with our directorand affirm this arboretum’s associationwith science. Though our posts are froma plant morphologist, suchcommunications could be written by anystaff member. Use your experts--promotethe skills and knowledge of garden staff;let their curiosity and passion drawpeople in to the depth of your collection;and teach the value of plants,sustainability, conservation, and science.

Collections Up Close (All Ages) are freeevents that highlight one specificgrouping of plants in the landscape.These events invite visitors of all interestlevels to slow down and experience thecollection in an intimate and immersivemanner. A casual visitor may come upon

the event and have their eyes opened tothe beauty, diversity, and intriguing storyof a specific collection. Once within thecollection, they can choose to have aninformative conversation with ourvolunteer interpreters. Theseconversations often incite curiosity andhave the potential to create increasedinvolvement with the Arboretum. Forvisitors looking for a more formallearning experience, Arboretum staffmembers lead tours bringing to light theelements that make this particularcollection so special. Involvement byintergenerational families with youngchildren is also encouraged withactivities designed to developobservational skills that share nature-based knowledge and provide safe,enticing ways to become moreconnected to the Arboretum and itscollections. (Adults, Families)

In our Visitor Center (All Ages), weprovide a number of casual learningopportunities. For example, an ever-evolving assortment of fresh cuttingsfrom various plants in our livingcollection are identified and displayed,showing unique traits and interestingseasonal characteristics. The displayspique curiosity with visitors, staff, andprogram attendees, inciting all to lookclosely at plant parts and then to findthese specific plants in the landscape.Other displays across the seasonspresent twig identification, leafmorphology, the rearing of moths andbutterflies, and even the evolution of ourplant labels, from the 1870s to thepresent. Our welcoming VisitorEngagement staff compose and curatethese exhibits and use them daily toengage and educate visitors. Creativityand a desire to educate about thenatural world spurs the development ofthese minimal expense displays.

Arboretum for Educators (Adults) freetrainings offer opportunities for the ArnoldArboretum to influence educators, whichin turn, is an effective way toexponentially reach hundreds ofindividuals with our message of “PlantScience IS Life Science!” Once a monthfor 2.5 hours, teachers of children in pre-kindergarten through middle schoolgather at the Arboretum to learn aboutseasonal topics related to plants, conductexperiments, engage in scientificdiscourse, and learn ways to integratemore of nature into other disciplinesthrough observational drawing, literacy,math, and engineering activities.


Education Fellow Ana Maria Caballero engages pre-service teachers in outdoor classroom techniques. (Nancy Sableski)

In this chilly December Tree Mob, more than 30 people gathered with visiting researcher Erica Fadon to learnhow buds survive through months of freezing temperatures. (Pamela J. Thompson)

Recognizing that most teachers havelimited resources for science, everyeffort is made to highlight low- or no-cost, hands-on activities that areappropriate for children and encouragethe development of important Practicesof Science, in line with the NextGeneration Science Standards1 (USstandards). About half the time is spentin the landscape, closely examiningleaves, seedpods, flowers, bark, twigs,tree architecture, and other phenomena.Attending educators learn to feelcomfortable exploring an outdoor habitatand ways to use the outdoors as aclassroom or resource for study. Bypracticing and then modelling curiosityand close observation, participants canpositively influence children’srelationships with nature and provideaccurate content to better preparestudents for upper level science andbiology courses.

Self-Guided School Trips (All Ages),listed on our website, digitally supporteducators with advice for conductingsuccessful field visits and providesuggested activities that encouragestudents to explore trees and theirrelevance to all life. These suggestions,including activity sheets for pre-schoolthrough grade five and middle and highschool, promote the idea that anyoutdoor space can be used forexploration and learning while alsoaffirming that the Arnold Arboretum is awelcoming and curated space in whichto practice these principles. The ideasbehind these tips stem from our guidedinteractions with students, but are

amended to assume no input fromArboretum staff. We redevelop existingresources and content for expanded usein order to extend teaching opportunitiesbeyond what we can physically staff orfinancially support. In this way we hopeto reach many more students of all agesand their teachers to influence theirrelationship with the environment anddevelop an appreciation of all plants onthis planet.

Conclusions

I share the above ideas so that otherscan use these as models and adapt themto their particular landscape andinstitutional outreach goals. There aremany ways to inspire learners, so weoffer multiple avenues for engagement.Repeat exposure to the natural world, tobotanical concepts, and to thecomplexity of plants will eventually leadto an understanding of ecologicalfunction...at least that is our hope. Asstaff of botanic gardens, parks, andarboreta, it behooves us to use our livingcollections to create a wonder of nature,to build an understanding of plantlifecycles, and to provide the public withaccess to scientific information. We musthelp educators become confident inteaching about plants, ecology, and theenvironment with hands on experiencesand replicable lessons that they canshare with students. We are uniquelysituated to use the plants within reach tonurture life-long interest and developfuture generations of conservationists,botanists, and ecologists, whether formalor casual practitioners. We have the

knowledge within our organizations toraise the profile of plants from nice tonecessity, to stress their importance insustaining all life, and in doing so,educate for sustainability.

What we’ve learned

• Insert science into everything you do;• Don’t shy away from complex subjects;• Find ways to teach in a socialenvironment; we are social beings;

• You’re never too young or too old tolearn;

• Use the experts around you…if notyour staff, connect with a localuniversity;

• Make science stories personal;• Discovery happens even with commonsubjects and the simplestobservations;

• Plants provide endless possibilities fordiscovery.

Pamela J. ThompsonManager of Adult EducationArnold Arboretum of Harvard University125 Arborway, Boston, Massachusetts


Moving along outdoors as the story progressesencourages freedom of movement, participatoryreading, and linking the story with the surroundings.(Nancy Sableski )

Fresh cuttings in the Arnold Arboretum’s HunnewellVisitor Center introduce visitors to a variety of plantsthey will see in the landscape. (Pamela J. Thompson)

Educators familiarize themselves with the bark of Acer griseum (Ana Maria Caballero)

1https://www.nextgenscience.org/

Introduction

The United Nations SustainableDevelopment Goals (DGSs)provides botanic gardens with

opportunities to demonstrate theirrelevance to humanity in important, newways. Sustainable Development Goal 6is the provision of clean water, of whichhealthy wetlands are an importantcomponent. Royal Botanical Gardens(RBG), at the western end of LakeOntario within Hamilton and Burlington,Ontario, Canada, was established in the1920s and 1930s in part to protect animportant natural wetland.

Since the 1950s control of invasivespecies and restoration of CootesParadise Marsh (named for an 18thCentury British Army officer stationed inthe area) have been important goals. This marsh, owned by Royal BotanicalGardens, is the westernmost extensionof the wetlands of Lake Ontario. Theimportance of Cootes Paradise Marshwas recognized as early as the 1820s.

By the early 20th Century the marsh wasprotected as a provincial fish sanctuaryand a wildlife reserve. Under stress fromdevelopment in the mid-1920s, theHamilton Board of Park Management,

along with partners like the HamiltonBird Protection Society (now HamiltonNaturalists’ Club) purchased the southshore of Cootes Paradise Marsh. Thiswas to create Royal Botanical Gardens,establish a university, and protect thewetland from further development. In the1940s the north shore was purchased byRoyal Botanical Gardens. In the 1970sthe remaining water lots of the wetlandwere also acquired. Since the 1950s thefloristics of the wetland and surroundingnatural areas has been a high priority forresearch at RBG.

Wetland stressors

Emergent vegetation once coverednearly the entire 270 acres of thewetland. The arrival of invasive CommonCarp (Cyprinus carpio) in the GreatLakes in the late 19th Century resulted inecological damage in Cootes.


Authors: David Galbraith and Tÿs Theÿsmeÿer

SDG 6: CLEAN WATERAND SANITATION TWENTY YEARS OFECOLOGICALRESTORATION OFWETLAND HABITATSBY THE ROYALBOTANICAL GARDENS,ONTARIOOne of several boardwalks in the capture sanctuaries at Royal Botanical Gardens carries visitors over rich wetlands.

ARTICLE

Special reference to appropriate aquaticvegetation is crucial to successful habitatrestoration of wetland environments.

SDG 6: Ensure availabilityand sustainablemanagement of water and sanitation for all

Target 6.6:By 2020, protect andrestore water-related ecosystems,including mountains, forests, wetlands,rivers, aquifers and lakes

During the early spring these large fishmigrate upstream to spawning areas.Carp (some in excess of 20 kg) displaceand stir up sediment with their bottomforaging and spawning, resulting in theuprooting of aquatic vegetation. Earlycarp removal efforts included netting,which proved ineffective. As of 1996 theestimated spring carp population was ashigh as 100,000, although few carpoverwintered in the marsh (Theÿsmeÿer &Cairns, 1995, Theÿsmeÿer, 1999).

Another significant stress is managedwater levels. Cootes Paradise Marsh isconnected to Hamilton Harbour, which isin turn is connected to Lake Ontario.Water levels on the lake are maintainedsomewhat higher than historicalaverages (Wilcox et al., 2005), althoughstill ranging by 1.7 m as the lake cyclesbetween wetter and dryer weatherpatterns. This results in areas of themarsh being submerged deeper thansuitable for growth of aquatic emergentspecies such as Cattails (Genus Typha),the most common species in the marshin recent history.

Finally, a significant stressor is the arrivalof excess nutrients and other pollutantswithin the marsh (MOE, 1986). Severalstreams feed Cootes Paradise Marsh,which then drains into Hamilton Harbour.

The largest of these streams, SpencerCreek, drains a large mixed-usewatershed to the west. At the westernend of the marsh is also a large sewagetreatment plant, which has over severaldecades been improved to lowerphosphorus and other pollutants enteringthe marsh (Reddick & Theÿsmeÿer, 2012).However, the wastewater treatment plantis not capable of removingpharmaceuticals, which have recentlybeen demonstrated to alter the behaviorof fish exposed to the waters of themarsh (Simmons et al., 2017). Duringdryer summers, most of the waterentering the marsh is treated effluentfrom the sewage treatment plant.

Restoration ecology

Royal Botanical Gardens has ledrestoration of the wetland, as well as itsother properties, for decades. Theterrestrial portion of its 2,400 acre naturesanctuaries include some of the richestareas in Canada for wild plant speciesdiversity (Galbraith et al., 2011). This isan important stopping site for migratorybirds, and also boasts a high insectspecies diversity.

As Royal Botanical Gardens’ largestproperty, Cootes Paradise Marsh has longbeen the focus of many of its restoration

efforts. It was realized long ago thatkeeping carp out of the wetland would bea significant step in rehabilitation andpermit replanting of areas where emergentand submergent aquatic vegetation hadbeen destroyed and plant speciesextirpated. A significant amount of efforttherefore goes toward managing thisspecific invasive species.

In conjunction with an array of partnersunder the Great Lakes Water QualityAgreement, including the FederalDepartment of Fisheries and Oceans andthe Province of Ontario’s Ministry ofNatural Resources, Royal BotanicalGardens participated in the creation of aunique system to “filter” incoming fish atthe connection to Hamilton Harbour, theonly outlet of the marsh. The systemallows native species to pass inwhichever direction they were travelingwhen they encountered the filter, but alsoto block introduced and invasive fish,specifically large Common Carp, Goldfish(Carassius auratus), and Carp-Goldfishhybrids. The system became operationalin 1997 and is now called the CootesParadise Fishway. The Fishway traps fishlarger than 5 cm across in large steelbaskets manipulated with overheadtravelling cranes. The captured fish aresorted using a system of flues andmanually-controlled gates.

A different approach is taken in anadjacent marsh and stream, the lowerGrindstone Creek, which is also an RBGnature sanctuary. Here similar stressesoccur but a large open-ended deltapresents too great a span for the singleFishway type of solution.


Royal Botanical Gardens restoration ecologists Andrea Court and Kyle Vincent planting emergent vegetation inan inner bay of Cootes Paradise Marsh.

Pickerel Weed (Pontederia cordata) is a colourfulnative aquatic species found within Cootes Paradise Marsh.

In these areas, invasive fish are kept outof about half of the creek delta through aunique application for discardedChristmas trees. Christmas trees areused to create a riverbank corridorthrough the delta and focal points forcarp exclusion. The Christmas treebarrier system is 1.5 km in length andhas been in use since 2000. It consists ofberms built of discarded Christmas treesthat are tied horizontally between pilings.The tree riverbanks create three separatemarsh areas, complimenting two slightlyupstream areas totaling 20 hectares,each outfitted with a carp exclusion/fishpassage structure. The structures arekept open most of the year to alloworganisms to pass, but during the Carpspawning season the gates are keptclosed (May to July).


Although it’s the most common species of emergent aquatic plant within Cootes Paradise Marsh, revegetationcan require planting areas with head-started individuals.

Water Clarity by Secchi Disk

Area of Marsh Covered byEmergent Vegetation

Area of Marsh withSubmergent PlantVegetation

Recorded Aquatic PlantSpecies

Abundance Index ofCommon Carp

21 cm (6-57 cm)

14.9 hectares

0% cover (0-0.1%)

2

2.2 (0-47 fish)

48 cm (22 – ~250 cm)

39.8 hectares

45% cover (2-100%)

16

0.2 (0-9 fish)

Category 1994-1995 2016 Monitoring Method

Index station CP2, 11 biweekly visits May- Sept

Aerial photo interpretation

62 quadrates, 1m x 1m

62 quadrates, 1m x 1m

24 electrofishing transects, each 50 m long

Table 1. Indicators of water quality and restoration progress in Cootes Paradise Marsh between 1994-1995 and 2016.

In conjunction with the operation of theseinvasive species control measures, RoyalBotanical Gardens has been undertakingextensive programs of replanting of nativeaquatic vegetation, and the removal ofother invasive species, notably theEurasian Common Reed (Phragmitesaustralis). In the 1990s RBG operated anaquatic plant nursery, growing its ownplants to repopulate the marsh from seedor root stock from the propertiesthemselves. While the program wasrelatively short-lived, it emphasized theimportance of botanical knowledge andlocal restoration expertise. Since the1950s our field botanists have beendocumenting the species composition ofplant communities within the naturesanctuaries, and continue to monitorrestoration progress.

Various planting schemes have beenundertaken for native aquatic vegetation,with most projects focusing on Cattails(Typha latifolia), Southern Wild Rice (Zizaniaaquatica), and native White Water Lilies(Nymphaea odorata). Royal BotanicalGardens now collaborates with variousnative plant nurseries, providing seed fromthe nature sanctuary properties which thenurseries then grow up to size for planting.

Results of Wetland RestorationProjects

To measure the status and progress of therecovery work multiple monitoringprograms are maintained ranging fromwater quality to aquatic plants to fishpopulations (Table 1).

Prior to 1997, upwards of 100,000 adultCarp entered Cootes Paradise Marshevery year at the height of the spawningseason (Theÿsmeÿer & Cairns, 1995).During its first year of the operation of theFishway, 95% of the Carp were excluded,with the number changing year to year.The poorest years followed a flood thatovertopped the Fishway in 2011, resultingin about 10,000 Carp in the marsh. Thebest year to date may have been 2013,when fewer than 300 Carp were thoughtto be present, following a drought andextremely low water in 2012 (RBG,unpublished data). Over the years Carp catches along 50 m-long monitoringtransects have dropped from a high of 47 fish in 1995, to a recent maximum offive fish, with most sites now returning no Carp.

Water clarity, an important measure ofquality, has increased from less than 20cm, as measured by Secchi Disk, to amost recent average of 48 cm, withhighs as great as 2.5 m (0.73 NTU ornephlometric turbidity units) in 2016(Bowman, 2017). Water clarity is highlyvariable and is related to weatherpatterns and water supply inputs, withmajor impairments occurring after heavyrains because of sediment and erosionupstream in the watershed, and duringdroughts due to algal blooms (bothphytoplankton and filamentous algae).Both conditions create temporaryconditions with water clarity of less than 10 cm.

Aquatic plants have expanded annuallyinto areas formerly devoid of anyvegetation. In Cootes Paradise Marsh thearea covered by emergent plants hasmore than doubled, covering 39 hectaresin recent years from 15 ha. in 1996(Mataya et.al., 2017). Most expansion isthrough rhizomatic growth from theedges, but has been complimented withthe planting of nearly 200,000 plants ofvarious species (mostly Typha latifolia)which themselves then expand. Theplanting has also reintroduced multiplenative emergent marsh species such asSoftstem Bulrush (Schoenoplectustabernaemontani), Hardstem Bulrush(Schoenoplectus acutus) and AmericanBulrush (Schoenoplectus americanus).Water lilies have expanded from twoindividual plants known in 1996 to severalthousand as of 2016. Submerged aquaticplants, which were virtually absent at theoutset of Carp exclusion, have beenvariable in abundance both spatially and

temporally, consistent with the variablewater clarity. They have increased to acombined area of 80 hectares as of 2016and include 16 species (Mataya, 2017).The most abundant plant is LeafyPondweed (Potamogeton foliosus) asmeasured through quadrat surveys inlate June. In the more stable waterclarity conditions of sheltered inlets,Southern Wild Rice has alsoreestablished small populations.

In Grindstone Marsh to the east,emergent planting has been very limited,with emergent plants graduallyexpanding in the form of cattail (Typhasp.), Giant Burreed (Sparganium

eurycarpum) and River Bulrush(Schoenoplectus fluviatilis). WhiteWaterlily now dominants in much of theCarp exclusion areas. Twelve species ofsubmergent aquatic plants are nowpresent in this system (Mataya, 2017).

In contrast to the success in the Carpexclusion areas in the Grindstoneestuary, the 20 hectares without Carpexclusion have continued to experiencedecline in wetland plant populations tonear total extirpation while the waterclarity remains poor (less than 40 cm). Asof 2016 this area is devoid of submergedand floating-leaf aquatic vegetation, withemergent vegetation consisting of a fewmeters of shoreline cattails.

Conclusions

Long-term projects to restore wetlandsare challenging but rewardingundertakings. The restoration of CootesParadise Marsh in particular has seen anextensive regrowth of aquatic vegetationin targeted areas within the inlets of themarsh. This wetland is still susceptible tostressors such as highly variable waterquality inputs and unpredictability in thewater level. In the summer of 2017,some damage was done to the plantingprogram when the water levels of LakeOntario reached record levels becauseof massive rainfalls in April and May both locally and throughout the LakeOntario basin.


The eastern end of Cootes Paradise Marsh terminates at the Cootes Paradise Fishway, the black structurewhich controls the passage of fish to and from the marsh.

An aerial view of Cootes Paradise Marsh looking east. The city of Hamilton, Ontario lies in the distance and onthe right.

instrumental in their settlement.Ecological restoration of wetlandenvironments by botanical gardens, with special reference to appropriateaquatic vegetation, can make a significantcontribution to those urban habitats, andto UN Sustainable Development Goalssuch as 6 (clean water and sanitation), 11(sustainable cities and communities), 14(life below water), and 15 (life on land). Anemphasis on appropriate aquaticvegetation in wetland restoration projects,such as those undertaken by RoyalBotanical Gardens, is crucial to successfulhabitat recovery. As a botanic garden,RBG is also uniquely able to interpret theplant world and engage public interest inwetland plant species.

References

, Bowman, J. E. 2017. Water QualitySeason Summary 2016. RBG ReportNo. 2017-11. Royal Botanical Gardens.Hamilton, Ontario.

, Galbraith, D. A., Iwanycki, N. E.,McGoey, B. V., McGregor, J., Pringle, J.S., Rothfels, C. J., and Smith, T. W.2011. The Evolving Role of BotanicalGardens and Natural Areas: A FloristicCase Study from Royal BotanicalGardens, Canada. Plant Diversity andResources 33(1): 123-131. doi:10.3724/SP.J.1143.2011.10235

, Mataya, K., Court, A., and Bowman,J.E. 2017. Project Paradise SeasonSummary 2016. RBG Report No. 2017-9. Royal Botanical Gardens. Hamilton,Ontario.

This flooding also resulted in severaltrails and roads being covered withwater or washed out, and interfered withbut did not stop the operation of theFishway itself.

Human wellbeing within urban areasdepends on the overall quality of thesurrounding ecosystem. Wetlands are notonly a common feature within urbanspaces: in many cases they were


American Water Lilies (Nymphaea odorata) nowcover the surface of the largest inlet along the shoreof Cootes Paradise Marsh. In the 1990s the specieswas nearly extirpated from the wetland.

The Cootes Paradise Fishway became operational in1997. Visitors (foreground) are welcome toapproach the area where staff work to sort fish,turning invasive species away from the marsh.

Photographers and naturalists flock to the trails, wetlands, and boardwalks at Royal Botanical Gardens. Oftenareas of high biological diversity, such as the lower Grindstone Creek shown here, are just a short walk frommajor roads and urban areas.

, Mataya, K. 2017. Ecological LandClassification of Cootes Paradise andGrindstone Creek Marshes. RBGReport No. 2017-13. Royal BotanicalGardens. Hamilton, Ontario.

, Ministry of the Environment (MOE).1986. A.W. McLarty and A.G. Thachuk.Cootes Paradise Study, 1986. WaterResources Assessment, TechnicalSupport Section, Ministry of theEnvironment, West Central Region.

, Reddick D. and Theÿsmeÿer T. 2012.20 Year Trends in Water Quality, CootesParadise and Grindstone Marsh. RoyalBotanical Gardens. Burlington, Ontario.

, Simmons, D. B. D., McCallum, E. S.,Balshine, S., Chandramouli, B.,Cosgrove, J., and Sherry, J. P. 2017.Reduced anxiety is associated with theaccumulation of six serotonin reuptakeinhibitors in wastewater treatmenteffluent exposed goldfish Carassiusauratus. Scientific Reports, 2017; 7 (1)DOI: 10.1038/s41598-017-15989-z

, Theÿsmeÿer T., and Cairns V. 1995.Pre-Barrier Investigation of the CootesParadise Fish Community. Departmentof Fisheries and Oceans TechnicalReport.

, Theÿsmeÿer T. 1999. The ecologicalrelationship between the Great Lakescoastal marsh Cootes Paradise and theFish community. M.SC. Thesis.McMaster University. Hamilton,Ontario.

, Wilcox D. A., Ingram J. W., Kowalski K.P., Meeker J. E., Carlson M. L, Xie Y.,Grabas G. P., Holmes K. L., andPatterson N. J. 2005. Evaluation ofWater Level Regulation influences onLake Ontario and Upper St. LawrenceRiver Coastal Wetland PlantCommunities. Upper St. Lawrence -Lake Ontario Environmental TechnicalWorking Group. International JointCommission.

David Galbraith, Head of Science, and Tÿs Theÿsmeÿer, Head of Natural LandsRoyal Botanical Gardens680 Plains Road West, Burlington,Ontario, Canada L7T 4H4

All images credited to Royal Botanical Gardens


Contemporary design interprets the nature ofAustralian landscapes (J Gollings)

ARTICLE

Introduction

In an increasinglyurbanised world,where it is predicted

that two-thirds of theworld population will be living in urbanareas by 2050, there is a pressing needfor the application of sound urbanplanning approaches to createcommunities that can sustainablyflourish in the environments they occupy.In the framework of the United NationsSustainable Development Goals, thisfocus is captured in Goal 11, SustainableCities and Communities. Whilegovernments and planning authoritiesclearly play a central role in achievingbetter outcomes in urban development,botanic gardens also have much to offer.As scientific conservation organisations,botanic gardens are often best placed toprovide authoritative advice on the

Author: Chris Russell

SDG 11: SUSTAINABLE CITIES AND COMMUNITIESFROM BACKYARDS TO BIOLINKS: ROYAL BOTANICGARDENS VICTORIA’S ROLE IN URBAN GREENING

The Australian Garden follows a metaphoric journey of water from the red centre to the coast

environmental impacts of landdevelopment, certainly in terms ofunderstanding the significance of theflora (and sometimes the fauna) in areasmarked for urban development. We canalso play a strong advocacy role to strivefor better environmental outcomes forthe benefit of the human and non-humaninhabitants, as well as to positivelyinfluence the behaviour of the growingcommunity through our educationaldisplays and programs. The RoyalBotanic Gardens Victoria’s (RGBV)Cranbourne Gardens is activelycontributing in these ways to residentialdevelopment in our region for the benefitof our collections and natural areas andfor the growing community around us.

Cranbourne Gardens is a native plantgarden located on Melbourne’s urbanfringe, 45 kilometres south ofMelbourne’s central business district.Much of the surrounding landscapebeyond the garden fence has beencleared for agriculture, food productionand residential development over thepast one hundred years. Two-thirds ofthe 363 hectare Cranbourne Gardens site

is comprised of remnant bushlandcontaining high quality heathy and grassywoodlands interspersed with wetlands,and an indigenous flora of 370 species.Over 30 species of plants and animalsare declared as having Stateconservation significance, with threenationally endangered species. Scientificresearch and monitoring by the RBGVcommenced in the 1970s and underpinsthe management of the natural area ofthe Gardens. Periodic flora and faunasurveys track the effects of managementactivities over time, and the influence ofother factors such as visitor impacts, on-site development and land use changesin the surrounding region.

Contrasting and complementing thebushland is the 15 hectare AustralianGarden, a contemporary horticulturaldisplay showcasing Australia’s remarkablelandscapes and plants in an artistic andarchitectural setting. Developed on apreviously sand mined area, the AustralianGarden explores the influence that ourever-changing relationship with the native plants and environments around us has on our national identity.

SDG 11: Make cities andhuman settlementsinclusive, safe, resilientand sustainable

Target 11.7:By 2030, provide universalaccess to safe, inclusive and accessible,green and public spaces…

Importantly, the Australian Gardenprovides inspiration and advice to homegardeners to encourage the creation ofsustainable home gardens usingAustralian plants - gardens that are wellsuited to flourishing in local conditionscontaining plants that are not weedy andare best placed to contribute to thecreation of sustainable cities andcommunities.

Influencing change

The urban growth corridor to the south-east of Melbourne is one of the fastestdeveloping growth corridors in thesouthern hemisphere. Rapid urbanexpansion always brings challenges forplanning authorities in balancing theneeds of different stakeholders—fromhousing densities, infrastructure needs,the allocation of public open space, tothe conservation and enhancement ofbiodiversity values. Given that much ofthe land being developed is onCranbourne Gardens’ doorstep, we havea vested interest in striving to influencethe development so that it occurs in away that minimises the threats to ourecological and amenity values. Withoutthe appropriate reservation of landbeyond the boundary, CranbourneGardens risks becoming “land locked” byresidential development and potentiallyisolated from surrounding biodiversity.

In assessing the risk posed byinappropriate development, it is wellunderstood that isolation of patches ofhabitat restricts the dispersal of faunaand flora species, making them morevulnerable to the risk of populationextinction. Retaining or recreatingecological connectivity between thesepatches is critical for their continuedecological viability. Habitat corridors, orbiolinks, can provide a connection or land

bridge between patches and facilitate thephysical movement of species as well asgenetic mixing over time, contributing tomore robust and resilient flora and faunacommunities. Without biolinks, isolatedecological communities are more proneto the negative impacts of predation bypest animals, cats and dogs, fire andflood events, and changing habitatconditions, including those driven byclimate change.

Over the past 15 years the RBGV hasworked actively and collaboratively withplanning authorities, governmentdepartments and developers on shapingthe adjacent land developments toincorporate a larger proportion of greenopen space in the form of biolinks suitedfor local native fauna movement. Theestablishment of these planning controlshas in large part been driven through thepresence of Southern Brown Bandicoot(SBB), a small terrestrial mammal that isa threatened native species protectedunder Commonwealth legislation.Research by RBGV staff has beenundertaken to record the presence of thisspecies, both within the Gardens andimmediately outside the predator-prooffence line of our boundary, revealinghealthy numbers within CranbourneGardens but scattered populationsoutside, which are rapidly declining.Predator eradication programs coupledwith habitat management has securedSBB population numbers withinCranbourne Gardens, but the long-termviability of this isolated population likelyrelies on genetic mixing with the

surrounding isolated populations.Establishment of secure biolinks throughthe new residential developments is seenas the most viable way to facilitate this.RBGV’s role has been as advocate butalso as scientific advisor. Part of ourinput to the planning process included afully researched report that pulledtogether the literature available on designof habitat corridors in Australia andincluded a recommendation on biolinkdesign based on a quantitativeassessment of species requirements,including those of SBB. In this way theRBGV provided a robust scientificperspective towards the achievement ofan ecologically sustainable outcome.

Home gardens as contributorsto sustainable cities

Cities and communities rely on theessential role of ecologically functioninggreen spaces. The principles ofecosystem services apply here,providing the essential “sustainability”benefits related to improved air andwater quality, temperature moderation,passive recreational opportunities, andsocial and spiritual benefits. Whilebiolinks and public green space areimportant for landscape connectivity andecological viability, the role of homegardeners in contributing to the greeningof urban areas is often under-recognised. Whether the private spaceof residents includes a home garden, ora veranda, courtyard or balcony, plantlife in these spaces all contribute to theecosystem service benefits.


The Melaleuca Spits in the Australian Garden –where the river meets the sea (J Gollings)

Engaging with the future - school education programs at Cranbourne Gardens

The Australian Garden at Cranbourne is astunning contemporary showcase ofAustralian landscapes and plants, aimingto connect visitors with the land on manylevels—artistic, intellectual, scientific,cultural, emotional, and spiritual. Thedesign follows a metaphoric journey ofwater from the arid inland ‘red centre’ tothe populated coastal edge, taking thevisitor on a journey of discovery througha range of different garden spaces andsculptural features influenced byAustralia’s diverse and spectacularlandscapes. Along this journey, visitorsexplore and discover our relationshipwith Australian landscapes and plantsfrom different perspectives – how ourplants and landscapes have influenced,and continue to influence, our culture(both Indigenous and post-Europeansettlement) through art, literature, music,science and horticulture.

The need for a garden that focusses onAustralian native plants stems from ageneral under-appreciation of thepotential of our amazing and diversenative flora. Perhaps due to the colonialorigins of the majority of our population,there has been an over-reliance onexotic plants in private and publiclandscapes – using what was familiar toour parents and their parents hasresulted in predominantly exoticdisplays. The trend is slowly shiftingtoward a greater embracing of theopportunities with Australian plants, asgardens like the Australian Gardenshowcase and inspire, and as thenursery trade responds to the increasingdemand for more variety. The trend isnot just in ornamentals as there is alsogrowing recognition of the biodiversitybenefits of using plants indigenous tothe area in which they are cultivated.

In contributing to this increase in interestand use of Australian plants, theAustralian Garden has a series of display

gardens designed specifically with thehome gardener in mind. Designed inresponse to a number of topical themes,the display gardens provide domestic-scaled examples of how Australian plantscan be used in new and exciting ways ina range of different garden settings.Themes include low water availability,habitat creation, use of recycledmaterials, gardening in small spaces,productive gardens, and gardens as playspaces. Information on garden design,plant selection and cultivation, deliveredboth face-to-face and by interpretivesigns, assists visitors to be inspired tocreate home gardens that will respond totheir local landscape and environmentalsituation. In looking at how effective weare being in this space, evaluationresearch conducted by Willoughby,Kendal and Farrar (2013) determined thatthe Australian Garden displays andprograms do influence people’s choice ofplants and landscape designs, especiallyas they become more engaged with us(for example as Friends or volunteers).As new residential areas develop aroundus, it is increasingly important that weactively provide opportunities for closerand more meaningful engagement tomaximise our educational role in creatingsustainable home gardens and moreconnected communities.

Conclusion

Looking back at what we have achievedin influencing SDG 11 and the creation ofmore sustainable urban development inour region, it is clear that our scientificallyrobust advocacy for biolinks to connectour natural areas with the world beyondhas had an impact. Open spacecorridors to be vegetated in indigenousplants are being incorporated into thenew developments. The biolinks are notas wide as we would like, but they will

still play an important role in habitatconnectivity between our stronghold ofintact ecosystems and other the patchesof biodiversity beyond our boundary. AState-funded RBGV outreach officer issoon to commence to continue theengagement with new home owners,school children, developers and localgovernment in creating habitat-friendlysuburbs, leveraging off the existingeducation programs and the displaysand interpretation already provided atCranbourne Gardens. As visitor numbersto the Australian Garden continue toincrease, and as we establish moreproductive community partnerships, ourrole in connecting people with plants willresult in more sustainable communities –a role that is being increasinglyrecognised as core business for botanicgardens worldwide.

References

, Russell, C., Willoughby, S., Burness,J. 2012. Backyards to biolinks. City Green #4

, Willoughby, S., Kendal, D., Farrar, A.2013. Public places and privatespaces. Botanic GardensConservation International EducationReview, Roots 10 (2)

Chris RussellExecutive Director, CranbourneGardensRoyal Botanic Gardens Victoria1000 Ballarto RoadCranbourneVictoria 3977 Australia


Volunteers and staff provide advice on Australianplants and garden design

Getting them young…potting up activities engagefamilies on the basics of growing plants

Display gardens provide home gardeners with ideasand inspiration to use Australian plants at home

Introduction

Characterized by almost twodecades of armed conflict,massive internal displacement and

migration, the province of Kivu is, to put itmildly, not stable. In Lwiro district inIrhambi-Katana, families fleeing conflictand insecurity in the mountains (highlandareas) find resettlement in villages closeto the Kivu Lake and transitional zones.

In South-Kivu, 60% of the populationhas no access to land (Balagizi et al.,2013). In these areas, access to land andits ownership has become a social issueand is generating great conflict betweennative and migrant communities.

Protected areas

To protect its mega-biodiversity, 10% ofthe land of the Democratic Republic ofCongo (DRC) is devoted to protectedareas in the form of National Parks(USAID, 2010). Unfortunately, most ofthe protected areas in the east of DRCare still in war and conflict zones. Since1994, massive internal and externaldisplacement has led to rapidurbanization in rural areas, with a hugedegradation of natural habitats.

The Parc National de Kahuzi-Biega(PNKB) in South-Kivu is known for itsdense forests which harbour severalendemic animals, such as the Mountain

Gorilla and several threatened plantspecies such as the Congo balsam(Impatiens) of the Albertine Rift. Thesenatural forests constitute the mainsource for food and medicine for about80% of the population, especiallyindigenous and rural communities livingaround such reserves who rely onnatural resources for their livelihoods.However overexploitation, combinedwith the impact of invasive species, nowthreaten the biodiversity of the forest. Itis no longer allowed to remove naturalresources from the PNKB.


SDG 12: RESPONSIBLECONSUMPTION ANDPRODUCTION BOTANIC GARDENS INMIGRATION SETTINGS

In South-Kivu, one of the poorest and mostviolent regions of the Democratic Republic ofCongo, a small team is setting up an (ethno)

botanical garden to safeguard traditional botanicalknowledge, endemic plant species, and wild food crops.

Authors: Marie-Cakupewa Fundiko and Bartjan Bakker

Preparing the first tree nursery for the Botanic Garden Uni50Lwiro at Lwiro. This nursery includes native and exotic tree species (Marie-Cakupewa Fundiko)

Pygmy women in Tshivanga

ARTICLE

Food insecurity

Land degradation, declining soil fertility,unsustainable water use, overfishing andenvironment degradation are all lesseningthe ability of the natural resource base tosupply food in the South-Kivu.

Wild food crops such as Lebruniabushaei, Ricinus communis, Grewiamildbraedii, Canarium schweinfurtii,Psidium guajava, Aframomum spp,Ensete ventricosum, Myrianthus holstiias well as several locally cultivated foodplants are becoming scarce not only onthe market, but also in their naturalhabitats in the conflict zone.

To deal with the poverty, hunger andforest degradation, the localcommunities in the South-Kivu are nowvery much reliant on seeds of improvedvarieties, which are distributed byseveral UN agencies amongst thedisplaced / refugees for food security.These plants species can becomeinvasive and constitute a real threat tothe local flora, while also underminingthe traditional knowledge of indigenousplants, which are more adapted to localconditions and resilient in the face ofclimate change. While improved varietiesof introduced crops are important inaddressing the food crisis in migrationsettings, the change in nutritional habitsamongst rural communities is alsoleading to arrange of dietary problems,from malnutrition to diseases such asdiabetes, heart disease and obesity.

Balancing priorities

It is important to protect and restoreforests and their ecosystems withinprotected areas. This enables ecologicalstudies and research on biodiversityconservation to be carried out, as well asencouraging ecotourism. However, thealarming rate of habitat degradation andbiodiversity loss in the South-Kivu and the

importance of its protection for the worldcultural heritage has to be balancedagainst the challenge of food security inthis post-conflict zone. This requires asystemic approach and cooperationamong actors operating in the chain offood production and consumption.

A component of the food supply chaincan be the domestication of crop wildrelatives in a botanical garden and theadvocacy and promotion of sustainableconsumption. Botanic gardens can alsohelp to secure threatened plant speciesfrom the forest.

Botanical Garden Uni50 Lwiro

A new botanical garden is underdevelopment with the following objectives:

• To design and develop a reference(Ethno) Botanic Garden area as atransitional zone between the PNKBand the rural communities inLwiro/South-Kivu;

• To contribute to further collection of the(folk) taxonomy and the domesticationof crop wild relatives, to support therestoration of the forests and addressfood security in migration settings;

• To stimulate a systemic approach andthe cooperation among local actorsand stakeholders for sustainableconsumption and biodiversityconservation in rural areas in South-Kivu;

• To initiate and contribute at the long-term to a Native Seed CentreProgramme at Lwiro/South-Kivu forfood security, sustainable productionand consumption.

It is planned that the botanic garden willbecome an important space for researchand cooperation on biodiversityconservation, to test theories onconservation and adaptation and to allowthe transfer of traditional botanicalknowledge about local plant species andtheir wild relatives in the South-Kivu.

Progress to date

A feasibility study has been completedand a pilot nursery has been created atthe Université du Cinquantenaire deLwiro (Uni50 Lwiro) in the South-Kivu.Under the supervision of M-CakupewaFundiko, a strong network has beenestablished and cooperation createdbetween several actors and stakeholdersin the chain. Further steps include:

1.Delimitation of the reforestationarea at Lwiro.

Between October 2016 and November2017, the Uni50 Lwiro, under thefacilitation of the DRCC foundation1

obtained 16 ha of land from the Centrede Recherche en Sciences Naturellesde Lwiro (CRSN) to host thereforestation project and the furtherinfrastructures of the university. TheDRCC foundation has benefitted fromthe financial support of the RotterdamZoo/Botanic Garden to allow themapping of the site, the plan andtopography of the university includingthe pilot botanic garden and thefeasibility study. For this step, anengineer in geology and topographywas hired to deliver the expectedresults. To ensure the best design of thepilot botanic garden, the horticulturalknowledge and the botanic collectionsat the Herbarium of the CRSN Lwirowere used, as well as several BGCIonline publications (Gratzfeld, 2016).


The tree nursery for the Botanic Garden project at Lwiro, South-Kivu (Marie-Cakupewa Fundiko)

Traditional home-made plant pockets

1www.drccfoundation.org

SDG 12: Ensuresustainable consumptionand production patterns

Target 12.2:By 2030, achieve thesustainable managementand efficient use of natural resources

The plans for the garden werepresented at the 6th Global BotanicGarden Congress in Geneva from 25June-30 June 2017. During thisconference, the presentation“Ethnobotany and Botanic garden inMigration settings” was presented inthe symposium on the Conservation ofUseful Plants and TraditionalKnowledge (BGCI, 2017)..

During this phase, M. Fundiko has alsoapplied for diverse permits for furtherresearch and networking in the field. Thepermits involve a research programmeon Ethnobotany of Traditional Knowledgeon Food Plants in the South-Kivu. Aninternational team at Gent University inBelgium and the Université duCinquantenaire de Lwiro has accepted tosupervise PhD research on the subject.

2. Further study on the flora including exsitu plant conservation was carriedout using the Flora at the herbarium ofthe CRSN and the PNKB

3. Botanical collections of seeds for theproject

Several expeditions to the forest in thePNKB and neighborhood were organizedto collect seeds and seedlings ofselected trees and food plants. Theseseeds and seedlings were furtherselected based on the rate ofgermination in the nursery. The reserve ofTshivanga in the PNKB, the Muloloforest, and Tshibati in the PNKB wereamong the sites investigated. Thecollection thus includes seeds from bothhigh and low altitude. The team alsoexplored the Nyungwe National Park andthe Cyamudongo forest in Rwanda onseveral occasions. These trips facilitatedexchanges with the Botanist Prof. Dr.Fischer (Koblenz University, Germany),specialist of the Flora of Nyungwe.Further contact has been made with ProfFischer for future collaborative

opportunities within the project. The identification and the verificationof the taxonomy of species collectedwas carried out by experts at theCRSN Lwiro and the University duCinquantenaire de Lwiro. Mr. Dumbo,the oldest expert taxonomist hasidentified most of the speciescollected in the wild forest.

For easy access to particular plantspecies, the research team also visitedmarkets of edible and useful plants inthe rural areas. The main publicmarkets in Katana andChabwinemwami were visited tocollect seeds. For further diversificationof the nursery, the project cooperateswith local stakeholders andinternational organizations committedto forest restoration in the rural areas.These include the WWF restorationprogramme in the South-Kivu, theWildlife Conservation Society, theGerman LHL projects and COOPERA.With their cooperation, our team hascollected useful cultural keystonespecies such as Moringa and Coffea spp.

4. The nursery for the Uni50 Lwirobotanic garden.

Two nurseries have been managedsince September 2017. Threeresearchers and technical staff areworking daily in the nursery and thegarden. The nursery is used as a placeto select seeds and to grow the maintraditional plant species and endemicplants. At this stage, the project teamhas benefited from the horticulturalknowledge of B. Bakker and A. deGroot, who visited Lwiro in August2017. The seeds and seedlings wereselected based on several criteria:

• the endemicity of a species and itsrelationship with biodiversityconservation, (fauna and flora)

• the social-cultural significance ofthe species in the local community,(medicinal, ritual, agricultural,)

• the degree of threat of the speciesin the natural habitats, (seedegraded ecosystems)

• the degree of adaptation of thetree and its integration by the localcommunity

• the availability and accessibility ofthe collection locality

• The germination rate of the seed

or the seedling. Promotion of sustainable food plantproduction and the consumption ofminor (wild) food plants is illustratedthrough a home ethnobotanical gardenestablished for the traditional restaurantat the Uni50 Lwiro. For sustainability,students engaged in the project utilizetraditional hand-made pockets for thegermination of the seeds in our nursery.Food plants species (mainly crop wildrelatives) have been collected from thewild and processed in the nursery.

Acknowledgement

We thank the management team of theUni50 Lwiro, in particular, Prof. Dr.Mubalama Zibona and the RotterdamZoo/Botanic Garden for providing thespace and supporting the project of theBotanic Garden of Lwiro in South-Kivu.We also thank the international network,the BGCI team in particular and theDRCC foundation for their support,advice and the cooperation. We hopethey will continue to network and lobbyfor the funding of ongoing activities.

References

, Balagizi, I. K., Ngendakumana, H.Mushayuma, N. H., Mirindi, T. A.,Muhimuzi, A. B., Bajope, B., &Mwapu, I. 2013. Perspectives degouvernance environnementaledurable dans la région de Lwiro (SudKivu, République Démocratique duCongo). Vertigo.

, BGCI. 2017 Abstracts of presentationsat the 6th Global Botanic GardensCongress, Geneva, Switzerland, 24-30June, 2017. http://www.bgci.org/files/6GBGC/Book%20of%20abstracts.pdf(p.81).

, Gratzfeld, J. (Ed.), 2016. From Idea toRealisation – BGCI’s Manual onPlanning, Developing and ManagingBotanic Gardens. Botanic GardensConservation International, Richmond,United Kingdom.

, USAID. 2010. BiodiversityConservation and ForestryProgrammes: Annual report.

Marie-Cakupewa Fundiko DRCC Foundation / Rotterdam Zooand Botanical GardenAmmunitiehaven 743, 2511 XW,


The botanic garden illustrating ethnobotanicalknowledge

Center for Sustainable Landscapes (Denmarsh Photography, Inc.)


ARTICLE

Introduction

We need a major paradigm shiftin the way we build andoperate our gardens and live

our lives. Being less bad, which is whatmost sustainability programs seek toachieve, is not going to help us solvemajor human and environmentalchallenges such as climate change,habitat destruction, loss of biodiversityand issues related to water, energy,

Author: Richard Piacentini

SDG 13: CLIMATE CHANGEBEING LESS BAD IS NOT GOODENOUGH ANYMORE

health and food security. We need toinspire our communities to embracepositive change by leading by example.

We often focus on the symptoms ofproblems, like climate change or cancer,and not the causes of the problems,which are related to unsustainable use ofnatural resources and lifestyles.Greening our buildings, programs andoperations can help us inspire ourconstituents to change the way they

interact with the world and addressimportant human and environmentalissues. Our progressive leadership in thisarea can direct us toward a regenerativeworld in which we respect other forms oflife, share the earth’s resources and livein harmony with nature. It is anopportunity in which botanical gardensare uniquely qualified to make lastingpositive impacts in our communities.

The Phipps Conservatory and BotanicalGardens helps its constituents understand the connections between people, plants, health and the planet

SDG13: Take urgent actionto combat climate changeand its impacts

Target 13.3:Improve education,awareness-raising andhuman and institutional capacity onclimate change mitigation, adaptation,impact reduction and early warning

In her work, Carol Sanford describesfour different paradigms for interactingwith the world.1

In the extractive model it is all about“me”; the individual doesn’t care who orwhat they hurt to get what they want.The world is seen in fragments, there forthe taking. This is colonialism. In the lessbad model we see a shift in thinking from“me” to “us”; an individual in thisparadigm sees the world as fragmented,but recognizes the fragments asinterconnected and tries to stabilizethem. This is where the environmentalmovement started, as exemplified by the“reduce, reuse, recycle” hierarchy andthe first green building certificationsystems. The do good model is alsoabout “us,” but recognizes reciprocity;an individual in this model sees theworld as fragmented but interconnectedand tries to improve it. Some lateriterations of green building programs fitthis model. The final paradigm is

regenerative. It is about “us,” and seeingthe world as a whole interconnectedsystem rather than separate fragments.

A regenerative world

In a regenerative world, individuals movebeyond thinking about themselves inisolation and see the larger social andnatural systems that we collectively needto survive. This is the paradigm we needto adopt for the long-term health of theplanet. Climate change, loss of habitatsand biodiversity are all symptoms of aproblem that can be addressed withregenerative thinking.

It is a lifestyle issue. We routinely ignoreand support activities that are bad forhuman and environmental health. Withour use of end products, we supportfossil fuels, mineral extraction,monoculture crops propped up bychemical fertilizers and pesticides andmeat produced in inhumane conditions

with a diet of antibiotics and hormones,to name just a few. Nothing like thisexists in nature. We are polluting theplanet with millions of pounds of toxicpersistent chemicals each year. By 2050,it is estimated that our disposable way ofliving will result in more plastic in theocean than fish. We are presentlyheaded toward a future where we will beremembered not for our technological orartistic achievements, but for the terribledevastation we brought upon the planet.

It doesn’t have to be this way, but itmeans we can no longer ignore the waywe live.

Imagine what your garden would look like10 years from now if it were regenerative.Will you reach that goal? If not, what isholding you back? Quite often the answergiven is “We can’t afford it.” In thedeveloped and rapidly developing parts ofthe world, that answer isn’t good enoughanymore. If we cannot build a building oroperate a program that contributes tomaking the world a better place we needto seriously consider whether we shouldbuild or do it at all. It comes down toacting on our values. If climate changeand the loss of biodiversity and habitatsare truly important, than everything we docontributing to that needs to be seen as ahigh priority.

The Phipps ‘journey’

At Phipps that line of thought sent us ona journey beginning in the late 1990s.We started with our buildings becausethe built environment is responsible formuch of the energy and water we use


Aerial view of the Phipps Living Campus (Lofty Views)

Café Phipps (Adam Milliron)

About me

Fragments

Extractive Less bad

About usInter-connections

Fragments stabilize them

About usSystem

Whole

RegenerativeDo good

About usReciprocity

Fragments Improve them

Four different paradigms for interacting with the world

1Sanford, Carol, personal communication, February 25, 2017

and pollution we produce each year.Over the years since then we have builtincreasingly greener buildings, ultimatelyleading up to the Center for SustainableLandscapes (CSL) in 2012 which is stillrecognized as one of the greenestbuildings in the world.

A defining attribute of the CSL was theadoption the Living Building Challenge(LBC) as our design standard. The LBCis the most rigorous green building ratingsystem in the world. It supports aregenerative way of thinking and issystems-based, which is how natureworks. The LBC starts with a powerfulpremise to create a world that is sociallyjust, culturally rich and ecologicallyrestorative. It requires that projects meetnet-zero energy from renewable energyproduced on-site, and that buildingscapture and treat all their storm andsanitary water. Materials must be non-toxic and low impact. Projects mustintegrate local culture, biophilia andbeauty to foster community and naturalconnections.

Following our immersion in the LBC, weset out to make all of our programs andprojects, from horticulture and facilities tofood service, comply with the standard.

More recently, we have begun to alignour actions with the 7 First Principles ofRegeneration:2

1. Whole: We think in wholes rather thanparts. Holistic rather than reductionist.We see our organization, staff, visitors

and ecosystem as interconnected.Nothing works in isolation. We areconstantly looking for ways todemonstrate how human andecological wellness are inextricablyconnected. We manifest our corevalues in every initiative and program.We seek to understand whole livingsystems and our roles as members ofnature.

2. Potential: We initiate with potential.Rather than trying to solve problemswe focus on what we want to achieveand why: We demonstrate the linksbetween human and environmental

health at the intersection of the builtand natural environments to inspirevisitors to change the way theyinteract with the world.

3. Reciprocity: We recognize that weoperate within living, dynamic, nestedsystems, and that we make reciprocal,mutually beneficial interactions with thelarger and lesser systems in which weare nested. In our café, for example, webegin with responsible sourcing basedon how food is produced, add healthfulpreparations with no junk food andfollow through by composting all pre-and post-consumer waste andeliminating plastic disposables tominimize landfill waste.

4. Essence: We exhibit singularity,recognizing that our institution shouldalways work from a place thatrecognizes our non-displaceableuniqueness. The depth of commitmentto linking human and environmentalhealth throughout all of its activitiesand focus on core values, mission andpurpose is what makes Phipps unique.

5. Nestedness: We are embedded withingreater and lesser systems, eachplaying a core role in the success of thewhole and other nested wholes. We seeour roles within our community, region,nation and world as opportunities todevelop reciprocal, mutually beneficialrelationships, particularly in areas thatlink human and ecological health.

BGCI • 2018 • BGjournal • Vol 15 (1) • 39

Welcome Center (Paul G. Wiegman)

Center for Sustainable Landscapes - Green Roof (Paul G. Wiegman)

2Sanford, Carol (December 15, 2017). What is Regeneration? Retrieved from https://theregenerativebusinesssummit.com/regeneration/

6.Nodal: We seek interventions at thepoint of highest systemic return.Similar to acupuncture, where a singlepoint or set of points can have thegreatest impact. With programs likeHomegrown, which installs vegetablegardens at homes in food deserts, orLet’s Move Pittsburgh, which focuseson regional children’s health, we movebeyond the conventional botanicalgarden mission to amplify our impact.

7.Development: We seek to grow anddevelop the capacity in everyone wereach to help them make sustainabilitya defining component of their lives.

For Phipps it started with our ownorganization. The following timelineillustrates some of the key decisions that were driven by our developing value chain:

From 2005 to 2016, we reduced the CO2 output from our buildings by 56%per square meter, twice as much andtwice as fast as the Paris Climateagreement. We continue to look at waysto improve efficiency and reduce the useof fossil fuels.

Building sustainable lifestyles

Once we had our house in order, westarted to look at ways to develop thecapacity in our visitors to adopt moresustainable lifestyles. In mid-January 2017we forged an agreement with a renewableelectricity provider to purchasediscounted Phipps memberships thatthey could use as incentives for visitors toswitch their home electricity to renewableenergy. Because nobody knows what aton of CO2 looks like, we related theamount of CO2 to barrels of oil burnt. In

June, after the U.S. announced plans towithdraw from the Paris ClimateAgreement, we lined our front walkwaywith 16 oil barrels to demonstrate the CO2

a typical Pennsylvania householdproduces to power their home each year.To eliminate procrastination, we stipulatedthat anyone who wanted the freemembership had to switch on the spotwhile visiting Phipps. The result has beenphenomenal. In the first 11 months, over2,000 families have switched to renewableelectricity, and those 16 barrels of oil notburnt each year are now more than 32,000.

Conclusions

By taking a regenerative approach in theway they see and interact with the world,botanical gardens can help theirconstituents understand the connectionsbetween people, plants, health and theplanet. We all can, and should, take short–term actions to deal with the symptomsof our lifestyles, but ultimately addressingthe core problem and adopting aregenerative way of interacting with theworld is the best long-term solution for ourhealth and the health of the planet.

Richard PiacentiniPhipps Conservatory and BotanicalGardensOne Schenley ParkPittsburgh, Pa. 15213 USA


Center for Sustainable Landscapes (Denmarsh Photography, Inc.)

Centre for Sustainable Landscapes environs (Annie O'Neill)

2005

2005

2006

2006

20092009

2010

2011

20112015

2017

Adopted 100% renewableenergy campus-wideAggressive IPM and toxicpesticide reductionEliminated plastic disposableservicewareBegan composting all pre- andpost-consumer food wasteEliminated bottled waterSwitched to hormone- andantibiotic-free meat, rBST-freemilk, and cage-free eggsOffset all carbon produced toheat all of our buildingsEliminated soda and junk foodfrom our café Eliminated factory farmed meatsDivested from fossil fuelinvestments Defined new socially responsibleinvestment guidelines

Date Decision

Membership benefits include

BGCI’s directory of botanic gardens, GardenSearch, lists2,500 botanic gardens that conserve a third of knownplant diversity and attract 500 million visitors a year.

BGCI is a leadership and catalyst organisation that worksto promote botanic gardens as a professional community,share knowledge and skills and mobilise funding for plantconservation.

• Major discounts on registration feesfor BGCI Congresses

• Tailored support and advice onrequest

• Preferential access to BGCI projectfunding

• Access to the Member’s Area ofBGCI’s website, which includesadvanced features on our databases:PlantSearch, ThreatSearch andGlobalTreeSearch

• Access to BGCI’s ConservationAccreditation Scheme and Directoriesof Expertise in seed conservation,ecological restoration, conservationarboriculture and public engagement

JOIN THE WORLD’S LARGESTPLANT CONSERVATION NETWORK

For 30 years Botanic Gardens Conservation International hasrepresented the botanic garden and arboretum community.

Journal of Botanic Gardens Conservation International

Volume 14 • Number 1 • January 2017

Red lists: Plant conservationassessments and the role ofbotanic gardens

Features in this issue:

• Talking plants: an interview with a plantconservation champion

• Plant hunting tales fromTanzania

• Featured garden: focus on South China

Volume 14 • Number 1 • May 2017Botanic Gardens Conservation International Education Review

Engaging YouthAttracting attention and interest in plant conservationYouth development through scientific inquiryEngagement through wild flowers Reaching out to youth audiences

• The opportunity to join BGCI’stechnical networks, including theGlobal Trees Campaign and theEcological Restoration Alliance

• Preferential opportunities toparticipate in BGCI training courses inplant conservation techniques andpublic engagement (200 trainingplaces are available)

• Eligibility for BGCI’s Botanic GardenPartnership Programme

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