UNIVERSITY OF NIGERIA, NSUKKA

Faculty Of Biological ScienceDepartment Of Plant Science And Biotechnology

A Seminar In Partial Fulfillment For The CourseBot 482

TOPIC:

Botanic Gardens In Africa

BY

Ndu, Raymond O.2010/174002

supervisor: Mrs. Asusu, C. u.

April, 2014.

INTRODUCTION

Fig. 2: The hanging garden of Babylon, Mesopotamia,

Fig. 3: The aesthetic display of ornamental in the garden of Heidelbourg, Germany.

Fig. 4: The Eden project in Cornwall, England. Fig. 4: The palm greenhouse of the Saint Petersburg, Russia

Source: http://wikipedia.com

Definition Of Terms

Arboretum

Horticulture

Floriculture

Pomology

TaxonomyHerbarium

Herbals

Agronomy

Fig. 1: A herbarium specimen

Source: http://gardensforlearning.com

History Of Botanic Gardens

OBJECTIVES OF BOTANIC GARDENS IN AFRICA

They Creates an environment for Research studies.

They provide a practice ground for economic botany.

They provide a Horticultural service.

They are used as centers for botanical education.

They play a major role in the development of aesthetic

presentation of plants and exhibits.

Plants conservation and gene pool preservation, and

maintenance is another important role played by the

Botanical Garden. To serve as a means of introducing new plants into the

area, regardless of the source from which they may come.

FEATURES OF A STANDARD BOTANIC GARDEN

In discussing a standard Botanical Garden the following features are under consideration : Structures

Activities carried out by the various professionals

Plant species and their distribution

Fig. 6: Transportable miniature green house

Source: http://gardensforlearning.com

Survey of selected Botanic Gardens in the African continent

The Kirstenboch National Botanical Garden, South Africa

The University of Ibadan botanical garden, Ibadan, Nigeria

The National Botanical Garden, Harare, Zimbabwe

List of some national Botanical Gardens in Africa and their year of establishment

National Botanic Gardens In Africa Year of establishment

The Orman Botanical Garden, Egypt 1875

The Kirstenboch National Botanical Garden, South Africa

1913

Nairobi Botanic Garden, Kenya 2008

The Limbe Botanic Garden, Cameroon 1892

The Amani Botanic Garden, Tanzania 1902

The Rabat Botanic Garden, Morocco 1873

The Aburi Botanic Garden, Ghana 1875

The Butatong Botanic Garden, cross river, Nigeria

2003

University of Ibadan, Nigeria 1948

The Entebbe Botanic Garden, Uganda 1898

The Gullele Botanic Garden, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

2002

The National Botanic Garden, Namibia 1970

The National Botanic Garden, Tsimbazaza Zoo And Botanic Garden

1979

Munda Wanga Botanic Garden, Zambia 1950

Bafut Botanic Garden, Cameroon 1997

The Botanic Garden Of Eala, Mbandaka, Congo 1900

Factors affecting the standards of Botanic Gardens in Africa

Encroaching of human civilization on lands

Financial problems

Improper maintenance policies

Inadequacy of trained labour

force

Recommendations and conclusionIn the western world, botanic gardens are associated with research institute, and also add to the national revenue of the country. For this reason the improvement of the botanic gardens in Africa should be put into consideration as follows: Botanic gardens should be seen as a truly professional

bodies if they are to be taken seriously and must show results to policy makers and base advice on sound science.

Botanic gardens should be published in appropriate journals.

There is a need to make compatible objectives, methodologies, expected results and evaluation in botanic garden research.

The need for an establishment of a functioning body which oversee the operation of the different botanic gardens in Africa.

The African botanic gardens should work together to harmonize their policies on access and benefit sharing and their material transfer agreement. .

‘’tHANKS FOR

LISTENIN

G