International Congress of - Universität Innsbruck · Which future for the Alpine and Arctic...

Which future forthe Alpine and ArcticBotanical Gardens ?

Villar d’ArèneCol du Lautaret6-9 September 2006

InternationalAlpine and Arctic

Congress ofBotanical Gardens

BackgroundThe first “Congrès des Jardins Alpins” took place at Rochers de Naye (Rambertia, Montreux, Switzerland) on the 17-18th August 1904 and the second congress was organised at Pont de Nant (Thomasia, Bex, Switzerland) on the 5-6th August 1906.Pr. Jran-Paul Lachmann, creator and director of the Jardin Alpin du Lautaret planned to organise the third congress at the Lautaret in August 1908. Unfortunately, his illness and death in 1908 did not permit to organise this congress.

Rambertia, 1904

Thomasia, 1906

Which future for the Alpine and Arctic Botanical Gardens ?

Villar d’ArèneCol du Lautaret

6-9 September 2006

International Congress ofAlpine and Arctic Botanical Gardens

Proceedings of the

2007

International Congress of Alpine and Arctic Botanical Gardens

WelcomeX. Cret, mayor of Villar d’Arène.................p.5 B. Doche, Grenoble University....................p.6

Introduction

• Why a congress on Alpine and Arctic Botanical Gardens at Villar d’Arène/Lautaret?..................................................p.7 Organizing committee• History and diversity of High Mountain Botanic Gardens in the European Alps.....p.9 A. Gröger (Munich, Germany)• The Jardin Botanique Alpin du Lautaret : roots and branches..............................p.15 S. Aubert (Grenoble, France)

Dynamics of collections

•Ex situ conservation at the Conservatoire Botanique National Alpin.........................p.20 N . Fort (Gap, France)• Collections management, conservation and research on alpine threatened species at Viotte Alpine Garden...........p. 25 C. Bonomi (Trento, Italy) • Profile of the world’s northernmost botanic garden at Tromsø, Norway........................p.30 A. Elvebakk (Tromsø, Norway)• Artist residence at the Jardin Botanique Alpin du Lautaret......................................p.35 Ph. Danton (Grenoble, France)

Research activities

• Research activities at the Jardin Botanique Alpin du Lautaret........................................p.40 S. Aubert (Grenoble, France) • Impact of Botanical Gardens on their environment : case study of the Jardin Botanique Alpin du Lautaret.................p.45 R. Douzet (Grenoble, France) • The problem of Heracleum mantegaz-zianum in the Swiss Alps........................p.49 F. Bonnet (Pont de Nant, Swizerland)• Collections and their use in research. Example of abundant compounds in certain alpine plants................................p.52 R. Bligny (Grenoble, France) • Phénoclim, a research project on phenology in the Alps..............................p.57 A. Delestrade (Chamonix, France)• Botanic Gardens and their implication in the

international strategies..............................p.63 M. Delmas (Paris, France) • Climate change : the role of botanic gardens.......................................................p.67 P. Smith (Kew, England)

Education and presentation

• The educational role of the Haut Chitelet Alpine Garden............................................p.72 R. Pierrel (Nancy, France) • Teaching across the borders : a collaborative project on education for alpine botanic gardens and primary schools in 4 European countries...................................p.76 C. Bonomi (Trento, Italy) • Juliana Alpine Botanical Garden in the Trenta Valley (Slovenia)...........................p.81 N. Praprotnik (Ljubljana, Slovenia) • Mountain plants in the Reykjavik Botanic Garden in Iceland.....................................p.84 E. Thorvaldsdottir (Reykjavik, Iceland)• Towards a collection of plants from South America....................................................p.86 S. Aubert (Grenoble, France)

Networking

• Networking of Alpine Botanic Gardens : an introduction to the tools............................p.92 A. Gröger (Munich, Germany) • International Exchange of Horticulturists : highlighting the example of Munich Botanic Garden and Katse Alpine Garden, Lesotho.......................................................p.96 J. Wainwright-Klein (Munich, Germany) • Creating a network, two case studies : The Italian Seed Bank Network, The European Environmental and Botanic Garden Education Network.................................p.100 C. Bonomi (Trento, Italy) • ENSCONET : European Native Seed Conservation Network............................p.105 M. Delmas (Paris, France)

Invited conference : Project of creation of Jardin et Conservatoire Botaniques Claude Gay on the Robinson Crusoe island, Juan Fernandez archipelago, Chile......p.108 Ph. Danton & Ch. Perrier (Grenoble, France)

Conclusions...........................................p.112

Participant list.........................................p.115

CONTENTS

International Congress of

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J.-P. Lachmann, creator of the Jardin Botanique Alpin du Lautaret

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Alpine and Arctic Botanical Gardens

Xavier CRETmayor of Villar d’Arène

Welcome in Villar d’Arène for this congress dealing with the future of the Alpine and Arctic Botanical Gardens.Please let me express my pride, on behalf of the Faranchins (habitants of Villar d’Arène), for hosting this meeting with many European countries represented.I would like to introduce you to the Commune of Villar d’Arène. It is a high altitude commune of more than 8.000 hectares located from 1.600 up to 4.000 masl. More than ¾ of the territory are located in the Ecrins National Parc or in a natural reserve. Around 300 people live here all year long and 1.�00 tourist beds are available.The orientation of the Commune is now towards tourism, developing the winter season with various activities, the most attractive of which being the famous off-piste ski resort in La Grave. The summer tourism is organised around mountaineering and hiking, with the Jardin Botanique Alpin du Lautaret as a major centre of activities.But one should not forget a major point: the existence of strong mountain agriculture as compared to many other mountains. In fact, around 20 farms still exist in the Communes of Villar d’Arène and La Grave. For centuries, this agriculture has been responsible for the landscape of the mountains (e.g. terraces), with an obvious effect on the increase of the botanical diversity. The role of agriculture on biodiversity is currently analysed by searchers and students at the University of Grenoble in connexion with the Station Alpine Joseph Fourier and his dynamic director, Serge Aubert.The interest of this study called VISTA is high and it will permit, hopefully, to stimulate the French and European authorities to support this agriculture that is essential for the maintenance of the richness of the alpine flora.This is just an example among others and it demonstrates the interest to continue the human and financial efforts for these laboratories that are Alpine Botanical Gardens.I wish an excellent congress to all the participants.


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Welcome to the International Congress of Mountain and Arctic Botanical Gar-dens in Villar d’Arène !Yannick Vallée, President of Université Joseph Fourier (UJF), was not able to be present, due to his duties in Paris as the leader of the presidents of French Universities. I am very happy to replace him and to come to Villar d’Arène for the beginning of this Congress. I’m a biologist (ecologist rather than botanist and also, in the first part of my carrier, a vegeta-tion cartographer). Like Serge Aubert and Rolland Douzet, the organizers of this Congress, I work in the Laboratoire d’Ecologie Alpine localized in Grenoble. During 20 years, I have studied the dynamics of Ericaceous Plant populations (Calluna vulgaris, Rhododendron ferrugineum). Since 6 years, I am Vice-President of UJF in charge of human resources. After 6 years of this political mission in “human resources”, I can say : the “human populations” are more difficult to manage than Ericaceous populations.The Jardin Botanique Alpin du Lautaret belongs to UJF since 107 years, and a lot of competent and passionate people have worked for and in this Garden. During this century, different problems are happened (two wars, some difficult seasons and in December 1999, an important gust of wind : the roof of the chalet flied away……) but always these passionate people have improved the quality of the garden. I would like to thank the previous staff (Gérard Cadel, José Lestani) and the new staff (Richard Hurstel, Rolland Douzet, Serge Aubert, Richard Bligny). The Botanical garden has always been the “shop window” for UJF, particularly since about 6 years : the actual staff has improved the communication on Botanical garden within and outside the University.UJF is located principally in suburbs of Grenoble (like 3 others Universities) but it has also 6 sites located about 100 km around Grenoble, like the Station Alpine at Lautaret Pass (2000 m). UJF has about 1.100 technical and administrative staff working for 17.500 students (1 3�0 Ph D) and for 70 Laboratories and research institutes.Now, I propose to speak about a “more interesting” theme for you : the biogeographical situation of Lautaret Pass and Station Alpine. Two gradients characterize the French Alps : - the first gradient is oriented West / East : it is an “humidity gradient” with the Outer Alps (Grenoble) being wetter than Inner Alps (Briançon). At the same altitude, for the same exposition and with the same rocks, the plant communities are different. In montane and subalpine levels of Outer Alps Fagus sylvatica, Abies alba or Picea abies dominate in the forests. On the other hand in the inner Alps, Pinus sylvestris, Larix decidua, Pinus cembra dominate. The Botanical Garden is situed on the boundary transition zone / Inner Alps (all the East side of Lautaret Pass is in Inner Alps). - the second gradient is oriented South/North : it is a temperature gradient with an evolution of climatic influences (mediterranean influences in Southern Alps and more continental influences in Northern Alps).The Alpine station is located at the cross of all these influences, which explains, in addition to the geological diversity, the biodiversity around the Lautaret pass.To finish, the Lautaret and Galibier Passes are known by all the cyclists, as famous “étapes“ of the Tour de France, also 100 years old.I hope for you an interesting Congress with a nice weather during your visits.

Bernard DOCHEvice-president of University Joseph Fourier

Introduction 7


The contextMany congresses deal with national or

international gardens but not specifically with Alpine and Arctic Botanical Gardens (AABG).

Two congresses of alpine gardens had been organised in 1904 and 1906 and the next congress was planed at Lautaret but the illness of Pr Jean-Paul Lachmann, creator and director of the Jardin Alpin du Lautaret, did not permit to organise it in 1908.

Previous congresses (1992; 1996; 2000) have been organised at Villar d’Arène/Lautaret on the research on physiology and ecology of alpine and arctic plants.

The questionsWhich network for AABG, given that

many networks already exist at national (eg Association des Jardins Botaniques de France et des pays francophones) or international (eg BCGI) levels?

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Which type of exchanges do we want to have? Which type of network : internet, association (cf International Association of Alpine Gardens)?

Which specific topics/problems for AABG : seasonality, staff, collections, etc.

Which status for (alpine) botany and research? Which contribution the botani-cal gardens can make?

Which status for the AABG? Rela-tions with the universities, the National Parcs, the associations, the Museums, the Conservatories, etc.?

Which role of the AABG in research, in public education, in the context of new demands/needs (erosion of biodiversity, climate change, etc.)

Which role of the AABG in conserva-tion? Relation with the Conservatoires Bo-taniques (in France and Switzerland)?

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Why a congress on Alpine and Arctic Botanical Gardens at Villar d’Arène & Lautaret?

Organizing committee

Serge AUBERT, director of the Station Alpine Joseph Fourier, Grenoble, chair of the committeeRichard BLIGNY, CNRS & Station Alpine Joseph Fourier, Grenoble Philippe DANTON, Botanist attached to the Museum of Paris, Grenoble Rolland DOUZET, Station Apine Joseph Fourier, Grenoble Andreas GRÖGER, Alpine Garden Schachen / Munich Botanic Garden


Saxigraga aquatica. Drawing by Philippe Danton during the artist residence at the Jardin Botanique Alpin du Lautaret in July 2006.

Introduction 9


During the 19th century, alpine tourism started and the interest in alpine botany was no longer merely scienti-fic. Enthusiasm for alpine plant species began to infect the broad public. As a consequence, the decline of natural populations of attractive alpine species became noticeable. The symbol plant of the Alps, the Edelweiss (Leontopodium alpinum), vanished in a lot of localities. Soon in localized areas also species such as Alpenrose (Rhododendron hirsutum, R. ferrugineum), Primrose (Primula auricula), Gentians (Gentiana acaulis, G. clusii) and Nigritella nigra were depleted to sa-tisfy tourist demands. Additional pressure

on natural populations was created by private collectors. Especially in Great Bri-tain the cultivation of alpines came into fashion. Wild collected plants were sold in wholesale quantities. In the 1890s, whole wagon loads were transferred from Aus-tria, Switzerland and Bavaria to the British Isles. Some alpine species were also exhausti-vely collected for industrial use, i.e. for the production of liqueurs, pharmaceuticals and cosmetics. Species like the Genipi Wormwood (Artemisia umbelliformis, A. nivalis, A. nitida), the Spikenard (Valeriana celtica) and gentian species (Gentiana lutea, G. purpurea, G. pannonica) were

History and diversity of High Mountain Botanic Gardens in the European Alps

Andreas GRÖGERAlpine Garden Schachen / Munich Botanic Garden, Germany

RésuméDe 1865 à 1915, ce sont 25 jardins qui ont été établis en altitude dans les Alpes. Seuls 7 perdurent aujourd’hui. Parmi les caractéristiques de cette permanence sont à noter l’affiliation à une université ou à un grand jardin botanique et l’accessibilité du site. Un personnel permanent y a été employé, avec un travail sur le long terme combiné à une approche scientifique. De même aujourd’hui, un peu plus de 25 jardins alpins existent dans les Alpes, avec une diversité de statuts, d’affiliations, de tailles, d’équipement, de budget, de personnel, etc. Le point commun de ces jardins est leur mission de présentation de la flore alpine, de sa diversité, son unicité et sa beauté.

Introduction10


collected on a large scale by professional root diggers. One of these professional diggers could collect up to 200 kg of roots daily.

Private initiatives were the motor for alpine gardensTo stop this decline, the first species protection laws were passed. Protected areas, such as the system of National Parks in the USA, did yet not exist in Europe. But private initiatives tried to increase the public awareness. It was at the end of the 19th century, that in several countries botanical associations were founded, which were dedicated especially to the protection of the alpine flora. The ”Association pour la protection des plantes” was located in Switzerland, ”Pro Montibus et Sylvis” in Northern Italy, and the activites of the ”Verein zum Schutze und zur Pflege der Alpenpflanzen” focused on the area along the German-Austrian border. One of the major objectives of these associations was the foundation of high mountain gardens. Their projects were nearly always realized in a joint action with local authorities, scientific institution and private sponsors, thus reflecting the broad public interest that alpine gardens received in this period. But as so often is the case, the initiative was mainly taken by a handful of key figures. Henry Correvon (18�4 – 1939, Association pour la protection des plantes) was the crucial person in Switzerland. He founded four Swiss alpine gardens (Weisshorn, La Linnaea, La Rambertia, Arolla) and participated in the foundation of several others. In France a similar role was taken by Jean-Paul Lachmann (18�1 - 1908, University of Grenoble), who was engaged in the establishment of three gardens (Chamrousse, Lautaret, Villard d’Arène). In Austria and Germany the grand promoters of alpine gardens were Richard von Wettstein (1836 - 1931, University of Vienna) and Karl von Goebel (18�� - 1932, University of Munich). They participated in the foundation of the alpine gardens Bremerhütte, Raxalpe, Rax-Habsburghaus and Schachen.

Mission statements in the early daysPart of the function of these gardens was that of a natural reserve for endangered alpine species. Also the utilization for re-search purposes was pronounced in the foundation of several alpine gardens. But a core issue of all the alpine gardens was the educative role. Karl von Goebel (1901) formulated the mission of the Schachen Alpine Garden as the following : “From the very begin-ning, I found it important that the mission of the alpine garden should not be a mere scientific one ... the alpine garden should offer to all nature lovers the opportunity to see and enjoy the splendid flora of the Alps gathered in one point, and to easily acquire a knowledge of the most impor-tant alpine plant species.” This mission statement is still valid for the Schachen Alpine Garden.

Long-term maintenance, a major problem for alpine gardensFrom 1865 to 1915, some 25 gardens were established in montane to alpine eleva-tions of the European Alps. Only 7 of them have persisted until today; the others va-nished within a few years. The main reason was that their maintenance proved to be quite expensive and labour-intensive, thereby overloading the financial capa-cities of the correspondent associations. Accessibility also turned out to be cru-cial. Alpine gardens situated next to pass roads, cable car and rack railway stations or nearby tourist attractions, were succes-sful. Another characteristic of alpine gar-dens, which persisted in the long term, is the association to a university institute or to a larger Botanic Garden. The crucial advantage of this affiliation is that staffs are employed on a perma-nent basis and work can be planned on a longer time scale combined with a scientific background. The percentage of seasonal, frequently changing personnel is low. Research interests and correspon-dent excursions lead to a permanent sup-ply of new plant material. Alpine gardens are used by their affiliated institutions as a very special showcase of their activities and are included in their publicity.

Introduction 11


Nowadays, especially the larger high mountain gardens in the European Alps are of this type. Lautaret represents a very special case, in which an alpine garden is a scientific institution on its own. Alpine gardens, subsidized by municipal councils, have a long tradition in Italy. A small per-centage of alpine gardens is funded by tourist enterprises, such as hotels, cable cars or tourism syndicates. So, status and institutional affiliation of alpine gardens is nowadays still quite diverse. And with that, their organizational background va-ries a lot, from size, equipment to general finances and staff numbers.

Collections diversity in alpine gardensThe collections and their presentation also vary significantly. Generally it is of course the differing climate and geology that al-low the cultivation of very different spe-cies. But additionally, the concepts are differing, and with them the collections composition. Some alpine gardens are restricted ex-clusively to native species, others offer a wide geographic range of alpine species, some only present real alpines, other also include tree collections, some are pre-senting their collections geographically, others by their natural plant communities. Rarely, alpine plant species are presen-ted in their systematic groupings, what was absolutely common some 100 years ago. Sometimes, plants are presented in other functional or thematic groups, such as medicinal plant species, species pro-tected by law, etc.All in all, the plant diversity harboured in alpine gardens is considerable. This is one of the excellences the community of al-pine gardens has : that not one resembles the other. The composition and presenta-tion of the collections are so variable that visitors can enjoy very different colourful insights into the alpine flora.

What do all these gardens have in common? The common bracket, that joins all Alpine Gardens, is their mission whether formula-ted or not. All Alpine Gardens try to func-tion as an attractive showcase for the

diversity, uniqueness and beauty of the alpine flora. First of all, they want to ena-ble the visitor to recognize plant species of the direct surroundings. Then, they present species that are rare in their natural en-vironment and need special protection. And as a higher aim, they give an insight into the ecology of alpine species, either by description of special adaptations, by presenting co-occurring species, by dis-tinguishing them from related species, or by comparing them with the floristic ele-ments of other mountainous ecosystems.

Until now, the interactions between Al-pine Botanic Gardens have been very loose. The major objective should be to in-duce tighter co-operations and lead to a joint presentation to the public. Future of Alpine Gardens will depend considerably on how Alpine Botanic Gardens present themselves as modern efficient centres of competence for alpine flora.

ReferencesBernini A, Piaggi E (1997) 37 Giardini Botanici delle

Alpi e degli Appennini. Pavia, ItalyGoebel K (1901) Der Alpengarten auf dem

Schachen. Bericht des Vereins zum Schutze und Pflege der Alpenpflanzen 1: 36-48. Bamberg, Germany

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Introduction12


Fig. 1 & 2. Alpine Garden Schachen in 1901 (left) and in 2001(right).

Fig. 3. Alpine Garden Neureuth (in 1903), abandoned after World War I.

Introduction 13


Fig. 4 & 5. Alpine Garden Chanousia, abandoned after World War II, re-established in 1978.

Fig. 6. Alpine Garten Rambertia created in 1896, here in 2004, with the rack railway station in the background (© S. Aubert).

Introduction14


founded name country location elevation status

186� Col du Tricot F Col du Tricot, Mont Blanc, Savoie

2400m abandoned

187� Blaser A next to Matrei, Tirol 2090m abandoned

1884 Wendelstein D Wendelstein, Bayern 1800m abandoned

188� Weisshorn CH Val d’Anniviers, Wallis 2300m abandoned

1886 Jardin de la Murithienne, St. Bernard

CH St. Bernard, Wallis 2470m abandoned

1886 Jardin de la Murithienne, Zermatt

CH Zermatt, Wallis 1620m abandoned

1889 La Linnaea CH Bourg-St.-Pierre, Wallis

1690m existent

1890 La Thomasia CH Pont-de-Nant, Wallis 1260m existent

1892 Chamrousse F Alpes Dauphinoises 18�0m abandoned

1896 (1919) Lautaret F Col de Lautaret, Hautes Alpes

2075m existent

1896 La Rambertia CH Rochers de Naye, Vaud

2045m existent

1897 (1978) La Chanousia I (F) Piccolo San Bernardo, Valle d’Aosta

2200m existent

1898 Davos CH Davos-Platz, Grigioni 1�60m abandoned

1899 Villard d’Arène F Villard d’Arène, near Lautaret

1670m abandoned

1899 Neureuth A Neureuth, Tirol 1260m abandoned

1900 Rostania I Val Pellice, Piemonte 126�m ?

1900 Bremerhütte A Gschnitztal, Tirol 2390m abandoned

1900 Raxalpe A Rax, Niederösterreich 2010m abandoned

1900 Schatzalp CH next to Davos, Graubünden

186�m abandoned

1901 Schachen D Wettersteingebirge, Bayern

1850m existent

1902 La Presolana I Monte Scanapa, Alpi Orobie

13�0m abandoned

1903 Rax-Habsburghaus A Rax, Niederösterreich 1770m abandoned

1903 Arolla CH Mont Collon, Wallis 1960m abandoned

190� Hasentälchen CH M. Rigi-Scheidegg, next to Luzern

1�60m abandoned

1907 (1986) Lindauer Hütte A Montafon, Vorarlberg 1765m existent

fig. 7. High mountain Botanical Gardens in the European Alps, founded between 1865 and 1915, situated in altitudes higher than 1.200 m asl. Years in brackets: date of reconstruction (Bernini & Piaggi 1997, modified).

Introduction 1�


The Jardin Botanique Alpin du Lautaret:roots and branches

Serge AUBERTStation Alpine Joseph Fourier, Université de Grenoble/CNRS, France

RésuméLe Jardin Botanique Alpin du Lautaret (2100 m) existe depuis plus d’un siècle. Il a été créé à la fin du XIXème à un moment où fleurissaient plusieurs jardins alpins en Europe. La grande biodiversité naturelle de la région du Lautaret (plus de 1500 espèces, soit près du tiers de la flore française) et l’existence d’une grande voie de communication passant au col du Lautaret ont motivé le choix de ce site par Jean-Paul Lachmann, professeur de botanique à l’Université de Grenoble. Il avait déjà essayé de mettre en place un jardin alpin à Chamrousse près de Grenoble (dès 1892) mais l’absence de route avait entraîné l’abandon de ce jardin. Aux missions d’accueil/formation du public et conservation de la flore alpine, J.-P. Lachmann avait souhaité ajouter une mission de recherche sur le modèle des grandes institutions botaniques.Le Jardin Alpin du Lautaret a bénéficié de la passion et des compétences des personnels de l’Université et des bénévoles qui s’en sont occupés, ainsi que du soutien des acteurs du développement touristique de la région. Ainsi, l’hôtelier Alexandre Bonnabel, le premier animateur du développement du tourisme au Lautaret, participa à la création du premier Jardin en 1899 en finançant une partie des travaux et en logeant le jardinier. Lors de l’aménagement routier au col du Lautaret en 1919 (construction de la nouvelle route d’accès au col du Galibier), le Touring Club de France (TCF) et la Compagnie Paris-Lyon-Méditerranée (PLM) payèrent l’essentiel du déplacement du jardin et la construction d’un chalet. Plus récemment, les collectivités territoriales participèrent au financement des constructions (accueil ; système d’arrosage intégré ; chalet-laboratoire).Aujourd’hui, les missions initiales du Jardin se poursuivent tant du côté de la formation que de la recherche. La création récente d’une Unité Mixte de Service (UMS 2925 Station Alpine Joseph Fourier) soutenue par l’Université Joseph Fourier et par le CNRS permet d’envisager de nombreux projets, en particulier la construction d’un bâtiment d’accueil du public et de recherche, incluant une salle de conférences pour le public et les congrès.

Introduction16


The history of the Jardin Botanique Alpin du Lautaret is connected to the his-tory of botany at Grenoble University and to the history of tourism in the area of the Lautaret.

The first Jardin Alpin du LautaretA first Alpine Garden was created by Pr. Lachmann in 1894 at Roche-Béranger/Chamrousse in the mountains of Belledo-ne (ca 1800 masl). Despite its proximity to Grenoble this garden was quickly aban-doned due to the lack of an access road. The choice of the Lautaret pass (20�8 masl) was closely linked to its unique lo-cation.

The natural plant biodiversity of the area (first recognised by the botanist Dominique Villar in the XVIIIth century) with more than 1500 species in 400 km2, ie nearly 30% of the French flora (figure 1);

The presence of a good road permitting an easy access to 2000 masl;

The Lautaret pass was already famous and popular.

Pr Lachmann thereforre created the first Jardin Alpin du Lautaret along the road of Lautaret pass, next to the hospice-re-fuge Napoléon and at the site of what is now the starting point of the road over the Galibier pass (figure 2). A remarkable collaboration permitted the creation of this garden. The hotel keeper Alexandre Bonnabel who started to develop the tourism at the Lautaret pass (creation of a big hotel) understood the interest that would be generated by a garden at the pass : he paid for the surveying and offe-red lodging for the gardener.

The second Jardin Alpin du LautaretThe construction of a new road to the Ga-libier pass from 1918 corresponded to the death of this first Jardin alpin du Lautaret. The garden was moved and its activity was developed by the Grenoble Univer-sity (Pr. Marcel Mirande) with the support of two major tourist structures :

the Touring Club de France (TCF) was involved in the tourist development and understood the necessity to keep

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the garden at the Lautaret with the competences of the University, when the tourist success of the site was increasing;

the railway company Paris-Lyon-Méditerranée (PLM) had created a chalet-restaurant 500 m away from the very pass of Lautaret in 1914. This company also understood the interest of the garden for the guests of the restaurant which soon also developed a luxurious hotel.The new Jardin Alpin du Lautaret was inaugurated in 1919 and it was situated at its current location next to the chalet-restaurant PLM (figure 3). The garden was now bigger and it included a chalet (for-mally called chalet-laboratoire and now called chalet Mirande) used for :

the accommodation of the staff;the research activities which where

supported by Grenoble University and by the TCF through the money of the foundation Blonay ;

the creation of a small museum of ethnography (Le musée de l’économie domestique alpine du Lautaret) by Hippolyte Müller, the creator of the Musée dauphinois in Grenoble in 1906;

a museum of mineralogy created by Lory (University of Grenoble).

The combination of science, culture and tourism was particularly well represented and it is a model for the current projects of development of the site.Alpine gardens are small gardens and they usually depend on a very limited number of people. Pr. Lachmann and Mirande had a key role in the creation and development of the Jardin Alpin du Lautaret, as well as their gardener/bota-nist Robert Volut. The next gardener/bo-tanist Auguste Prevel was in charge of the garden until 1944 when he was killed by the German troupes. The garden was then abandoned until 1950 when the new gardener/botanist Robert Ruffier-Lanche along with the attached professor Lucie Kofler initiated a new development. The death of Ruffier-Lanche in 1974 also resul-ted in a decline of the garden. From 1980 a new director Gérard Cadel, attached professor at Grenoble University, and a

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Introduction 17


new gardener, José Lestani, reorganised the garden with the help of an associa-tion to which the University had delega-ted the financial management.

Recent evolution and projetcsA major development was the creation of the chalet-laboratoire in 1989, initiated by Richard Bligny and designed to permit up to date research in alpine plant physio-logy and ecology. This chalet-laboratoire can host around 12 people : students and researchers from laboratories in Grenoble and other cities in France (Paris, Nancy, etc.) and abroad (Germany, USA, Spain, Chile, etc.). The different contributors to the payment of this laboratory and its equipment represent a remarkable example of synergy between research institutes (Centre National de la Recher-che Scientifique - CNRS, and Grenoble University) and local political institutions (notably Département des Hautes-Alpes; Région Rhône-Alpes, Région Provence-Alpes-Côte-d’Azur).Nowadays, the Jardin Botanique Alpin du Lautaret is part of the Station Alpine Jo-seph Fourier, Unité Mixte de Service (UMS) 292�, labelled by CNRS and by Grenoble University. This UMS also comprises the chalet-laboratoire and the Arboretum Robert Ruffier-Lanche in Grenoble. Its mis-sions are :

development of a research platform at the Lautaret for research on alpine plants and ecosystems including various approaches (biochemistry, genetics, ecophysiology, ecology);

development in Grenoble of a platform for the cultivation of plants, ie construction of green houses for research purposes, for pedagogical collections (teaching), as wall as for the needs of the Jardin Botanique Alpin du Lautaret and the Arboretum Robert Ruffier-Lanche;

international level of competence in alpine botany associated with a specialised library (floras of the mountainous regions of the world) ;

development of botanical collections :ca 2.300 species of plants of the mountains of the world (Jardin Botanique Alpin du

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Lautaret); ca 2�0 species of trees and shrubs of the world (Arboretum Robert Ruffier-Lanche in Grenoble); seed bank with ca 1.300 species most of which collected wild in the Alps; herbarium of the area of Lautaret and Grenoble; bank of pictures of plants of the Alps and of various mountains of the world (ca 20.000 images);

education on alpine ecosystems and their diversity and vulnerability.

At the Lautaret, a major project is the construction of a building for both scien-tific purpose (in relation with the satu-ration of the chalet-laboratory both for bench surface and accommodation), public education (exhibition rooms, room equipped with binocular lenses for ob-servations, library). A conference room (ca 70-80 persons) will permit to organise conferences for scientific meetings and public conferences.Among the other projects are :

an artists residence initiated and consisting in the invitation of two artists experts in plant drawing and/or painting for 1 or 2 weeks at the Lautaret (initiated in 2006 with Ph. Danton & F. Hallé, see p. 3�). In this context, a public collection of drawings/paintings has been initiated;

the publication of an illustrated flora of the Lautaret area (20 km around the Lautaret pass) in preparation;

the development of a summer school for scientists

ReferencesAubert S, Bignon A, Bligny R, Choler Ph, Douzet R

(2005) Lautaret Alpine botanical Garden - guidebook, ed. Station Alpine Joseph Fourier

Lachmann J-P (1904) Les Jardins alpins. Allier Frères. Grenoble

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Introduction18


Fig. 1. The biodiversity in the area of the col du Lautaret : left, subalpine meadow with Trollius europeus and Narcissus poeticus; right, alpine scree on gypsum with Campanula cenisia, Linaria alpina and Brassica repanda.

Fig. 2. The first Jardin alpin du Lautaret (1899-1918) created and directed by Pr. Jean-Paul Lachmann (dir. untill 1908). Images : archives of the Jardin Botanique Alpin du Lautaret & collection A. Bignon.

Introduction 19


Fig. 4. The directors of the Jardin Alpin du Lautaret from 1930 with their dates of activity as director (top) and the head gardners and botanists since 1950 with their dates of activity (bottom).

Fig. 3. The second Jardin Alpin du Lautaret (1919 till now) directed by Pr. Marcel Mirande untill 1930. Images : archives of the Jardin Botanique Alpin du Lautaret, Musée dauphinois & collection A. Bignon.

René de Litardière(dir. 1930-19��)

Lucie Kofler(19�0-1960)

Paul Ozenda(dir. 19�� - 1981)

Gérard Cadel(dir. 1981-1999)

Serge Aubert(dir. since 200�)

Richard Bligny(dir. 1999-200�)

Rolland Douzet(since 1991)

Richard Hurstel(since 2002)

José Lestani(1981-2002)

Robert Ruffier- Lanche (19�0-1973)

Auguste Prevel(1930-1944)

Robert Volut(1900-1919)

Fig. 5. The Jardin Botanique Alpin du Lautaret nowadays.

Dynamics of collections20


French Conservatoires Botani-ques Nationaux are public organisms of wakefulness and preservation of natural flora and habitats created by the French Ministry of ecology.They constitute a real network covering the whole French territory according to biogeographical areas.They have for major objectives :

know the status and the evolution of both wild flora and natural habitats;

identify and preserve the rarest and most threatened plants and habitats.

CBNA and ex situ conservationPresentation of CBNA

The CBNA’s head office is in Gap, in the

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Ex situ conservation at the Conservatoire Botanique National Alpin

Noémie FORTConservatoire Botanique National Alpin, Gap, France

French Southern Alps and it has develo-ped an other office in Chambery, in the Northern Alps. It developp its missions on seven departments of the French alpine area : Ain, Haute-Savoie, Savoie, Isère, Drôme, Hautes-Alpes and Alpes de Hau-te-Provence and works on this territory’s flora.From knowledge to conservation, the CBNA is using a real skills sequence that begins with field work (botanic invento-ries) and bibliography analysis. This data are stored in a data base linked with GIS system in order to get a cartographic re-presentation and their analysis is a fun-damental tool to hierarchize the most vulnerable and rare species the CBNA is working on. This process is at the basis of

RésuméLes Conservatoires Botaniques Nationaux sont des organismes publics relevant du Ministère français de l’Ecologie. Ils ont pour objectif : (1) l’étude de la flore et des habitats naturels, (2) l’identification et la préservation des plantes et des habitats les plus rares et les plus menacés. Le Conservatoire Botanique National Alpin de Gap-Charance est en charge du territoire alpin où il mène des actions dans la conservation ex situ, le développement d’une banque de graines, la conservation in situ. Le cas de Gladiolus palustris est présenté.

Dynamics of collections 21


the elaboration of red lists, as the CBNA is doing in the Hautes-Alpes for the “Atlas des plantes rares ou protégées des Hau-tes-Alpes”.Within these prioritary species, some more elaborate work can be done in the field such as monitoring of populations, or in the laboratory such as seed and plant ob-servations and experimentations. These elements are fundamental tools to build a conservation strategy well adapted to each species.In every French Conservatoire Botanique, and obviously at the CBNA, this strategy relies on both in situ conservation (conser-vation of components of biological diver-sity in their natural habitats) and ex situ conservation (conservation of compo-nents of biological diversity outside their natural habitats).

Ex situ conservation at the CBNAWithin the framework of its missions, the CBNA has developed ex situ conserva-tion activities, following the specifications of the genes/seeds banks edited by IP-GRI and by the Royal Botanic Garden of Kew. Ex situ conservation at the CBNA is represented by a seed bank and a cultu-ral bank (experimental botanical garden) and concerns the rarest and most threa-tened species defined after analysis of the flora data base.The conservation work of the CBNA is used at specific level, and also at intraspecific level by preserving the various popula-tions of a species.

Seed bankThe process of entry includes :

seed collection, in the field; seed observation, sorting and cleaning

in the laboratory; seed drying (1�°C, �0% of relative humi-

dity then 1�°C 20% of relative humidity); seed conditioning (kraft-polyethylene-

aluminium tri-layer hermetic bags);seed conservation (at 4°C in a cold

room or at -18°C in a freezer).

A strict protocol for each task is a gua-rantee for the best conditions of conser-vation and the best rendering of the

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samples of population. Each tri-layer bag conditioned and preserved is associated with a collect on which we have precise informations : collector, date, localisation, and species. More than 2.000 batches of seeds are preserved, representing more than �00 species. These data are managed with Excel software, but a data base connec-ted to the flora data base and a SIG is being developed and will be effective within a year. Seed bank management also consists in following-up the viability of the preserved seeds, that’s why the CBNA develops a research activity around the germination of these seeds by the means of germina-tion tests in Petri dishes. These tests are also used to produce seedlings.

Cultural bankIt’s a conservatory garden of 930 m² re-creating the various existing ecological conditions on our territory of work (alpine greenhouse, basins, shade and sunny ha-bitats). This garden allows the preserva-tion of alive individuals removed from the existing threats in the natural environment and the regeneration and multiplica-tion of seeds’ batches preserved in cold room.This place is particularly advised for the ex situ conservation of the plants which produce few seeds or seeds which badly support dehydration. Until today 258 species were put in culture on this site.

Ex situ conservation in Gladiolus palustris Gaudin conservation

The species and conservation strategy in Haute-Savoie

Gladiolus palustris Gaudin is a central-Eu-ropean species of the wet meadows of Molinion type. In France, it is present only in � departments including Ain and Hau-te-Savoie, located on the action territory of the CBNA that’s why it constitutes a priority species for the CBNA. This species is particularly threatened by the draining of the wetlands, urbanization, habitats closing, changes in agricultural practices, picking, and is in regression, in particular in



Haute-Savoie. In collaboration with a manager of natu-ral spaces in Haute-Savoie, ASTERS, the CBNA began in 1999 a conservation plan of this taxon on one of its last French refu-ges, the Haute-Savoie departement. This plan relies on the following strategies :

ex situ conservation : conservatory col-lection of seeds, germination experimen-tal programs, culture experimental pro-grams, conservatory cultural collection, etc.

in situ conservation : land animation of the known localities, management of the known localities, restoration of the habitat of the species, reintroductions.

Ex situ conservation of Gladiolus palustris

A table of harvest was drawn up on a sample of the different known spots with an aim to do a conservatory collection of seeds representing the genetic diversity of the species in Haute-Savoie (Table 1 & 2).Observations of a linear embryo little de-veloped in the seeds led us to suspect the existence of a physiological dormancy. A series of germination tests enabled us to determine the germinative characteristics of the taxon and highlighted the impor-tance of pre-treatments like stratification and pre-steeping of the seeds and the in-hibiting character of the teguments. These results directed the protocol of culture of this species : we preferred rea-lize autumn sowings better than spring sowings.A cultural population of Gladiolus palustris was developed in the garden and the in-

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dividuals vegetatively multiplied using the natural bulb production of the species.

Contribution of ex situ conservation work

Ex situ conservation work was fundamen-tal because they brought knowledge ele-ments for natural conditions comprehen-sion : for example the good germination percentages obtained for the seeds re-veals that the population uses the sexual reproduction (what is not systematic with Iridaceae) and that the seeds have a strong germinative capacity, plants ac-quire sexual maturity (and are able to re-produce) when 3 or 4 years old, etc.Research activities on culture and multi-plication produced vegetal material that will be used for reintroductions and rein-forcements of natural population. Moreover, the observation of cultural po-pulations helped us to determine a rele-vant protocol of plantation for reintroduc-tions : vegetal material nature and age, way of planting, planting period, tools etc.Finally, in collaboration with ASTERS, who worked on land animation and manage-ment of Gladiolus palustris populations, reintroductions were planned in two sites where this species had disappeared be-cause of habitat closing. This process, ad-ministratively difficult, was validated by the French Ministry of Ecology and work began in the autumn 200�. In autumn 2006, a rein-troduction on a second site will take place.Seed banks and conservatory gardens are conservation tools. But they are also experimentation laboratories serving

Table 1. Assessment of the seminal accessions of Gladiolus palustris (1�/10/2001) at the CBNA.

N° accession

Date of collection

munici-pality

Code INSEE

Place known as

Q u a n t i t y Total Freezer Cold room

990192 8/11/1999 Sciez 74263 Les Reulands (n° 74/08)

1 707 1 138 �69

990192 9/1/1999 Samoëns 742�8 C e s s o n e x (n° 74/14)

310 310 0

114 8/17/2000 Sciez 74263 Les Reulands (n° 74/08)

3 989 2 6�9 1330

11� 17/08/00 Perrignier 74210 Tuilière Nord (n° 74/0�)

144 144 0



knowledge acquisition and in situ conser-vation work.These activities require the development of specific infrastructures and the control of several technical procedures : seed conservation and germination, plant re-production and culture, etc. Fundamental for very threatened or en-dangered plants, ex situ conservation re-presents in other cases a principle of pre-caution with its advantages but also its limits and constraints. That is why, except for a limited list of very threatened plants, the CBNA leads an ex situ conservation activity turned above all towards the development of the knowledge on species biology, to in-crease the efficiency of its actions of in situ conservation.Finally ex situ activities are also commu-nication and sensibilisation tools and the

CBNA will try to improve this direction in the future.

ReferencesFort N (2005) Bilan des réimplantations de

Gladiolus palustris Gaudin. CBNA, Rapport technique, Programme de conservation du glaïeul des marais en Haute-Savoie, 10p

Fort N, Carasso V et al. (2005) Bilan des travaux franco-italiens de Conservation ex situ. Rapport Projet Interreg IIIA ALCOTRA ‘Conservation et gestion de la flore et des habitats dans les Alpes Occidentales du Sud, 65p + annexes.

Vinciguerra L (2001). Actions conservatoires ex situ. CBNA, Rapport n°2. Programme de conservation du glaïeul des marais en Haute-Savoie, 54p + annexes

Collectif (2000) Le glaïeul des marais, Etude de faisabilité. Conservatoire Rhône-Alpes des Espaces Naturels, Conservatoire de la Nature Haut-Savoyard, Agence pour l’Etude et la Gestion de l’Environnement & Conservatoire Botanique National Alpin

Vinciguerra L (2000) Actions conservatoires ex situ. CBNA, Rapport n°1. Programme de conservation du glaïeul des marais en Haute-Savoie, 17p

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Table 2. Assessment of the cultural accessions of Gladiolus palustris (1�/10/2001) at the CBNA. TG = germination; SE = horticultural sowing.

N° accession Production origin Municipality Code INSEE Plant number0103-99 TG 2�/16 Sciez 74263 170032-00 TG 99/48 Sciez 742�8 900037-00 SE 27/16 Sciez 742�8 60041-00 SE 00/11 Sciez 742�8 260061-00 SE 00/06 Sciez 74263 3000�-01 SE 00/08 Sciez 74210 7



Fig. 2. Somes aspects of the conservation of Gladiolus palustris : seeds (top left), cultural population (bottom left, photo F. Houard 2006, CBNA), and reintroduction (right, photo A. Rouillon, ASTERS, 2006).

Fig. 1. The Conservatoire Botanique National Alpin : aerian view of Charance domain and mountain with location and detail of the head office (top) and infrastructures (bottom) : conservatory garden and seed conservation.

Dynamics of collections 2�


Collections management, conservation and research on alpine threatened species at Viotte Alpine Garden

Costantino BONOMI, Michela LONGO and Cristina CASTELLANIMuseo Tridentino di Scienze Naturali, Trento, Italy

RésuméLe Jardin Botanique Alpin de Viotte est localisé près de Trente à 1540 m d’altitude dans le NE de l’Italie. Fondé en 1938, il est l’un des plus grands et des plus anciens jardins alpins en Italie. Sa mission est de ”cultiver et protéger la flore locale si riche en plantes endémiques, et d’éduquer les jeunes générations à sa conservation”. Le Museum d’Histoire Naturelle de Trente est largement impliqué dans ces missions. Parmi les projets en cours, un programme de vérification des données a commençé en 1998, avec comme objectif une identification correcte des espèces non indigènes. Par ailleurs, une priorité a été donnée à la conservation des espèces endémiques locales depuis 2002, avec la mise en place de la Banque de graines de Trente incluant une pièce sèche à 15% humidité et 15°C et une salle de stockage à -20°C. Les graines de 82 espèces (354 accessions) ont été collectées dans la nature. Un laboratoire de germination a aussi été mis en place, avec 8 incubateurs, ce qui permet de mener un programme de recherche pour étudier les conditions de la germination et les dormances. Deux modèles ont déjà été étudiés : Aquilegia thalictrifolia (dormance morpho-physiologique) et Hypochaeris facchiniana (forte dormance physiologique). L’ensemble de ces recherches permettra de mener des programmes de réintroduction. Le volet éducatif est développé plus loin (p. 76).

Viotte Alpine Botanic Garden is located on Mt. Bondone, close to Trento at 1540 m asl in NE Italy. It was established in 1938 (Fig.1) and is one of the largest and oldest alpine gardens in Italy (Ano-nym, 1939; Gola, 1942). It extends for ap-prox 10 hectares 2 of which are cultivated with rock and flower beds (Fig. 2) and 8 of

which are kept as an arboretum; the gar-den has been in continuous activity since its foundation (Pedrotti, 1992). Prof. Vitto-rio Marchesoni was one of the leading fi-gures for the development of the garden and in 19�8 he stated the mission of the garden and essentially focused on two aspects : plant conservation, in his words



”to cultivate and therefore protect the re-gional flora so rich in rare and endemic species”, and education, in his words ”to arise nature loving feelings in young minds in order to make them stewards of plants and their conservation” (Marchesoni, 19�7, 19�8). This mission statement is not too different from BGCI internationally ac-cepted definition of a botanic garden : ”institutions holding documented collec-tions of living plants for the purposes of scientific research, conservation, display and education” (Cheney et al., 2000).

Collections management : data verifica-tion programmeIn order to hold a documented collection of living plants, data verification is an es-sential feature to maintain the accuracy that a botanic garden needs. However, in small botanic gardens, such as the alpine ones, this is a demanding task particu-larly for non native species, owing to the few resources available, technical litera-ture and qualified personnel among the others. Misidentifications can therefore arise (Werner, 1962) and spread from one garden to another via seed exchange (Dykes, 1913). In order to check the identi-ty of the plants in cultivation Viotte Alpine Botanical Garden launched a verification program in 1998. To date, roughly one third of the taxa in cultivation was found to be incorrectly identified. Most of them could be referred to their correct taxon, while only a small percentage remained dubious. Two case studies are presented here. In the genus Gentiana similar looking in-dividuals (Fig. 3) were labelled in the gar-den with the following 7 different names : G. affinis, G. alba, G. flavida, G. gelida, G. kurroo, G. pannonica, G. wutaiensis; this situation seemed suspicious and was investigated in details. The integrated use of the monograph (Halda, 1997), key taxonomic resources (Hooker & Jackson, 1885 - 1995), regional floras (Wu & Raven, 1994-2000; Komarov, 1963-2000) and hor-ticultural aids (Cullen, 1986-2000; Huxley & Griffiths, 1992; Brickell, 1999) allowed to refer these 7 individuals to the same spe-cies that was identified as G. tibetica. It is

interesting to note that this name was not found in the garden records. A similar si-tuation was found in the genus Iris. Appa-rently identical individuals were labelled with different names : I. urumovi, I. milesii. The data verification allowed to identify these individuals as I. spuria. Again this name was not present in the garden re-cords. It is very significant to quote what William Dykes wrote in 1913 about I. spu-ria : ”...omissis... it germinates readily and is one of the greatest offenders in Botanical Gardens, where its vigorous self-sown see-dlings oust the original occupants of the beds and then in their turn provide seeds which are distributed under the names of the plants whose positions they have oc-cupied.” (Dykes, 1913). This is what proba-bly happened with both G. tibetica and I. spuria, that arrived in the garden through the seed exchange under different na-mes. Continuous data verification is there-fore necessary to ensure that the plants in cultivation are a reliable living reference collection. And this is ultimately the basic prerequisite for a botanic garden. As far as the seed exchange is concerned, in or-der to ensure the sustainable use of Plant Genetic Resources in compliance to the Convention on Biological Diversity, the garden joined IPEN network (International Plant Exchange System) in late 200�.

Plant conservation : seed banking threatened speciesAs far as conservation is concerned, Viotte focused its attention on ex situ conserva-tion of threatened species, particularly on narrow endemics, in 2002 (Fig. 4 and 5). In this year a specific conservation project led to the development of a long term seed conservation facility. A seed bank is one of the most cost effective conserva-tion strategy : it allows to store in a small space a large quantity of seeds represen-tative of the genetic diversity of the natu-ral populations (Smith et al., 2003). Tren-tino seed bank is hosted in a dedicated facility developed at the local Natural History Museum in the town of Trento. The following technical solutions were adop-ted in its design. The first component is a geographic resource office, equipped



with technical local maps, GPS and GIS facilities to serve the planning of the col-lecting missions and the subsequent ac-cessioning process. A 40 cubic meters dry room is at the heart of the seed bank and is designed to lower the seed moisture content. It is equipped with two sorption driers that maintain 1�% RH and regulate a fresh air intake. A cooling system keeps the temperature to an average of 1�°C and provides constant ventilation in the room. A seed cleaning and testing lab is equipped with a dust extracting cabinet, a seed blower, sieves, dissecting micros-copes and analytical balances to serve basic cleaning needs. Eight lighted, coo-led incubators serve initial viability and germination testing that is carried out before long-term storage. The packaging area is located in the dry room and is equipped with a water activity meter that confirms the effective drying before sto-rage. The cold store is also located within the dry room and is currently entrusted to two deep freezers. A priority list of target species to conserve initially was selec-ted according to both global and local criteria including : threatened species at world level, listed in the 1997 IUCN red list (Walter & Gilllet, 1998) and occurring in Trentino (26 species), all stenoendemic species occurring in Trentino (41 species), all species of the annex II of the Directive 92/43/EEC (6 species) and species listed as CR and EN in the local red list (Pros-ser, 2001) and present in Italy at most in 3 regions (21 species). Extensive fieldwork carried out from 2002 to 2005 allowed to visit 432 sites and collect 341 accessions belonging to 82 species.

Research : investigating seed germination requirementsThe main research focus of the garden is connected with the seed bank activity and is centred on the investigation of the germination ecology of threatened spe-cies (Baskin & Baskin, 1998). So far two mo-del species were studied : Hypochaeris facchiniana and Aquilegia thalictrifolia. In a preliminarily phase their distribution was accurately recorded, the population size was assessed, hence their conser-

vation status could be correctly evalua-ted applying the 2001 IUCN categories (IUCN, 2001). Specific germination tests were employed to check for the presen-ce of dormancy and to find out the ger-mination requirements. The first species showed a deep physiological dormancy (Fig. 6) that was quantified with a specific ”incremental chilling” experiment, the lat-ter exhibited a morpho-physiological dor-mancy, requiring three sequential cues to germinate : warm stratification (to allow embryo development), cold stratification (to remove physiological dormancy) and eventually alternated temperature cy-cles. This germination research will be pro-gressively extended to all target species and will be the first step to build up a bulk stock of plants for display in the garden and possible reintroduction programmes in the wild.

ConclusionsAll the different activities illustrated so far are part of the garden mission and contri-bute to the local implementation of va-rious targets of key international agree-ments such as the Action Plan for Botanic Gardens in the European Union (Cheney et al., 2000) and the Global Strategy for Plant Conservation (CBD Secretariat, 2002)

ReferencesAnonym (1939) Il Giardino Botanico Alpino alle

“Viotte” di Monte Bondone (Trento). In Notiziario. Studi Trent. Sci. Nat., 20(1-2) : 177-178

Baskin CC, Baskin JM (1998) Seeds : Ecology, Biogeography, and Evolution of Dormancy and Germination. Academic Press, San Diego

Brickell C (1999) The RHS New Encyclopedia of Plants and Flowers. DK, London

CBD Secretariat (2002) Global Strategy for Plant Conservation. CBD Secretariat, Montreal

Cheney J, Navarrete Navarro J, Wyse Jackson PS (2000) Action Plan for Botanic Gardens in the European Union. Scripta Botanica Belgica 19, National Botanic Garden of Belgium, Meise

Cullen J (ed.) (1986-2000) European Garden Flora, 6 Vol. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge.

Dykes WR (1913) The Genus Iris. Dover Publications, New York

Gola G (1942) Proposte circa un giardino alpino al Bondone sopra Trento. Studi Trent. Sci. Nat., 23(1) : 3-9

Halda J (1997) The Genus Gentiana Sen, Dobrè.

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Fig. 1. Viotte Alpine Botanic Garden at the time of its foundation in 1938, looking north with the Brenta dolomites in the background (left).

Fig. 3. Gentiana tibetica (left), labelled in the garden as G. affinis, G. alba, G. flavida, G. gelida, G. kurroo, G. pannonica, G. wutaiensis.

Fig. 2. The Garden in summer 200�.

Hooker JD, Jackson BD (1885 - 1995) Index Kewensis Plantarum Phanerogarum. 2 tom + 18 suppl. Oxford University Press, Oxford. Available on line @ http://www.ipni.org

Huxley A, Griffiths M (1992) The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening, 4 voll. MacMillan, London

IUCN (2001) Species Survival Commission IUCN Red List Categories and Criteria Version 3.1. IUCN - The World Conservation Union

Komarov (1963-2000) Flora of the USSR. English translation. 30 vol. Koeltz, Königstein

Marchesoni V (1957) Il Giardino Alpino alle Viotte sul Monte Bondone. Finalità e confronti con altri giardini alpini. Natura Alpina, 8(3) : 69-75

Marchesoni V (1958) Il Giardino Alpino delle Viotte sul Monte Bondone. Bollettino S.A.T., 21(5) : 3-7

Pedrotti F (1992) Il Giardino Botanico Alpino alle Viotte del Monte Bondone (Trento). In Raimondo F. M., Orti Botanici, Giardini Alpini, Arborei Italiani. Grifo, Palermo : 417-422

Prosser F (2001) Lista Rossa della Flora del Trentino. Osiride, Rovereto

Smith RD, Dickie JB, Linington SH, Pritchard HW, Probert RJ (Eds.) (2003) Seed Conservation : turning science into practice. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew

Walter KS, Gilllet HJ (1998) 1997 IUCN Red List of threatened plants. IUCN Publishing service, Cambridge

Werner (1962) Digitalis. Die Kulturpflanzen Beih. 3, 167-182

Wu Z, Raven PH (ed.) (1994-2000) Flora of China. Voll. 15, 16, 17, 18, 24 Missouri Botanical Garden, St. Louis. available on line @ http://flora.huh.harvard.edu/china/

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Fig. 4 Callianthemum kernerianum, a narrow endemic species only occurring on the summit of Mt. Baldo, cultivated in the rock bed in the Garden (left), stored in the Seed Bank in the form of viable seeds (right).

Fig. 5. Silene elisabethae and its seeds, another narrow endemic only occurring in the wild to the west of lake Garda.

Fig. 6. Germination trials on Hypochaeris facchiniana. Most seed are still dormant during a test at 2�°C after 4 weeks of cold stratification (left) while nearly all germinate after 20 weeks at 4°C (right). Image middle right shows the differential character from H. uniflora: inner receptacular scales not fringed at the margin.



Tromsø Arctic-Alpine Botanic Garden has a very short history as it was formally opened as late as 1994, after a few years of preparation. Its birth in about 1990 was a rather bold initiative, because there were no positions nor any infrastruc-ture promised. A committee a couple of decennia earlier had put forward a too ambitious concept which only resulted in a preliminary seed exchange. However, when funding for landscape formation at the site of a former student housing faci-lity on the University Campus appeared, a serious choice had to be taken : should we follow the plans of a landscape archi-tect who proposed a formal landscape design with a park profile or do something very different? Luckily we chose the alter-native.Bjørn Magne Thon had then just esta-blished himself as a local alpine plant nurseryman. He was given the then rather controversial mission to build a rock gar-den, at that time scarcely attempted in Norway. The result was a hill constructed of very large granitic boulders, with a mi-

Profile of the world’s northernmost botanic garden at Tromsø, Norway

Arve ELVEBAKKTromsø Arctic-Alpine Botanic Garden, Tromsø University Museum, Norway

niature valley through it. This became our “Himalaya“. Everybody became enthu-siastic by this achievement, and his mis-sion was then continued, to include also the Primulaceae collection, a nice pond, a beautiful amphi-theatre and the Arctic, another miniature valley surrounded by boulders and imitating a snowbed-ridge gradient.This development and the focus on arc-tic and alpine plants made the Universi-ty leadership realize the potential of the Garden, and one scientific and one gar-dener position were granted. Still the Gar-den was fighting the weeds and fighting to survive with very poor barrack facilities for the summer staff which included seve-ral students in addition. The next crucial step was the employment of Finn Haugli as a leader. This was a bold decision as he was not a botanist, but a dedicated plantsman who had develo-ped his private garden for years, and his wish to be transferred from his very diffe-rent position as a professor at the Faculty of Medicine was luckily accepted by the



University. During his period from 1997 to 2006 the Garden had a very strong deve-lopment, focusing on being well-kept and by displaying very nice collections of alpi-ne plants, in nice settings and often in lar-ge quantities. This positive development facilitated the establishment of two hou-ses, and in late 2006, another gardener position and a decent annual funding. Prior to this, Finn Haugli experienced the highlight of his career in the Garden by arranging the symposium ‘Alpines on Top of the World’ in 2004. The symposium at-tracted many participants, particularly among the most high-esteemed alpine garden specialists in England, Scotland, Sweden and the Czech Republic. Their strongly positive evaluations, particularly about the Saxifraga, Primula, Himalaya and South American collections was a great inspiration.When the present author took over as a new leader in 2006, the Garden was very well developed with more than 20 thematic collections, mostly geographi-cally or taxonomically defined. Previously smaller plants had grown to considerable sizes, also impressing visitors. How should the present profile be maintained and linked to further developments? After all, the Garden has no research profile, no conservation program and is still lacking its own nursery facilities. Besides, a perma-nent staff of three is very modest for a gar-den of its size and ambitions.

Collections given priority : Saxifragaceae and PrimulaceaeThe first aspect in future developments is to strengthen more our already esta-blished specialities. Taxonomically based collections such as Saxifragaceae and Primulaceae are now being defined as entering their species accumulation pha-se. A rather large number of new species are now being introduced together with new habitats made available. This invol-ves the construction of two rock lands-capes made by the Czechs David Holu-bec and Petr Hanzelka in 2006. They are both of a new type involving both large and smaller, mostly lichen-covered rocks. They are flat and oriented vertically, thus

imitating eroded layered rock outcrops. This allows for numerous specialized habi-tats, particularly for small species requiring well-drained sites. One hill is for Androsa-ce with related genera, and small, rather exclusive Primula species. The other is for Saxifraga species of the sections Micrantha and Ciliata. We are now introducing several exciting species of the latter, all poorly known and exclu-sive in horticulture, and they need some testing before concluding whether the hill is an optimal habitat. The Saxifragaceae collection already houses an impressive collection of well-thriving plants, mainly cultivars (hybrids and selections) of the three sections Porphyrion, Saxifraga, and Ligulatae, many of them kindly introdu-ced to Tromsø by the late Peter Smith, former chairman of the British Saxifraga Society. These cultivars and additional ones on their way to the Garden will be maintained along with supplements of additional species. We believe that the Saxifraga collection, gradually supplied more systematically with other genera wi-thin its family, will maintain its international reputation.Within Primulaceae, a particular effort is being made to include more species with wild-seed origin. It is always a problem in large collections both at private, nursery and botanic gardens that offspring expe-rience genetic drift from cross-pollination with plants from other other geographical areas or from other, but related species. Seeds of such garden origin is then dis-tributed further, sometimes with dubious names. In building a reference collection both for taxonomic and phylogenetic stu-dies, wild-origin material of Primulaceae will be given priority, as most species are long-lived, and can successfully be divi-ded clonally, and kept apart from similar plants of garden origin. Section Crystallo-phlomis is an example of a group which thrives particularly well at Tromsø, and which still presents many taxonomic chal-lenges.

Himalaya The Himalaya hills are now overcrowded and need to be extended. Large garden



populations of Meconopsis species will be maintained, although we still need to buy them from local nurseries. Successful gar-den genera with us, such as Cremantho-dium will be given focus, along with No-mocharis, not much represented today. Also in the Himalaya collection, plants of wild origin will be given priority. This is par-ticularly the case for seeds collected at altitudes above �000 m. Plants originating from neighbouring mountain chains are also included.

The Southern HemisphereThe landscape here will be lifted centrally to allow for a stronger contrast between north- and southfacing slopes, and to al-low for more specialized crevice habitats. This has been made on a restricted scale in the African and South American collec-tions this year. We also have an exciting selection of New Zealand Aciphylla and Ranunculus species, although our ambi-tions are strongest concerning the South American collection. Here, the collections of Calceolaria, Calandrinia and Oxalis are already large and diverse. Different plants within the Calceolaria lanceolata/polyrrhiza complex pose taxonomic chal-lenges. Their clones are also becoming large and require more space than origi-nally planned.

The ArcticThis is an obvious focus collection, and the ‘arctic valley’ is now being revitalized to house many new arctic species. This is among the most attractive landscapes in the Garden. We plan to give it a more scree character, although suitable rocks and gravel material is not easily availa-ble. The coming Panarctic Flora Checklist is used to define species occurring north of the arctic treeline, which includes the great majority of species occurring in the mountains in the Tromsø region. Neither the lowland nor the mountains of these areas are coined “arctic“ by us, although they are situated far to the north of the Arctic Circle. The lowlands are forested with a boreal climate due to the effects of the mild ocean current, and the mostly steep mountains have no local tradition

of being referred to as “tundra“, althou-gh they are climatically more similar to southern parts of the Arctic.Today, Polemonium boreale, Saxifraga hirculus ssp. compacta, and Papaver lap-ponicum are among the most striking spe-cies. Several Ericaceae species are now introduced, along with rather large gar-den populations of species such as Ra-nunculus glacialis and R. sulphureus, and some amphi-Beringian species. We are also including several species and taxa of the genus Dryas, so important both in the Arctic and neighbouring alpine areas. The collection will be used to tell a story about arctic plant life, an important topic both to residents and visitors to northern areas.

Other collectionsOther collections (Rhododendron/Erica-ceae, Ranunculaceae, Gentianaceae, North America, the Alps, Caucasus etc.) will also be developed, but by lower prio-rity. A new rock wall will be the home for wild Tulipa species and other species from arid climates, and will also hide forthco-ming plant nursery facilities. However, ano-ther two collections need to be emhasi-zed here as maintaining their importance, although they do not have an arctic-al-pine character. This is the herb collection, along with a collection of plants collected from old gardens in North Norway. Both these collections have been developed by Brynhild Mørkved. They are locally very popular, and also widely used in educa-ting schoolchildren.

General development strategiesAlthough a vast investment has been done already in bringing rocks into the Garden, many additional efforts need to be done before we can conclude that the first phase of creating its rock lands-cape is finished. It is also a challenge to maintain order with a small staff, and we have the impression that some weed ca-tegories are more serious within our moist climate, than in more southern gardens which experience summer drought. In addition to introducing new species,



plants from all over the world, is a strategy. Linked to this is the production of written material, hopefully in the format of a new journal attracting external authors, and being produced locally at irregular inter-vals with a thematic profile. These strate-gies involve a closer integration with our host institution, Tromsø University Museum, regrettably still being situated some dis-tance away from the University campus.

Fig. 1. Improving the rock landscape in the Prinulaceae collection in 2006.

Fig. 2. The Mossy Saxifrages, with a very large collection of arendsii cultivars.

particularly of the collections in priority, the Garden really needs a better infras-tructure for information about the plants. A modest café is being run, mostly by the Friends of the Garden, with a very limi-ted selection of written material on sale. To develop one of our houses to include both a café and a small botany-based shop including gifts and written material, both concerning our Garden and alpine



Fig. 4. Species in the Himalayan collection : Cremanthodium reniforme and C. rhodocephalum.

Fig. 3. Rock landscape in the Arctic collection.

Dynamics of collections 3�


Among the French artistic world, including museums, galleries, exhibitions, prizes and awards, etc., the botanical documentary drawing is not represented. Only editors have recently re-discovered this art and the interest of the public, through the edition of ancient (and often copyright-free) works of famous artists. This art, which has always been associated to scientific disciplines, and with botany in particular, a wealth of opportunities are open.Plant illustrators have always been at the heels of botanists and plant biologists. Just think of the famous Alexander von Hum-boldt which name is associated with the name of Aimé Bompland, botanist and

Artist Residence at the Jardin Botanique Alpin du Lautaret

Philippe DANTONBotanist attached to the Museum National d’Histoire Naturelle in Paris & Association Robinsonia, Grenoble, France

fine illustrator of the wonders discovered during their trip in Equinox America.Nowadays drawing is considered as the poor member of graphic arts. Either imag-inative or documentary it is only seen as a technique necessary for the noble arts painting, sculpture and architecture.At school, it is not seriously considered and at the university it remains confined to the “Beaux Arts”.Although it is admitted that “a good draw-ing is better than a long talk“, this simple mode of communication, immediate and trans-cultural, is abandoned in favour of the speech so inappropriate for the de-scription of complex objects. With a con-comitant simplification of the world which

RésuméDans le cadre du projet d’extension muséale « Grand Lautaret » porté par la Station Alpine Joseph Fourier, nous avons proposé la création d’une Collection Publique de dessins botaniques liée au Jardin Botanique Alpin du Lautaret. Pour constituer cette collection, nous avons imaginé de proposer à différents illustrateurs botanistes de participer chaque année à des Résidences d’Artistes sur le site du col du Lautaret en échange de dessins réalisés grâce aux collections vivantes du jardin. Au mois de juillet 2006, la première de ces résidences eut lieu avec deux dessinateurs invités : Francis Hallé et Philippe Danton.



deserves reflection.However, the documentary botanical drawing continues to survive, as under apnoea. At each breath, it meets again its public.The project that has been proposed to the Station Alpine Joseph Fourier there-fore wishes to insist on the existence and importance of a healthy and quality bo-tanical documentary drawing. It aims to offer him a place where it can be high-lighted and shown as a media conjugat-ing art and science. This project is organised around three sim-ple ideas :

Favour botanical drawings;Initiate a Public Collection linked to the

Jardin Botanique Alpin du LautaretPromote the current botanical

drawing

Favour botanical drawingsThe Jardin Botanique Alpin du Lautaret,

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with its species originating from the moun-tains of the world, represents an inexhaus-tible source of subjects. The idea is to start an artist residence consisting in the invi-tation of two drawing artists during 1 to 2 weeks every summer during the blooming season, in order to illustrate some of the species cultivated in the gardens.The selection of the artists (from France and abroad) will be made by a scientific and artistic committee (currently under constitution) with the objective to have the highest quality possible.As a counterpart of this invitation the artist will give 2 drawings to the public collec-tion.The accumulation to these works will per-mit, from year to year, to constitute the Pu-blic Collection Dominique Villars, referring to the famous botanist and illustrator of the flora of the Dauphiné province in the 18th century (fig. 1). The Collection will be conserved at the library of Grenoble Uni-versity Joseph Fourier. The collection will be exposed, published and media cove-rage will be given in order to promote the botanical drawing as well as the Station Alpine Joseph Fourier and its partners. During July 2006 this Artist Residence has been initiated with two botanists and illus-trators : Francis Hallé from Montpellier and Philippe Danton from Grenoble. Each of them has given two drawings made from plants cultivated in the Gardens (see figu-res 2 & 3).

Initiate a Public Collection linked to the Jardin Botanique Alpin du LautaretA prestigious collection of scientific drawings exists in France, the « Vélins du Muséum », unfortunately not enough shown and therefore known by the pu-blic. The originality of the support (veal skin) and famous artists (Nicolas Robert, Claude Aubriet, Gérard van Spaendonk, Pierre-Joseph Redouté, etc.) made the fame of this collection initiated in 1630 on the initiative of Gaston de France, Duc d’Orléans. The collection is conserved at the Muséum National d’Histoire Naturelle de Paris since the French Revolution and it comprises more than 7.000 works.Entering into a Public Collection is rewar-

Fig. 1. Iconotype of Berardia subacaulis Vill. Prospectus de l’Histoire des Plantes de Dauphiné. Dominique Villars (1779).



ding for the artist and it helps to make his work known, as long as the Collection is known and dynamic. A juridical status should be found to the Public Collection including the rights associated to the ar-tistic property. Linking the creation of such a Public Col-lection to the Station Alpine Joseph Fou-rier, in the frame of the project of public centre/museum « Grand Lautaret » repre-sents an unique opportunity with the fol-lowing advantages :

an extraordinary site and a tourist at-traction : the Lautaret pass ;

a centenary garden with ambitious and innovative projects of extension ;

a strong institution, the University Jose-ph Fourier in Grenoble ;

local partners : municipalities, depart-ments, regions ;

a dynamic team in charge of the Sta-tion Alpine Joseph Fourier.

Concerning the fame, it will come slowly, as long as quality, imagination, fidelity and some other qualities are conserved.Good management of a Collection re-quires to take care of the substance and the form. The substance is nearly endless as long as the Jardin Botanique Alpin du Lautaret exists. The form is an important is-sue and some rules and criteria should be defined (format, support, techniques, ty-pes of representations, etc.) for the works that will enter the Collection. This will faci-litate the conservation and display of the works.This Public Collection Dominique Villars will be associated to the exhibition at the Jardin Botanique Alpin du Lautaret of the works of the invited artists, and to the edi-tion of a Catalogue every � years contai-ning the 10 new works of the Collection.

Promote the current botanical drawingThrough the annual exhibition of the work of 1 or 2 artists and the edition of a Ca-talogue every � years, the Station Alpine Joseph Fourier and its partners will make more than what has been made in the recent years for the promotion of this art both appreciated by the public and use-

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ful for the scientists.The Catalogue could be published in two forms : a version deluxe (portfolio at the size of the original works) numbered and signed by the authors (sold by subscrip-tion and deposed in the big libraries), and a classic version. Other formats are possi-ble such as posters, post cards, agendas, etc. This Public Collection will represent a cultural and scientific signature of the Sta-tion Alpine Joseph Fourier, coherent and complementary of the signatures deve-loped for 100 years at the Jardin Botani-que Alpin du Lautaret and 1� years at the Chalet-Laboratoire.Partnerships may be developed with various institutions and firms in order to contribute to the financial support of the various aspects of the project (residence, Catalogue, exhibitions, etc.). Similarly, partnerships with media at local, national and international level may be possible. Finally an Award of Botanical Illustration could be created. It would be given every 5 years when the Catalogue is published.



Fig. 2. Francis Hallé - Evolutive tendences of architectures in the genus Saxifraga.1 S. longifolia, 2 S. tridactylites, 3 S. hieracifolia, 4 S. exarata, � S. geranioides, 6 S. biflora.Drawings made at the Jardin Botanique Alpin du Lautaret in July 2006.



Fig. 3. Philippe Danton - Geranium cinereum Cav. ‘Ballerina’ -[G. cinereum Cav. x G. subcaulescens L’Hér. ex DC. Drawing made at theJardin Botanique Alpin du Lautaret in July 2006.

Research activities40


Research is one of the missions of botanic gardens. The Lautaret alpine botanic garden (2100 m) was established in 1899 in order to combine public edu-cation and research on alpine plants and ecosystems. These activities continue now with the following contributions to re-search.

Botanical expertiseThe Jardin Botanique Alpin du Lautaret

Research activities at the Jardin Botanique Alpin du Lautaret

Richard BLIGNY1,3, Sandra LAVOREL1,2 & Serge AUBERT 1,2

1Station Alpine Joseph Fourier; 2Laboratoire d’Ecologie Alpine; 3Labora-toire de Physiologie Cellulaire Végétale, Université de Grenoble & CNRS, France

benefits from the presence of one of the best botanists in France (R. Douzet) with a specific expertise in alpine botany. This ex-pertise has been used by various research projects including :

European project VISTA (Vulnerability of ecosystem Services to Land Use Chan-ge in traditional Agricultural Landscapes) coordinated by S. Lavorel (2003-200�). This project involved 9 countries with field sites where ecosystems services (inclu-

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RésuméLa recherche est une des missions des jardins botaniques. Le Jardin alpin du Lautaret a été créé en 1899 avec le double objectif d’accueil du public et de recherche sur les plantes et les écosystèmes alpins. Aujourd’hui, la recherche concerne : (1) l’expertise botanique dans le domaine de la flore alpine : participation à divers programmes de recherche nationaux et internationaux (projets européens VISTA & INTRABIODIV) pilotés par le Laboratoire d’écologie alpine à Grenoble, (2) les échanges de graines issues de l’index seminum (plus de 1300 espèces essentiellement collectées dans la nature) pour des recherches dans les domaines de la phylogénie moléculaire et de l’archéobotanique, (3) la fourniture de matériel végétal issu des collections du Jardin pour des recherches en phylogénie et en biochimie, (4) la participation à un programme de suivi phénologique au niveau des Alpes françaises (Phenoclim, CREA), (5) l’hébergement d’expériences en conditions semi-contrôlées.

Research activities 41


ding agricultural production, biodiversity or tourist attraction, etc.) were quantified and modelled to project various scenarios of evolution of the economy and agricul-ture in marginal regions. The south facing slopes of Villar d’Arène (in the vicinity of the Garden) were chosen as the refe-rence site for alpine areas. The botanist of the Garden was involved in the identifica-tion of the hundreds of species of plants growing in the studied area;

European project INTRABIODIV (Intras-pecific biodiversity of alpine plants) coor-dinated by P. Taberlet (2004-2006). This project analysed the genetic intraspecific diversity of 30 alpine and subalpine plants of the Alps in order to characterise the evolution and the adaptative potential to environmental changes. The botanist of the Garden took part in the sampling in the French, Swiss and Austrian Alps;

Four PhD projects dealing with the functional and evolutionary ecology of subalpine meadows (F. Quétier, N. Gross, F. Viard-Cretat, F. Grassein);

Research project on Arabis alpina. This aims to analyse the genetic diversity of this subalpine and alpine species as a func-tion of the altitude, geography and habi-tat of the plant. Sampling was conducted in the French Alps in the area of the mas-sifs Ecrins, Galibier and Queyras.

Exchange of plant materialThrough its Index seminum the Jardin Bota-nique Alpin du Lautaret exchanges seeds with more than 300 botanical gardens in the world. The number of species availa-ble is around 1.300, most of which col-lected from wild populations in the Alps (in the area of the Lautaret). The index is available on the web (www.ujf-grenoble.fr/JAL) and many researchers working on various studies (phylogeny, archeobo-tany, etc.) have benefited of particular seeds (see table 1)or other samples. Use of the collections of the gardenThe Jardin Botanique Alpin du Lautaret displays more than 2300 species origina-ting from most of the mountains of the

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world. This provides unique opportunities for the provision of plant material for ex-periments otherwise nearly impossible to obtain. In the last 5 years, the following projects have developed.

Adaptation to UV radiations

A PhD thesis (L. Nybakken, Univ. Ǻs, Norway; 2000-2003) investigated the stra-tegies of arctic-alpine plants against UV radiations with a comparative study on many species growing in Svalbard (Spitz-bergen, Norway), in Norwegian mountains (Finse biological field station, Norway) and at Lautaret, where UV are 3 times higher than at Svalbard. A specific study used Papaver dahlianum endemic to Spitzber-gen and cultivated in the Jardin botani-que alpin du Lautaret since 1970 (figure 2). This permitted to analyse the acclima-tion capacities of this species (Nybakken & al. 2004), which has acquired similar resistance as the species growing in the Alps.

Reproduction systems

• TrolliusA research project is developed by L. Desprès (Laboratory LECA, Grenoble; sin-ce 2000) on the mutualistic relationships between globeflowers Trollius (Ranuncu-laceae) and their pollinating flies. Stu-dies focus on Trollius europaeus which is abundant in the meadows around the Lautaret pass and only pollinated by the flies Chiastocheta. Other species of Trollius have been introduced in the garden for both research and display to the public, notably T. pumilus, T. ledebourii, T. acau-lis, T. chinensis (figure 2). Some species are only pollinated by Chiastocheta, not pol-linated by Chiastocheta or pollinated by Chiastocheta and other flies. Molecular phylogenies and biochemical studies are used to study the evolution and speciali-sation of the mutualistic relationships (Des-près & al. 2003; Desprès & Cherif 2004).

• Lloydia serotinaThis alpine Liliaceae grown in the Jardin Botanique Alpin du Lautaret was used for the study of its reproduction system (Ma-nicacci & Després 2001.



Plant conservation

• Eryngium alpinumA study is developed on this endangered alpine plant by I. Till-Bottraud (Laboratory LECA, Grenoble) since 1999 in collabora-tion with the National Parks Ecrins, Vanoi-se and Mercantour. This includes genetic variability, population dynamics and re-production systems. In this context, plants cultivated at the Jardin Botanique Alpin du Lautaret have allowed investigations on the germination of pollen tubes in vivo (Gaudeul & al. 2000; Gaudeul & Till-Bot-traud 2004; figure 1).

• Androsace septentrionalisA long-term project for the study of po-pulations of endangered alpine species is carried out by I. Till-Bottraud (Laboratory LECA, Grenoble; since) in collaboration with the Conservatoire Botanique Natio-nal Alpin de Gap-Charance. Among the 7 species analysed is Androsace septen-trionalis with one population in the Jardin Botanique Alpin du Lautaret (figure 1).

• Potentilla delphinensisA new population of this rare species has been re-discovered in 2003 in the area of the col du Lautaret by the botanist Rolland Douzet, in collaboration with the botanist of the Parc National des Ecrins, Bernard Nicollet (figure 1).

Biochemical adaptations

The collection of Rosaceae of the Jardin Botanique Alpin du Lautaret was used to better understand the significance and role of methyl-β-glucopyranoside (Aubert & al. 2004, see p. �2).

Participation to a phenology projectSince 200� the Jardin Botanique alpin du Lautaret takes part to a large program of phenology monitoring in the French Alps leaded by the Centre de Recherches sur les Ecosystemes d’Altitude CREA (see p. �7).The following species are studied :Larix decidua, Sorbus aucuparia, Tussila-go farfara.

Hosting of experiments in the gardenVarious experiments in semi-controlled

conditions are installed in the Jardin Bo-tanique Alpin du Lautaret (figure 3). These experiments correspond to the following projects :

impact of UV radiation of the growth and physiology of trees (larch), a project coordinated by the Laboratoire de pollution atmosphérique (INRA, Nancy);

plant/plant interactions in subalpine meadows (laboratory LECA, Grenoble; PhD studies of N. Gross, F. Viard-Cretat, F. Grassein)

ecophysiology of alpine meadows in relation to global warming (laboratory LECA, Grenoble; PhD study of F. Baptist)

ReferencesAubert S, P. Choler P, Pratt J, Douzet R, Gout E, , R.

Bligny R (2004) Methyl-b-D-glucopyranoside in higher plants. Accumulation and intracellular localisation in Geum montanum L. leaves and in model systems studied by 13C nuclear magnetic resonance. J. Exp. Bot. 55 : 2179- 2189

Baptist F (2nd year phD, dir. S. Aubert/Ph. Choler) Traits fonctionnels végétaux et économie du carbone chez les espèces dominantes des communautés her-bacées d’altitude : implications sur les flux bio-géo-chimiques à l’échelle des écosystèmes

Després L, Pettex E, Plaisance V, Pompanon F (2002) Speciation in the globeflower flies Chiasto-cheta spp.(Anthomyiidae) in relation to host plant, biogeography, and morphology. Mol. Phyl. Evol. 22 : 258-268

Després L, Cherif M (2004) The role of competition in adaptive radiation : a field study on sequentially ovipositing host-specific seed predators. Journal of Animal Ecology 73 :109-116

Gaudeul M, Taberlet P, Till-Bottraud I. (2000). Ge-netic diversity in an endangered alpine plant Eryn-gium alpinum L. (Apiaceae), inferred from amplified fragment length polymorphism markers. Mol Ecol 9, 1625-1637

Gaudeul M, Till Bottraud I (2004) Reproductive ecology of the endangered alpine species Eryngium alpinum L. (Apiaceae) : Phenology, gene dispersal and reproductive success. Ann. Bot. 93 :711-721

Grassein F (1th year phD, dir. S. Lavorel/I. Till-Bot-traud) Mécanismes de variations des traits fonction-nels dans les praires alpines

Manicacci D, Després L (2001) Male and her-maphrodite flowers in the alpine lily Lloydia serotina (Rchb.). Can J. Bot. 79 : 1107-1114

Nybakken L, Aubert S, Bilger W (2004) Epidermal UV-screening of arctic and alpine plants along a lati-tudinal gradient in Europe. Polar Biology 27 :391-398

Quétier F (3rd year phD, dir. S. Lavorel) Vulnérabi-lité des paysages agricoles traditionnels en Europe : application à un paysage agropastoral de haute montagne, Villar d’Arène, Hautes Alpes. Thèse Uni-versité de Grenoble I

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Quétier F, Thébault A, Lavorel S (2006) Plant traits in a state and transition framework as markers of ecosystem response to past and present land-use in subalpine grasslands. Ecological Monographs (in press)

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Scientist University/Institute Species Sample Research project

Antonovics J. Univ. Virginie, USA Caryophyllaceae Stations in the Hautes-Alpes

Fugi parasitic of anthera of Caryophyllaceae

Bizoux J.-P. Univ. Gembloux, Belgium 4 species seeds PhD thesis on the genus Viola

Bronken P. Univ Tromso, Norway arctico-alpine species leaves Study of genetic distances

Bronken P. Univ Tromso, Norway Empetrum rubrum Leaves collected in Tierra del Fuego

Genetic comparison between two subpolar species of Empetrum

Kristiansen K. Univ. Göteborg, Sweden 8 species seeds Archeobotanical identifications

Carter G. Univ. Sheffield, UK 10 species seeds Archeobotanical identifications

Delabays N. Inst. Fédéral Agron. Nyon, Switzerland

6 species of Artemisia seeds Allelopathy in the genus Artemisia

Gustafsson S. Univ. Uppsala, Sweden Gymnadenia conopsea leaves Genetics of phenology

Hellwig F. Univ. Jena, Germany 4 sp. of Centaurea seeds Phylogeny of Centaurea

Herrera C.M., Alamillo J.B. Univ. Jaén, Spain 4 species of

Aquilegia leaves Phylogeography of the genus Aquilegia in the Iberian peninsula

Hidalgo O. Univ. Barcelone, Spain Valeriana carnosa Samples collected in Tierra del Fuego Phylogeny of the genus Valeriana

Huix J.O. Univ. Girona, Spain 8 species seeds Interactions plants/ants

Jaaska V. Univ. Tartu, Estonia 3 sp. of Lathyrus seeds Phylogeny of the genus Lathyrus

Jimenez C. Univ. Barcelone, Spain Stipa austroitalica Leaf samples Study of the genus Stipa

Johannesen J. Univ.Mainz, Germany Circium spinosissimum

capitules with parasites

Phylogeny and adaptation of the plant and its parasite

Martin L. Nicod P.Y.

Univ. Paris X, France; Univ. Genève, Switzerland

2� species of the Alps seeds Study of the plants associated with

the first humans in the Alps

Nuñez D.R. Univ. Murcia, Spain Prunus brigantina seeds Genetics of the genus Prunus

Nybakken L. Univ. Ås, Norway arctico-alpine species samples Comparative study of UV screening

Porovicz L. Univ. Prague, Tchec Rep. Salix foetida plants Identification of a new species of parasite

Shibata T. Ohashi, Japan Alpine species seeds Research on medicinal plants

Slovak M. Univ. Bratislava, Slovakia Picris hieracioides ssp villarsi plants Genetics of the genus Picris

Suita A. Univ. Cracovie, Polan � species of Viola seeds PhD thesis on the genus Viola sect. Melanium

Tamkovitch T. Jardin Botanique de Piatigorsk, Russia

Stachys macrantha seeds PhD thesis of medecine

Table 1. Plant material and seeds provided by the Jardin Botanique Alpin du Lautaret for various research programs during the period 2002-200�.

Viard-Cretat F (2rd year phD, dir. S. Lavorel) Va-riations des stratégies de régénération des espèces dominantes le long d’un gradient d’extensification de l’utilisation des terres en prairies subalpines. Thèse Université Montpellier II

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Fig. 3. Experiments in semi-controlled conditions hosted in the Jardin Botanique Alpin du Lautaret.

Fig. 1. Some plant models cultivated in the Jardin Botanique Alpin du Lautaret and used as models for research projects. From left to right : Potentilla delphinensis, Androsace septentrionalis, Eryngium alpinum, Papaver dahlianum.

Fig. 2. The species of the genus Trollius cultivated at the Garden and used for a research project on plant/insect interactions. From left to right : T. europaeus and its pollinators Chiastocheta, T. pumilus, T. acaulis (top), T. chinensis, T. ledebourii (bottom).

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Unlike “traditional” botanical gardens, that are predominantly urban, alpine garden are implanted in a natu-ral environment. This implantation leads to generate many interactions with this natural environment. Two impacts have been studied.

The impact of an alpine botanical garden on its environment. Case study of the Jardin Botanique Alpin

du Lautaret

Rolland DOUZETStation Alpine Joseph Fourier, Université de Grenoble/CNRS, France

the introduction of alien species on the natural environment;

the rejects of water by the garden tor-rents on the natural environment.Those studies were carried out in collabo-ration with the staff of the Ecrins National Park during their campaign of evaluation

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RésuméL’implantation d’un jardin botanique dans un milieu naturel entraîne des interactions avec l’environnement bien différentes de celles d’un jardin urbain. En effet le jardin agit directement sur les milieux naturels environnants via les espèces étrangères qui y sont cultivées et via, par exemple, les rejets qu’il va générer. Deux de ces aspects ont été étudies au Lautaret avec la collaboration du Parc National des Ecrins dans le cadre du programme européen “Natura 2000“. Le premier concerne l’état des lieux des espèces invasives issues du Jardin Alpin. Il a consisté en un recensement et une cartographie des espèces en vue d’un suivi sur le long terme. On a ainsi pu montrer que peu d’espèces se sont réellement échappées et ce malgré un nombre d’introduction estimé à près de 10.000 espèces, et qu’une seule, Polemonium caeruleum, semble réellement menaçante. Le second volet est l’étude d’une tufière située en aval du jardin et dont le fonctionnement a cessé récemment, peut-être à cause des rejets d’eau du Jardin Alpin. L’étude a consisté en une cartographie du réseau hydrographique du site et à une analyse chimique de l’eau en différents points. Elle a montré que les eaux du jardin semblent avoir contaminé celles de la tufière via des zones marécageuses, créant une dilution, en particulier du calcium, qui aurait entraîné un arrêt du fonctionnement de la source pétrifiante. Des solutions ont été proposées mais aucune ne semble pleinement satisfaisante.



of the European project “Natura 2000”.

The impact of the introduction of alien species on the natural environmentSince the implantation of the garden at the pass in 1899 and at its actual empla-cement in 1919, more than 10.000 species have been introduced. A question was to estimate the impact of such massive in-take on the local flora and meadows. The study consisted in a prospection of the Lautaret area to look for introduced spe-cies and to map them in order to have an initial state of the problem.The prospection showed that very few species escaped from the garden and among them, few have a real implanta-tion. Those species are given in table 1.The cartography shows that most of the species were escaped through the torrents lower down the garden and were present only along those torrents in very dense po-pulations. The study shows that the inva-sive species do not penetrate the natural vegetation consisting of Festucetum spa-diceae and Polygono-trisetion and swam-py areas (Caricion davallianae), certainly because in those associations the relation between species are of strong competi-tion and a “newcomer” has many diffi-culties to penetrate such vegetation. That is why most of the escaped species are located only on disturbed areas like those

immediately around the garden (Papaver croceum, Veronica gentianoides, Poly-gonum alpinum, etc.) and are eliminated when the natural vegetation comes back - or along streams and torrents (that carry seeds) lower down the garden. It is espe-cially true for Caltha fistulosa, Cephalaria gigantea, Mimulus guttatus, Polemonium caeruleum, Primula auriculata and Ra-nunculus caucasicus. They present the same ecology (megaphorb) and have ta-ken the place of native species along the streams as Caltha palustris or Ranunculus aconitifolius but do not move away from them. Only Polemonium caeruleum can long resist to the return of natural vege-tation and seems to be more aggressive and may be the only dangerous species (the further study to come will uphold or not those conclusions). Another problem around the garden is overgrazing witch creates many perturbations and soil ero-sion. The vegetation becomes more open and more sensible to colonisation by alien species. It’s especially true in the Seslerie-tum, that is a natural habitat more open and with much less competition between species or even facilitation. It seems to be the case for Senecio adonidifolius which tolerates this more restrained habitat. A monitoring of these species will show if some measures must be taken or not.

Alien species Geographical origin Level of invasionAconitum napellus subsp. vulgare Alps and Pyrenees ++

Alchemilla mollis Carpathians mountains +

Caltha fistulosa Asia +++

Cephalaria gigantea Caucasus ++

Cicerbita plumieri montains of Europe +

Inula salicina Eurasia +

Mimulus guttatus W. America ++

Papaver croceum Asia +

Polemonium caeruleum Circumboreal ++++

Polygonum alpinum Alps ++

Primula auriculata Caucasus ++

Ranunculus caucasicus Caucasus +++

Senecio adonidifolius Massif Central and Pyrenees ++

Veronica gentianoides Caucasus +

Table 1. List of the alien species around the Jardin Botanique Alpin du Lautaret



The impact of the rejects of water by the garden torrentsPetrifying springs are rare natural habitats that are protected at European scale. Some national park rangers noticed that such a spring, lower down the garden, stopped its activity recently. The rejects of water by the torrents of the garden could have been involved in this process. The study consisted in a schematic map-ping of the hydrographic network of the place and then a complete chemical analysis of the water at different places.The water of the garden is snow-melting water that comes from the other side of the valley (the Combeynot massif). It is a very low mineralized water (nearly dis-tilled!) as confirmed by chemical analy-zes.The hydrography shows that the water from the torrents of the garden and the water of the spring dot not mix directly, but they are very near and connected by swampy areas so the mix of the wa-ter may be possible. It is confirmed by the chemical analysis that shows a drop of the calcium concentration in the water of the spring. This dilution of the calcium could explain the decrease of the petrifica-tion. No eutrophisation of the springs has

been noticed (but the fertilization by the livestock and the garden is punctual and can be overlooked). Other factors could increase this phenomenon for example the overgrazing and the trampling by the livestock which cause a diminution in the air circulation in the limestone and can stop the petrification process. Some solutions have been proposed but no one seems to be fully satisfactory, es-pecially because the site is hardly acces-sible for mechanical digger for example, or for aesthetic reasons (the Lautaret pass is a protected area).Another petrifying spring, which is work-ing, is protected and can be seen in the area of the alpine garden.

ReferencesDouzet R (2002) Influence des rejets d’eau du

Jardin Alpin du Lautaret sur le fonctionnement d’une tufière : www.ujf-grenoble.fr/JAL/arch/ant2005/Impactea.pdf

Douzet R (2002) Cartographie des espèces végétales naturalisées aux environs du Jardin Alpin du Lautaret.www.ujf-grenoble.fr/JAL/arch/ant2005/carto.pdf

Komarov (1963-2000) Flora of USSR. English translation. 30 vol. Koeltz, Königstein

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Fig. 2. Limits (in red) of the zone of inventory and mapping around the garden. Yellow, area of the garden. Blue spot, Lautaret pass.

Fig. 1. A view of a zone with a mix of invasive species : Caltha fistulosa, Polemonium caeruleum, Ranunculus caucasicus and native species including Heracleum sphondylium subsp. elegans and Rumex arifolius



Fig. 2. Mapping of Aconitum napellus subsp. vulgare (top) and Polemonium caeruleum (bottom). Area studied (yellow dots) around the Jardin Botanique Alpin du Lautaret (yellow area). Blue dot, Lautaret pass.

Fig. 3. Aspect of the petrifying springs, active on the right, “dead“ on the left, with details at the bottom.



The problem of Heracleum mantegazzianum in the Swiss Alps

François BONNET1, Florian DESSIMOZ2 , Olivier BROENIMANN2 , Christophe RANDIN2 and Antoine GUISAN2

1 Jardin Botanique Alpin “La Thomasia“ & 2 ECOSPAT Group, University of Lausanne, Switzerland

The Giant Hogweed (Heracleum mantegazzianum), an invasive giant herb native from Caucasus, was first introdu-ced in Switzerland (Geneva) in 1895 and cultivated in alpine botanical gardens because of its spectacular inflorescence. Since then, it escaped repeatedly from gardens, becoming invasive and leading to ecological, economical and health problems (Fig. 2). In this study, we eva-luated the invasion status of this alien in-vasive species in the Western Swiss Alps, by modelling its potential distribution and estimating current and future density and cost estimations. These assessment measures provide useful tools for an ac-tion plan in conservation biology. In the continuity of a previous study in 2004, we used a model-based sampling de-sign to improve occurrences data and ultimately improve predictive models of the species distribution. Since we did not find as much occurrences as expected, different models were carrying out with different available data sets. The first pre-dictive maps were based on naturalized

occurrences versus all available presen-ces and the second, on a set of absence sites stratified according to the strata of a previous available model (Fig. 3). We tes-ted two different estimations of the giant hogweed’s population size : a design-based estimation and a model-based es-timation. We first proceed to the Thomp-son design-based estimation through a random-stratified adaptive sampling. This estimation provided current population size of the focal species. The future poten-tial population size of the focal species was achieved with the models resulting from the field sampling. For management cost, communes included in the study area were set as management units and assessed individually. A binary model using threshold value optimising ratio of omission to commission errors provided future potential costs. Finally, this filtered binomial model permits us to underline which communes should receive special attention for eradication.

H. mantegazzianum was observed in nu-merous sites and management units in

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the Western part of the Swiss Alps. Its ex-pansion phase and the high surface pre-dicted to be prone to invasion in the stu-dy area might suggest further ecological and health hazards induced by this alien invasive plant. Unpredictable human-mediated dispersal needs to be seriously avoided in drawing attention of people on such a problematic attractive weed. In the case of invasive species, potential predictive GAM models might be power-ful for coordinating some eradication plan undertaken by communes. The cho-sen model should be used for assessing invasion risks in the study area and preci-sion of such model needs to be enhan-ced iteratively allowing proper prediction and monitory of the spread of this invasive plant. Our aim was to map the potential distribution of H. mantegazzianum and to estimate population size and costs for re-moving of the focal species. The current study found convergent results concer-ning current and future density and cost estimations.

PerspectivesThe communes will be informed of the re-sults of the current work. In further studies, an adaptive sampling based on strata of the new model may be conduct again, enhancing chances to sampling unk-nown populations. A new sampling year should also provide more information on

species’ present distribution. For this latter, remote sensing through aerial photogra-phs might be a useful tool for detecting new populations (Mullerova 2005) althou-gh restricted to open area because fo-rests prevent detection. Dynamic models would be also able to simulate future co-lonisation scenario to assess the time nee-ded to invade the whole area. A prelimi-nary study of the plastid DNA variation in some populations of H. mantegazzianum was done revealing numerous variations. Genetics analyses should allow studying interesting evolutionary processes on po-pulation dynamic of the giant hogweed during its colonisation phase and underli-ning number of introduction locations.

Fig. 1. The jardin botanique alpin La Thomasia.

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Fig. 3. Observed (left, green spots) and potential (right, red zones) distribution of Heracleum mantegazzianum in the Western Swiss Alps.

Fig. 2. An example of invasion by Heracleum mantegazzianum.



Geum montanum grows in the subalpine and alpine belts of the Alps.This herb is abundant in the area of the Lautaret pass and it has big leaves. This is why this species has been chosen as a model to study plant adaptations to ex-treme environmental conditions, in parti-cular the resistance to high light and cold stress (Manuel et al., 1999).

Collections and their use in research. Example of abundant compounds in certain alpine plants

Serge AUBERT1,2, Philippe CHOLER1,2, Rolland DOUZET1, Anne-Marie BOISSON3, Elisabeth GOUT3 and Richard BLIGNY1,3

1 Station Alpine Joseph Fourier; 2 Laboratoire d’Ecologie Alpine; 3 Laboratoire de Physiologie Cellulaire Végétale, Université de Grenoble & CNRS, France

Identification of MeGWe analysed the metabolite profiles of G. montanum leaves using 13C-Nuclear Ma-gnetic Resonance (NMR). This technique permits to identify and quantify all the soluble metabolites containing carbon atoms and present at concentrations hi-gher than 1 µmol.g-1 wet wt (Shachar-Hill & Pfeffer 1996).A typical 13C-NMR spectrum from G. mon-

RésuméLe méthyl-β-D-glucopyranoside (MeG) est un composé nouveau chez les plantes, caractérisé chez les feuilles de la plante alpine Geum montanum (Aubert & al. 2004). L’utilisation de la collection de plantes alpines du Jardin Botanique Alpin du Lautaret et des plantes de la région du col du Lautaret a permis de montrer que toutes les dicotylédones testées sont capables de synthétiser cette molécule. Les plantes qui accumulent la molécule à plus de 1 µmol.g-1 matière fraîche appartiennent essentiellement à la sous-famille des Rosideae des Rosaceae, ainsi qu’à quelques genres de Fabaceae. Le MeG s’accumule tout au long de la vie de la feuille et il peut représenter plus de 20% des sucres solubles sans être remobilisé lors de la sénescence. La résonance magnétique du carbone 13 a montré que le MeG est synthétisé dans le cytoplasme à partir de glucose et de méthanol. Le méthanol est un composé toxique libéré dans les parois végétales, qui peut diffuser dans les cellules. Le MeG pourrait servir à la détoxification sous forme de composé inerte stocké dans la vacule. Il pourrait aussi être impliqué dans l’osmorégulation et la protection contre le froid.



tanum leaves collected at the Col du Lautaret is shown on Fig. 1. Among the various solutes accumulated in this alpi-ne plant, sucrose, glucose, and fructose were the major carbohydrates, with cell contents estimated to 6�-70, 23-2�, and 20-22 µmol/g wet wt, respectively. Of particular interest were seven resonan-ce peaks centred at �8.00, 61.�8, 70.3�, 73.99, 76.69, 76.71, and 104.00 ppm not yet reported in leaf extracts. These peaks were attributed to methyl-β-D-glucopy-ranoside. The concentration of MeG in 1-month old leaves harvested at the be-ginning of July was 17-19 µmol/g wet wt.

Taxonomic distribution of MeG The leaves of a variety of plants were col-lected during summer season in the Jardin Botanique Alpin du Lautaret and in the surrounding fields, and in the Arboretum Robert Ruffier-Lanche in Grenoble. The natural MeG content of leaves and their ability to synthesise this glucoside in the presence of methanol was investigated.Table I shows that different members of the subfamily Rosoideae of Rosaceae accumulated more than 1 µmol MeG/g wet wt. A substantial accumulation was observed in 9 out of the 10 genus tested, usually at higher levels in plants growing at high altitudes and/or latitudes. Howe-ver, no accumulation was observed in the five tested species of the genus Al-chemilla. Among plants belonging to a given genus, MeG accumulated much more in some species than in others. For example, the leaves of only 7 species of Geum among 10 tested accumulated MeG. The tested species of other subfami-lies (Spiraeoideae, Maloideae and Prunoi-deae) did not accumulate MeG above 1 µmol/g wet wt. In contrast, MeG was not detected in the leaf extracts of 2�0 other plants belonging to the main families of the French flora. Only one exception was noticed : the Fabaceae (e.g. Oxytropis campestris Trifolium alpinum, and Pisum sativum). Table I also indicates that all the dicots tested, including non photosynthe-tic suspension-cultured cells, incorpora-ted methanol to glucose, as detected in the presence of labelled [13C]methanol.

The Rosaceae in which MeG was natu-rally abundant synthesised MeG at a hi-gher rate (up to 6.5-7.5 µmol/day/g wet wt) compared to the non-accumulating species. The rate of MeG accumulation in the tested monocots was not measu-rable by 13C-NMR, or very low. Gymnos-perms, pteridophyts and mosses did not synthesise MeG, even in the presence of methanol. Fig. 3 shows some example of species in the Rosaceae family tested in table I and cultivated in the Jardin Bota-nique Alpin du Lautaret. The collection of alpine plants originating from various parts of the world offered a unique op-portunity to analyse the significance of MeG accumulation and metabolism.

Distribution of MeG in G. montanum during a growth cycleFig. 2 shows that MeG was also detected in G. montanum rhizome and root but it was abundant only in leaves where it in-creased during ageing, accounting for up to 20% of soluble carbohydrates be-fore senescence in overwinter leaves. MeG was poorly reallocated to rhizome and other organs. In senescent leaves, sucrose and glucose declined, reflecting a probable reallocation of these sugars, but not MeG. Similarly, the highest levels of MeG were observed in overwinter lea-ves of the alpine Rosaceae Dryas octo-petala whereas it remained very low in the subterranean organs of this plant.

Synthesis and localisation of MeG in plants13C-NMR analyses using 13C-labelled subs-trats showed that MeG was synthesised in the cytosol of cells, directly from glucose and methanol molecules. There was no contribution of the C1 pathway. In ad-dition, analyses of the metabolite profile of intact purified organelles demonstra-ted that MeG was subsequently stored in the vacuole, without being re-exported from the vacuole or further metabolised.The possibility that MeG could also be syn-thesised in the cell wall (where methanol is produced from pectin de-methylation processes) and then incorporated to cells was discarded since excretion of car-



bohydrates has never been observed in these tissues.

DiscussionThis work raises several questions.First about the transport of MeG across the tonoplast : does MeG utilise a glucose transporter? If so, is there an exchange across the tonoplast between newly syn-thesised MeG and glucose stored in the vacuole? What about the regulation of MeG storage?Second, the physiological significance of MeG accumulation. Like many other methylated molecules (quaternary am-monium, tertiary sulfonium, methyl-inosi-tols, etc.), MeG could be involved in os-motic stress tolerance. MeG could also be involved in hydroxyl radical scavenging. In this context, MeG accumulation was observed mostly in mountain Rosaceae which are exposed to high light intensities resulting in reactive oxygen species (ROS) production (Streb et al., 1998). However antioxidants usually accumulate in the cytoplasm, while MeG accumulates in the vacuole.Moreover, although MeG represents an important part of soluble sugars in some species, it is probably not a storage com-pound for carbon since : 1) it does not si-gnificantly accumulate in the storage or-gans such as rhizomes, 2) it does not show a reallocation pattern in leaves over a vegetative season, in contrast to sucrose and glucose; 3) leaves kept in prolonged dark, or senescent leaves, hydrolyse sucro-se and glucose, but not MeG which, the-refore, does not contribute to prevent cells from autophagy upon carbon starvation.The last hypothesis suggests that the syn-thesis of metabolically inactive MeG, stored in vacuole, may discard free methanol and protects cell metabolism. Indeed, methanol is a potential solvent of membrane lipids. In addition, its oxidation produces formaldehyde, a very reactive component highly toxic to cell metabo-lism. Finally, the metabolisation of metha-nol via the folate-mediated single-carbon metabolism (Gout et al., 2000) might also interfere with the regulation of this pa-thway.

ReferencesAubert S, Choler P, Pratt J, Douzet R, Gout E,

Bligny R (2004) Methyl-β-D-glucopyranoside in higher plants : accumulation and intracellular localization in Geum montanum L. leaves and in model systems studied by 13C nuclear magnetic resonance. Journal of Experimental Botany 55, 2179-2189

Gout E, Aubert S, Bligny R, Rébeillé F, Nonomura AR, Benson, AA, Douce R. 2000. Metabolism of methanol in plant cells. carbon-13 nuclear magnetic resonance studies. Plant Physiology 123, 287-296

Manuel N, Cornic G, Aubert S, Choler P, Bligny R, Heber U (1999) Adaptation to high light and water stress in the alpine plant Geum montanum L. Oecologia 119, 149-158

Shachar-Hill Y, Pfeffer P (1996) Nuclear Magnetic Resonance in Plant Physiology. Rockville (USA) : American Society of Plant Physiologists

Streb P, Shang W, Feierabend J, Bligny R (1998) Divergent strategies of photoprotection in high mountain plants. Planta 207, 313-324

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Fig. 1. Representative proton-decoupled in vitro 13C-NMR spectrum of G. montanum leaf extracts. Perchloric acid extract was prepared from adult (1-month old) G. montanum leaves harvested during the first week of July at the Lautaret pass (2100 m a.s.l.) at 10 h a.m. Insets, expanded scales (magnification, X2) showing two of the seven resonance peaks of MeG, corresponding to the methyl group (�8.00 ppm) and to the C1 (104.00 ppm) of glucose. The positions of the other MeG resonance peaks are indicated by solid circles. The molecule MeG is represented on top left. Peak assignments are as follows : MeG, methyl-β-D-glucopyranoside; s, sucrose; g, glucose; f, fructose; mal, malate; n.i., not identified; ref, reference (100 µmol maleate).

Fig.2. Seasonal variation and organ-specific distribution of MeG, sucrose, fructose, and glucose in Geum montanum leaves. Quantification was done from metabolite profiles obtained using 13C-NMR. Values are means ± SD (n=3).



Table 1. Accumulation of methyl-β-D-glucopyranoside in different plants. The plants selected in this table were those naturally containing 13C-NMR detectable MeG, and those incubated in the presence of [13C]methanol in which MeG was measured or not detected (nd). The names of 250 other analysed plants distributed in the main families of the French flora, in which MeG was not detected, are not mentioned. In particular, MeG was not detected in ten Rosaceae from the subfamilies Spiraeoideae and Maloideae. In red, plants cultivated at the Jardin Botanique Alpin du Lautaret.

Fig.3. Examples of plants used for this study cultivated at the Jardin Botanique Alpin du Lautaret. From left to right : Geum coccineum (Balkans), Geum heterocarpum (a rare plant in the Alps), Woronovia elegans (Siberia).



Phénoclim, a research project on phenologyin the Alps

Gwladys MATHIEU and Anne DELESTRADECentre de Recherches sur les Ecosystèmes d’AltitudeObservatoire du Mont-Blanc, Chamonix, France

RésuméLe Centre de Recherches sur les Ecosystèmes d’Altitude (CREA) a lancé et coordonne depuis l’automne 2004 le programme de recherche Phénoclim qui a pour objectif la mise en place d’un réseau de suivi à long terme de la phénologie de la végétation dans les Alpes, en lien avec les changements climatiques.Une des particularités de Phénoclim est de s’intéresser à l’effet des conditions locales (situation géographique, altitude, exposition) sur l’impact du changement climatique sur la végétation. Les observations phénologiques sont menées par un réseau d’observateurs (professionnels et amateurs) dans les Alpes françaises et le Valais suisse.Huit espèces d’arbres et 2 espèces herbacées sont inclues dans le suivi, avec 7 stades phénologiques notés, du début à la fin de la période de végétation. Soixante-cinq sites d’étude de la végétation, situés entre 250 et 2150 m d’altitude, ont été suivis en 2006. Sur ces 65 sites, 35 ont été équipés d’une station de mesure de température, spécialement conçue pour le projet, afin de pouvoir corréler température et date d’occurrence des événement phénologiques.En complément de l’étude scientifique, Phénoclim comporte un important volet pédagogique, de sensibilisation et d’éducation à l’environnement, qui s’adresse aux particuliers et écoles des Alpes françaises et du Valais suisse. Plusieurs espaces protégés, dont le Jardin Alpin du Lautaret et le Jardin Alpin de Champex, prennent part au programme. Pour permettre les échanges entre le public, les observateurs et le CREA, une partie du site Internet du CREA est dédiée à Phénoclim (www.crea.hautesavoie.net), avec une visualisation des données et une analyse des résultats accessibles à tous. Une extension du programme dans le futur, à d’autres espaces protégés et jardins botaniques sur l’arc alpin est envisagée.



The Research Centre of Alpine Ecosystems (CREA) has launched in 2004 a research programme called “Phéno-clim”. Phénoclim focuses on vegetation phenology as an indicator of climate change in the Alps.The interest in phenology, the study of the timing of life-cycle events of organisms1, has grown quickly in the last decade. Recent studies have extensively demons-trated the importance of phenological studies to describe and understand the effects of climate change on ecosystems. A meta-analysis conducted by C. Parme-san and G. Yohe (2003) on 677 species from a large range of taxa (woody plants, herbaceous plants, birds, insects, amphi-bians and fishes) showed a significant mean advancement of spring events by 2.3 days per decade for 62% of the species during the last century, and this change is related to an increase in tem-perature2. The most important message is that the observed changes in climate have already significantly impacted natu-ral systems3,4. It gives a first indication and warning of the potential large changes that might occur if mean temperature continues to increase by 1.4 to �.8°C glo-bally this century or 2 to 6.3°C as predic-ted for Europe�-7.Phenological changes have the poten-tial to contribute to the climate change impact debate because many historic observations exist (gathered by nume-rous phenological monitoring networks)8-

9. There is actually a need to ensure the continuation of existing networks and to invest in the expansion and creation of new networks to provide better global coverage and cover areas where few observations are available. The latter is the case of mountainous regions.The objective of Phénoclim was therefore to correct for the lack of phenological ob-servations in the French Alps by setting up a new monitoring programme. The main research objective of Phénoclim was to measure phenological changes as indi-cator of climate change in the Alps, and more specifically to understand better how vegetation responds to local condi-tions such as geographic exposition, alti-

tude and climate and ultimately to assess the long-term impacts of climatic varia-tions on vegetation.

The Phénoclim networkVegetation observations are carried out by a network of observers, coordinated by the CREA. The network was launched in autumn 2004, and covers a large part of the French Alps and a small part of the Wallis canton in Switzerland. It aims at in-cluding other alpine regions in the near future. In 2006, Phénoclim had 86 parti-cipants (83 in the French Alps, 3 in Wallis canton).Two types of observers are involved in Phénoclim : professionals working in diffe-rent types of protected areas (botanical gardens, national parks, regional parks) and participants from the general public (environmental organizations, individuals and primary and secondary schools) (Fig. 1). The CREA is still expanding the Phéno-clim network, e.g. by increasing the num-ber of protected areas in the network.

The Phénoclim protocolThe participation of the general public implies a relatively simple field protocol, easy to understand and in particular doa-ble by children.

Study areaThe study area is the Alps. In 2006, 6� stu-dy sites of vegetation were monitored, all over the French Alps and a small part of the Wallis canton – Switzerland, between 2�0 m and 21�0 m a.s.l. The study sites are relatively well distributed with respect to altitude with 34 sites located between 2�0 and 1000 m and 31 sites located between 1000 and 2150 m (Fig. 2). Howe-ver, the latitudinal gradient is not yet well represented with more study sites located in the Northern Alps (47 sites) than in the Southern Alps (18 sites). The objective is to sample all the alpine ranges, with a better representation of Northern vs. Southern Alps, inner vs. external Alps, which have different climatic influences (e.g. Mediter-ranean, oceanic, continental). We plan furthermore to monitor vegetation pheno-logy along altitudinal gradients of about 1000 m at 6 locations throughout the re-



gion (this is already done in the Bauges and the Mont-Blanc massif in France).

SpeciesPhenoclim monitors the phenology of 10 species (Table 1). They represent different plant functional types :

� tree species : Picea abies, Larix deci-dua, Betula pendula, Betula pubescens, Sorbus aucuparia, Fraxinus exelsior;

2 shrub species : Corylus avellana, Sy-ringa vulgaris;

2 herbaceous species : Primula veris, Tussilago farfaraThree species are monitored per study site, with 3 marked individuals per site. Monitoring is done on the same indivi-duals during several years as the species studied are all perennial. These species are common in the Alps, easily recogniza-ble by non-specialists, present on a large range of altitude and studied as climate change indicators in other phenology re-search programmes9-11.

Phenological observationsSeven phenophases are monitored (3 in spring and 4 in autumn) (Table 2). Obser-vations are carried out every 8 days by the same group of persons. These phenopha-ses provide a measure of the beginning of the vegetation activity and senescence in relation with temperature variations10-13.

Meteorological dataIn mountainous areas, weather conditions often vary at small temporal and spatial scales. The existing network of weather stations is then too fragmented to be used when studying detailed relationships between phenology and climatic factors at a small scale14-1�. Meteorological data for Phénoclim will be provided through the implementation of a temperature stations network, designed for this project (Fig. 3). These stations are composed of a 2 m high pole on which 4 temperature sensors are fixed vertically at different heights (5 cm in the ground, right on the earth, 30 cm and 2 m above the ground). A second 1 m high pole is connected to the station and contains an electronic card and batteries for energy supply. Temperature of the air and the ground are registered every 1�

•

•

•

min and stocked on a memory card, that can be changed manually. The card’s memory can store data up to a period of 40 days. Thirty three stations are installed in vegetation study sites of Phénoclim and we plan to install 100 temperature stations in total.These stations will provide temperature data which are closely related to the temperature experienced by the plants, depending on local conditions (altitude, slope, geographical situation) and will allow correlating phenology to climatic factors. They will also provide information on snow depth and duration (Fig. 4).

ResultsFirst, Phénoclim should allow us to better understand the relationships between phenology and local variables such as altitude, slope, exposure to the sun and geographic localisation. Figure � and 6 show the altitudinal dependence of flowering (45 individuals) and leaf unfol-ding (�� individuals) for Hazel and of bu-dburst for Ash (78 individuals) and Larch (48 individuals) in spring 2006. In both ca-ses there is a clear delay of the timing of the phenophases with altitude. The impor-tance of the delay depends on the spe-cies (Hazel flowering : 4.3 days per 100 m, Hazel leaf unfolding : 3.6 days per 100 m, Ash budburst : 3.3 days per 100 m, Larch budburst : 3.3 days per 100 m). Further analyses will lead to a better understan-ding of the responses of species to clima-tic factors and to evaluate the differen-ces of response between species.Second, the relationship between phe-nology and climate variation and chan-ges can be assessed when time series are longer. Figures 7 and 8 show the interan-nual variability of the timing of budburst for Silver Birch (21 individuals) and Larch (29 individuals) between spring 2005 and spring 2006 (comparison based on the same individuals monitored during these 2 years). There is a general delay in 2006 compared with 2005, due to the diffe-rence in temperature with a cold spring in 2006. Note that the differences obser-ved for Birch are the same for all the in-dividuals (2.� days per 100 m in 200� and



2006), whereas for Larch, the delay in the timing of budburst increases with altitude (7 days of difference between 2005 and 2006 at 1000 m asl, but 16 days of diffe-rence between the same individuals at 1900 m asl, which correspond to 2.3 days per 100 m in 200� and 3.6 days per 100 m in 2006). It will be interesting to make the same comparison over several years and then examine the general patterns towards delay or advance, to have an indication of climate change impact. As the programme started only two years ago, the results presented here give just a general indication of the results expected from Phénoclim.

ConclusionThe preliminary results show the interest of a project involving actively the general public. With a simple protocol, we could obtain valuable data. The quantity of data collected and the size of the area covered by the monitoring scheme could compensate for the relatively low preci-sion of some of the data collected (e.g., once a week). Moreover, Phénoclim is a good medium of education for the gene-ral public. The CREA is developing a strong educational component for schools in addition to the scientific study. Phéno-clim aims at raising the public awareness of environmental and climatic change, in particular through the use of the web-site www.crea.hautesavoie.net. We also explain the role of research organization and the way they are working.In addition to the public participation, we want to include in Phénoclim more professional organisms working on vege-tation in the Alps and in particular bota-nical gardens. Phenological observations are easy to carry out for this type of orga-nisms where permanent staff is working in the field every day during the vegetation period. This could be a mean to develop research activities in the gardens without too much investment, to add to the va-lues of existing historical phenological data made in different gardens, to share information concerning phenology and to ensure a long-term monitoring scheme of vegetation. Phénoclim could also be

used in the gardens for public awareness and education and to built educational programmes with neighbouring schools.

AcknowledgementsThis program had received financial sup-port from Région Rhône-Alpes, FEDER, Ré-gion PACA, Fondation Somfy, Fondation Nicolas Hulot, Patagonia.

References1. Van Vliet AJH, Schwartz MD (2002). Phenology and climate : the timing of life-cycle events as indica-tors of climatic variability and change. International Journal of Climatology 22 : 1713-1714

2. Parmesan C, Yohe G (2003) A globally coherent fingerprint of climate change impacts across natural systems. Nature 421: 37-42

3. Root, T.L. & al. (2003). Fingerprints of global warm-ing on wild animals and plants. Nature 421 : 57-60

4. Walther G-R & al. (2002).Ecological responses to recent climate change. Nature 416 : 389-395

5. Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (2001) Climate change 2001 : The scientific basis. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, UK

6. Climatic Research Unit (2003) Global average temperature change 1856-2003. On line [http://www.cru.uea.ac.uk/cru/data/temperature]

7. European Environment Agency (2004) Impacts of Europe’s changing climate. An indicator-based as-sessment. EEA Report. EEA, Copenhagen, Denmark

8. Van Vliet AJH & al. (2003) The European Phenol-ogy Network. International Journal of Biometeorol-ogy 47 : 202-212

9. Menzel A, Jakobi G, Ahas R, Scheifinger H (2003) Variations of the climatilogical growing season (1951-2000) in Germany compared to other countries. International Journal of Climatology 23 : 793-812

10. Theurillat J-P, Schlüssel A (2000) Phenology and distribution strategy of key plant species within the subalpine-alpine ecocline in the Valaisan Alps (Swit-zerland). Phytocoenologica 30 : 439-456

11. Defila C & Clot B (2005) Phytophenological trends in the Swiss Alps, 1951-2002. Meteorologishe Zeitschrift vol.14-2 : 191-196

12. Chmielewsky FM, Rötzer T (2002) Annual and spa-tial variability of the beginning of the growing season in Europe in relation to air temperature changes. Climate Research 19 : 257-264

13. Menzel A, Fabian P (1999) Growing season ex-tended in Europe. Nature 397 : 659

14. Beniston M (1997) Climatic change at high eleva-tion sites : an overview. Climatic Change 36 : 233-251

15. Météo France (2005). Une étude climatologique des Alpes apporte un nouveau signe du réchauffe-ment du climatOn line [http://www.meteofrance.com/FR/actus/dossier/article.jsp?docid=11700]



Table 1: Studied species, with number of individuals studied per species.

Table 2. Studied phenophases, with BBCH scale codification equivalent.

Type of plants Species Scientific name Nb individuals Altitudinal rangeTrees Spruce Picea abies 127 448 m – 2136 m

European Larch Larix decidua 66 48� m – 2136 mSilver Birch Betula pendula 119 278 m – 1790 m

Downy Birch Betula pubescens 8 48� m – 2136 mAsh Fraxinus excelsior 134 2�0 m – 1600 m

Rowan Sorbus aucuparia 29 690 m – 2136 mShrubs Hazel Corylus avellana 101 2�0 m – 1330 m

Common Lilac Syringa vulgaris 3� 300 m – 1400 mHerbaceous Primerose Primula veris 22 2�0 m – 1370 m

Colt’s foot Tussilago farfara 37 48� m – 2136 m

SpeciesAutumn phenophases Spring phenophases

Leaf colouring Leaf fall Budburst Leaf unfolding FloweringBeginning (92) �0% (94) �0% (9�) Bare (97) Beginning (07) Beginning (11) Beginning (61)

Picea abiesLarix deciduaBetula pendulaBetula pubescensSorbus aucupariaFraxinus excelsiorCorylus avellanaSyringa vulgarisPrimula verisTussilago farfara

Fig. 1. Phénoclim network in 2006 - Map of the observers (in blue : professionals and protected areas, in red : schools and private individuals).

Mean altitude (m)

Num

ber o

f stu

dy s

ites

500 1000 1500 2000

02

46

810

1214

Grenoble

Chamonix

Fig. 2. Distribution of altitude of study sites in 2006.

Mean altitude (m)

Num

ber o

f stu

dy s

ites

Nice



Fig. 3. Phénoclim temperature station.

Fig. 5. Altitudinal dependence of spring phenophases for Corylus avellana - flowering and leaf unfolding.

Fig. 4. Temperature data provided by a Phénoclim temperature station (Vallorcine – France, 1920 m a.s.l).

- 5 cm 30 cm

0 cm 2 m

Fig. 6. Altitudinal dependence of budburst for Fraxinus excelsior and Larix decidua.

Fig. 7. Altitudinal dependence of budburst-Interannual variability of Betula pendula.

Fig. 8. Altitudinal dependence of budburst-Interannual variability of Larix decidua.



The first botanic gardens were created in the XVIth century (Pisa 1�4�, Padua 1�46, Bologna 1�48 and later in France with Montpellier (1597) and Paris (1626).

The evolution of the missions and roles of botanic gardensUnder the administration of Universi-ties, these gardens were devoted to the teaching of Botany. During the XVIIth century, alongside the development of transport and navigation, the number of botanic gardens increased rapidly. They became centres for the introduction of plants and new gardens were created throughout the world. Faced with a mas-sive increase in plant collections, the first gardens became not only places where plants of therapeutic interest would be found and where their medicinal prop-erties taught but also places where ele-ments of the flora from far away countries could be discovered.A new organisation was to be sought. The tropical and subtropical plants requi-

Botanic Gardens and their implication in the international strategies

Maïté DELMASDépartement des Jardins botaniques et zoologiques, Muséum National d’histoire naturelle, Paris, France

red new knowledge and know how but also new facilities to survive (cold frames, glasshouses etc.). New classifications and thematic presentations were devised to exhibit them and record keeping be-came more and more organised. As the zoological parks, the botanic gardens became renowned as centres where ele-ments of the world’s biodiversity could be observed and studied. Much later, in the middle of the XXth cen-tury, the first fears about the major degra-dation that biodiversity was going to face if no action was taken were expressed. Since then, the botanic gardens com-munity have realised they were in a key position to engage in the protection our natural environment. It is through Botanic Gardens that the first measures were ta-ken to help preserve biodiversity for future generations. It is now admitted that up to 100.000 of the world’s plant species are considered endangered. Botanic Gardens Conser-vation International recognises that bota-nic gardens hold 33% of all plant species



between 80,000 to 100,000 living plant species. Among these impressive ex situ collections, some plants are rare or en-dangered in their natural habitats and others are extinct in the wild but cultiva-ted in botanic gardens. Conservation is carried out through ex situ conservation programmes using the living collections, through restoration and reintroduction programmes (using plant materials and knowledge) and through in situ conserva-tion. Altogether, the world’s botanic gar-dens receive more than 200 million visitors per year; their education and public awa-reness programmes also play a key role in helping people understand the need to conserve biodiversity.

The International frameworks for plant conservation The International Union for Nature Conser-vation (IUCN) created in 1987 Botanic Gardens Conservation International (BGCI) to link all the botanic gardens around conservation and education programmes. BGCI was the initiator of a major call for plant conservation, the First Gran Canaria Declaration, 1989. In 1992, the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD), set the scope for Botanic Gardens in the world. In 2000, at the first World Bo-tanic Gardens Congress in Asheville, the botanic gardens endorsed the Gran Ca-naria Declaration as a general framework for the development of a Global Plant Conservation Strategy (GSPC). The GSPC recognised by the CBD became an ur-gent international priority for botanic gar-dens. The scope of the Global Strategy for Plant Conservation fits in completely with the activities and missions of modern Botanic gardens : understanding and documenting plant diversity, conserving plant diversity, using plant diversity sustai-nably, promoting education & awareness programmes about plant diversity and fi-nally participating in capacity building for plant diversity. An International Agenda for Botanic Gardens in Conservation was initiated by BGCI to help botanic gardens contribute to plant conservation, environ-mental education and sustainable de-velopment. In 2004, at the Second World

Congress for Botanic Gardens in Barce-lona, the first ever internationally agreed upon targets in biodiversity conservation were planned with the very challenging objective to be achieved by 2010.

On the European level, the Action Plan for European Botanic Gardens (April 2000) with its 35 objectives and the Euro-pean Strategy for plant conservation (3rd Planta Europa Conference, Pruhonice June 2001) with 42 targets provide the fra-meworks and directions for plant conser-vation in Europe.

A National InitiativeIn France in 199�, JBF the French and French speaking countries network of Bo-tanic Gardens elaborated a Charter for Botanic gardens which establishes the tasks for contemporary Botanic Gardens. In France, a number of gardens have de-cided to base their actions on the deon-tology of this charter thus confirming their will to join in the movement of European and international institutions willing to par-ticipate in the conservation of plant bio-diversity. This Charter is organised around different activities : implication in research programmes, in conservation, educa-tion and general public awareness. The access to the charter is given on a vo-luntary basis; the institution seeking to adhere to the agreement subjects itself to a thorough assessment of its activi-ties and facilities. The first prerequisite is that the Botanic Garden participates in providing knowledge and promoting conservation an education of plant biodiversity. The current 22 affiliated bo-tanic gardens have become part of a network of francophone institutions wor-king on the same scientific and techni-cal bases and following rules for the ex-change of plant material respecting the national and international conventions. The charter is based on the more recent definition of a botanic garden : “an insti-tution holding collections of documented living plants for the purposes of scientific research, conservation, display and edu-cation” Peter Wyse Jackson Botanic Gar-dens Conservation International, 1998).

Research activities 6�


The organisation of the world botanic gardensBGCI records more than 2000 botanic gardens in 1�0 countries. This impressive number covers a great variety of institu-tions from large botanic gardens with im-portant historical backgrounds, extensive plant collections as well as research, con-servation and education programmes to smaller institutions with limited but specific and accurate collections well anchored at the regional and local level and play-ing a key role in education and conser-vation. Europe itself accounts for more than 6�0 botanic gardens organised as a network : the European Botanic Gardens Consortium. The Botanic gardens com-munity is still expanding with new botanic gardens being created in many parts of the world : Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, Chiang Mai, Thailand. Europe is active also with 3 new botanic gardens in Spain, the Eden Project in the U.K, Bordeaux

Today, two major associations link the world botanic gardens : the International Association of Botanic Gardens (IABG in 1954 is first world network of Botanic Gar-dens. It funded to promote cooperation between botanic gardens, arboreta and other institutes holding living plant collec-tions of scientific importance, to promote taxonomic studies for the benefit of the international community and horticulture, as an art and as a science. Botanic Gar-dens Conservation International (BGCI) which has presently 500+ members in 118 countries, offers an extensive help to botanic gardens by developing policies, guidelines and tools to support the best practices in plant conservation, environ-mental education and sustainable deve-lopment.

Botanic gardens in EuropeAt a European level, both networks par-ticipated in the creation of the European Botanic Gardens Consortium which was established in 1994 to plan Europe-wide initiatives for botanic gardens and de-velop national action plans to contribute towards implementing the CBD.The European Botanic Gardens Consor-tium has developed the Action Plan for

Botanic Gardens in the EU as well as a model for the exchange of plant mate-rial (IPEN) following the requirements of article 1�th of the CDB. Every three years the European Botanic gardens meet on the occasion of EuroGard to examine the progress in the implementation of the 3� objectives of the action plan. The 2� member countries (Iceland, Norway and Switzerland as observers) are represented by one person elected by the national network of botanic gardens.

A national network, the example of France In France and in French speaking coun-tries, “Jardins Botaniques de France et des pays francophones” (JBF) have brou-ght together, since 1979 over sixty botanic gardens, alpine gardens and arboreta. The aim of JBF is to foster a network of ex-pertise, promote botanic gardens to the local authorities and the general public, participate in the conservation of rare and endangered species and enhance a better understanding of the importance of plants in our lives through educatio-nal activities. The association organises workshops, field trips and offers help to new members and supports actively the training of “Jardinier Botaniste”. For more information look at the Web site http://www.bgci.org.uk/jbf-fr/.The GSPC recognises the importance of genebanks as a contribution to plant conservation. Spain was among the first countries to organise coordinated pro-grammes for the conservation of indige-nous plants (REDBAG - Spanish network of seedbanks of wild plants and BASEMAC (Macaronesian botanic garden gene-banking initiative). Since November 2004, European Seed Conservation Network (ENSCONET) a coordinating action finan-ced under the 6th Framework Programme of the EU links 19 partners Institutions in 12 countries. In France, a recent initiative links five par-tners (ENGREF, ONF, INRA, MNHN, Paris Uni-versity XI) in a network of Public Arboreta to coordinate activities and plant collec-tions. A first collective project appeared soon after the creation of the network to



help gather information for the study of the effects of climate change. The mem-bers with phenological observations on a list of species in defined sites send the data to a common database.

The importance of networking for botanic gardensThe Botanic gardens of the world present a great diversity. Created over a period of 400 years, they vary greatly in their size, plant collections, resources and geo-graphical position. All these institutions worked in isolation until 50 years ago. It is now very encouraging to see that every-where in the world Botanic gardens now participate in networks doing specific

work packages. International strategies, and action plans for plant conservation set the scope for their new missions. To-day, they share common objectives and work together in a spirit of cooperation. Common tools as databases, transfer formats and publications are at their dis-posal to help them work more efficiently. Joint congresses help them to review ac-tions and plan their future tasks.This International Congress on Alpine and Arctic Gardens has been the occasion to get together members working in alpine and arctic Botanic gardens and discuss the opportunity to create a network of al-pine and arctic botanic gardens.



There are various apocalyptic cli-mate change scenarios in the scientific literature : up to 40% of the Cape’s fyn-bos gone in the next 100 years (Malcolm et al., 2002); 60% of Europe’s mountain flora at risk of extinction in the next 75 years (Thuiller et al., 200�), and so on. The encouraging thing, perhaps, is that there are as many different opinions as there are scientists. There is now irrefutable evi-dence that climate change is taking pla-ce, but we don’t know for sure how fast that change will be, or how it will affect our planet. Against this background, botanic gar-dens (BGs) can help us to understand and meet the challenge of climate change in

Climate change : the role of botanic gardens

Paul P. SMITH and Clare TENNER-TRIVEDI Millennium Seed Bank Project, Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, U.K.

three main ways : through measuring the impacts of climate change on plant di-versity; by helping humanity to adapt to climate change by insuring against the loss of plant diversity; and by restoring and creating habitats to ensure they deli-ver ecosystem services to people.

Measuring the effects of climate change on plant diversityPlant assemblages or habitats are often used by ecologists as surrogates for whole ecosystems, because plants are the basis of life, upon which so much else depends. It therefore makes sense to look at plants first if we are to understand the impact of climate change on ecosystem functio-

RésuméLes jardins botaniques ont à jouer un rôle majeur dans la compréhension et dans la gestion du changement climatique. A partir d‘exemples du Millennium Seed Bank Project, nous expliquons comment le Jardin Botanique Royal de Kew travaille avec des institutions partenaires pour mesurer les impacts du changement climatique sur la diversité végétale, pour collecter et stocker des graines comme mesure de prévention et les utiliser pour des mesures de restauration d‘habitats. Ce travail suggère aussi des moyens par lesquels les jardins botaniques peuvent contribuer aux défis posés par le changement climatique.



ning, and biodiversity as a whole. Plants have two main ways of dealing with cli-mate change – they can move or they can adapt.We know that certain types of plant are better at moving long distances than others. For example, plants like dandelions (Taraxacum spp.) that produce light, wind dispersed seeds are able to move further, more rapidly, than plants like poppies (Pa-paver spp.) that just drop their seeds. The problem is that for many plant species, irrespective of their dispersal method, hu-mans have disrupted that movement. For example, Kenilworth racecourse sits in the middle of municipal Capetown, and the 40 hectare field that the horses run round is one of the few remaining fragments of sand fynbos (Fig. 2). These 40 hecta-res contain around 270 plant species, 30 of which are nationally threatened and three of which occur nowhere else but Kenilworth. The three Kenilworth ende-mics are a heather (Erica margaritacea), a reed (Restio micans) and a sedge (Tria-noptiles solitaria). All have relatively short distance dispersal capability, and none of them have anywhere to go. One small advantage that these plants do have, however, is a short generation time. This might enable them to adapt and keep pace with climate change that way. Spe-cies with both long generation times and short distance dispersal capability are probably most vulnerable to accelerated climate change.One of the most important ways in which BGs can help increase our understan-ding of the effects of climate change is by measuring plant adaptation and mo-vement. Menzel at al. (2006) have taken phenological records from �42 plant spe-cies from 21 European countries, and com-pared them with climate data over the past 30 years (1971-2000). These authors conclude that spring has advanced by an average of 2.� days per decade, and this is reflected in the flowering and frui-ting patterns of the species studied. Such phenological studies help to measure plant adaptability, and how different cli-matic conditions effect different species. Some work carried out recently at the

Millennium Seed Bank Project (MSBP) sug-gests that some plants adapt to different climatic conditions by changing their be-haviour (Daws et al., 2004). For example, the horse chestnut, Aesculus hippocasta-num, which was introduced to Britain from the Balkans in the 16th century, produces seeds that are five times larger in Greece than in Scotland. In addition, Greek horse chestnuts show some tolerance to desic-cation, which enables them to survive pe-riods of drought. The same species living in Scotland produces smaller seeds with less drought resistance. Perhaps the most useful way that botanists can assess the impact of climate change on plant diversity is to measure that im-pact in the field. Whenever MSBP seed collectors are in the field they collect infor-mation about the wild plants that are the source of the seed. In this way the MSBP has collected data from around 20,000 wild plant populations, across the globe in the past five years. For each of these populations we now have a baseline, against which future population fluctua-tions and movement can be monitored. In addition, the seed collections themsel-ves represent a genotypic sample frozen in time, against which future genetic or biochemical adaptation can be measu-red. This is the first step towards a global early warning system. If we go back and monitor these populations again in 10 or 20 years time we will be able to measure how climate change is affecting different species.

Human adaptation : insuring against the loss of plant diversityWhen policy makers talk about climate change they use the terms “mitigation“ and “adaptation“. Mitigation includes strategies such as reducing our carbon emissions, but by “adaptation“ they mean human adaptation to climate change. How are we going to cope? One of the most obvious human adaptation strate-gies is seed banking as an insurance poli-cy. Throughout history, people have been putting seeds away for the next season or for a rainy day. This is the mission of the Millennium Seed Bank Project, which aims



to collect and conserve the seeds of 10% of the World’s wild plant species by 2010 (Fig. 1 & 3). About 80% of wild plants pro-duce so called ‘orthodox’ seeds, which can be dried and stored at low tempera-ture without losing their viability for deca-des or even hundreds of years. The MSB currently holds around 1�,000 species of wild plant. By 2010, this will be 30,000.

Human adaptation : restoring and using plant diversityOf course if we persuade people to pay the 70 million euros insurance premium that it costs to collect and bank these 30,000 species, we need to be sure that we can pay out if the worst happens. This means that we have to be certain that we can turn these seeds into the living plant communities that deliver the goods and services that we need. To date, MSBP partner institutions have used around �00 seed collections in restoration and rein-troduction programmes. However, we still have some way to go. The science of res-toration ecology is still in its infancy, and our understanding of complex habitats is incomplete. What we can do routinely is to turn the seeds into plants. Every single collection that comes into the MSB is ger-mination tested. This means that we are carrying out around 10,000 germination tests every year, and most of the species that we test have never been germi-nated by man before. The germination protocols that result from our studies are probably the most valuable scientific out-put of the Project because they are the starting point for restoration. The establis-hment and nurturing that must follow are equally important, and the reconstruction of complex habitats is even further off, but we should be optimistic. We are more adept at constructing and managing complicated plant assemblages than we think. Next time you’re wandering around Kew or Wakehurst Place, or even looking at your own garden, remember that in Bri-tain we cultivate ten times as many plant species as occur here naturally. Man has been managing plant communities for at least 10,000 years, be it a flower garden, a fruit orchard, a woodland or a field of

crops. Provided we have the seeds, any-thing is possible.

ChallengesThere are many challenges ahead not just for botanic gardens, but for conser-vationists in general. A group of represen-tatives from botanic gardens across the world met earlier this year in Gran Cana-ria to discuss some of these challenges, and suggest ways forward. The results of this meeting are captured in the Gran Canaria Declaration II (2006), which ma-kes recommendations for policy makers, researchers and conservation practitio-ners that relate to climate change. This workshop was also an opportunity to start to think about some of the things that BGs can do in the context of climate change. Some of the ideas discussed are presen-ted in Box 1, below.Perhaps the biggest challenge to bota-nic gardens is cultural. The role of bota-nic gardens as visitor attractions and in public education is well understood by everyone. Similarly, the role of BGs in ex situ conservation is well established. The real challenge for botanic gardens and for the broader conservation community is first in accepting that :

“Many plant communities are dynamic and adaptable, but their composition will be irreversibly altered by climate change in the future. As a result, we may need to create and/or manage the ongoing development of novel communities to optimally fulfil the need for ecosystem functions and services.“ (Gran Canaria Declaration II, 2006). Then, second that people who work in botanic gardens as horticulturalists, plant ecologists and taxonomists have a poten-tially significant role to play in the creation and management of these plant commu-nities. Such a shift in thinking may take de-cades to achieve, but the authors of this paper are convinced that the only place where the necessary skills, resources and knowledge exist together is in the world’s botanic gardens. We must all rise to this challenge.



ReferencesDaws et al (2004) New Phytologist 162 : 157-166Gran Canaria Declaration II : on climate change

and plant conservation (2006) Jardin Botanico Canario and Botanic Gardens Conservation International

Malcolm, J.R., Liu, C., Miller, L.B., Allnutt, T. and Hansen, L. (2002) Habitats at risk. Global warming and species loss in globally significant terrestrial ecosystems. WWF, Gland, Switzerland

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1. All botanists (taxonomists, ecologists, horticulturalists etc.) should routinely record precise locality, population size and threats every time they collect botanical specimens.2. Develop and implement standard methodologies for monitoring the impact of climate change on plants.3. Opportunistically carry out field-based research on natural populations of wild plants.4. Develop a coordinated monitoring programme on impact of climate change on plants and their adaptability both in managed environments and in the wild, based on observations, research, herbarium information etc. 5. Establish and maintain seed collections as an insurance policy for the future.6. BG horticulture represents an untapped database of knowledge relating to how plants react when translocated to new regions. For 100’s of years BGs have been experimenting in moving plant species out of their natural “bioclimatic envelope” and therefore BG records represent the best database of knowledge on the tolerances and adaptability of plant species. Keep good records!7. Carry out testing for adaptation – based on a prioritised list of species.8. The accumulated knowledge of horticulturists on the propagation and management of living plants have direct relevance to adaptive human responses to climate change, such as species translocation and habitat restoration. Again good records need to be kept.9. Prioritise ex situ conservation activities based on species most at risk from climate change10. Provide plant material for city greening schemes, afforestation, community planting etc to mitigate against climate change and to raise public awareness.11. Provide horticultural skills and expertise to a wider range of stakeholders in a changing environment.12. Develop guidelines on carbon auditing for botanic gardens and take actions to reduce their emissions. 13. Adapt the International Agenda for Botanic Gardens in Conservation to take into account climate change.14. Develop clear and validated information and messages for education purposes – focus on linking climate change and extinction, with an aim to ensure a basic awareness of the issues and potential consequences.

Box 1. Roles and actions for botanic gardens (BGs) in relation to the study of, adaptation to, and mitigation of climate change.

Menzel & al. (2006) European phenological response to climate change matches the warming pattern. Global Change Biology 12, 1-8

Thuiller W, Lavorel S, Araujo MB, Sykes MT, Prentice C (2005) Climate change threats to plant diversity in Europe. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 102 (23), pp.8245-8250

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Fig. 1. The Millennium Seed Bank Project, Kew Royal Botanic Garden.

Fig. 2. Kenilworth racecourse in South Africa, a 40ha area with 22 threatened species. Photo P. Smith.

Fig. 3. Mandena nursery in Madagascar, a partner of the MSB. Photo P. Smith.

Education and presentation72


Along with the Le Montet Bota-nical Garden in Nancy, the Haut Chitelet Alpine Garden forms an institution known as the Nancy Conservatory and Botani-cal Gardens, which has inherited a past of nearly 250 years, as the first Botanical Garden in Nancy were founded in 1758. The Nancy Conservatory and Botanical

The educational role of the Haut Chitelet Alpine Garden

Romaric PIERRELConservatoire et Jardins Botaniques de Nancy, France

Gardens is the largest botanical structure in Eastern France and plays a key role wi-thin the national network.

A brief history of the Vosges garden The first alpine garden in the Vosges Moun-tains was founded in 1903 on the initiative of a professor from Nancy, Camille BRU-

RésuméAvec le Jardin d’Altitude du Haut Chitelet, les Conservatoire et Jardins Botaniques de Nancy disposent (en plus du Jardin Botanique du Montet) d’un jardin totalement dédié à la culture et à la conservation des plantes alpines. Situé au cœur du Massif vosgien et en bordure de sa plus importante route touristique, ce site constitue un lieu idéal pour sensibiliser le public à la flore alpine et pour communiquer sur la richesse, mais aussi la fragilité des écosystèmes montagnards. C’est pourquoi, tout en augmentant l’attractivité de ce site par son caractère exotique (présentation de plantes originaires des principales régions montagneuses du monde), il fut décidé de donner une place privilégiée à la flore vosgienne. Les différentes présentations thématiques (plantes médicinales, fougères, arbustes, flore des sous-bois et des prairies d’altitude, plantes de tourbières, etc.) occupent une place centrale dans le jardin, disposent d’un étiquetage spécifique et sont largement valorisées par les paysages naturels (prairies, tourbières, hêtraie d’altitude) qui entourent le jardin. Les différentes actions à caractère pédagogique mises en œuvre, tant auprès du grand public que des scolaires, sont réalisées en concertation avec différents partenaires qui partagent l’objectif d’une meilleure connaissance et d’une plus grande protection du patrimoine naturel du Massif vosgien.

Education and presentation 73


NOTTE, at “Le Monthabey”. The aim was to experiment with the acclimatisation of exotic fodder crops to improve the alpine pastures in the High Vosges, which were deemed to provide poor nourishment for livestock. In 10 years, over 200 species were planted, a little chalet was built and the garden opened for its first visitors.But war destroyed all hope of expansion and the garden was occupied by French troops during the First World War. By the end of the war in 1918, the experimen-tal crops had disappeared, the garden was surrounded by trenches, the stream (which provided water for the peat-bog) had been diverted and the chalet had been partially destroyed. Despite a num-ber of reconstruction projects, the Mon-thabey alpine garden was never rebuilt.

Description of the Haut Chitelet Alpine GardenThe Haut Chitelet Alpine Garden is on the north-west slopes of the Hohneck massif at the heart of the High Vosges, at a hei-ght of between 1 210 and 1 228 m.At this height, the climate is harsh, combi-ning mountain and Atlantic influences, as shown by the following annual weather averages : 200 days of rain; 16� days of snow cover; 2 000 to 2 400 mm of water; average temperature 3.� °C.The Garden was founded between 1966 and 1969, when a series of camps were organised for young French and German horticulturalists who spent several weeks in summer, gradually constructing the ini-tial layout. The development work conti-nued year after year, new rockeries were built, the little chalet was replaced by two new buildings, one of which was set aside to welcoming the public. 12 000 to 15 000 visitors are welcome annually during the 4 months in which the garden is open to the public (1st June - 30 September).Today, the garden section covers a sur-face area of one and a half hectares, to which are added the peat-bog (3 hecta-res) and the alpine beech wood, making a total surface area of 11 hectares for the Haut Chitelet Alpine Garden, which is in the commune of Xonrupt-Longemer.Nearly 2.800 different grown species give

a good overview of the plant life in the main mountain regions of the world. With over 500 wild species, the centre of the garden is given over to collections reser-ved for the plant life of the Vosges Moun-tains.

The Garden’s educational functionEducation is a priority at the Haut Chitelet Alpine Garden which has a wide poten-tial for providing the public with informa-tion about vegetation, landscape, flora, mountain climate, etc., in the Vosges Mountains and, more generally, about the special features of mountain environ-ments. In particular, the presence of a peat-bog and a vast area occupied by the alpine beech wood provide an out-standing opportunity for informing the public about the special nature of these two natural environments that (along with the nearby stubble fields) characterise certain landscapes in the Vosges Moun-tains.Apart from the collections reserved for exogenous flora (North America, the Caucasus, the Carpathians, the Hima-layas, Japan, etc.), a special place has been set aside for local flora. Nearly 500 species have been grouped in the centre of the garden and laid out in a number of theme-based collections : peat-bog plants, stubble field plants, forest plants, ferns, château plants (which are to be found around châteaux, of which there are many on the Alsace side of the Vos-ges), medicinal plants of the Vosges, etc.

The approach usedTwo partners, Ballons des Vosges Regional Park and Education Ministry, are associa-ted to the folowing projects :

The origin of landscapes : presentation of the great geological phenomena and the role played by man.

The diversity of natural habitats : tac-kling notions of ecology to help present and describe the main natural environ-ments.

The wealth and diversity of plant life : presenting a few of the symbolic species on the massif.

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Fragility and threats : giving informa-tion on the fragility of alpine flora and the various threats to their survival.

Preservation and conservationTo meet the site’s educational objectives, two approaches have been introduced, one in favour of schools, the other in fa-vour of the general public.

A response adapted to the school yearThe following actions were decided in order to overcome the discrepancy between school term times and the po-tential for gaining educational value from the garden.

Optimise the hosting of groups in line with the school year, also considering the “4-day week” with classes starting at the end of August.

Prepare the visits to optimise the two or three weeks available in June.

Consider the idea of “back-to-school outings”, where school groups could visit in late August or early September.

Integrate an inter-disciplinary ap-proach. “Artistic and Cultural Project” classes could be an example to show that the alpine garden can be an outstanding resource for combining Art with Nature.

Design educational resources to ex-ploit the garden to the maximum, in class or on the spot.

In late June 2004, nearly 100 teachers from the Gérardmer District were invited to discover the Haut Chitelet. Since then, more school groups visit us.

Attracting the general publicWith over 1,� million visitors a year, the Vosges Mountains is under considerable pressure from tourism. For this reason, more than ever, the public must be informed of the variety and fragility of the mountain environment and its plant life. The Haut Chitelet Alpine Garden is thus the ideal place to visit to discover, learn about and learn to care for the local botanical heritage. In this regard three complementary initiatives have been taken

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highlighting living collections All the collections reserved for the plant life of the Vosges are specially labelled (green signs including local names).

highlighting the natural environmentsThe peat-bog can be visited using a pon-toon and an explanatory table provides information on its origin and functions.Similarly, a discovery footpath takes visi-tors through the alpine beech wood for-est.

A visitors’ bookletA booklet on the plant life in the Vosges Mountains is under preparation.Other actions include : presenting small-scale exhibitions in the visitor chalet, par-ticipating in activities in the garden and surrounding natural areas (La Chaume Charlemagne Biological Reserve, Fran-kenthal Nature Reserve, etc.), integrat-ing the garden into discovery circuits and event schedules.

ConclusionThe Haut Chitelet Alpine Garden is part of a network involved in public educa-tion. However, in the absence of specia-list staff, the initiatives it can offer remain modest and we hope that, in the future, we will be able to offer a permanent set of activities during the two busiest months (July and August). We also wish to impro-ve the presentation of the activities made to help protect and multiply the rare and threatened species in the Vosges Moun-tains : tour of the alpine nursery, presenta-tion of multiplication trials, production of a special collection, etc.).

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Illustrations1. Location of the Haut chitelet Alpine Garden in the Vosges mountains2. A view on the garden3 & 4. Natural environments in the surroundings of the garden : pontoons in the peat-bog and footpath in the beech forest�. Activities for schools6. Special labels for the local flora7. The shop of the garden, on April 22th 2006

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Teaching across the borders : a collaborative project on education for alpine botanic gardens and primary

schools in 4 European countries

Costantino BONOMI1, Sara CAMPEGIANI1, Suzanne KAPELARI2, Christian BERTSCH2, Gail BROMLEY3, Catherine WELSBY3, Sue JOHNSON4, Gwen MARSH4, Krassimir KOSSEV� and Vera GRANCHAROVA�

1Museo Tridentino di Scienze Naturali, Trento, Italy; 2University of Inns-bruck, Austria, 3Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, UK, 4University of London, UK, �Academy of Sciences, Sofia, Bulgaria

RésuméDepuis 1998, le Jardin Botanique Alpin de Viotte (Trente, Italie) avait en projet des activités éducatives visant à développer la conscience de la conservation des plantes. Ces actions sont basées sur des jeux populaires, déclinés sur une base botanique (chasse aux trésors, dominos, etc.), nécessitant une interaction directe entre les visiteurs et les plantes. En octobre 2005, l’Union Européenne a financé un projet impliquant trois autres jardins botaniques (Innsbruck, Sofia, Kew) et l’Institute of Education à Londres pour améliorer l’enseignement de la biologie végétale dans les écoles primaires. Après analyse de l’état des lieux, le projet développe des ressources pour les enseignants sur les thèmes suivants : les plantes et la nourriture, les plantes et l’art, l’écologie, la conservation des plantes.

Education is a key element of the mission of a botanic garden as stated in BGCI definition of botanic gardens, i.e. “institutions holding documented collections of living plants for the purposes of scientific research, conservation, display and education” (Cheney et al., 2000). Viotte Alpine Botanic Garden, based in north east Italy, has been planning and designing education activities since 1998. (Marchesoni, 19�7, Pedrotti, 1992, Tisi, 1993, Tisi, 1999; Bonomi & Tisi, 2000). This paper will briefly account for these past activities and then focus on a EU project developed in partnership with other 3

other European Botanic Gardens.

Educational Games at Viotte Alpine Botanic GardenEducation at Viotte Alpine Botanic Gar-den aimed at raising awareness of the importance of plants for our life, of the various threats that endanger them in the wild and of what ordinary people can do to help and save them. As a general rule these activities tried to engage the visitors making use of popular games and quests re-designed and re-formatted with a bo-tanic content always with hands on expe-riences with plants or plant derived pro-



ducts with a creative side. The event was eventually concluded with a message on sustainability. Two case studies are here presented.

“Botanical Treasures“ HuntThis is basically a non-competitive game as each team follows parallel routes and eventually ends up with a treasure (Fig.1). Different maps will lead each team to find a treasure in different locations. Each team is requested to pass a certain num-ber of tests (usually � or 6) to get all the pieces of the treasure map. These tests include different botanical questions or demonstrations that can be varied ac-cording to season and garden specificity. General tests often employed include painting a plant drawing, matching the seed with the right cone, matching the plant with the product derived from it, re-cognising blindfolded the bark of a tree or the smell or the taste of a plant, preparing perfumes, oils and creams in a dedica-ted session, learn to distinguish poisonous and edible plants such as the medicinal yellow gentian (Gentiana lutea) from the poisonous false hellebore (Veratrum al-bum), etc. When all these requirements are fulfilled, all the pieces of the map can be pieced together and each team can go and look for the treasures that are ac-tually in the garden. Each team member will find a different packet of seed with all the information on the current global extinction crisis and on the species of plant contained in the packet (Fig. 2). Along the years the format of the treasure hunt has been maintained but has been differently characterized : in 1998 and 1999 two topics were proposed : edible plants and curative plants. Summer 2000 was dedicated to honeybees, honey and wax with a final session introducing visitors to the art of candle making with natural bee wax. From 2001 onwards the range of subjects was expanded intro-ducing new sessions dedicated to hands on activities such as preparing scented pouches with plant material, producing models of flowers with paper or cotton fabric, creating decorations for windows with a botanical theme, decorating cot-ton shopping bags, cotton shoes cases

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and ceramic pots (Fig. 3). All these ob-jects are in some way linked with or de-rived from plants growing in the Garden.

“Playing to play“This particular game was added in 2004. Essentially different teams play sequential-ly in couples 3 different games (a memory using especially prepared tree cards, a botanical crosswords and a plant based mastermind) in order to get the necessary materials to design and prepare a further additional game (a plant based domino) that they can bring back home to play at their own ease. The stress is on having fun and being relaxed, but all 4 of these pro-posed games were re-designed and re-formatted in other to include plants and plant related issues in the game cards and in the tasks, activities and question that participants are required to carry out as part of the game. Essentially in games that require matching symbols or num-bers these are replaced by plants; in ga-mes that ask questions or riddles the topic is changed from its original, whatever this is, into plants, their uses and the importan-ce of their conservation. Where possible participants are stimulated to find out for themselves answers and solution on the basis of the material provided with the game rather than recall things they have been told or they should already know.

A collaborative European project on education : Plant Science GardensPlascigardens (Plant Science Education for Primary Schools in European Botanic Gardens) is an EU project funded under FP6 in Science-and-Society as a specific support action and will run from October 200� to October 2007. It involves three other botanic gardens (Innsbruck, Austria; Sofia, Bulgaria; Kew, UK) along with the Institute of Education, London (Fig. 4). The final objective is to develop a number of resources to deliver better plant science at the primary level, promoting young people’s interest in Plant Science, Scien-ce, Science Education & Scientific Ca-reers; establishing a partnerships between primary schools and their local botanic garden. The expected outputs are an en-quiry centred, multilingual, multicultural

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plant science education tool focusing on plant diversity, that will include 4 parts : a teachers’ pack, teachers resources, bota-nic garden activities and teacher training seminars. Parts of the programme will be conducted in class and parts in the bota-nic garden. The target age group is 8-10.The first phase of the project analysed current plant science educational deli-very at primary level within both schools education and botanic garden educa-tion programmes. 112 teachers in 60 dif-ferent primary schools across 4 European countries were contacted. This analysis highlighted the following difficulties as far as teaching botany is concerned : lack of time, lack of expertise, uneasiness about teaching botany because specific trai-ning on these topics is rarely provided. Harlen (1999) identified a series of strate-gies that teachers used to cope with low confidence in their ability to teach sci-ence, including keeping to topics where their confidence is greater, avoiding all but the simplest practical work and any equipment that could go wrong. To meet this needs botanic gardens can provide expert knowledge, first hand experience and education facilities including equip-ment for conducting experiments. How-ever at present botanic garden educa-tors rarely know what children already know. Usually they do not have contact with teachers and pupils before their visit to the garden. They merely end up work-ing with children who anticipate a joyful trip more than an active learning process. Studies have shown that in order to obtain the best learning results in informal set-tings pre- and post-processing in school is needed (Cox-Petersen et al., 2003)A possible solution lies in strengthening the links between botanic gardens and primary schools. Plascigarden will draw attention to the convenience of partner-ships between primary schools, botanic gardens and national education authori-ties. The second stage of the project will develop the resources for teachers and botanic garden educators, including ma-terials on 4 themes : food, plants in art, ecology and conservation. In doing this a bottom up approach has been followed,

establishing national working groups in all four countries. They work as a consultation group and are made up by primary school teachers, representatives of the national school board, botanic garden educators and teacher trainers. An essential feature of this process will be a pre-processing the activities in school, working with concept cartoons (Fig. �), that address a question (E.g. will a carrot grow without leaves?) and suggest possible different explana-tions. Children will then have to choose one explanation and to justify their choi-ce. This method can be applied to a wide variety of topics and situation and might also be used to discuss historic experi-ments such as Priestley experiment with used air (1772). Simple experiments could then be set up to further investigate the question (E.g. question : is the air we exha-le the same as the one around us? Try and breath into water containing KOH and a colour indicator. See that Elodea does not produce oxygen in distilled water, but works properly in water with carbon dioxide. The activities carried out in the botanic garden will include experiments and activities that can hardly be conduc-ted in primary schools due to lack of plant material, equipment and expertise (e.g. experiments to demonstrate starch pro-duction; observation of stomata, leaf sec-tions and starch bodies; chromatography of chlorophyll-solution; observation of pa-rasitic plants without chlorophyll, sun and shade plants etc). The activities will then be post-processed and assessed in school (e.g. pupils will get pieces of a puzzle and will have to arrange them into a sensible order). The final 2 phases of the project will incorporate trialling the materials over an 8 month period with selected schools; analysis of evaluation from both teachers and children; final production and dis-semination of resources; development of training materials for teachers and bota-nic garden educators.

ConclusionsIt is hoped that these activities will contri-bute make new generations aware of the importance of plant conservation for the sustainable development of our society



and plant in them a sense of stewardships and care for our natural resources and plants in particular.

ReferencesBonomi C, Tisi F (2000) Giochi estivi con le piante

negli Orti Botanici del Trentino, Inform. Bot. Ital. 32 (1-3) : 109-111

Cheney J, Navarrete Navarro J, Wyse Jackson PS (2000) Action Plan for Botanic Gardens in the European Union. Scripta Botanica Belgica 19, National Botanic Garden of Belgium, Meise

Cox-Petersen A, Marsh DD, Kisiel J, Melber LM (2003) An investigation of guided school tours, student learning, and science reform : Recommendations at a museum of natural history Journal of Research in

Science Teaching, 40, 200–218Harlen W (1999) Effective Teaching of Science.

The Scottish Council for Research in Education, Edinburgh

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Marchesoni V (1957) Il Giardino Alpino alle Viotte sul Monte Bondone. Finalità e confronti con altri giardini alpini. Natura Alpina, 8(3) : 69-75

Pedrotti F (1992) Il Giardino botanico alpino alle Viotte del Monte Bondone (Trento), in : Raimondo F.M. (ed.), Orti botanici, Giardini alpini, Arboreti italiani : 417-422, Grifo, Palermo

Tisi F (1993) Allestimento del Centro Informativo sulle piante alpine presso il Giardino Botanico Alpino delle Viotte di Monte Bondone, Museol. sci. IX :423-429

Tisi F (1999) Giardino Botanico Alpino delle Viotte di monte Bondone : attività recenti. Natura Alpina, 50(1) : 43-50

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Fig. 1. The non-competitive botanical treasure hunt. Left : each team follows parallel routes and eventually ends up with a treasure; different maps will lead to different locations. Right : the final prize of the botanical treasure hunt, a packet of seeds with all the information on the current global extinction crisis and on the species of plant contained in the packet.

Fig. 2. Two tests that each team is requested to pass in order to get the pieces of the treasure map : recognising blindfolded the smell of a plant (left), matching the seeds with the right cone (right).



Fig. 5. A concept cartoon : a useful prompt for discussion, it address a question and suggest possible different explanations. Children will have to choose one explanation and to justify their choice.

Fig. 4. Plascigarden project. Left : the team (from left to right at the back : Vera Grancharova, Costantino Bonomi, Sue Johnson, Suzanne Kapelari, Haral Geir, Sabine; at the front : Krassimir Kossev, Gail Bromley, Georg Gärtner). Right : education activities in Innsbruck botanic garden.

Fig. 3. Creative hands on activities held during botanic garden education such producing models of flowers with seeds (left), decorating ceramic pots (right).



This year, 80 years have passed since the founding of Juliana, the first and oldest Alpine botanical garden in a na-tural environment in the territory of Slove-nia.

The Southeastern Limestone Alps are home to very diverse Alpine, Central Eu-ropean, Illyrian and sub-Mediterranean floristic elements. And all this floristic diver-sity is splendidly reflected in our botanical garden.

Juliana was founded in 1926 by Albert Bois de Chesne, born in 1871 in Trieste. He gra-duated from the city’s grammar school, then continued his studies at the Faculty of Forestry in Zürich. As his father was a wood merchant, Albert was unable to dedicate himself to his favourite subject – botany, but was forced to succeed to his father’s trade. In Slavonia, he bought several extensive forests, then sold them in 1925 and returned to Trieste. Now he was finally able to satisfy his old, hidden desire. He already had the right of hun-ting in Trenta, and now he purchased a

Juliana Alpine Botanical Garden in the Trenta valley (Slovenia)

plot of land for gardening purposes in the valley. Although it was not far from Trieste, he did not wish to have the garden situa-ted higher up, as this would render the access to and its maintenance quite diffi-cult. After the capitulation of Italy in 1943, the garden was longer accessible to him. Albert Bois de Chesne died in 19�3 in his native Trieste.

The garden, which covers 2,572 m2, is si-tuated some �0 metres above the Church of St. Mary, on the slope of Kukla at an alti-tude of 800 metres. Only 30 metres below the garden flows the lively emerald Soca river. Owing to the moisture, light and sha-de pervading in this sheltered and varied terrain, strewn with rocks of all sizes, he considered it most suitable for his plans. The preliminary works were completed in the autumn of 1926, and in the spring of next year he began to collect plants in the mountains. He brought them to the garden and planted them there, wishing to create at least similar living conditions for these plants as enjoyed by them in na-ture. As he did not know much about how

Nada PRAPROTNIKSlovene Museum of Natural History, Ljubljana, Slovenia



the garden should be arranged, as he was always ready to admit, he often as-ked for advice from the greatest specia-lists in this field. Thus he was greatly aided by Henri Correvon and Lino Vaccari, the well known experts of upland flora, who were also the key men in the founding of the first Alpine botanical gardens in Swit-zerland at the end of the 19th century. His good friend Julius Kugy, on the other hand, told him about several localities of the rarest plants in the Julian Alps.

The garden gave much pleasure to Bois de Chesne, as well as disillusion. He had particular trouble with the plants thriving on acid ground and those inhabiting si-tes immediately below the highest peaks, where they were used to heavy storms and short summers. His great wish was that a walk through the garden would be a kind of botanical journey from the val-ley to a Julian peak. The vegetation belts were supposed to follow each other the same as in nature.

Most of the plants were brought to the garden from the Eastern and Western Ju-lian Alps, Friuli Mountains, Karst hay mea-dows and pre-Alpine country, some even from the Karavanke mountain chain and the Kamnisko-Savinjske Alps. To the left of the garden entrance, some foreign plants, obtained mainly from the Wes-tern Alps, Pyrenees, Apennines, Atlas and Caucasus, were planted.

During the war and a couple of years af-ter it, the garden was more or less deser-ted. The maelstrom of war did not spare it at all. Just before the Primorska region was annexed to the new Yugoslavia at the beginning of 1947, the new autho-rities ordered the garden to be at least temporarily protected. The Slovene bota-nists soon took part in its renovation, and in 1949 its maintenance was temporarily entrusted to the Slovene Museum of Na-tural History in Ljubljana. Its director, the well-known botanist Dr Angela Piskernik (1886-1967), did everything in the post-war period to have Juliana renewed, ta-ken care of and protected. And in 19�1, Juliana was indeed officially protected as

a horticultural monument (or the so-called monument of shaped nature). After 19�3, it was looked after by the Bovec Council and Gorica Tourist Union, but still had no expert management.

In 19�9, the garden began to be rearran-ged once more. In January 1962, Juliana was finally taken over by the Slovenian Museum of Natural History in Ljubljana. In 1981, when the Law on the protection of Triglav National Park was passed, the garden as a monument of shaped natu-re was also included in our only national park.

Owing to the low altitude and the great impact of the Mediterranean climate, to which the area is subjected through the Soca Valley, many upland plants do not do well in Juliana, which is home to some 600 different plants, including endemics.

Zois’ Bellflower (Campanula zoysii), which is one of the oldest endemits and a kind of representative of the Slovenian sunny side of the Alps, has been chosen as the sym-bol of the garden. Although thriving on the rocks along the Soca river below the Mlinarica gorge, it more or less struggles in the garden, the same as Zois’ Violet (Viola zoysii).

Juliana is most closely associated with the prominent Scabiosa trenta, Scabious of Trenta, which became the symbol of quests by Dr Julius Kugy. This mysterious plant was discovered in the second half of the 18th century by Balthasar Hacquet on the slopes of Mt Triglav and in the Trenta Valley. Then it mysteriously disap-peared and was searched for in vain by many botanists. It was in fact this very plant that brought the young Julius Kugy to Trenta and the Julian Alps. Later on it was discovered that the Scabious of Trenta was simply an ordinary Pin-cushion Flower (Cephalaria leucantha), known from Karst commons and sunward rocks in the sub-Mediterranean belt. In the gar-den it blossoms lavishly in late August and early September.

The pale flowers of the Triglav Flower (Po-tentilla nitida) are merely a faint reflection



of the silvery-bright pink cushions imme-diately under the Trenta peaks.

The Blagay Daphne (Daphne blagayana) does not feel particularly well on the plot where planted already by Albert Bois de Chesne, whereas somewhat higher up it thrives in a carpet, so to speak. Extremely lavishly, however, Physoplexis comosa be-gins to blossom in June.

Juliana is also home to some species in-cluded in the Natura 2000 network. In August, the Ladybells (Adenophora lilii-folia) start blossoming. As the Columbine (Aquilegia bertolonii) was brought to Ju-liana only a few years ago, it still cannot be assessed whether it will survive here or not. Zois’ Bellflower has already been mentioned. The Lady’s Slipper Orchid (Cypripedium calceolus) was brought from the Karavanke Mts and has been blossoming copiously for almost three de-cades each year at the end of May. The Alpine Eryngo (Eryngium alpinum) is the species that wishes to be seen by most of the people, considering that in July it is one of the most prominent plants in the garden. The Primorska Whin or Entire-pe-talled Gorse (Genista holopetala) more or less struggles here. More attractive than it is the Marsh Gladiolus (Gladiolus palus-tris). The Hladnikia (Hladnikia pastinacifo-lia) has spread from its plot to along the paths in the entire garden. The Carniolan Primrose (Primula carniolica) indeed thri-ves here, but is outnumbered by the so-called Idrija Primula (Primula x venusta), a hybrid between the Carniolan Primrose and Alpine Auricula (Primula auricula). In May, the Yellow Azalea (Rhododendron luteum) bush starts to blossom as well.

Owing to the garden’s low altitude, many upland plants do not thrive in Juliana or even die after few years. Some of the species also change morphologically due to the changed ecological conditions (changed colour of the flowers, the in-tensity of flowering, the size of flowers and the plants themselves …). The position of the garden therefore has its advantages as well as disadvantages. For the majority of the plants that thrive in the sub-Alpine

and Alpine belts, the position is unfavou-rable, which means that they have to be brought from nature several times. The stated altitude, on the other hand, that is further subjected to the influence of the sea that reaches the area through the Soca Valley, enables lush growth to the numerous plants of the Karst and the pre-Alpine world.

The garden is a nonresidential unit of the Slovenie Museum of Natural History, some 120 km away from Ljubljana. It employs two people : an expert associate and a gardener. The expert head of Juliana is the Museum’s botany custodian, who works in Ljubljana and looks mainly after the precious old herbarium collections and has neither enough time nor financial means to work in Juliana.

Due to the lack of personnel, wild seeds are not gathered in nature but only in the garden. The annuals’ and biannuals’ seeds are planted in the so-called “kin-dergarten“ and later on transplanted into the garden itself. From seeds, even some perennials are brought up. The majority of seeds, however, are each year sent to the Botanical Garden in Ljubljana, which publishes the Index seminum, in which the Juliana seeds are included as well.

In Juliana, no scientific-research work is possible due to the already mentioned lack of personnel, and neither are guided tours of the garden, except on very spe-cial occasions as per preliminary agree-ment.

Juliana has an extremely important role in the education of its visitors. In this sense, we present the plants in their natural ha-bitats, call attention to their threat status, and to the conservation of natural heri-tage.

Particularly well developed are our publi-city activities. In the last decade we have thus published guides and brochures in Slovenian, English, Italian, German and French languages, as well as a series of 15 postcards with various plant motifs. Julia-na has its own website (http://www2.pms-lj.si/juliana/juliana.html) and is also pre-



sented on various local and tourist sites. In this jubilee year, we further produced films in five languages and in two different lengths (3 and 20 minutes).

Juliana is open from May 1 to September 30, each day from 8.30 to 18.30 hrs. The entrance fee is about 2.5 €. The garden is yearly visited by 6,000 to 7,000 people. Many of them are foreigners, mostly Aus-trians and Germans.

Our Juliana differs from other Alpine bota-nical gardens in Europe especially in the diverse mixture of its Alpine, Karst and en-demic plants. As the oldest alpinum in the territory of Slovenia it also has a very high cultural and historical value.

ReferencePraprotnik N (2000) The Juliana Alpine Botanical

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Illustrations1. A scene from the garden2. A cottage in the garden3. Albert Bois de Chesne4. Albert Bois de Chesne and Dr Julius Kugy at the belvedere in the garden in 1939�. Campanula zoysii6. Potentilla nitida7. Primula carniolica 8. Hladnikia pastinacifolia9. Physoplexis comosa 10. Daphne blagayana11. Eryngium alpinum12. Viola zoysii 13. Cephalaria leucantha, Kugy’s Scabiosa trentaFigures 1, 2, �-13 : photos by Ciril Mlinar

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The Reykjavik Botanic Garden is a municipal garden located in Laugarda-lur, a valley in the eastern part of the city. The garden was founded on the 175th an-niversary of Reykjavik City in 1961. Reykjavik is coordinated at 64o08’N and 21o�0´W. The mean temperature in Reykja-vik is 4,4oC, the warmest month is July with 10,7oC and the coldest month is January with the mean temperature -0,4oC. The mean precipitation is 810 mm. The aver-age number of days with frost in Reykjavik is 123 days but only 60 with snow cover.The Botanic Garden covers 4,6 ha. The working area and nursery cover 1,2 ha and with the collection area currently covering 2,4 ha, it will be possible to en-large it to 3,4 ha in the near future. The garden contains some 3.800 species, subspecies and varieties. There are nine collections in the garden : the Icelandic Flora, perennial plants in systematic order, roses, rhododendrons, woodland garden, arboretum, rock garden and vegetable & herb garden.The arctic and alpine plant species are

Mountain plants in the Reykjavik Botanic Gardenin Iceland

mainly grown in the Icelandic Flora sec-tion and in the rock garden. The Icelandic flora is the oldest collection in the Garden. The current number of native plants gown there is 320 taxa or 67% of the native flora which comprises 480 taxa of flowering plants. Approximately 40 species are in the nursery such as Campanula uniflora, Cerastium arcticum, Diapensia lapponica and Poa flexuosa. Among the plants in the Icelandic Flora collection are some true mountain spe-cies such as Saxifraga hirculus, Ranun-culus pygmaeus, Carex glacialis and Carex rupestris. The apomict species Al-chemilla faeroensis is an endemic plant for E-Iceland and the Faroe Islands. Ar-meria maritime is very common through-out the country not least in the highlands. Ophioglossum azoricum has been grow-ing in the garden for some years. It is re-stricted to thermal soil or along springs. It is native to islands in the northern Atlantic Ocean and adjacent westernmost Eu-rope. Rhodiola rosea is rather common in Iceland especially where land has been

Eva THORVALDSDOTTIR and Dora JAKOBSDOTTIR Reykjavik Botanic Garden, Iceland



protected from grazing, or has had mod-erate grazing for several decades. It is found in fertile heathland and slopes in Es-jufjöll Mountains wich are surrounded by the glacier Vatnajökull. In the Icelandic Flora collection there are 6 of 7 American species growing in Iceland; Carex krausei, Carex lyngbyei, Epilobium latifolium, Pla-tanthera hyperborean, Salix artica and Trisetum spicatum.Foreign alpine plants are grown in the rock garden, which was constructed in 1997. The rock garden is arranged in several separate units with plants in geographi-cal order, mainly from the Himalayas (34), China (13), mountains of Middle Asia (37), Japan (11), Europe (172), and North- (76) and South-America (10). The numbers in parenthesis is the number of taxa grown in each unit; the total number 3�3. About 50 species are now being raised in cold frames, and most of them will be planted in the rock garden next spring.Among the most conspicuous plants in the rock garden are : Arnebia pulchra from N-Iran and Caucasus, Aquilegia scopulo-

rum and Douglasia laevigata from north-western N-America, Gentiana sino-ornata and Geranium farreri from China, Andro-sace sempervivoides and Gypsophila cerastoides from the Himalayas, Oxalis adenophylla and O. enneaphylla from Patagonia and Tierra del Fuego, S-Amer-ica. Noteworthy plants in the European section are e.g. : Allium insubricum and A. narcissiflorum, Leontopodium alpinum, Paederota bonarota and P. lutea, and many spring-flowering Primula species.

Illustrations1. Paederota lutea2. Oxalis enneaphylla3. Rhodiola rosea (male flowers)4. Douglasia laevigata

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The Andes have a rich and co-lourful flora which is very different from the northern hemisphere flora (Hoffmann & al. 1997, Correa 1998). However, the absen-ce of botanical garden at high altitude in South America limits the possibilities for exchanges and culture of theses plants in Europe. In this context the number of An-dean species presented in alpine botani-cal gardens is very limited. At the Jardin Botanique Alpin du Lautaret (2100 masl) the number of Andean species in 2002 was less than 10. In order to significantly increase our collection, we develop va-rious actions.

Towards a collection of plants from South America

Rolland DOUZET, Richard HURSTEL and Serge AUBERTStation Alpine Joseph Fourier, Université de Grenoble/CNRS, France

Organisation of botanical expeditionsThree expeditions have already been or-ganised and subsidised by the Jardin Bo-tanique Alpin du Lautaret.

In Chile in January 2003. Various moun-tains were visited in the region IV (“Co-quimbo”) to the region VIII (“Arauca-nia”);

In Patagonia and Tierra del Fuego in January 200� and November 2006 (Chile, region XII; Argentina, Santa Cruz & Tierra del Fuego).In all cases, seeds and cuttings from around 50 non-protected species were collected and further cultivated near

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RésuméLes Andes présentent une flore particulièrement riche, colorée et différente de la flore des montagnes de l’hémisphère nord. Néanmoins, l’absence de jardin botanique d’altitude en Amérique du sud limite les possibilités d’échanges de graines et les collections de plantes andines présentées dans les jardins européens sont très limitées. Ceci nous a conduits à organiser des expéditions botaniques (Andes chiliennes, Patagonie et Terre de Feu) pour collecter des graines de plantes non protégées et à collaborer avec des Universités au Chili et en Argentine. Une nouvelle rocaille « Andes et Patagonie » a été créée au Jardin Botanique Alpin du Lautaret, avec déjà plus de 50 espèces présentées.



Grenoble (St-Marcellin, Isère, 380 masl) prior to installation at the Lautaret. These expeditions also permitted to visualize the habitats and ecology of the plants. This has permitted to adjust the conditions of germination and growth of the plants and to design a rockery aesthetically and ecologically as close as possible to the reality (see below).These expeditions also resulted in (1) the creation of a database of pictures used for the organisation of conferences and exhibitions, (2) the addition of around �0 species in our index seminum, and (3) in the creation of a website dedicated to the Andean flora of Chile and South Ar-gentina (www.ujf-grenoble.fr/JAL/chili). This website (in French, Spanish and En-glish) shows more than 700 species ac-cording to their location (region and alti-tude) and it has become a reference due to the absence of more exhaustive site.

Development of scientific collaborationsThe Jardin botanique Alpin du Lautaret is managed by Grenoble University (Jo-seph Fourier) and it is involved in various research programs through partner labo-ratories, notably the Laboratoire d’Ecolo-gie Alpine in Grenoble. This laboratory has research programs in Chile (Universities of Santiago and Concepción) and Argenti-na (University of Cordoba). Though these contacts we exchange seeds for both re-search and exhibition at the Jardin bota-nique Alpin du Lautaret .Other contacts have also been taken in Argentina (Buenos Aires University, Los Glaciares National Parc at El Calafate) and Chile (Botanical Garden in Viña del mar).Interestingly a new species for the chilian flora has been discovered from an uni-dentified picture of a plant found in Por-tillo (Chile), put on the web and identified as Bowlesia ruiz-lealii by Dr. O. Prina.

Cultivation of Andean plantsPlants are cultivated in deep volcanic sandy soil in order to mimic the ecology of many Andean species. Figure 1 shows some examples of plants cultivated in

Grenoble from seeds collected or exchan-ged. After one or two years the plants are installed in the garden.

Creation of a rockery “Andes and Patagonia”A new rockery has been created in the Garden, near the rockery “North Ameri-ca”. The rockery has been design in order to correspond ecologically and aestheti-cally to the volcanic Andes. In this regard, volcanic stones and sand have been ins-talled (reddish “pouzzolane” from the vol-canoes of Massif Central), with a depth of around 20 cm in order to mimic the habitat of many Andean plants. Figure 2 shows the design of this rockery.

List of Andean plantsAt the moment around 40 species have been introduced in the garden (see examples on figure 3) :Acaena magellanica, Anemone multifida, Anten-naria chilensis, Araucaria araucana, Armeria an-dina, Aster vahlii, Azorella trifurcata, Bulbostylis jun-coides, Calandrinia cespitosa, Calceolaria biflora, Calceolaria falklandica, Calceolaria polyrhiza, Calceolaria triloba, Calceolaria uniflora, Coloban-thus quitensis, Ephedra chilensis, Deschampsia an-tarctica, Draba magellanica, Gamocarpha alpi-na, Geranium sessiliflorum, Geum magellanicum, Haplopappus sp. (Chile), Hordeum comosum, Hypochaeris tenuifolia, Hypsella reniformis, Lare-tia acaulis, Leptinella scariosa, Mimulus cupreus, Mimulus depressus, Montiopsis umbellata, Notho-fagus pumilio, Oxalis adenophylla, Phacelia se-cunda, Senecio francisci, Senecio sp. (Argentina), Senecio trifurcatus, Sisyrhynchium arenarium, Sta-chys tridentata, Tropaeolum polyphyllum, Thlaspi magellanicum, Tetraglochin alatum.

More species are growing in Grenoble prior to a further introduction at the Jardin botanique alpin du Lautaret, notably :Hypochaeris incana, Nardophyllum bryoides, Petunia patagonica, Olsynium biflorum, Perezia recurvata, Rhodophiala andicola, Rhodophiala rhodolirion, Saxifraga magellanica, Silene magel-lanica.

ReferencesCorrea MN (1998) Flora patagonica. Colección

Científica. Ed. INTA, Buenos AiresHoffmann A, Arroyo M, Liberona F, Muñoz M,

Watson J (1997).Plantas altoandinas. Ed. Fundacion Claudio Gay

www.ujf-grenoble.fr/JAL/chili

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Fig.1. Examples of plants collected as seeds in Patagonia (200�) and cultivated in Grenoble. 1, Petunia patagonica; 2, Olsynium biflorum; 3, Calceolaria uniflora; 4, Hypochaeris incana.

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Fig. 2. Some plants introduced in the rockery “Andes and Patagonia”. From top left to bottom right : Mimulus cupreus, Senecio sp, Hordeum comosum, Hypochaeris tenuifolia, Stachys tridentata, Ephedra chilensis, Thlaspi magellanicum, Laretia acaulis, Mimulus depressus.



Fig. 3. Habitat of some Andean plants growing in volcanic soils in Chile, from left to right: Viola philippi, Oreopolus glacialis, Malesherbia lirana.

Fig. 4. Some steps in the creation of the rockery “Andes and Patagonia”. Bottom, visit of the rockery during the congress on Saturday 8th September 2006.

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Any network has to define which members should be addressed. Alpine and Arctic Botanic Gardens (AABG) are a special section within the community of Botanic Gardens, therefore they fit into the general definition of Botanic Gardens given by BGCI (Wyse-Jackson 1999) : “A botanic garden is an institution holding documented collections of living plants for the purposes of scientific research, conservation, display and education.”

Networking of Alpine Botanic Gardens: an introduction to the tools

Andreas GRÖGERAlpine Garden Schachen / Munich Botanic Garden, Germany

Major characteristics of Alpine and Arctic Botanic Gardens (AABG)The AABG can be defined more precisely by the following characteristics :

located at high altitude or latitudecollection focusing on alpine species situated away from larger settlementsshort vegetation period

Of an estimated total of 2.�00 gardens worldwide, probably far less than 100 fit the definition of an AABG. Far more lowland Botanic Gardens maintain su-

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RésuméLes Jardins botaniques alpins et arctiques ont plusieurs spécificités, en particulier la localisation à haute altitude ou latitude, l’éloignement des villes et la courte période de végétation. Les difficultés pour les activités de réseau sont le manque de moyens financiers et de personnel permanent. Néanmoins, même de petits jardins pourraient bénéficier de coopérations incluant (1) le transfert de connaissances horticoles et scientifiques, (2) la conduite des collections avec par exemple l’adoption de protocoles communs (IPEN), la coordination des différentes collections, les activités de conservation. D’autres domaines d’échanges concernent la définition des missions, l’amélioration des outils d’éducation, l’aquisition de fonds supplémentaires, etc. Dans cet esprit, il serait souhaitable d’organiser des réunions régulières des Jardins Botaniques Alpins et Arctiques, et de développer un site internet qui permettrait de renforcer la lisibilité des jardins et de leurs collections auprès du public.

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perb alpine collections and it has to be considered carefully, how to link to those collections within a network of AABG. In spite of the small number, AABG differ from each other significantly in the fol-lowing aspects :

institutional affiliation, financing bodymission, scientific managementstructure and presentation of the col-

lectionsaccessibility, visitor numbersclimatic and geologic settings, sur-

rounding flora

On the one hand, regarding these diffe-rences and the mostly small number of permanent staff, it becomes obvious why networking between AABG faces various obstacles. On the other hand, every indi-vidual garden would benefit from the re-sources made available through a closer co-operation. The major fields of potential interactions are the following.

Knowledge transferThe quality of a Botanic Gardens collec-tion always is a direct reflection of the state of expertise and commitment of its staff. It is the result of a broad knowledge of the ecological requirements of each plant species as well as good horticultural skills. Especially in this field, AABG can bene-fit extremely from a closer networking. Know-how can be transferred by ex-change programs with horticulturists, staff training programs, workshops on special subjects, joint field trips, etc. Also on the scientific level, expertise could be shared, e. g. through mutual support in the identi-fication and verification of plant species.

Collection orientated interactionsFor AABG the exchange of seeds and plants has a long tradition. By offering a seed catalogue annually, most of the gardens participate in the international seed exchange program. In this field, the gardens have to face legislative challen-ges. Since the coming into force of the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD, 1992), the community of Botanic Gardens tries to develop a common collections

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policy. Networking resulted in standar-dized material transfer agreements and the International Plant Exchange System (IPEN). AABG already hold a considerable di-versity of alpine species, but this diversity is missing any coordinated structure. An improved communication between the gardens would lead to a better coordina-tion of the collections. Special collections can only receive adequate attention if their uniqueness is registered by compari-son with other gardens. Avoiding duplica-tion and focussing on special collections would increase the all-over diversity held in AABG. At the same time, it would raise the attractiveness of the AABG for the pu-blic, noting the differences between the gardens. Locally threatened plant species are a core part of any collection in AABG. The main task is to sensitise the public for these species that they are recognised also in the wild. Additionally, some modern gar-dens maintain seed banks or participate in monitoring projects of endangered species. Those ex situ projects would be a very interesting field to enhance co-ope-rations between AABG.

Other fields where experiences could be shared

Mission statementsIt is essential for every garden to develop a mission statement that clarifies the ma-jor purposes and areas of activities, not only for the visitors but also for their own staff. AABG can interact to support each other in evolving their missions and vi-sions. Generally, the community of AABG should present itself as a centre of exper-tise for alpine biodiversity. Their gardens are places where natural beauty as well as scientific knowledge can be experien-ced. The message, transmitted by AABG, can include aspects like :

raise awareness for the uniqueness of alpine biodiversity

communicate the importance of conserving plants

demonstrate the interaction between man and alpine ecosystems

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promote scientific research in alpine plants

Educative toolsFor its mission, an AABG has to define the target audience it wants to address. Also to adjust information tools and to advertise more precisely, a garden has to know the major visitor groups. A rough demographic survey can be very helpful to get an idea of the spectrum of visitors and also of the people not attracted by the garden. Educative tools may be improved effectively. The information material available in AABG should offer adequate information for the mere nature lover as well as for the committed enthusiast. Bearing in mind the short vegetation period in AABG, also lecture series on high mountain floras in the winter period could address further interested audience. Another possibility to attract more people is to offer excursions to adjacent mountain areas or even to other AABG. In all these fields, there are a lot of opportunities for co-operations and for the exchange of experiences between AABG.

Addressing local key playersIn general, AABG are not located in the direct vicinity of larger settlements. Therefore, for them it is much more essential than for other Botanic Gardens, to receive adequate attention by the local community. Key figures in the local communities are multipliers, such as hotel managers, school teachers, tourism agencies, guides, etc. They have to be contacted and informed by the AABG regularly. Another way to get a broad basis in the local community is to build up a circle of “Friends of the Garden”.

FinancesFinancial shortages are a common syndrome in all AABG’s. On the one hand, networking would strengthen the appreciation of an individual garden by the public and for the financing body. On the other hand, a network of AABG would offer a communication platform where experiences concerning additional fund-raising could be exchanged.

• Establishing a networkWithin the botanic garden community there is a clear trend to enhance national and international networking. Also AABG would benefit from linking to each other more closely. But, as always, it is mainly a question of personal and financial resour-ces, which are quite limited in the case of AABG. On the other hand, there is already a broad experience in bilateral co-opera-tions. These experiences should be gathe-red and shared. Therefore, the first step could be to esta-blish a common communication platform. On regularly held meetings especially to-pics like mission statements, education, know-how transfer and collection mana-gement can be discussed and correspon-dent activities initialized. To present themselves as a community and to reach more potential visitors, a survey of the European AABG could be given in the internet, through the creation of a common webpage, as well as on printed media, such as posters or hand-outs available in each garden.

Action planFor further steps towards a network of AABG the following general approach is advisable :

information gatheringdefinition of existing needscompilation of possible joint activitiespriority list of goals and action plan

To achieve the most impact, the priority list in particular has to be set carefully. Resources and capacities have to be ba-lanced with the potential outcome. Every Alpine and Arctic Botanic Garden should keep in mind that only by communication and interaction with other gardens it may position itself clearly and can tap its full potential.

ReferencesIPEN : http://www.bgci.org/abs/ipenSchmolz C (1905) Die Alpengärten-Ausstellung

unseres Vereins in Bamberg. Bericht des Vereines zum Schutze und Pflege der Alpenpflanzen 5 : 15-24. Bamberg, Germany

Wyse-Jackson P (1999) Experimentation on a Large Scale - An Analysis of the Holdings and Resources of Botanic Gardens. BGCINews 3(3) : 27-30

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Fig. 1. Distribution of Alpine Garden in the European Alps and adjacent ranges.

Fig. 2. One of the early attempts of networking : an international exhibition of Alpine Gardens, held in Bamberg (Germany) in 1905, with 13 participating gardens from 5 countries (Schmolz 190�).

Fig. 3. Emblem of the ”Associa-zione Interna-zionale Giardini Botanici Alpini”, a mainly natio-nal network of Alpine Gardens, founded in Italy in 1974.

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As the Alpine Garden on the Schachen, a satellite garden of the Munich Botanic Garden, approached its 100 year centenary, there was much discussion about the future role of the Alpine Garden. Looking back at past activities of the Alpine Garden, what immediately came to our notice were the international exchanges with horticulturists from the Royal Botanic Garden Kew and from Edinburgh Botanic Garden which had taken place in the early 1930’s, 1960’s, 1970’s and 1980’s. These had not been true exchange projects, more a one-sided exchange with the horticulturists from Kew and Edinburgh working with the Munich staff on the Schachen. This led us to one of our goals for the next one hundred years : to establish long term contact with other alpine botanic gardens in particular through horticulturist exchange programmes, with the following aims :

To build closer contacts between horticulturists and their respective Botanic Gardens;

To observe and practice different

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International Exchange of Horticulturists :highlighting the example of Munich Botanic Garden

and Katse Alpine Garden, Lesotho

Jenny WAINWRIGHT-KLEINAlpine Garden Schachen / Munich Botanic Garden, Germany

cultivation techniques in particular with relation to specialized plants;

To share the skills;To expand existing knowledge by

learning about and observing flora of other regions/countries;

To open opportunities to make international contacts;

To establish and develop long term contacts for the exchange of horticultural information on high altitude plant species.

To-date, two horticulturist exchange programmes have taken place; one between the Alpine Garden on the Schachen (Munich, Germany) and the Lautaret Botanical Alpine Garden (Grenoble, France) for two weeks respectively in the summers of 2002 and 2003 with Franz Schlegel from Munich and Richard Hurstel from Lautaret; another between the Munich Botanic Garden (Germany) and the Katse Alpine Garden (Lesotho) in 2005 for four weeks in January/February and March/April

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respectively. The second exchange was made possible through financial help from the “Foundation for the International Exchange of Horticulturists” based in Hamburg, Germany. This foundation was set up in 2002 and dedicates itself exclusively to the support of mutual know-how transfer between horticulturists of botanic gardens on an international level, with the aim to strengthen the capacity for the conservation of plant diversity. They have financed exchange projects throughout the world, thus enabling horticulturists from Germany to obtain experience in the propagation and culture of plants in their natural habitat as well as offering opportunities to the foreign partner Botanic Gardens taking part in the exchange for a member of their horticultural staff to gain hands on work experience with similar collections in a different environment.

Horticulturist Exchange between the Botanic Garden Munich, Germany and the Katse Alpine Garden, LesothoIn January/February of 200� Jenny Wainwright-Klein, horticulturist in charge of the Alpine propagation unit and reserve collection in the Munich Botanic Garden as well as the Alpine Garden on the Schachen, worked at Katse Botanic Garden, Lesotho for four weeks. In March/April of 200� Bongani Ntloko, curator and chief horticulturist of Katse Botanic Garden, Lesotho, worked at the Botanic Garden Munich, Germany for four weeks. Accommodation and transport within the exchange country was supplied by the hosting Botanic Gardens. Flights were paid for by the “Foundation for the International Exchange of Horticulturists”.

Background of Katse Botanical GardenThe Botanic Garden at Katse was founded in 199� and falls under the management of the Lesotho Highlands Development Authority (LHDA) which manages and co-ordinates the running of the Highlands Water Project. Up to now, three dams have been built in the highlands of Lesotho supplying water which is sold to South Africa. Before inundation of the Katse

reservoir vegetation surveys were carried out and plans were made to rescue rare and indigenous economic plants from the valley before flooding. Botanists working together with local healers relocated plants to the newly established Katse Botanic Garden on the upper slopes of the mountain at an altitude of 2100 m.

The Katse Botanic Garden provides a unique natural and semi-natural setting for conserving and displaying the natural high altitude flora of Lesotho. 90% of the vegetation in the 17 hectare large garden is indigenous with valuable collections of rescued plants from Muela, Katse and Mohale inundation areas, as well as indigenous plants from different ecological regions of Lesotho.

Mission statement of Katse Botanical Garden

Katse Botanic Garden strives to promote a better knowledge and understanding of the high mountain flora of Lesotho through propagation, cultivation and conservation of the indigenous plants, and serve as an educational centre for local communities, students, scientists and the public at large.

Munich in LesothoMy main objectives in going to Katse were to benefit from their experience with propagating the high altitude plants of Lesotho from seed and to visit in situ plant communities. Records are kept of germination percentages as well as the time needed until germination occurs of all species sown by seed and, as of January 200�, temperatures in the greenhouse during the germination period are also noted. It was interesting to see that germination was particularly high in the warmer summer months. The seeds are sown in raised beds filled with river sand and kept moist with an automatic mist system. With the help of a wet wall and an extractor fan the day temperature in the greenhouse in summer is kept at around 25°C. During the winter months the greenhouse is heated to 24°C in the day and has a night minimum

Networking98


of 12°C. At Katse they have had great success cultivating the endangered Aloe polyphylla, a plant which is only found in remote mountain areas at an altitude of ca. 2,800 m, and is on the Cities 1 list due to pressures on the population from over collecting, in particular by succulent plant collectors. From its inception, the Katse Botanic Garden has concentrated on cultivating medicinal plants from seed and selling excess plants to visitors. One of their goals is to initiate community gardens in the surrounding villages which they would supply with medicinal plants. These indigenous medicinal plants are widely used by the local populace and are amongst the most endangered species found on the Red Data List for Lesotho. The scale of disappearance of medicinal plants in Lesotho has been estimated by Letsie (1993) to be in the order of 100,000 specimens per week, based on an estimated 20,000 diggers taking out 5 plants each. While I was at Katse a medicinal garden was planted up in the Botanical Garden. A small thatched hut has been built in the middle of the medicinal garden to house proposed displays of the dried plants or plant parts as seen at local markets with information boards on the uses and the vulnerability of wild populations. During my stay I also found the opportunity to travel widely in Lesotho and visit various National Parks and Nature Reserves where I was able to see the habitats of a wide variety of plants. The knowledge of the habitat is invaluable when choosing species to try in Munich and in the Alpine Garden on the Schachen. For the Alpine Garden I select plants which grow in areas with high precipitation or in wet conditions, similar to that found in the Schachen, which lies on the north slopes of the Alps. Plants growing in drier areas are more suited for the alpine display house in Munich.

Lesotho in MunichMr Bongani Ntloko worked at the Munich Botanic Garden for four weeks in spring to gain first hand experience of propagation methods at Munich.

ConclusionThe purpose of the horticultural exchange was more than fulfilled as contact between the participating gardens has remained and been intensified with a regular transfer of information on both sides. Future projects together with the Katse Botanic Garden which are at present being worked on are :

A joint seed catalogue is planned for this winter which will be distributed by Munich Botanic Garden.

Mr. Bongani Ntloko has asked for assistance from the Munich Botanic Garden in realizing a large landscaping project within the Katse Botanic Garden. It is hoped that a group of horticulturists from Munich will obtain funding to carry out phase one of the landscaping project this coming January of 2007, to be followed by another visit in January of 2008 for the final part of the landscaping project.

Engraved labels will be prepared for the Medicinal Garden and other planted areas of the Katse Botanic Garden.

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IllustrationsKatse Botanic Garden : site (1), nursery (2), seed sowing (3 & 4) Examples of mountain plants of Lesotho : Aloe polyphylla (�), Craterocapsa congesta (6), Chironia krebsii (7), Gladiolus ecklonii (8).

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Creating a network, two case studies :The Italian Seed Bank Network & The European

Environmental Botanic Garden Education Network

Costantino BONOMI1, Sara CAMPEGIANI1, Suzanne KAPELARI2, Sabine SLADKY-MERANER2, Graziano ROSSI3 and Gianni BEDINI4

1Museo Tridentino di Scienze Naturali, Trento, Italy; 2University of Innsbruck, Austria, 3University of Pavia, Italy, 4University of Pisa, Italy

RésuméIl existe divers réseaux de jardins botaniques. On peut dire que leur succès sera plus grand s’ils sont focalisés sur des aspects précis plutôt que sur des objectifs larges et vagues. Il est essentiel d‘établir des objectifs précis et réalistes en phase avec les besoins des principaux bénéficiaires du réseau et les intérêts des institutions qui les subventionnent. Finalement, le succès du réseau dépend de la participation active de ses membres. Deux cas particuliers sont présentés ici : le réseau italien des banques de graines (RIBES) et le réseau européen des jardins botaniques pour l’éducation à l’environnement (EBGEN).Le réseau RIBES est constitué par 18 institutions italiennes impliquées dans la conservation de graines et de plantes natives de l’Italie. Le réseau se focalise sur la conservation des graines des espèces sauvages intéressantes pour la réintroduction d‘espèces rares ou la restauration d’habitats. Les membres sont des jardins botaniques universitaires, des agences gouvernementales locales, des parcs nationaux, des organisations sans but lucratif, des firmes privées. L’idée d’un tel réseau a été initiée en 2004 à Trente, comme un volet italien d‘initiatives européennes telles que Ensconet ou Genmedoc. Depuis lors, RIBES s’est développé avec des réunions à Rome, Milan, Pavie, Pise, marquées par une approche participative qui a débouché après des discussions détaillées sur la signature d’un accord, d’une charte, de différentes règles internationales, pour aboutir à la création officielle du réseau le 3 décembre 2005 sous la forme d‘une compagnie à but non lucratif.EBGEN, à l’inverse, est un réseau plus informel dont l’idée a été proposée en 2006 à Innsbruck dans le contexte du projet européen Plant Science Gardens. Il est organisé sur le modèle du réseau éducatif des jardins botaniques anglais BGEN. Il s’agit d’un très jeune réseau qui a pour but principal de faciliter les échanges d’informations, de pratiques, d’idées et de personnel entre jardins botaniques européens. La formalisation du réseau n’est pas encore aboutie et une coordination lâche est préférée pour le moment.

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Networking is increasingly be-coming an important issue for botanic gardens and alpine ones in particular. Working in partnership and cooperation with neighboring gardens avoids dupli-cation of efforts, allows a more effective garden management and contributes to raise the status of alpine garden towards the larger public. Networking activities are recommended by the Action Plan for Botanic Gardens in the European Union (Cheney et al., 2000) and the Global Stra-tegy for Plant Conservation (CBD Secre-tariat, 2002). Viotte Alpine Botanic Gar-den, based in north east Italy, has been recently involved into various network experiences, in particular it has been in-volved in developing two networks one on seed conservation and another on botanic garden education that are here presented as case studies.

Setting up a network : considerationsSuccessful networks are often established as a result of the efforts of a few enthusia-stic individuals who share similar problems or aspirations. The network is then built up around this core group as members with similar interests join. It then becomes in-creasingly formalised. The new members may modify the original objectives but the central theme is likely to remain. It can be argued that success of such net-works will be greatest if they are strongly focused on a particular specific topic rather than if they address a wide variety of issues and topics. It is essential to esta-blish clear and realistic objectives which meet the needs of the main beneficiaries of the work and the interests of potential funding agencies. Before getting started, each group of people or institutions wis-hing to set up a new network should try and answer the following questions : Do we really need a new network? Why do we need a new network? Cannot existing networks satisfy our needs? Do similar net-works exist? Do they work? Should we liai-se with them? To what extent? Networks require a great deal of management and steering work that can be daunting and members might need extra funds for net-working activities.

The Italian Seed Bank Network (RIBES)RIBES is a national network made up by 18 Italian Institutions involved in seed conser-vation of native wild species. It focuses on seed conservation of wild species useful for reintroduction, habitat restoration and land reclamation. Members of the net-work are university botanic gardens, local governmental agencies, national parks, no profit organizations and private com-panies. The idea to set up such network came as a national implementation of parallel European wide networks on seed conservation (Ensconet and Genmedoc) and in response to international agree-ments such as the the Global Strategy for Plant Conservation (CBD Secretariat, 2002) calling on such initiatives. The need of such a network was also strongly felt by all Italian groups involved in seed conser-vation in the absence of a national co-ordination mechanism that caused many local administrations to set up local and regional centres for ex situ plant and seed conservation. These various initiatives previously worked in isolation and were not aware of each other, running the grave risk of duplicating efforts, wasting precious resources and being unaware of possible huge gaps in the conservati-on actions at national level. To enhance networking on these issues, a workshop entitled «Seed Banks as a conservation tool for native species : building a natio-nal network in an European perspective» was organised in Trento (NE Italy) the 1st and 2nd of April 2004 aiming to provide a national forum for institutions involved in ex situ conservation activities. RIBES evol-ved subsequently in many meetings held in Rome and Milan.A key step of this evo-lution was the approval and signature in Pavia in February 200� of a Memorandum of Understating that stated the aims of the network and that bound all contracting parties to formally constitute the network within a year time of the signature date of the MoU. The MoU is made up by an introduction that clearly states the scienti-fic and legal justification of the proposed action (making reference to inventories of threatened species reference to local, national and EU legislation, international

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conventions and agreements). It then states the network focus : with a synoptic reference to aims and objectives. It even-tually sets a time limit, requiring the formal constitution of the association in front of a public officer within one year of the si-gnature date. The members list concludes the MoU, giving full details of participating institutions and their legal representatives. Successive meeting gave the opportuni-ty to discuss in detail and approve with a participative approach a consortium agreement, a charter and various inter-nal regulations, that eventually lead to the official constitution of the network on December the 3rd 200� in Trento in front of a public officer as a registered no profit company. In 2006, RIBES activities official-ly started with the design of an action plan to implement its statutory objectives trough 4 working groups on specific issues that began their activities in mid 2006. It is hoped that in future years RIBES will give a lasting contribution to plant conservation both in Italy and in neighbouring coun-tries.

The European Environmental Botanic Gar-den Education Network (EBGEN)As part of the EU Project Plant Science Gardens, the status of education in bota-nic gardens in Central Europe was investi-gated. Many gardens offer to the public basic interpretation of their collections through guided tours, however only a few have specific education programmes and enjoy the benefit of full time education staff, while most use freelance educators. Nowadays there are high expectations for education in botanic gardens for the informal settings they provide. Education programmes need to attract audiences with the latest standards in environmen-tal interpretation, they need to be easy to conduct and to promote, to be cost effective and enjoyable. However, the re-sources that botanic gardens are able to assign to education differ greatly from gar-den to garden and from country to coun-try. Some larger gardens may have edu-cation staff, whereas in others, education is just one of many duties of the gardeners or the curator. So, why not work together

and face the challenge jointly? Exchange of experience is useful for everybody who works in this field and is the key idea that is at the base of a Central European En-vironmental and Botanic Garden Edu-cation Network (EBGEN). The model that inspired this idea is the British Botanic Gar-den Education Networks (BGEN) that was created at the end of the nineties aiming to develop the educational potential of all gardens and arboreta and to facilita-te the exchange of information between people involved in education, interpreta-tion and public relations (Edwards, 1993). It is envisaged that EBGEN will function as a focal point to gather and then circulate information though the botanic garden and environmental education commu-nity, exchanging teaching material and expertise, collecting and disseminating examples of best practice stimulating development of international partnership projects. It will also aim to raise the status of education in Botanic Gardens, univer-sities and public authorities. In central Eu-rope, active networks of botanic gardens already exist, but, to the best of our know-ledge, only one is specifically centred on education : it is one of the working groups of the German network of Botanic Gar-dens, the BGDeV (Botanische Gärten Deutschlands eV). EBEGEN will therefore work in close association with BGDeV, but it will use English as a working language. EBGEN will also include environmental education organisations : they will bring in different points of view and expertise.Three preliminary meetings were held in Innsbruck to introduce and debate the EBGEN idea. So far these are the major points agreed. EBEGEN will focus on ex-change of information, materials, photos, experiences, best practice, hoping to also promote staff exchange. EBEGEN will pro-mote Public Relations and will strengthen biodiversity education through a website and printed materials. EBGEN will organi-se at least one annual training workshop on specific topics that will be decided jointly and will be conducted by selected members. EBGEN will be lobbying and fundraising for environmental education; maintaining links with other organisations

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and networks, also developing interna-tional projects. EBGEN will have a steering committee formed by a president, a de-puty, a treasurer and 3 controllers elected every 2 years among members represen-tatives. If possible there should be one re-presentative from each member country. The Coordinator will manage the website; collect, organize, distribute information, update membership and run mailing lists; post job announcements; prepare mee-tings, summarize them, take minutes, ma-nage invitations, etc., be the support assi-stant for training host organisations; follow work plans given by the core planning team and write an end-of-year report to members and the core group. Members will pay a membership fee which will be graduated according to the size of the or-ganization. Individual membership will be possible, will allow participation in the an-nual conference and training workshop, use of the mailing list and homepage. Money to run the network should be rai-sed through membership fees, donations, EU funds or others. For 2006 and 2007 ac-tivities will be partly funded by current EU Project, Plant Science Gardens that also aims to bring together Botanic Garden Educators in Central Europe and the Bal-kan States.

ConclusionsSetting up and running a network is a de-manding task, however the benefits are potentially large and well worth the effort. Networks are needed in many different areas. However, ultimately, their success or failure will depend upon the active participation of its members.

ReferencesCheney J, Navarrete Navarro J, Wyse Jackson

PS (2000) Action Plan for Botanic Gardens in the European Union. Scripta Botanica Belgica 19, National Botanic Garden of Belgium, Meise

CBD Secretariat (2002) Global Strategy for Plant Conservation. CBD Secretariat, Montreal

Edwards (1993) A Botanic Garden Education Network, I International Symposium on Education and Training in Horticulture, Auchincruive, United Kingdom

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Fig. 1. The logotypes of two European seed bank networks :ENSCONET, the European Native Seed Conservation Network (EU 6th Framework ProgrammeGENMEDOC, Réseau de centres de conservation du matériel génétique de la flore des régions méditerranéennes de l’espace MEDOCC (European Regional Development Fund - Interreg III B) (middle)BGEN, the British Botanic Gardens Education Network after which the European one (EBGEN) is modelled.

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Fig. 3. RIBES Memorandum of Understanding being signed in Pavia the 9th of February 2005 (On the front cover - left – flowers, fruits and seeds of Dianthus glacialis An artic alpine species particularly scarce in the Alps). To the right the geographical location of the different members of RIBES

Fig. 2. The front cover of the book of abstracts of the different meetings that led to the constitution of RIBES. The plants portrayed are Silene elisabethae and its seeds a narrow endemic occurring west of lake Garda (left), Telekia speciosissima another narrow endemic only occurring west of lake Garda (centre) Dracocepahlum austriacum a species occurring in dry grasslands in Europe and Asia, particularly scarce in the Alps (right).

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ENSCONET is a Co-ordination Action funded under the Research Infras-tructures Activity of EU Framework Pro-gramme 6 which comprises among other projects 28 Integrated Infrastructure Initia-tives and 10 Co-ordination Actions. This project has received a grant of € 2.54 M plus profits from significant institutional ‘in kind’ support. It started in November 2004 for a period of five years. This programme is co-ordinated by the Royal Botanic Gar-dens, Kew, UK.A first application for a Thematic Net-work was made under EU Framework Programme 5 but was unsuccessful. A new proposal was prepared in 2002 for application under FP 6. The contract was signed by the network partners and the EU Commission in November 2004.The first purpose of ENSCONET is to impro-ve the quality, the co-ordination and the integration of European seed conserva-tion practice, policy and research for na-tive plant species. It is also seeking to assist EU in its conservation policy and meet its obligations to the Convention on Biologi-

ENSCONET : European Native Seed Conservation Network

Maïté DELMAS and Nima SAEDLOU Département des Jardins botaniques et zoologiques, Muséum National d’histoire naturelle, Paris, France

cal Diversity and the Global Strategy for Plant ConservationNineteen partners (table 1) have signed the contract in 2004. Five new members will join the ENSCONET project in Novem-ber 2006 : The Jardim Botânico, Museu Na-cional de História Natural (Lisbon) which specialises in Taxonomy and Systematics, Biomonitoring, Biodiversity and Conserva-tion. A herbarium (Flora of Portugal, Afri-ca, South America) and a seed bank are available. The Botanischer Garten und Botanisches Museum, Freie Universität Ber-lin is involved in Biodiversity informatics / databases, floristic projects (Med-Check-list, Flora de Cuba…), taxonomic and geographical arrangements are the re-search pursuit by the institute with an her-barium (3 million specimens) and a seed bank. The Botanical Garden, Universitetet i Oslo / Naturhistorisk museum is involved in Vascular plant taxonomy and phyto-geography, Vegetation ecology, Lichen taxonomy and distribution, Phytogeogra-phy and taxonomy of macrofungi, Ecol-ogy of cultural landscapes. The institute

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has an herbarium and a seed bank. The Botanical Garden, University of Helsinki carries out Research (together with the Botanic Museum) : Atlas Florae Europaea, Herbarium. The aims of the garden are to maintain a collection of living plants, international seed exchange, botanical research and teaching, public education on plants. The Institution also coordinates the work of Finnish botanic gardens. The last member to enter ENSCONET will be the Institute of Botany of the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences in Sofia. ENSCONET has recently decided to ac-cept associate members ; the Institute of Botany and Botanical Garden, Univer-sity of Natural Resources and Applied Life Sciences in Vienna is the first accepted associate member.The ENSCONET network seeks to create links with other European conservation & research communities and has started to develop a database of European re-search groups working with native seeds, a database compiling all research publi-cations and a database with research projects on native seeds. Four external arbiters have been designa-

ted to follow the project : the International Plant Genetic Resources Institute (IPGRI), the European Botanic Garden Consor-tium (EBGC), Planta Europa and the Euro-pean Network for Biodiversity Information (ENBI). The partners meet once a year during the annual network meeting. The goals of the annual meeting are to check collecting protocol, to visit the local seed bank and to compare conservation protocols. A first meeting was held at the Mediterranean Agronomic Institute of Chania, Crete, Greece (13-16 June 200�), the second at the Jardi Botanic de la Universitat de Va-lencia, Spain (11-19 June 2006). The next meeting will take place at the Botanical Garden, Warsaw, Poland (25 June-2 July 2007).ENCONET is organized in four activities (Seed collecting, Curation, Data Mana-gement, and Dissemination), each with a Leader and a Deputy. The Leader of each activity plus two other experienced seed bank scientists and the Network coordi-nator form the Management Team. The Management Team discusses, sti-mulates and structures co-operations

1 Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew UK

2 National and Kapodistrian University of Athens Greece

3 Institute of Botany, Slovak Academy of Sciences Slovakiea

4 Budapest Zoo & Botanical Garden Hungary

� Mediterranean Agronomic Institute of Chania Greece

6 The Fundaciόn Pública Municipal Jardin Botánico de Cόrdoba Spain

7 Trinity College Dublin Ireland

8 Jardin Botanico Viera y Clavijo Spain

9 Agricultural Research Institute, Lefkosia Cyprus

10 Universidad Politecnica de Madrid Spain

11 National Botanic Garden of Belgium Belgium

12 Muséum National d’Histoire Naturelle, Paris France

13 Dipartimento di Ecologia del Territorio, Universita di Pavia Italy

14 Dipartimento di Scienze Botaniche - Orto Botanico, Univ. Pisa Italy

1� Jardí Botànic de Sóller Spain

16 Museo Tridentino di Scienze Naturali, Trento Italy

17 Universitat de Valencia Estudi General Spain

18 Institute of Botany and Botanical Garden, University of Vienna Austria

19 Botanical Garden - Center for Biological Diversity Conservation of the Polish Academy of Sciences Poland

Table 1. Partners of ENSCONET from 2004.

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between participants on the activity groups, report on the progress of the work packages, harmonize existing research and training efforts, discuss the exchange of scientists and the training content of the network, and co-ordinate and discuss future network activities.The Collecting activity group seeks to develop integrated seed collecting pro-grams in all European bio-geographical regions for native plant species of con-servation and sustainable use value. It will establish a baseline of species held in European banks, define a prioritized list of species for collection as well developing a seed collection program for the 6 bio-geographical regions. A seed collecting manual will be tested in the field and ad-opted to help maximize genetic diversity and seed longevity. It will be compared to other existing collecting protocols. The curation activity group will work at the enhancement of the quality and the security of seed conservation for native species within Europe through improved curation achieved by sharing of exper-tise and facilities. A baseline documenta-tion on facilities throughout the network is already available. The partners work at the realization of agreed common pro-tocols to maintain genetic diversity and seed longevity and to help overcome dor-mancy. The dissemination of information and good practices among participants is an essential element within ENSCONET. The data management activity group will build a virtual European seed bank for wild-collected native species through in-tegration of collection data held by ENS-CONET partners. This database will pro-vide an easier access to seed collections by researchers across Europe. A protocol for recording seed germination data will be adopted. The dissemination activity group was put into place to provide seed conservation managers, researchers, policy makers and other relevant representative organi-zations with information and understand-ing of ENSCONET’s work and its results. It is also organized to give plentiful informa-tion about ENSCONET and its participants to the general public. ENSCONEWS is a

bulletin available from the national part-ner institution. The second issue is due to be published in late 2006. A Website is open for public and partners : www.en-sconet.comThe French coordination of ENSCONET is held at the Museum National d’Histoire Naturelle in the Department of Botanical and Zoological Gardens. Its aims are :

to evaluate the current French seed banking facilities

to establish a network of institutions able to conserve seed of the French Flora

to disseminate information and protocols of the ENSCONET network

to identify priority species to collectto estimate research needs for a future

programme

ENSCONET is seeking to play a key role within European conservation activities and particularly the delivery of the GSPC. It is working at creating links with related initiatives, groups and databases and to influence European policy. At the end of the five year’s project, Ensconet will aim to develop into a long-lasting and wider network.

The ENSCONET project has been or will be presented at the following conferences and meetings :

IV Balkan Botanical Congress, Sofia (Bulgaria) 20-26 June 2006

�th European Conference on Ecological Restoration, Greifswald (Germany) 22-25 August 2006

1st European Congress of Conservation Biology (ECCB), Eger (Hungary) 22-26 August 2006

International Congress on Mountain and Arctic Botanical Gardens, Lautaret (France) 6-9 Sept 2006

6th International Congress on Education in Botanical Gardens, Oxford (UK) 10-14 Sept 2006

Eurogard IV, Pruhonice (Czech Republic), 18-22 Sept 2006

3rd BGCI Global Botanic Congress, Wuhan (PR China), 20-26 April 2007

12th OPTIMA meeting, Pisa (Italy) 10-17 Sept 2007�th Planta Europa Conference, Cluj-Napoca

(Romania) �-9 Sept 20072nd International Society for Seed Science Meeting,

Perth (Australia) 9-13 Sept 2007

Learn more about Ensconet at : www.ensconet.com

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This volcanic archipelago is lo-cated 800 km off the Chilean coast and it comprises three islands : island Robinson Crusoe, island Santa Clara and island Ale-jandro Selkirk.

An observationSince their discovery in 1�74 they have been submitted to the human actions

(such as the exploitation of the natural re-sources, the fires, the introduction of vari-ous exotic animals and plants) and the dramatic subsequent erosion. Nowadays there is no more intact natural habitat on the archipelago and the natural vegeta-tion (213 species, 135 of which endemic) is subject to the impact of ca �07 introduced taxa (Danton & Perrier, 2006). These alien

Invited conferenceProject of creation of the Jardin et Conservatoire Botaniques Claude Gay on the Robinson Crusoe island,

Juan Fernandez archipelago, Chile

Philippe DANTON1,2 and Christophe PERRIER2

1 Botanist attached to the Museum National d’Histoire Naturelle in Paris & 2Association Robinsonia, Grenoble, France

RésuméA la suite d’expéditions botaniques menées chaque année depuis 1997 dans l’archipel Juan Fernández (Chili), la Corporación Cultural Juan Fernández et l’association ROBIN-SONIA ont proposé aux institutions chiliennes la création des Jardin et Conservatoire Bo-taniques Claude Gay dans l’île Robinson Crusoe afin de pouvoir préserver et présenter au public les nombreuses espèces végétales endémiques menacées de disparition dans l’archipel. Pendant la dernière centaine d’années écoulée, ces îles à la végétation ex-ceptionnelle ont vu le nombre de plantes introduites multiplié par cinq, certaines se révé-lant de redoutables envahisseurs qui mettent en péril les fragiles équilibres insulaires.Depuis les années 1997 pour Philippe Danton (botaniste attaché du MNHN de Paris) et 2002 pour Christophe Perrier, les auteurs actualisent l’inventaire des espèces végétales (Ptéridophy-tes et Phanérogames) de l’archipel Juan Fernández au Chili. Pour ce faire ils bénéficient du soutien de la Fondation Yves Rocher sous l’égide de l’Institut de France et sur place de l’appui logistique du Parque Nacional Archipiélago Juan Fernández et de la Corporación Nacional Forestal Región de Valparaíso. Les îles de l’archipel Juan Fernández sont un Parc National chilien depuis 1935 et une Réserve de la Biosphère, UNESCO, depuis 1977.

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species sometimes use the unpredictable help of alien animals, eg the opportunistic association of Maqui (Aristotelia chilensis), Murtilla (Ugni molinae) and Zarzamora (Rubus ulmifolius) with a bird locally called Zorzal (Turdus falklandii). They destroy the original ecosystems of the island, particu-larly the myrtisilva, a unique forest com-prising 100% of indigenous endemic trees (Danton, 2006).

An answerIn order to efficiently respond to the se-vere risks of loss of these unique plants and ecosystems and to contribute to the research on conservation on the archipe-lago, the Corporación Cultural Juan Fer-nández (Chili) and the association ROBIN-SONIA (France) propose the creation of a structure dedicated to the preservation, conservation, research and education : the Jardin et Conservatoire Botaniques Claude Gay. Claude Gay was the french botanist who visited the Robinson Crusoe island in 1832, described many natural re-sources of the country and created the Museum of Santiago.The structure would be organised around the three axes :

Botanical GardenGiven the particular location and needs of the archipelago, the idea is no to create a traditional botanical garden but rather a specialised structure in relation to the specific problems of the islands : conser-vation of endangered species, research and education.The objectives will be :

Cultivate sufficient populations of en-demic species (with priorities) and indige-nous species, with the creation of a bank of mother-plants;

Become a pleasant promenade in a prestigious frame, at the bottom of the fa-mous Yunque (summit of Robinson Crusoe island) and a major spot of tourist tour of the island;

Become a contact point for the local people and the visitors for the discovery of the biological richness of the archipe-lago and for the education to the public

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to the insular environmental topics. Botanical Conservatory

With the frame of the Conservatoires Botaniques developed in France the idea is to create a structure with specific connexions to the National Parc of the Ar-chipelago and adapted to the problems of plant conservation (in and ex situ). It will be an observatoire of the situation in the field and will work mainly for the con-servation and propagation of species (ex situ) and to the population maintenance and reinforcing in the field (in situ) using all necessary means.The objectives will be :

Map the species and follow the evolu-tion of the populations;

Collect seeds and spores of endange-red species and organise their conserva-tion;

Propagate the insular species in order to reinforce the natural populations and produce sufficient plant material for the garden (display to the public) and for re-search.

Centre for research, education and information

Explaining the role and the actions of the Jardin et Conservatoire Botaniques Claude Gay in necessary not only to the public but also to the local population in order to obtain their adhesion to the pres-ervation of their unique environmental richness. An area must therefore be de-voted to the communication between students and researchers visiting the is-land, tourists and local populations.

The objectives will be :Develop a reference herbarium with

international standards ;Organise a working library about all

the environmental topics of the archipe-lago and create a general database with the data of the Jardin et Conservatoire Botaniques Claude Gay ;

Develop links with other local, national and international institutions for mainte-nance of dynamism and quality of the activities proposed (exhibitions, anima-tions, lectures and conferences).

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At the moment, the project of Jardin et Conservatoire Botaniques Claude Gay is analysed by the Corporación Nacional del Medio Ambiente (CONAMA) of the Region V of Chile since 200�. It is clear that such a project should in priority be carried by the insular community and the Chilean administration, even if international colla-borations are necessary (Universities, Bo-tanical Gardens and Conservatories, Non Governmental Organisations, Founda-tions, Firms, Associations and individuals).People and institutions that wish to support this collective adventure can contact the following address :

ROBINSONIA, � rue Galilée, F-38000 Grenoble; [email protected]

ReferencesDanton Ph (2006) La « Myrtisylve » de l’Archipel

Juan Fernández (Chili), une forêt en voie de disparition •

Illustrations (© Ph. Danton)01 - Arrival at Alejandro Selkirk island with the Cerro Los Inocentes (1360 m) in the distance.02 - South face of the Cerro El Yunque (91� m) on the island Robinson Crusoe.03 - Yunquea tenzii Skottsb., Asteraceae endemic to the summit forest of the Cerro El Yunque. 04 - Centaurodendron palmiforme Skottsb., Aster-aceae endemic to the island Robinson Crusoe.0� - Robinsonia saxatilis Danton, Asteraceae en-demic to the island Robinson Crusoe06 - Gavilea insularis M.N.Correa, Orchidaceae endemic the island Alejandro Selkirk.07 - Lactoris fernandeziana Phil., Lactoridaceae endemic to the island Robinson Crusoe.08 - Juania australis (C.Martius) Drude ex Hook.f., Arecaceae endemic to the island Robinson Crusoe.

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rapide. Acta Bot. Gallica, 153(2) : 179-200Danton Ph, Perrier Ch (2006) Nouveau catalogue

de la flore vasculaire de l’archipel Juan Fernández (Chili). Acta Bot. Gallica 153 : 4 (sous presse)

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The congress demonstrated the variety of interactions between AABG [Alpine and Arctic Botanical Gardens], from which each garden can benefit. The gardens represented agreed that communication should be improved through an active network which, for the moment, should remain informal, as most of the botanic gardens are already embedded in other networks. Any additional formal association would bind already overextended capacities, which cannot be afforded at the moment. An informal network of the AABG should provide the following instruments.

WebpageThe introduction of the webpage should include a description of the criteria implemented to define an AABG. Generally only those collections would be covered, which fit the BGCI-definition of a botanic garden and which are located in Europe. Lowland collections would only be included if their collections focus exclusively on alpine and arctic plants. Other important lowland collections or other AABG outside of Europe could be separate elements of a future webpage. The webpage should be presented in four languages : English, French, Italian and German. For each garden it should give a minimum set of data, which are physical and postal address, website (if present) and one photo (optional). A first pool of data has already been compiled by Munich Botanic Garden. The assemblage of the webpage will be made either by Lautaret Alpine Garden or Munich, depending on the resources.

IntranetAs an informal communication platform, the gardens represented decided to establish an intranet in which, besides AABG, also other important key players may participate. In the intranet email-addresses, telephone numbers, etc. of contact persons of each collection should be gathered together. A large variety of relevant subjects could be discussed on the platform, for example the comparison of plant inventories, the exchange of horticultural experience, the communication on taxonomically difficult plant groups, etc. Also the improvement of the exchange of plant material between AABG members can be discussed. The traditional seed exchange between botanic gardens bears the risk of hybridization. An exchange of cuttings and offshoots would be preferable for a lot of taxonomic groups (Saxifragaceae, Primulaceae, Crassulaceae, etc.). Details on the establishment of an intranet still have to be discussed.

Survey panelsThe participating gardens agreed, that a panel or poster, which gives a survey of the European AABG, would be an attractive instrument for every garden and would contribute to a mutual publicity. The panel would consist of a physical map of Europe with the distribution of the respective gardens. Information on each garden would be reduced to the name, a photograph and the national flag. More details can be obtained on the common webpage (mentioned above), or on a handout available in the garden. In this way, information can be kept up-

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to-date. It still has to be clarified, who has the capacities to design this panel professionally. Distribution should be as PDF-file, so that each garden can adjust it to its conditions.

Regular meetingsThe congress in Lautaret has shown that the personal contact and the exchange of information and ideas is a stimulus that strengthens the community of AABG’s

considerably. Therefore, the participants decided that meetings should be held regularly. It was agreed, that the AABG should meet every three years. Munich Botanical Garden offered to host the next congress in 2009. As smaller gardens may encounter difficulties to attend the congress during the main season, i. e. June to August. For that reason, it has been agreed upon to hold it at the end of April 2009.

Exchange of horticulture experience at the nursery of the Jardin Botanique Alpin du Lautaret (top left, photo S. Aubert, 8th September) and excursion at the Galibier pass on the 9th September (top right, photo H. Noury) with collection of seeds (bottom, photo C. Mlinar)


114

AcknowledgementsThe organising committee acknowledges :

the help of Alain BIGNON, Richard HURSTEL, Christophe PERRIERthe work of the hotel-restaurants in Villar d’Arènethe help of the Association Diane de Villar d’Arènethe financial support of the Région Provence Alpes Côte d’Azur, the Région Rhône-

Alpes, the Ville de Grenoble, the Commune de Villar d’Arène

••••

Origin of the additional platesCorrevon H (1914) Les plantes des montagnes et des rochers, Octave Doin & Fils, Éditeurs, Paris; Decaisne J. & Naudin Ch (sd) Manuel de l’amateur des jardins, 2 vols, Librairie de Firmin Didot Frères, Fils & Cie; Liger L (1790) La nouvelle maison rustique, Barrois, Paris; Magne G (1903) Les plantes de montagne dans les jardins, Librairie & Imprimerie Horticoles, Paris; Martel MV (1889) Guide élémentaire pour les herborisations et la formation d’un herbier, Paul Dupont, Éditeur, Paris; Syndicat d’Initiative de Grenoble et du Dauphiné (sd) Le Dauphiné, album; Verlot B (1879) Guide du botaniste herborisant, Librairie J.B. Baillière & Fils, Paris; Villars D (1786-89) Histoire des plantes de Dauphiné. Chez Prevost, Paris, Grenoble, Lyon.

Campanula allioni

11�


Name Surname Garden Institution Address email

Aubert Serge Jardin Botanique Alpin du Lautaret

Université Joseph Fourier - Grenoble 1

UJF - Station Alpine Joseph Fourier; BP �3 - 38041 Grenoble cedex 9 - France

[email protected]

Bligny Richard Jardin Botanique Alpin du Lautaret



[email protected]

Bonnet François Jardin alpin „La Thomasia“

Pont de Nant - CH 1888 Les Plans sur Bex - Suisse

[email protected]

Bonomi Costantino Viotte Apine Botanical Garden

Trento Natural History Museum Via Calepina 14 - 38100 Trento - Italy [email protected]

Castellani Cristina Viotte Apine Botanical Garden


Cret Xavier Mairie 0�480 Villar d‘Arène - France [email protected]

Danton Philippe projet Jardin et Conservatoire Cl. Gay

Association Robinsonia 1� rue Galilée, 38000 Grenoble France

[email protected]

Delestrade Anne Centre de recherches sur les Ecosystèmes d’Altitude (CREA)

400 Route du Tour, Montroc, 74400 Chamonix, France

[email protected]

Delmas Maïté Jardin Alpin Museum National d‘Histoire Naturelle de Paris

Case Postale 4� �7 rue Cuvier 7�231 Paris cedex 0�, France

[email protected]

Doche Bernard Université Joseph Fourier - Grenoble 1

BP �3 - 38041 Grenoble cedex 9 France

[email protected]

Douzet Rolland Jardin Botanique Alpin du Lautaret



[email protected]

Elvebakk Arve Tromsø Arctic-Alpine Botanic Garden

University of Tromsø Tromsø Museum, University of Tromsø, N-9037 Tromsø, Norway

[email protected]

Fort Noémie Conservatoire Botanique National Alpin Gap/Charance

0�000 Gap, France [email protected]

Gröger Andreas Alpengarten auf dem Schachen

Botanischer Garten München Menzinger str. 6� , D-80638 München, Germany

[email protected]

Hegg Otto Jardin Schynige Platte Université de Berne Alpine Garden Schynige Platte 3812 Wilderswil, Suisse

[email protected]

Hurstel Richard Jardin Botanique Alpin du Lautaret



[email protected]

Jakobsdottir Dora Reykjavik Botanic Garden

Skúlagata 19, 101 Reykjavík, Iceland [email protected]

Latil Jean-Louis Horticulture company le Maupas Le Lauza 0�300 Lazer, France

[email protected]

Leplan-Roux Joëlle Jardin Botanique Alpin du Lautaret



[email protected]

Longo Michela Viotte Apine Botanical Garden


Mathieu Gwladys Centre de recherches sur les Ecosystèmes d’Altitude (CREA)

400 Route du Tour, Montroc, 74400 Chamonix, France

[email protected]

Mlinar Ciril Juliana Alpine Botanical Garden

Slovene Museum of Natural Hystory

Presernova 20, SI-1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia

[email protected]

Perrier Christophe projet Jardin et Conservatoire Cl. Gay

Robinsonia association Le Rocher - 0�600 Saint-Crépin, France [email protected]

Pierrel Romaric Jardin d’Altitude du Haut Chitelet

Conservatoire et Jardins Botaniques de Nancy

100, rue du Jardin Botanique - �4600 Villers-Les-Nancy, France

[email protected]

Praprotnik Nada Juliana Alpine Botanical Garden

Slovene Museum of Natural Hystory

Presernova 20, SI-1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia

[email protected]

Régnier Marc Jardin Alpin „Flore-Alpe“

Fondation JM Aubert Fondation Jean-Marcel Aubert - Case postale 71 - CH1938 Champex-Lac - Suisse

[email protected]

Schlegel Franz Alpengarten auf dem Schachen

Botanischer Garten München-Nymphenburg

Menzinger str. 6� , D-80638 München, Germany

[email protected]

Thorvaldsdottir Eva Reykjavik Botanic Garden

Skúlagata 19, 101 Reykjavík, Iceland [email protected]

Till-Bottraud Irène Laboratoire d‘Ecologie Alpine

CNRS UJF - Station Alpine Joseph Fourier; BP �3 - 38041 Grenoble cedex 9 - France

[email protected]

Smith Paul Leader of the Millennium Seed Bank Project

Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew; Wakehurst Place ; Ardingly, West Sussex, RH17 6TN; UK

[email protected]

Wainwrignt-Klein

Jennifer Alpengarten auf dem Schachen

Botanischer Garten München-Nymphenburg

Menzinger str. 6� , D-80638 München, Germany

[email protected]

Zollinger Jean La Rambertia La Ruelle - 1117 Grancy - Suisse [email protected]

Participant list

Conception and realisation : S. Aubert, Ph. Danton, Ch. PerrierImpression : Imprimerie des Ecureuils

300 exemplairesJanvier 2007

Friday 7th September - Villar d’Arène - photo: Franz SchlegelFrom left to right. Front: Jean-Louis Latil, Serge Aubert, Costantino Bonomi, Andreas Gröger; Middle: Maïté Delmas, Rolland Douzet, Christophe Perrier, Philippe Danton, Romaric Pierrel, Arve Elvebakk; Background: François Bonnet, Marc Régnier, Noémie Fort, Richard Bligny, Paul Smith, Michela Longo, Cristina Castellani, Anne Delestrade.

Visit of the Jardin Botanique Alpin du Lautaret (8th September) - Photo: Ciril MlinarFrom left to right: Rolland Douzet (1), Nada Praprotnik (2), François Bonnet (3), Richard Hurstel (4), Serge Aubert (5), Marc Régnier (6), Christophe Perrier (7), Jenny Wainwrignt-Klein (8), Franz Schlegel (9), Andreas Gröger (10), Eva Thorvaldsdottir (11), Arve Elvebakk (12), Dora Jakobsdottir (13), Joëlle Leplan-Roux (14), Ms. Zollinger (15), Ms. Hegg (16), Alain Bignon (17), Otto Hegg (18), Philippe Danton (19), Jean Zollinger (20), Ms. Zaugg-Zollinger (21).

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