|
|
More news |
| China and UK join hands for biodiversity | |
The inauguration ceremony took place on the 25th January for the new Lijiang Botanic Garden in the Yunnan province of China. The Garden is a result of the partnership between Kunming Institute of Botany of theChinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) and the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh, Scotland, UK. The Garden is jointly financed by UK and China. It is expected to be open to the public in October this year. The collaboration of these two Institutes will be focused on the research of biodiversity. Their joint efforts will lead to the establishment of a germplasm bank, a botanic garden for tourism, studies on conservation of botanic species, and a field station for bioscience researches. Plants which were brought to Edinburgh years ago will also be reintroduced into the Garden which will grow and display endemic wild plants and flowers in the Henduan Mountains. The fundamental purpose for all of these efforts is to protect the biodiversity of this area. With more than 3000 kinds of plants and flowers the Hengduan Mountains where the Garden is located is the most important place for the protection of biodiversity in China which is regarded as the most important place for the protection of biodiversity in the north hemisphere. The Yulong Snow Mountain area which is home of the Garden is the most important part of the Hengduan Mountains and one of the most enchanting tourism attractions in China. The Naxi ethic minority living on the mountain has developed a unique culture which has been recognized as a World Memorial Heritage by UNESCO. Contact between the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh and China can be dated back to 100 years ago when plants collector George Forrest began his venture in the mountainous areas in southwest China. He introduced 1200 Chinese plants species to western countries, most of which were kept in Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh. Residential facilities have been built in the mountain for the botanists invloved who have to stay in Yulong Snow Mountain for a certain period of time to collect and study plants there. The weather, he said, brings troubles and even danger to their lives and work. A comprehensive strategic partnership covering science and technology was agree between China and UK during Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao's visit to London in 2004. For further details consult: www.edu.cn/20050131/3128274.shtml |
|