Africa meets to determine way forward for botanic gardens

MINISTER of Environmental Affairs and Tourism, Mohammed Valli Moosa, launched the first African Botanic Congress in Durban on Tuesday, marking the first time in history that representatives from botanical gardens throughout the African continent have gathered to discuss the sustainability of Africa's botanic gardens. Delivering his keynote address at the Durban Botanic Garden, Moosa said the Congress, whose theme is 'Partnerships and Linkages', was the ideal opportunity for African and international delegates to discuss and charter the way forward for botanical gardens in Africa, amidst all the social, environmental and economic challenges facing the continent. He said the World Summit on Sustainable Development, which was recently hosted by South Africa, had agreed on the need to protect the world's biodiversity. The Johannesburg Plan of Implementation, which was adopted by consensus at the summit, includes, amongst other targets, reversing the trend of biodiversity loss by 2010. Moosa stressed the need for increased public awareness on the importance of preserving botanical gardens, saying they should be accessible to all sectors of society and not just a few, as is currently the case, so that government could justify the funds it directs to their upkeep. Some of the major outcomes anticipated from the Congress are the establishment of an African Botanic Gardens Network and an Action Plan for African Botanic Gardens. The Action Plan will provide a much-needed focus for many botanic gardens in Africa and should include issues such as training and capacity building, public education and awareness, information technology and dissemination as well as integrated conservation projects and initiatives. (Adéle Mackenzie)