Botanical gardens and life on earth

Source: The post is based on the article “Botanical gardens and life on earth” published in “The Hindu” on 22nd April 2023. 

Syllabus: GS2- Environment and ecology 

Relevance: In-situ conservation of ecology. 

News:  The Tamil Nadu government has decided to establish a large botanical garden (the Chengalpattu Botanical Garden) in the State. 

What is the importance of gardens? 

Plants form the basis of civilization. Humanity has had a long association with gardens. The tradition of home gardens has been noted in ancient texts and depicted in cave paintings. 

Gardens capture a part of the earth’s biodiversity for our enjoyment. Modern academic gardens often have hundreds and thousands of dried plant specimens for research. 

Rulers, from ancient civilisations to modern ones owned botanical gardens rich in native plants and plants collected from distant places. A beautiful garden was an important metric of  one’s prosperity and administration. 

Between the 15th to 17th centuries, European explorations led to the establishment of several academic botanical gardens. The oldest of these, Orto Botanico di Padova in Italy, was founded in 1545.  

The most well-known, the Royal Botanic Gardens in Kew near London, was formally consolidated in 1840.  

What are some facts about botanical gardens in India? 

The oldest of the Indian Botanic gardens called the Acharya Jagadish Chandra (AJC) Bose Indian Botanic Garden, in Howrah was established in 1787. The Garden is spread over 109 hectares.  

Kolkata is also the headquarters of the Botanical Survey of India. It is the country’s major research centre in botanical surveys and documentation. 

The exact number of botanical gardens in India is not known. The published number ranges from between 10 to 35.  

What are the issues with India’s approach to botanical gardens? 

Globally, botanical gardens are important centres for plant exploration, discovery and research, and biodiversity outreach.  

Indian botanical gardens have often lacked this wider perspective. Only a few botanical gardens have plant exploration and education programmes. 

India is among the countries with a high diversity of plants and animals, with an estimated 18,000 to 20,000 plant species. Yet, our knowledge of our vast botanical heritage is extremely limited. 

Our scientific and educational institutions have neglected many aspects of plant biology: taxonomy, ecology, evolution, population ecology and stress biology.  

What are some facts about the proposed botanical garden in Tamil Nadu? 

The ₹300 crores Chengalpattu Botanical Garden is being planned across 138 hectares. It will be India’s largest botanical garden. 

The CBG has the potential to become a major centre for the exploration and discovery of India’s plant wealth. It will be a centre of research, education, citizen science, and outreach in plant biology. It will be a forceful voice in conservation. 

The Royal Botanic Gardens in Kew has been chosen as a key partner for technical expertise on what plants to use and how to maintain them. 

What measures can be taken for the success of the proposed botanical garden? 

Many institutions and individuals in India also have relevant and appropriate expertise in the design and development of gardens. It can be used. 

In the past two decades, the botanical gardens in Singapore, Thailand, and Indonesia, have set new standards in their research and outreach programmes. Collaboration with such gardens could be immensely beneficial.