Diverse botanical riches unveiled
"I had seen pictures of the beautiful wonderland before I came here; However, the view is even more enticing than the pictures," said Dr Tim Upson from the Cambridge University Botanic Garden, who visited the Shennongjia Precious Botanical Reserve Garden in late April. "I wish I could stay here for a few more days."
Some 37 noted international botanists from the United States, the United Kingdom, France, Italy, Mexico, Ireland and the Netherlands recently conducted a field study in the Shennongjia area to delve into its biological diversity and vegetation protection system. The activity was the last item on the agenda of the 3rd Global Botanic Gardens Congress, Wuhan.
The foreign experts showed great interest in Shennongjia's ancient and precious plants, and its splendid geological sights. They planted more than 40 saplings of 19 precious species, including the gingko, camphor, clove, Chinese dove tree, and the trembling poplar.
"I think the tree planting activity is quite interesting, which strengthens my affection for Shennongjia and cements the friendship between our participants," said Dr Michelle from France, happily planting a gingkgo.
The Shennongjia Precious Botanical Reserve Garden, a sub-venue of the 3rd Global Botanic Gardens Congress that opened on April 16, is located in the Guanmen Mountain, home to more than 700 precious plant species.
Spread over a 266.7-hectare area, the first-phase construction of the garden with an investment of 42 million yuan includes a botanical exhibition area, a science popularization area and several tourism service areas.
Featuring about 3,139 kinds of advanced plants and 926 lower plants, as well as many other ancient, rare and unique plant species, the Shennongjia area in Central China's Hubei Province also boasts the only well-preserved subtropical forestry biological system on the same latitude, with a forest coverage rate of up to 96 percent.
A paradise for plants and animals, the Shennongjia forest zone was selected by the United Nations Development Program as a "Demonstration of Natural Reserves of Biodiversity" in 1992.
Xu Tianquan, who is in charge of the Wuhan Botanic Garden, said its abundant creature species qualified the Shennongjia area to hold such an international symposium and assume related investigation tasks.
"It is also beneficial to the sustainable development of the forest area," said Xu, adding that public protection awareness needs to be enhanced.
Wang Haitao, Party committee secretary of the Shennongjia forest area, plants saplings with a foreign botanist during their field study in the region. Yu Haiyuan |
He suggested that while the Shennongjia area is focusing on developing ecological tourism, the number of visitors should be strictly limited, especially those visiting the core of the reserve.
Themed on "Building a sustainable future: the role of botanic gardens," the 3rd Global Botanic Gardens Congress provided a unique opportunity for experts from all over the world to come together to exchange information, review progress and develop new protection and development plans.
This year's event is the eighth edition of the international congress (formerly known as the International Botanic Gardens Conservation Congress), held every three years. This is the first time that the congress has been held in Asia.
The congress, held from April 16-20, was organized by the Botanic Gardens Conservation International (BGCI), Hubei provincial government, Chinese Academy of Sciences, and the Ministry of Forestry.
(China Daily 06/15/2007 page20)
