A blog maintained by Tevita Kete, PGR Officer
Secretariat of the Pacific Community (SPC), Suva, Fiji Islands
This weblog documents the activities of Pacific Agricultural Genetic Resources Network (PAPGREN), along with
A blog maintained by Tevita Kete, PGR Officer
Secretariat of the Pacific Community (SPC), Suva, Fiji Islands
This weblog documents the activities of Pacific Agricultural Genetic Resources Network (PAPGREN), along with other information on plant genetic resources (PGR) in the Pacific.
The myriad varieties found within cultivated plants are fundamental to the present and future productivity of agriculture. PAPGREN, which is coordinated by the Land Resources Division of the Secretariat of the Pacific Community (SPC), helps Pacific countries and territories to conserve their crop genetic diversity sustainably, with technical assistance from the Bioversity International (BI) and support from NZAID and ACIAR.
SPC also hosts the Centre of Pacific Crops and Trees (CEPaCT). The CEPaCT maintains regional in vitro collections of crops important to the Pacific and carries out research on tissue culture technology. The CEPaCT Adviser is Dr Mary Taylor (MaryT@spc.int), the CEPaCT Curator is Ms Valerie Tuia (ValerieT@spc.int).
PAPGREN coordination and support
Mr William Wigmore
Mr Adelino S. Lorens
Dr Lois Englberger
Mr Apisai Ucuboi
Dr Maurice Wong
Mr Tianeti Beenna Ioane
Mr Frederick Muller
Mr Herman Francisco
Ms Rosa Kambuou
Ms Laisene Samuelu
Mr Jimi Saelea
Mr Tony Jansen
Mr Finao Pole
Mr Frazer Bule Lehi
Interested in GIS?
Monday, March 07, 2005
Posted 4:13 PM by Luigi
Botanic gardens in the Pacific
Botanic Garden Conservation News is the newsletter of Botanic Gardens Conservation International. It carries news from botanic gardens around the world.
A review of botanic gardens around the world printed in Botanic Gardens Conservation News 3(6) June, 2001 can be found here. You can also read a summary here. According to the study, there are currently 2,204 botanic gardens known in the world. Over 500 botanic gardens occur in Western Europe, more than 350 in North America and over 200 in East and Southeast Asia, of which the majority are in China. Most of the southern Asian botanic gardens are to be found in India. Most regions of the world have a range of botanic gardens, although there are relatively few in North and Southern Africa, the Caribbean islands, the Pacific islands, South West Asia and the Middle East.
The majority of botanic gardens in the Pacific region are in Australia and New Zealand. There are relatively few in the Pacific Ocean Islands (other than in Hawaii - included under the U.S.A.). Numbers are as follows: Australia (128), New Zealand (20), Fiji (2), Western Samoa (2), Solomon Islands (1), Palau (1).
According to the study, the following PICTs did not have botanic gardens as of 2001:
This may have changed since, and it would be interesting to know of any new botanic gardens around the region.
The role of botanic gardens in the conservation of Europe’s overseas territories is discussed here. The overseas territories of Europe are often much richer in plant biodiversity than their sovereign or associated Member State. For example, in France (Métropole) there are just 250 endemic plant species compared with 1,796 in Nouvelle-Calédonie/Kanaky (New Caledonia). This Territoire d’Outre-Mer (TOM) is an IUCN recognised Centre of Plant Diversity along with four other European overseas territories.
Accoding to the article, "absolute priority must be placed on the development of within territory conservation facilities such as field gene banks and managed reserves. Botanic gardens in the Member States can take an active role in supporting projects in the territories. In 1997, the Conservatoire Botanique National de Brest hosted a conference on the threatened plants of France, including key presentations from the French DOM/TOMs. Existing ex situ collections should act as a ‘shop window’ for directing resources and funding to overseas territory activities. For example, island issues are promoted through interpretation panels at the Conservatoire Botanique National de Brest and the new Nouvelle-Calédonie/Kanaky glasshouse at the Jardin Botanique, Mairie de Paris."
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Agrobiodiversity Weblog: For discussions of conservation and sustainable use of the genetic resources of crops, livestock and their wild relatives.