New Challenges to Promote Botany's Practice Using Botanic Gardens: the Case Study of the Lisbon Botanic Garden
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1 New Challenges to Promote Botany’s Practice Using Botanic Gardens: The Case Study of the Lisbon Botanic Garden MARIA AMÉLIA MARTINS-LOUÇÃO* AND GISELA GAIO-OLIVEIRA Centre for Ecology, Evolution and Environmental Changes, Faculty of Sciences, University of Lisbon, Lisbon, Portugal Abstract Botanic Gardens are living plant museums, where plants have been arranged according to previous research and discovery in order to be used as a display for public appreciation and learning. Thus, more than ever, they can serve to improve the practice of botany, being able: (i) to drive the continuous exchange of ideas using the ‘old and new’ botany approach; (ii) to show the importance of the plant world in alleviating regional and global changes; (iii) to expand forward-thinking in science promotion. The Global Strategy of Plant Conservation (GSPC) has promoted global action in environment conser- vation and study. From the beginning, it has been adopted by Botanic Gardens Conservation International (BGCI) to function as a leitmotiv for botanic gardens best practice. In the present century, a new endeavour is required to facilitate the appeal of botany to younger generations. Links between taxonomic knowledge, molecular studies, information and communication technologies, and social sciences are urgently needed. Lisbon Botanic Garden has been working on these challenges for the past six years. 1.1 Introduction with unknown consequences (Thuiller et al., 2005; Plants have a key role in ecosystem balance and, Blackmore et al., 2011; Merritt and Dixon, 2011). thus, are vital for environmental sustainability. In spite of this impending crisis, public concern Besides that ecological value, plants represent an with biodiversity remains limited. Although many economic and cultural value for humans, since people feel that biodiversity is a heritage that they give us food, feed for animals, fibres and should be preserved as fully as possible, the aware- pharmaceutical products. It is not surprising that ness tends to be centred on a few ‘charismatic’ spe- the World Health Organization (WHO) has esti- cies and ecosystems. But biodiversity also includes mated that up to 80% of the world’s human popu- thousands of less conspicuous species and less lation depend on plants (or plant products) for spectacular ecosystems. Thus, we need to better their primary health care (Bodeker et al., 2003), inform society about plants’ significance and the while playing an expanding role in its development. importance of biodiversity for humanity. Although the value of plants is fully recognized, no Within the core missions of botanic gardens, edu- effective action is taken to prevent the continuous cating people about the role of biodiversity and the decline in plant diversity and, consequently, in need for plant conservation represent important issues ecosystem services provided by them. In addition, with which to engage broader audiences (www.bgci. climate change is altering the habitat of plants, org). Botanic gardens are the modern-day arks; they *E-mail: [email protected] © CAB International 2017. Plant Biodiversity: Monitoring, Assessment and Conservation 1 (eds A.A. Ansari, S.S. Gill, Z.K. Abbas and M. Naeem) have received economically significant plants from ● How important is the role of science promot- the colonies and developing scientific programmes ers and communication services to further raise for the planting and cultivation of medicinal herbs. botanic gardens’ social relevance? In the 16th century, the first botanic gardens pro- ● How important are the activities offered by vided plants for medical research (Rinker, 2002). botanic gardens’ education services to increase From the 17th to the 19th centuries, botanic gar- public awareness of plant diversity loss and the dens functioned as displays of colonial diversity, as need for conservation? well as taxonomic inventories contributing to the knowledge of tropical plant diversity (BGCI, Firstly, we are focusing on the unique opportunity 2014). During the 20th century, botanic gardens botanic gardens have to play a key-role in plant edu- were transformed into specialized research centres cation through complementing academic programmes (BGCI, 2014), particularly focused on the global at either graduate or postgraduate level. We then loss of biodiversity and, thus, included scientific consider the strategic approaches that botanic gar- research on plant conservation and public education dens have developed and the role they need to play, (BGCI, 2012). through systematic research and conservation assess- Today, there are few nations in the world without ments. Thirdly, we examine the role of science pro- botanic gardens. Besides conserving ex situ biodi- motion and communication as a fundamental area to versity, botanic gardens develop research on plant raise awareness for plant diversity and conservation. systematics, using ecological, evolutionary and phy- Finally, we consider new methods offered by educa- logenetic approaches. Before the implementation of tion services to contribute to capacity building and conservation measures, either in situ or ex situ, we training in plant science and conservation. We pro- need to identify, recognize and study plant species’ vide examples of each of these, based on the experi- ecology. Plant conservation is an important issue for ences of the Lisbon Botanic Garden (LBG). botanic gardens, particularly after the adoption of The Lisbon Botanic Garden (LBG) is a 136-year- the Global Strategy for Plant Conservation (GSPC) old institution, belonging now to the National (CBD, 2002). This strategy was launched in 2002 by Museum of Natural History and Science, as part of the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) that the University of Lisbon. It is a scientific garden, ‘marked an important advance in raising awareness classified as a national heritage monument in 2010 of the threats faced by plants worldwide, as well as and a member of the World Monuments Watch providing, for the first time, a coherent framework since 2011. It was developed during the 19th cen- for policy and action needed to halt the loss of plant tury (1873–1878), when scientific and cultural diversity’ (CBD, 2002). In spite of the successes progress was emerging in Portugal. The Lisbon brought by this convention, it was not enough to Botanic Garden (LBG) has always been recognized mobilize effective actions for diminishing plant bio- as an idyllic spot within the centre of Lisbon, par- diversity loss. New achievements should be reached ticularly by foreign tourists, probably following the by 2020, according to the CBD revision in 2011 beautiful and romantic words expressed by Thomas (Sharrock, 2011). Mann, in his novel Confessions of Felix Krull For the success of GSPC, botanic gardens need (Mann, 1955). Over four hectares, this botanic to strength their scientific contribution, as well as garden features an important and diverse living col- their influence in government policies. This lection, where the Portuguese colonial memory is requires a better development and coordination of imprinted. Being part of the University of Lisbon, tasks within and among botanic gardens to under- taxonomic expertise has been preserved to support pin conservation actions according to GSPC’s tar- adequate conservation policies as well as to main- gets. Only with this renewed challenge botanic tain scientific collections. Plant conservation and gardens can underline their social role. This raises sustainable use of resources are at the core of all four critical questions, which we review in this scientific activity. The environmental consequences chapter: of the loss of biodiversity and the role of human- kind on this global problem have been presented to ● Can botanic gardens pave the way for plant the LBG public, benefiting from researchers’ scien- learning? tific knowledge and optimized through the launch ● What kind of strategic mechanisms do botanic of an education department and the development gardens need to develop? of a strategic plan of communication. 2 Maria Amélia Martins-Loução and Gisela Gaio-Oliveira The above four key questions are behind the mis- biosphere and to appreciate the aesthetic and sion of Botanic Gardens Conservation International unique biological features of these life forms (BGCI), a global network derived from the (Wandersee and Schussler, 1999). International Union for Conservation of Nature Botanic gardens can be important as a ‘cure’ for (IUCN) in support of botanic gardens, and particu- such blindness and nature-deficit disorder, through larly focused on connecting people with nature and their role in plant learning and informal education finding solutions for sustainable livelihoods. A pri- to increase the knowledge of plant biology mary concern of BGCI has been to provide a means (Wandersee and Schussler, 2001; Powledge, 2011). for botanic gardens in all parts of the globe to share They can serve this mission through informal edu- information and new advances to benefit conserva- cation aimed at schools, hands-on activities, tion and education (Wyse Jackson and Sutherland, open days and guided tours for the general public. 2000). After the Earth Summit in Rio de Janeiro Moreover, botanic gardens offer research pro- 1992, the Plant Conservation Report in 2009 and grammes to attract university students to plant the adoption of the Global Strategy for Plant biology, systematics and taxonomy, since they Conservation (GSPC), BGCI has explored different house botanical reference