Thorny Challenge Clears the Way for Conservation 19th October
2007 Two-thirds of the National Botanic Garden of Belgium’s
Cactaceae collection could be thrown away and there would be no
implications for research or conservation. That was the stark
conclusion experts gave after evaluating cacti at Meise this
summer. The same is almost certainly true for many other plant
collections held by botanic gardens world wide. As botanic
gardens respond to the urgent need for conservation, there is a
growing realisation that aiming for accolades such as having a
comprehensive collection is a misguided indulgence. There is a
need to focus on the the species that need greatest support and
to no longer carry large collections of plants that have little
value for research or conservation. Staff at Meise recognised
this and decided to take action. Evaluation is the First Step
Once you accept that is necessary to concentrate on quality
rather than quantity, in most a gardens a process of evaluation
will be necessary. One grou