The Chinese Union of Botanical Gardens (CUBG) was officially launched on June 6 in Beijing. 48 botanical gardens or arboreta have joined in the Union. The objectives of the UCBG are to construct a platform for botanical gardens and arboreta to have strategic cooperation, conduct technical exchanges, and share information.

“Beautiful China is an objective of national ecological civilization. The construction of botanical gardens is an important part in ecological progress.  The construction of CUBG should center on the main policies of national economic and social development and strive for efficiency. The feasible and sustainable development of CUBG will enable all botanical gardens and arboreta to make progress in their work”, said Academician BAI Chunli, president of the Chinese Academy of Sciences.

According to Dr. CHEN Jin, director of XTBG, who’s also chairman of the CUBG, there are more than 200 botanical gardens and arboreta in China. However, only 66% of native plant species, 34% endangered plant species have been protected there. There is an imbalance in the protection of plant species of genetic diversity and different provenance. Meanwhile, there is a lack in top-level design and cooperation mechanism for plant species conservation among botanical gardens.

The CUBG proposed a protection program for native plant species of the whole nation, which is aimed at increasing the protection rate of native species to 8o%, and endangered species to 70% in 5 years. Meanwhile, it will increase the preservation of duplicates of some plant species and genetic diversity

The Chinese Union of Botanical Gardens (CUBG) is jointly sponsored by Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS), State Forestry Administration, and Ministry of Housing and Urban-Rural Development.

Unveiling ceremony of Chinese Union of Botanical Gardens

CAS President Bai Chunli speaking at the inauguration ceremony

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Dr. Chen Jin speaking at the ceremony

Leaders from CAS and other ministries present at the ceremony