Wednesday 25 February, 6-8.30pm - TS Eliot Lecture Theatre, Merton College, Oxford
Ben Jones will share stories and discoveries from over a decade of botanical fieldwork in Japan. Ben’s research focuses on bioquality hotpots within the Ethiopian and Japanese floristic regions. Working with Japanese universities and botanic gardens, he has explored remote mountains and ancient forests to study rare and endangered plants.
The lecture introduces remarkable species such as Betula chichibuensis and Picea koyamae – some of the world’s trees found only in one small part of Honshu – and reveals how seeds, knowledge and expertise are being shared between Japan and the UK to help safeguard these plants for the future. Blending science, conservation and cultural heritage, this presentation celebrate Japan’s unique plant life and highlights why protecting it matters for both nature and people, at home and around the world.
