Event description:
This talk traces the unintentional development of botanic gardens from early human efforts to cultivate, select and exchange plants to their emergence as scientific institutions and, increasingly, as important components of the global system for conserving plant genetic resources. The talk examines this evolution across 4 different historical periods, starting with domestication of plants, then ancient plant collections, the development of agricultural and botanical knowledge in the Islamic world as well as the horticultural traditions of the Ottoman Empire, and the emergence of European physic gardens and finally modern botanic gardens. It argues that the historical practices of collecting, cultivating, documenting and exchanging plants have provided the foundation for the contemporary conservation function of botanic gardens, against the growing challenges of biodiversity loss, climate change, land-use change and the narrowing genetic diversity of modern agriculture. The talk explores how botanic gardens can complement agricultural genebanks by conserving crop wild relatives, living collections and other underrepresented plant genetic resources. It concludes that botanic gardens are increasingly assuming a strategic role in safeguarding plant diversity, connecting ex-situ and in-situ conservation, preserving associated traditional knowledge, and contributing to the resilience and long-term security of global food systems.
About the speaker:
HRH Princess Basma bint Ali of Jordan is a leading advocate for biodiversity conservation and the Founder of the Royal Botanic Garden of Jordan, established to conserve Jordan’s native plants and ecosystems while advancing scientific research, environmental education and climate smart sustainable development. She serves as Chair of the Board of Trustees of the Hashemite Fund for Badia Development, Chair of Botanic Gardens Conservation International’s International Advisory Council, and as a member of the BGCI's Board and the Crop Trust Board, helping guide international efforts to protect global plant diversity. Princess Basma is also a FAO Goodwill Ambassador for the Near East and North Africa, reflecting her longstanding commitment to environmental conservation, sustainable development and public engagement.
