Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
05PARIS4881
2005-07-13 10:52:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Embassy Paris
Cable title:  

USUNESCO: UK ROYAL BOTANICAL GARDENS PROGRAMS HELP

Tags:  SCUL SENV SOCI TBIO UK UNESCO 
pdf how-to read a cable
This record is a partial extract of the original cable. The full text of the original cable is not available.
UNCLAS PARIS 004881 

SIPDIS

FROM USMISSION UNESCO PARIS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: SCUL SENV SOCI TBIO UK UNESCO
SUBJECT: USUNESCO: UK ROYAL BOTANICAL GARDENS PROGRAMS HELP
HALT LOSS OF PLANT DIVERSITY


UNCLAS PARIS 004881

SIPDIS

FROM USMISSION UNESCO PARIS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: SCUL SENV SOCI TBIO UK UNESCO
SUBJECT: USUNESCO: UK ROYAL BOTANICAL GARDENS PROGRAMS HELP
HALT LOSS OF PLANT DIVERSITY



1. Summary: At a July 11 UNESCO presentation, UK
representatives of the Royal Botanical Gardens at Kew ("Kew
Gardens") summarized the scientific and cultural
significance of Kew Gardens and reviewed its current
programs, especially those helping halt the loss of plant
diversity. End summary.


2. This cable is distributed to all embassies in capitals of
UNESCO Member States so as to help re-build USG
institutional knowledge about UNESCO. The USG decided to
resume full membership status in UNESCO in October 2003,
following a nineteen-year absence. The USG decision was
grounded in a desire to participate more fully in UNESCO's
important programs, especially in education, and on the
finding that significant reforms had taken place at UNESCO.


3. At a July 11 meeting at Paris UNESCO headquarters,
Professor Sir Peter Crane, the Director of Kew Gardens,
reviewed the history of Kew Gardens, which was created in
1759 and inscribed onto the World Heritage List in 2003
because of its significance in the fields of botany,
ecology, landscape and architecture.

He focused on four aspects of the Kew Gardens program:

--The U.K. Overseas Territory Program, which provides
scientific/horticultural training of local counterparts;
-- Drylands work (especially in Africa) to combat
desertification and exploitation of plant species;
-- Wet tropics work (especially in Africa and Southeast
Asia); and
-- Strengthening capacity in developing countries through
global partnerships

Crane emphasized that Kew Gardens intends to continue to
connect its work with key development needs (water, energy,
health, agriculture, etc.)


4. The Kew Gardens focus on education, training and capacity
building includes: informal education (visitors),school
education, adult education, formal and informal
individualized training (volunteers, students, etc.) and
formal courses (diplomas in plant conservation strategies,
botanic garden management, etc.) Kew Gardens also makes a
particular effort to educate children.


5. Professor Crane described the Millennium Seed Bank
Project, a global conservation program that collects and
conserves both seeds and living species in partnership with
scientists and institutions throughout the world. Project
partnerships in arid and semi-arid countries focus on
collection and conservation of dryland plant species and
strengthening in-country capacity for seed banking.


6. Crane said that all exchanges of plant genetic resources
that take place between Kew Gardens and its partners are
governed by legally binding formal access and benefit-
sharing agreements in conformity with national legislation
in each participating country.


7. During the discussion session, questions were posed
concerning several different issues, including: the size of
the organization (600 people with a budget of 19 million,
primarily funded by the U.K. government); how Kew Gardens
can directly aid countries that are interested in preserving
plant life (Kew Gardens offers training and capacity
building for emerging scientists on plant conservation
techniques, sustainable use of plant resources, etc.); how
Kew Gardens is involved in climate change issues (Kew
Gardens is not focused or directly involved in climate
change, although more can be done in this area - climate
change is another rationale for seed banking); and what can
be done about the problem of invasive species (an
appropriate program of management is necessary to control
invasive species).


8. Comment. This successful event shows that UNESCO works
well when it serves as a forum for exchanges of scientific
information. For example, the Afghan UNESCO Ambassador
expressed his gratitude for the information he received
during this event about technical and training assistance
that could help revitalize plant life in his badly damaged
country. End comment.

Koss