BGCI- Botanic Gardens Conservational International

At the start of October, the city of Dunedin played host to the fifth Botanic Garden Conservation International conference. For one week, delegates representing distinguished botanical institutions from across the globe gathered to discuss the multi-faceted roles that botanic gardens and their affiliated organisations have to play in conserving plants (and humans) worldwide. Also in attendance was myself, Craig Huggan- distinguished bystander and budding horticulturalist. With the botanic gardens all in working order, I was free to get fully involved in the BGCI. And do so, I did.

 BGCI Conference Room

Throughout the course of the conference I attended a variety of talks and seminars that spanned a vast range of topics such as tree conservation, ending world hunger, the effect of establishing a botanic garden in the Korean Demilitarized Zone and the importance of community involvement in gardens worldwide. Each talk was delivered with varying degrees of aplomb and highlighted the growing range issues faced by gardens in their astounding and innovative attempts to conserve the earth’s biodiversity whilst educating the world’s growing urban population of the importance of plants within our lives.

Never have I been so bombarded with so much information in such a relatively short space of time.  So much so that I don’t feel that I can even begin to go about condensing it all into a summary that does my time anywhere near justice.

However! A special mention must go to Chipper Wichman of the ‘National Tropical Botanic Garden of Hawaii’ who gave what was for me, the most fascinating and inspiring talk of the whole conference. Making a welcome departure from buzzwords and vague mission statements, Wichman’s plenary detailed the long and fascinating story of the Breadfruit (Artocarpus altilis) and the extensive work that has been done by the NTBG regarding its propagation and proliferation as a viable food for the developing world. The Breadfruit saga illustrates a powerful example of horticulture being used to benefit lives and left me feeling truly inspired. For more information, have a wee click on this link.

  

Breadfruit- Artocarpus altilis

Thank you to Dunedin Botanic Gardens for allowing me to attend this event. It was a unique opportunity for which I am very thankful!