Open access article re The Challenge for Botanic Garden Science

[Maggi Young]

Open access article  from New Phytologist Trust

The challenge for botanic garden science
 authir : Paul Smith

(Correspondence E-mail address:paul.smith@bgci.org

Paul Smith, Secretary General, Botanic Gardens Conservation International, Descanso House, 199 Kew Road, Richmond, Surrey TW9 3BW, UK.)

Read article here : open access

https://nph.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/ppp3.10

[ian mcdonald]

An interesting paper which is mostly understandable, even for me. I do agree that we need to conserve plant species, not just in case they are useful to humans but also because they have a right to be here. I do not agree that we need genetic engineering in plants to feed an ever increasing population. Family planning is more effective and does not need environmental destruction. In growing more crops to feed an increasing population we are chasing round in circles. Has anyone else noticed on food ingredients how often Palm Oil is included. To grow Palms for food production vast areas of forest are being destroyed. These forests may contain plants that are more important to humans than palm oil and they are also the home of that countries wildlife. A standardisation to plant naming sounds good but how often has it been applied? I expect a new science will come along and make the present system obsolete. The writing of scientific papers is needed if we are to advance our knowledge but the people who make decisions based on the findings are not usually scientists. Often, decisions are based on economics rather than Conservation. There was no mention in the article of the immense amount of work carried out by other sources ("amateurs") who spend their time studying plants and pass their findings on to the scientific community. It ought to be known that the scientific community studying plants (and all wildlife) are the minority. This fact is hardly ever acknowledged.

[Robert]

At some point I will read the articles, however at this time others things command my attention. It seems very interesting.

Ian,

I appreciated your comments. We have needed "family planning" on this planet for a long time (a massive understatement). As a human family on this planet, if we do not make the choice to do voluntary "family planning", the alternatives and consequences are not very pleasant (another understatement).

From my observations, applying a purely economic function to a natural system, sooner or later, does not work. It is very unfortunate that those making the decisions are ignorant or unwilling to look at other solutions that might work, and can also have a "win-win" outcome. Leaders (political, business, scientific, etc.) who's judgement is clouded with avariciousness in its various forms, or "be a winner (whatever dysfunction that is) or lose" thinking, create a great deal of suffering on this planet for many people and for many species.