At the 2012 Annual Conference of Chinese Botanic Gardens held in Nanshan Botanical Garden, Chongqing during November 1 and 4, a proposal for setting up a union of Chinese botanic gardens was spoken out. The proposal was put forward by Dr. Chen Jin, director of XTBG, on behalf of the Work Committee of CAS Botanical Gardens and some other work committees of botanical gardens.

Dr. SU Ronghui speaking at the opening ceremony

　In his keynote speech, Dr. Chen Jin proposed to set up a strategic cooperative organization among botanical gardens – the Union of Chinese Botanic Gardens. He called on botanic gardens and arboreta to join in the Union, to push the standard management practice of botanic gardens, and to enhance ex situ conservation of wild plant species, etc.

Dr. Chen Jin speaking at the conference

“All botanic gardens and arboreta are eligible for membership of the Union”, said the proposal.

The Proposal

The proposal won wide support among the participating institutions in the conference. During the sidelines, 57 botanic gardens and arboreta showed active response to the proposal and said that the Union should be set up as soon as possible.

The preparation work for setting up the Union of Chinese Botanic Gardens is now smoothly underway.