Title: Challenges to Conserving Southeast Asia’s Flora: Insights from a Southeast Asia Botanic Garden Network Committee Member
Speaker: Dr Nura Abdul Karim Singapore Botanic Gardens, National Parks Board
Time: 4：00 PM, November 5,2024
Zoom registration link:
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Read Integrative Conservation at https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/journal/27709329
Introduction
Approximately eighty percent of all species on Earth are found in the tropics, making these regions the most biodiverse. However, this biodiversity is threatened by rapid degradation and alarming predictions of widespread extinction of flora and fauna. Socio- cultural-economic issues, natural disasters and anthropogenic activities, present significant challenges to prioritizing biodiversity conservation in Southeast Asia. Urgent collaborative actions and multidisciplinary solutions are necessary to control or reverse species loss.
Botanic gardens play a crucial role in plant conservation, taxonomic research, horticultural studies, public education, and the appreciation of natural history. They can significantly contribute to addressing these pressing issues. Despite their importance, tropical botanic gardens in biodiversity hotspots, such as the Southeast Asia, represent only a small fraction of the global network of botanical gardens, according to the Botanic Gardens Conservation International (BGCI) database.
Tropical botanic gardens face unique challenges compared to the temperate gardens. They must manage a greater diversity of species, mobilize resources and funding effectively, and create impactful public awareness initiatives. In Southeast Asia, these efforts are particularly challenging due to the diverse range of cultures, languages, and practices across different countries, making it essential to tailor approaches that resonate with each unique community.
Insufficient support in terms of funding, skilled personnel, and infrastructure development presents significant barriers to establishing effective botanic gardens in less developed or developing countries within Southeast Asia. Political instability, corruption, and weak enforcement of conservation policies further exacerbate biodiversity loss.
To overcome these challenges, it is essential to foster stronger collaborative initiatives among regional and global botanical institutions, NGOs, universities, botanical networks, and relevant private sectors. Such cooperation can pool expertise, funding, and knowledge, facilitating the development of innovative, multidisciplinary solutions. This collective approach is not merely beneficial; it is critical for advancing conservation efforts and ensuring the sustainability of biodiversity in the region. Immediate action is required to harness these partnerships and drive meaningful change.
Dr Nura Abdul Karim holds a PhD in Science (Horticulture) from the University of Western Australia and has over 25 years of experience at the Singapore Botanic Gardens (SBG), where she has held various roles, including Research Officer in the Singapore Herbarium, Plant Records Manager, and Deputy Director of SBG Living Collections. Currently, as Deputy Director of Library, Training, and External Relations, she is directing initiatives to modernize the library facilities through an integrated management system and a digitalization project for archived materials. She enhances awareness of the Gardens' collections by collaborating with the National Library Board (Singapore) and the Biodiversity Heritage Library (USA). Additionally, she manages international collaborations and trains staff and volunteers as docents. Dr. Nura is also a key member of the Southeast Asia Botanic Gardens (SEABG) Network and is one of the SBG representatives on the International Advisory Council of Botanic Gardens Conservation International (BGCI). She has collaborated with BGCI to develop several training workshops and courses co-organized for the Southeast Asia Botanic Gardens (SEABG) Network.
