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Potsdam and Zanzibar: Save botanical treasures in danger!
The Botanical Garden of the University of Potsdam is a world leader in Sansevieria research and supports the garden in Zanzibar.
Potsdam and Zanzibar: Save botanical treasures in danger!
The Botanical Garden of the University of Potsdam is one of the most important botanical gardens in Germany. With its largest plant collection in the world of the genus Sansevieria and a rich collection of 13,000 plant species, it is a valuable place for research and education. Dr. Michael Burkart, curator of the garden, recently reported on his return from a research trip to Zanzibar and Tanzania, where he was able to gain important insights into the local flora.
The botanical garden in Zanzibar is currently being revived with support from Potsdam. Dr. Burkart highlights that the garden has highly visible signage, but is in dire need of staffing to maintain basic functions. The gardening activities are largely carried out by volunteers, making this garden a unique example of volunteer work worldwide. However, there is a lack of central professional leadership, which affects the motivation of volunteers.
Research and conservation of Sansevieria
Dr. On his trip, Burkart not only brought fresh name tags for the plants to Zanzibar, but also discovered undescribed species. These plants have received little scientific research and their habitat is threatened by human activities. About ten undescribed species of Sansevieria were found on Pemba, a neighboring island of Zanzibar. What is worrying is that some of these plants are growing in areas where new hotel construction is planned.
Dr. Burkart and his local partners are actively committed to describing these rare species. He brought back live material to display in various botanical gardens, including in Potsdam and in the national living Sansevieria collection in Arusha. A receipt was also sent to the Tanzanian National Herbarium for preparation and storage of the species. Dr. Burkart plans to work with locals to take measures to save the plants from the construction sites.
Botanical gardens in Germany
Germany is home to over 70 botanical gardens that are recognized by the Association of Botanical Gardens. The top 15 includes some of the most famous gardens that stand out for their not only botanical but also cultural significance. The Palmengarten in Frankfurt, for example, has existed for over 150 years and was expanded to include a botanical garden in 2012, which now covers an area of around 19 hectares.
- Palmengarten Frankfurt: 13.000 Pflanzenarten, darunter Mangroven und patagonische Zypressen.
- Herrenhäuser Gärten Hannover: Barockgarten mit über 12.000 Pflanzenarten und zahlreichen exotischen Schauhäusern.
- Botanischer Garten der TU Dresden: pflanzensammlung seit 1815 mit etwa 10.000 Arten.
- Loki-Schmidt-Garten Hamburg: 25 Hektar Freigelände mit Pflanzen aus verschiedenen Kontinenten.
The diversity of botanical gardens in Germany is impressive, and they not only offer educational opportunities, but also adventure and recreational spaces for the public. Each of these institutions contributes to the conservation and research of plant life and provides valuable insights into the natural diversity of our planet.