What is it about?
The role of urban ecosystems in biodiversity have largely not received the needed attention. Such ecosystems have largely been converted into other uses. We highlight the role urban botanic gardens can play in biodiversity conservation.
Featured Image
Photo by Kenrick Baksh on Unsplash
Why is it important?
Our findings show that the Botanic Garden preserves 20 nationally threatened native species, with over half of them listed in the IUCN Red List category of vulnerable species (species facing high risk of extinction in the wild). Also, maintaining the natural flood plains in the garden has helped conserve threatened species which occurred exclusively at specific parts of the garden. Our study indicates that the Botanic Garden could play a critical role in biodiversity conservation if integrated into national conservation and urban development strategies to safeguard its potential.
Perspectives
Writing this article has been an eye opener seeing the enormous potential urban ecosystems can play in the quest for conservation of biological diversity. It was also a pleasure as it gave me the opportunity to work with my long time academic mentors.
Eric Boateng Acheampong
Read the Original
This page is a summary of: The role of urban tropical botanic gardens in biodiversity conservation: An example from the KNUST botanic garden in Kumasi, Ghana, Biotropica, April 2021, Wiley,
DOI: 10.1111/btp.12950.
You can read the full text:
Contributors
The following have contributed to this page
