Press Release
Major Conservation Treaty signed with China
For immediate Release
Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew and Chinese Academy of Sciences Agree Partnership on Plant Conservation
LONDON, (MONDAY 10 MAY): This evening, the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, and the Chinese Academy of Sciences signed an important agreement before Lord Whitty of Camberwell, Parliamentary Under-Secretary, Department for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs: The agreement secures establishment of a partnership between the UK’s Millennium Seed Bank Project and the Kunming Institute of Botany (part of the Academy of Sciences) for seed collection and conservation, seed research, and capacity- building for long-term seed storage.
On the occasion of the signing of the Agreement Lord Whitty, Parliamentary
Under Secretary (Lords) at the Department for Environment, Food and
Rural Affairs said:
“On behalf of the Government, I am delighted to welcome the signing
of the Agreement between the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew and the Chinese
Academy of Sciences for future collaboration on the conservation of
indigenous and endangered plant species.
“This will enable the Millennium Seed Bank Project at Kew's Wakehurst Place site and the Kunming Institute of Botany to make valuable contributions to the conservation of the world's plant biodiversity. The Agreement will contribute significantly to the targets set in the Global Strategy for Plant Conservation of the Convention on Biological Diversity”.
Professor Crane, Director of Kew, signed the agreement for Kew, while Professor Chen Zu, Director, Vice President of the Chinese Academy of Sciences signed for the Kunming Institute of Botany. Also present was Professor Li Dezhu, Deputy Director of the Kunming Institute. The occasion coincided with the presence in London of Wen Jiabao, Premier of the People's Republic of China.
Notes for editors
The Millennium Seed Bank Project is one of the most ambitious conservation
projects in the world. Centred in Wakehurst Place, West Sussex, part
of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, it aims to safeguard ex-situ 24,000
species of plants from around the world, and to secure the future of
all Britain’s native flora.
Agreements along similar lines have been signed with 16 other countries.
Further Information (media only)
Trevor Butler, Millennium Seed Bank press office Tel 01444 894018 email
msb@kew.org
Sue Runyard, Kew Gardens press office Tel 020 8332 5681/5607 email pr@kew.org
Hannah Rogers Press Office Royal Botanic Gardens Kew Richmond TW9 3AB
Tel 020 8332 5607 Fax 020 8332 5610
Kew Gardens - Now designated a World Heritage Site Our mission: To enable better management of the Earth's environment by increasing knowledge and understanding of the plant and fungal kingdoms - The basis of life on Earth.
For further Press information please contact:
|
Kew: Public Relations Tel: +44 (0)20 8332 5607/5619 |
Wakehurst Place: Public Relations Tel: +44 (0)1444 894018 |
