For. Roberto P. Cereno, Vice Chancellor for Community Affairs at the University of the Philippines Los Baños (UPLB), and For. Leilani A. Castillo, University Researcher at the Makiling Center for Mountain Ecosystems (MCME), attended the 8th Global Botanic Gardens Congress (8GBGC) held on 5-10 August 2024 at Suntec Convention Center, Singapore. The 8GBGC is a prestigious gathering that convenes botanic garden professionals, researchers, and policymakers worldwide to address important issues, share best practices, and establish meaningful collaborations that will shape the future of botanic gardens worldwide. Under the theme, ’Botanic Gardens – People and Plants for a Sustainable Future’, the congress emphasized the critical role of botanic gardens in conservation, biodiversity research, education, and community engagement.
Vice Chancellor Cereno presented a paper entitled “Engaging students and local residents in park interpretation and education: Experiences from the Makiling Botanic Gardens and Mount Makiling Forest Reserve, Philippines” under Theme 3 – Engaging Communities. Meanwhile, For. Castillo presented a paper entitled “Floristic inventory and distribution characteristics of the Makiling Botanic Gardens, Mount Makiling Forest Reserve ASEAN Heritage Park, Philippines” under Theme 2 – Plant Diversity and Conservation. Vice Chancellor Cereno’s session (Session 2, 05 August 2024, 3:00-4:00 pm) was recognized for its big attendance.
One of the highlights of the congress is the launching of the Southeast Asia Plant Phenology (SEAPP) Network where the Makiling Botanic Gardens is one of its first members. The network is being led by the Singapore Botanic Gardens (SBG) together with the Southeast Asia Botanic Gardens (SEABG) Network and Botanic Gardens Conservation International (BGCI) to monitor and collect long-term phenology data of selected tree species among botanical institutions in Southeast Asia to understand tropical plant phenology and the impacts of a changing climate. Other initial members include Research Centre for Applied Botany – Indonesia (Bogor Botanic Gardens, Cibodas Botanical Garden, Purwodadi Botanic Garden); Kepong Botanic Gardens – Malaysia; Siit Arboretum Botanical Garden – Philippines; and Xishuangbanna Tropical Botanical Garden – China.
Also included in the congress is a two-day optional tour specially curated for the 8GBGC to explore the vibrant beauty of Singapore. The optional tours include THE PLOT THICKENS – Horticulture and Conservation in Singapore Botanic Gardens; MAGICAL MANGROVES – Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve Tour; THE OTHER SIDE OF SINGAPORE – Pulau Ubin Tour; NATIONAL GARDENS IN THE HEARTLANDS – Jurong Lake Gardens Tour; Southern Ridges Tour; Gardens by the Bay: The Gardens Tour; WHERE IT ALL STARTED – Fort Canning Park Tour and Skyrise Greenery Tour.
The congress was attended by about 900 onsite and 200 online participants from the different botanic gardens globally. The congress ended with the announcement of the next hosts of the 9GBGC – The Morton Arboretum and the Chicago Botanic Garden. The Congress is held every three years and is the only global congress dedicated to botanic gardens.
By: For. Leilani A. Castillo
Photos by:
LACastillo, RPCereno
