ROLE OF BOTANICAL GARDEN IN
CONSERVATION
OF PLANTS IN NEPAL
Submitted to
Mr. Brajesh Shrestha
Subject Coordinator
Biology Department
St. Xavier’s College
Submitted by
Sahil Bam
Grade: XI ’D’
Roll no. 455
(……………….............)
1
APPROVAL PAGE
The Report entitled “Role of Botanical Garden in Conservation of Plant in
Nepal” assigned to the students of Grade XI of St. Xavier’s College, prepared
and submitted by Sahil Bam in fulfilment of the requirements for the topic, has
been requested for acceptance and approval.
Date of submission: ………………………
……………………… ..............
…………..........
Mr. Ramesh Maharjan Mr. Brajesh
Shrestha
Supervisor Subject Coordinator
Biology Department Biology
Department
St. Xavier’s College St. Xavier’s
College
Accepted in fulfilment of the requirements of the aforementioned project.
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ABSTRACT
The National Botanical Garden of Nepal was established in 1962 AD designed
by two British architects: Geoffrey Herklotz and Tony Schilling. It covers an
area of 82 hectors which makes it the largest botanical garden as well as the
oldest in Nepal. It is surrounded by a natural evergreen forest located at the
foothill of Mt. Phulchowki. A stream, named Godawari, runs through the
middle of the garden being a major part of the great beauty.
The main objective of the study was to recognize the role of Botanical Gardens
in the conservation of plants. Moreover, the study expressed the current status
of the National Botanical Garden in the protection of endangered and rare plant,
its policy and the further future plans. The information of the botanical garden
was collected by the educational visit along with the sources from the articles
and journals from the internet.
After this project, we got to learn that different species of plants are being
conserved by the In-Situ and Ex-Situ conservation. Different gardens like
Japanese style garden, Terrace garden, Lily Garden, Rare and Endangered
garden, Rose Garden etc. are present which categories the plant diversity as the
necessity. In contrary, the main learning from the project was the efforts made
by the management team of the botanical garden to preserve the pristine
diversity of plant species in Nepal.
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ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
The accomplishment of this project needed a lot of support and guidance from
several people. I am very thankful for all of the people who helped for this
project. Success of this project is the result of such priceless guidance. We,
students are indebted to the biology department of St. Xavier’s College for
providing the opportunity to the botanical garden at Godawari. Words cannot
express my gratitude to the coordinator of biology department, Mr. Brajesh
Shrestha and fellow teachers. In fact, this project has been completed only with
their support and proper guidance. For successful completion of this project
many people have helped me including my friends and my teachers. Without
their coordination this project would have been incomplete. We are thankful to
and fortunate enough to get constant advice, support and encouragement from
our teachers for this project work. I would like to thank the teacher, Mr. Ramesh
Maharjan who supervised our section and guide us when we were at Botanical
Garden. He helped us by providing the knowledge about the different species of
plants, their uses, importance and the ways to preserve them.
I also thank all the resources that provide the necessary information for this
project. And lastly, I would like to thank all the people who helped me directly
or indirectly for the completion of this project.
Name: Sahil Bam
Grade: XI ‘D’
Roll No. 455
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
List of Tables and Figures 6
Abbreviation and Acronyms 7
Chapter 1. Introduction 8-10
1.1 Background 8-10
1.1.1 Definition
1.1.2 History of Botanical gardens
1.1.3 History of Botanical gardens in Nepal
1.1.4 List of Botanical gardens in Nepal
1.1.5 Importance of Botanical gardens
1.1.6 Criteria necessary for the Botanical Garden
1.2 Objectives 10
1.3 Limitations 10
1.4 Rationale 10
Chapter 2. Methodology 11-12
2.1 Study area 11
2.2 Method of Study 12
2.2.1 Material used in the study
Chapter 3. Result and Findings 13-14
Chapter 4. Discussions and Conclusion 15
4.1 Recommendation
References 16
Annexes 17-24
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List of Tables and Figures
Fee Entry Table 11
A Road Map to Godawari Botanical Garden 12
Table of Division of Flora 14
List of species 17
CITES Appendix I, II, III 17-
18
Photos of some species 18-
19
Green House 20
Some Threatened and Protected species 21
Medicinal Plants 21
Pond Ecosystem 22
Information charts 22
Thematic Gardens and Conservatories 23-
24
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Abbreviation and Acronyms
AD: Anno Domini
BS: Bikram Sambat
CITES: Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild
Fauna and Flora
DPR: Department of Plant Resources
i.e.: id est; that is
IUCN : International Union for Conservation of Nature
km: Kilometer
m: Meter
mm: Millimeter
MoFE: Ministry of Forests and Environment
N: North
NBG: National Botanical Garden
RBG: Royal Botanical Garden
sp.: Species (singular)
spp.: Species (plural)
subsp.: Subspecies
var.: Variety
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ROLE OF BOTANICAL GARDEN IN
CONSERVATION
OF PLANTS IN NEPAL
Chapter 1. Introduction
1.1 Background
The report “Role of Botanical Garden in Conservation of Plant” is the study
research project based on the importance and role of the botanical garden. This
paper includes all the unique features, importance and necessities for the study
purpose and much more information related to the botanical garden.
1.1.1 Definition
Botanical garden is an area of wide range having plants conserved for the study
and research purpose. It is an institution holding documented collections of
living plants for the purpose of scientific research, conservation, display,
education and recreation.
1.1.2 History of Botanical Garden
The concept of botanical gardens arose during the middle Ages in the 16th
century. The first botanical garden ever created is the botanical garden of the
University of Pisa in 1544 AD.
1.1.3 History of Botanical Garden in Nepal
The history of botanical gardens in Nepal was marked by the establishment of
the National Botanical Garden in 1962 AD by the then Prime Minister Surya
Bahadur Thapa, with the interest of Late King Mahendra Shah.
1.1.4 List of Botanical Garden in Nepal
There are total 11 botanical gardens in Nepal under the Department of Plant
Resources (DRP). They are mentioned below:
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1. National Botanical Garden, Godawari, Lalitpur
2. Maipokhari Botanical Garden, Ilam
3. Dhanushadham Botanical Garden, Dhanusha
4. Brindaban Botanical Garden, Makawanpur
5. Mountain Botanical Garden, Daman, Makwanpur
6. World Peace Biodiversity Garden, Pokhara
7. Dhakeri Botanical Garden, Banke
8. Mulpani Botanical Garden, Salyan
9. Dhitachaur Botanical Garden, Jumla
10. Dewahariya Botanical Garden, Kailali
11. National Herbarium and Plant Laboratories
1.1.4 Importance of Botanical Garden
1. Botanical garden is the most reliable way of protection and conservation of
pristine plant diversity. It is the resource for the study and research of plants
without exploitation.
2. It makes the world’s plant species diversity known to the public. It is also a
way of recreation with nature.
1.5 Criteria necessary for the Botanical Garden
According to IUCN Botanic Gardens Conservation Secretariat, Kew,
Richmond, United Kingdom (1989), the criteria necessary for the botanical
garden are:
1. A reasonable degree of permanence
2. An underlying scientific basis for the collections
3. Proper documentation of the collections, including wild origin
4. Monitoring of the plants in the collections
5. Adequate labelling of the plants
6. Open to the public
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7. Communication of information to other gardens, institutions and the public
8. Exchange of seed or other materials with other botanic gardens, arboreta or
research institutions
9. Undertaking of scientific or technical research on plants in the collections
10. Maintenance of research programs in plant taxonomy in associated herbaria.
1.2 Objectives
The primary objectives of this report are as follows:
1. To understand the role of botanical gardens in plant conservation, both
globally and within the context of Nepal.
2. To explore the methods and practices used in the management of botanical
gardens.
1.3 Limitations of the study
During the course of this study, several limitations were encountered. These
include:
1. Limited Access: Access to certain botanical gardens and their specific
operations was restricted, which impacted the comprehensiveness of the study.
2. Time Constraints: The study was conducted within a finite timeframe, which
restricted the depth of the research in some aspects.
1.4 Rationale of the study
As a concerned part of the environment, we students are also responsible for the
protection of the ever-ranging biome. So, we went on an educational field visit
to a botanical garden to acknowledge the involvement of the country in the
protection of the environment. St. Xavier’s College, Nepal helped by assisting
us to the botanical garden with the amazing tutors and teachers.
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Chapter 2. Methodology
2.1 Study Area
The study area that we visited during the study was The National Botanical
Garden of Nepal, located in Godawari, Lalitpur.
Name: The National Botanical Garden of Nepal
Location: Godawari, Lalitpur
Established date location: 28th October, 1962 AD
Altitude: 1500-2000m, at the foothill of Mt. Phulchowki
Latitude: 27°35’44.38” N
Longitude: 85°23’1.53” E
Area: 82 hectares
Annual Precipitation: 354.03 millimeters (13.94 inches)
Garden opening Hours:
Garden opens daily from 9:30 AM to 4:00 PM for the 1st week of November to
the last week of January. Similarly, it opens from 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM for the
rest of the month.
How to reach there:
It is about 17 km from RNAC Bus Stop and takes about 45 minutes to reach
there by use of public transport. Or, any private vehicle can get there.
Entrance Fee:
The fee for the entry of the visitors is mentioned below in a table:
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2.2 Method of study
2.2.1 Material used in the study
The basic materials we used in the study to record the useful information for the
report are:
1. Mobile
2. Cameras
3. Notebook
The primary source of the data was collected during the field visit to The
National Botanical Garden of Nepal on 16 th October 2023 by the observation of
different variations of species of plants present in the garden. Different areas of
the garden were visited and shot in the camera for a complete study.
Furthermore, a questionnaire was prepared for the staff member of the garden to
learn more about the beauty and the overall management of the garden.
While the secondary sources were collected from journals and articles from the
internet. The official site of The National Botanical Garden was also visited to
collect the required data.
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Chapter 3. Result and Finding
The result and findings of this report were completely based on its objectives.
Firstly, the medicinal plants, regarded as saviour of are protected and conserved
in the botanical garden. A portion of the garden is separated for the medicinal
plants where a large species of medicinal plants are found for display and for
educational purposes. A separate section named ‘Medicinal Plants and
Information Section’ is built to learn more about the species of Medicinal plants
in Nepal. The medicinal plants found in the visited botanical garden were:
1. Ocimum sanctum
2. Acrous calamus
3. Rauwolfia serpentine
4. Cannabis sativa
5. Mentha spicata
6. Tinospora cordifolia
Secondly, there are different parts separated for flowering and non-flowering
plants in the botanical garden. According to a survey, there are 1039 species
(1052 taxa) of Angiosperms, Gymnosperms 31 species (33 taxa), Pteridophytes
109 species, Bryophytes 46 species and Algae 14 species in the National
Botanical Garden. During observation in the field visit, it was clear that the
garden had special conservation for the types of plants which included
Angiosperms and Gymnosperms too.
Similarly, for different climatic conditions plants, there are separate green
houses. The green houses contain temperature regulators as well as a unique set
of resources that allows them to protect the plants in different climatic
conditions.
Lastly, as from the entrance of NBG, there are various boards regarding
information about plants, their types, uses, importance and so on. Similarly,
there are numerous boards reflecting the importance of the conservation of
pristine plant diversity. The ways of conservation in the botanical gardens
reflect the awareness, importance and reasons for the protection of the species.
As a conclusion, the Role of Botanical gardens are for; Taxonomic studies,
Research purpose, Aesthetic value, Recreation, Empowerment, etc.
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The species found in the botanical gardens were largely vast so, some of them
are listed below with their Nepali name, Scientific name, Uses, Parts used,
Protection status, Threatened Category and CITES appendix.
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Chapter 4. Discussion and Conclusion
Botanical gardens are not bounded by certain roles; rather it is a major tool that
has been enhancing the life of every living organism since their origination. The
medicinal along with the environmental contribution of Botanical gardens has
been a great achievement for humans.
The major contributions by botanical gardens for conservation of plants are
mentioned below:
1. They preserve rare, threatened, or endangered species.
2. Botanical gardens devote their resources to the study and conservation of
plants
3. They make the world's plant species diversity known to the public.
4. These gardens also play a central role in meeting human needs and providing
well-being.
As a conclusion, it is a fact that a number of plants that are extinct in the wild
are kept alive solely through the efforts of botanical gardens.
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References
BIODIVERSITY EDUCATION GARDEN (2016). Available online:
http://beg.dpr.gov.np/ (accessed November 14)
Hughes, K., & Lamichanne, D. (2017, December). Sibbaldia: The International
Journal of Botanic Garden Horticulture. DOI: 0.24823/Sibbaldia.2017.220
(accessed November 12)
National Botanical Garden Official website: https://nbg.gov.np (accessed
November 12)
Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Botanical_garden (accessed November
12)
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Annexes
Here is the list of species, photo of different green houses, photo of some
threatened, protected, endemic, CITES-listed species, consultation photo, etc for
additional information.
List of species:
Endangered species Vulnerable plants
Coffea arabica Astrophytum ornatum
Cyrtomium hemionitis Cycas pectinata
Dioon spinulosum Dalbergia latifolia
Ensete nepalense Euphorbia ammak
Ginkgo biloba Ferocactus robustus
Paphiopedilum insigne Jacaranda mimosifolia
Pterocarpus santalinus Paris polyphylla
Sequoia sempervirens Santalum album
Taxus contorta
Zamia furfuracea
Endemic plants CITES Appendix I
Begonia nuwakotensis Paphiopedilum insigne
B. taligera Paphiopedilum sp
Cirsium phulchokiense
Elaeagnus tricholepis
Ensete nepalense
Hypericum cordifolium
Polystichum annapurnicola
Roscoea nepalensis
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CITES Appendix II CITES Appendix III
Alsophila spinulosa Gnetum montanum
Cycas pectinata Magnolia hodgsonii
D. sissoo Podocarpus neriifolius
Euphorbia ammak
Orchid spp.
Rauvolfia serpentine
Sinopodophyllum hexandrum
Taxus contorta
Photos of some species:
Piptanthus nepalensis Soli phool (C.N.)
18
Alainchi (C.N.) Sughandhawal (C.N.)
19
Gnetum monatanum Rauvolfia serpentina
Podocarpus neriifolius Magnolia filiifera
20
Green House:
Fig. Tropical House
Fig. Cactus House
Fig. Orchid House
21
Some threatened and protected species:
Medicinal plants:
22
Pond Ecosystem:
Information Charts:
23
Thematic Gardens and Plant Conservatories:
24
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