The Enver Gareyev Botanical Garden, located in Bishkek, may be granted the status of a specially protected natural area. The initiative is being put forward by the Ministry of Natural Resources, Ecology and Technical Supervision of Kyrgyzstan.
«In accordance with Article 2 of the Law «On Specially Protected Natural Areas», state botanical gardens are specially protected natural areas with the status of a nature conservation and scientific organization, intended for research and scientific developments in the protection, conservation, reproduction and use of flora, including rare and endangered plant species,» the ministry explained.
According to it, the Botanical Garden has requested the creation of a specially protected area.
Recall, the Botanical Garden was created on March 13, 1938 by a resolution of the Council of People’s Commissars of the Kirghiz SSR to study and enrich the local flora. It is one of the largest botanical gardens in Central Asia.
This is a leading scientific institution in the field of introduction and acclimatization, ecological physiology, selection and genetics of plants, one of the main centers for the study and conservation of biological diversity of plants in Kyrgyzstan.
The main activities of the Botanical Garden are scientific research on the introduction and ex-situ conservation of plant biodiversity, enrichment of the gene pool of plants of the world and natural flora of the republic for the purpose of their sustainable use and further use in landscaping, floriculture, horticulture, pharmaceutical and food industries.
«Giving such a status to the Botanical Garden can have a positive effect on the public opinion of residents of Bishkek and Chui region, since some citizens have concerns about its liquidation,» the Ministry of Natural Resources noted.
