A garden of friendship: Nepal Garden at RBGE stands as testimony of friendship between Nepal and the UK

Located within the world-renowned Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh (RBGE), the Nepal Garden was established in March 2016 to mark the celebrations of 200 years of friendship between Britain and Nepal.

PM Sher Bahadur Deuba (L) plants a sapling of Bhoj patra ‘Betula utilis’ at the Nepal Garden in Scotland. (Photo: RBGE)

NL Today

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London: After addressing the World Leaders’ Summit at Cop26 in Glasgow, Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba planted a sapling of Bhoj patra ‘Betula utilis’ at the Nepal Garden in Scotland. The event has once again highlighted the testimony of long-standing friendship between Nepal and the UK in the areas of botanical research.

Located within the world-renowned Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh (RBGE), the Nepal Garden was established in March 2016 to mark the celebrations of 200 years of friendship between Britain and Nepal. More than 500 accessions of plants that either come from or were collected in Nepal are planted in the garden.

“Our long-standing and close relationship with Nepal enables research, conservation, horticulture and education and, most importantly, provides impressive outcomes for the natural environment upon which all life depends,” said Simon Milne, Regius Keeper of the RBGE. “At a time when 40% of plant species are threatened with extinction, plant diplomacy across nations has never been more vital.”

RBGE has a close, working relationship with National Botanical Garden Godavari in Nepal. RBGE is also involved in the study and publication of the book Flora of Nepal.

Photo: RBGE

Nepal is said to be a plant lover’s heaven with about 7,000 species of flowering plants and conifers found in the country, growing in the steamy jungles of the lowlands up to nearly 6,000 meters in the mountains.

During Cop26, more than 100 world leaders promised to end and reverse deforestation by 2030. Nepal committed to maintaining its forest cover to 45 percent of the total landmass by 2030. Scientists say felling trees contributes to climate change because it depletes forests that absorb vast amounts of the greenhouse gas CO2.

RBGE has a close, working relationship with National Botanical Garden Godavari in Nepal. RBGE is also involved in the study and publication of the book Flora of Nepal.

Dr Bhaskar Adhikari, a Biodiversity Scientist at the RBGE said,” Nepali planting area is a showcase of our garden, and it reflects a long-standing relationship between Nepal and Britain. This visit by the PM of Nepal will certainly strengthen our partnership on collaborative research and our fight with climate change to conserve nature.”

RBGE and the National Botanical garden at Godavari are working together for ex-situ conservation of plant species that are under threat due to climate change.

The National Botanic Garden has now successfully developed ex situ collections of endangered Himalayan yew trees using cuttings and seeds collected on joint fieldwork. The National Botanic Garden has also successfully grown rare ferns from spores, which is very difficult to do.