Role of Botanic Gardens in Modern Times

Botanic Gardens stand as the nation’s positive thrust in research, nature conservation, public health, environmental awareness and world cooperation. The last two decades have seen considerable developments in improving and extending the global activities affecting the conservation of germplasm resources of both wild and cultivated plant species due to which the role of botanic gardens has increased immensely. It has been generally accepted that the priority should be provided to major food crops and economic plants of the world and their wild relatives. But the attention is now turning towards the needs for the conservation of plant genetic diversity of a much wider range of species used by human being. To achieve these goals, the botanic gardens have to play a vital role in recent times. The present communication deals with such activities of botanic gardens on conservation, horto-taxonomy, education, training courses, information services, gene banks, recreation, flower shows and exhibitions. Botanic gardens created on scientific lines play a leading role to face the worldwide threat to the biodiversity and for creating the environmental awareness.