G: Environmental issues
Date posted: 6 June 2010 - Permalink / Shortlink
PlantNet supports and seeks to promote the responsible use of resources, recycling, disposal of waste and care for the environment, and recognises the valuable role of horticulture in sustaining healthy conditions for people and their surroundings.
Plant collections have an important role in developing our understanding of climate change and the response to its effect on vegetation change and land use (see also policies B Science and E Education). At the local level, they can be a useful link in demonstrating and teaching best practice in sustainable use of resources. On the other hand, horticulturists use heat, water, peat and pesticides, and such use needs to be justified and explained.
This policy makes general comments about environmental issues, but then refers specifically to Agenda 21.
PlantNet aims to promote the use of plant collections to explain environmental issues and to encourage its members to use resources in as sustainable a way as possible.
To achieve these aims PlantNet will:
- encourage members to take every opportunity to use horticultural displays and plant collections to explain environmental issues
- encourage members to use resources in as environmentally sensitive and sustainable ways as possible
- provide information on and a forum for the discussion of such issues as the use of peat, and other issues of sustainability.
Agenda 21
Agenda 21 is a plan drawn up at the Rio Earth Summit in 1992 to protect the global environment into the twenty-first century. It consists of four sections:
- Social and economic dimensions (including, for example, accelerating sustainable development, combating poverty and changing consumption patterns).
- Conservation and management of resources for development (including protection of the environment, combating deforestation, managing fragile ecosystems and conserving biodiversity).
- Strengthening the role of major groups (for instance, global action for women towards sustainable and equitable development, local authority initiatives in support of Agenda 21 and scientific and technical components)
- Means of implementation (for example, science for sustainable development, promoting education, public awareness and training and administration for Agenda 21).
Botanic and similar gardens have the potential to demonstrate best practice in many aspects of sustainability.
PlantNet will encourage its members to:
- use procedures that are in accordance with the principles of sustainability in the management of their collections
- demonstrate practices that others could use in their own circumstances.
- undertake such measures as composting and recycling waste
- liaise with their local communities (or borough or local councils) in investigating such issues as ecologically friendly transport and monitoring local pollution.
The following policies are also relevant in delivering the policy on Environmental Issues: