Central Asia has been an area of interest for the continued development of our Living Collections. We have worked with partners in the region with a focus on tulip (Tulipa) diversity in recent years and are expanding scope in the region to include other taxa of considerable collections, research, and conservation value.
In spring & summer 2023, staff from CUBG, in partnership with the National Academy of Science of the Kyrgyz Republic (NASKR) and the Kyrgyz office of Fauna & Flora International (FFI), went on expedition in Kyrgyzstan.
The purpose of the expedition in May/June was to scout for plants of interest for CUBG’s Living Collection and to continue development of mutually beneficial relationships with in‐country collaborators, including the Gareev Botanical Garden (GBG) located in the capital Bishkek, NASKR and FFI.
In August, CUBG staff returned to these and other sites and collected seed from a range of bulbous, perennial and woody plants. Seed will be grown by our Nursery team and integrated into the Living Collection.
Relationships and work in the area will continue for the foreseeable future. CUBG looks forward to gaining more insight into the flora of this region and working with local partners on its conservation.
