The role of Entebbe botanical garden in scientific research and contribution to conservation of biodiversity

Abstract

Botanic gardens have had a changing role throughout history, beginning often as medicinal gardens for the study and cultivation of plants with healing properties and going through many phases including of course as pleasure gardens. This study aimed at assess the role of Entebbe botanical garden in scientific research and contribution to biodiversity. The study used secondary data from Entebbe Botanical Gardens and data was analysed using SPSS. The study identified two hundred and ninety-nine different plants belonging to 46 families. The type of plants in the botanical garden ranged from grasses, shrubs to trees. The study also found out that 448 trees are planted in Entebbe botanical garden and Less than a quarter of the trees do not have local names. The study also showed that the highest number of plants in the garden have medicinal values and these are mainly from the Compositae, Leguminosae, Solanaceae and Euphobiaceae families. The study also revealed that One of the most noticeable conservation/management activities in the botanical garden is the raising of tree seedlings in the nursery. The study found out that the vitro storage is one of the methods of conserving gene bank. Ultimately, the study showed that the maintenance practice included; Fertilizing, Slashing, Spraying, Irrigation and Waste management. The study therefore recommended that the government through the ministry of agriculture should import more different types of trees belonging to the available species in order to increase the availability of the trees that serve different purposes like providing medicine. The government through the ministry of agriculture should increase on the land area where the trees are planted in order to enable diversification which may increase on the number of trees that serve different purposes. The study also recommended further research for instance on the factors that influence the planting of different tree species. This may improve on the diversification process which is based on facts of the factors that affect the planting of different tree species.