Abstract

Owing to environmental pollution, global warming and increased international trade plant diversity has become endangered worldwide. A modern and well established Botanic Garden is a sort of research laboratory, training and reference centre and a permanent data storehouse of all the plants of an area, especially the endangered and threatened flora of the region. Hence the importance of Botanic Gardens can be summarized as:

i) Identification: Botanic Garden, along with herbarium proves a fundamental source of identification of plants and a permanent reference centre. It serves basic need of identification for basic and applied research in botany, biology, agricultural sciences, pharmacy, genetics and biotechnology. Any research dealing with plants where plant genetic resources are to be used, involving plant breeding, pharmaceutical chemistry, agricultural sciences, aerobiology etc., depends on the correct identification of the species.

ii) Botanic Garden and herbarium as documentation centre. Types of new taxa (new species, subspecies and varieties) are properly preserved and kept here for future use. The name of each and every taxon is permanently attached with a type specimen/element. The Botanic It can accommodate specimens of a number of species from different geographical areas which provides the basis for monographic and floristic revision.

iii) Data storehouse: It may prove a data storehouse and a source of information on habitat ecology, distribution of rare and endangered species. It also gives an idea about the fast depleting biodiversity, particularly those species which remained abundant in the past and now have become endangered or very rare. It also provides new sources of DNA used by geneticists.

iv) As an educational resource: Botanic Garden acts as a source of library and laboratory for the systematic research. The herbarium staff provides significant service to the public for the identification of plants and answering a number of queries about the plants, their distribution pattern, ecology and usefulness. A rich collection of specimens provides a sound foundation for training in plant biodiversity and draw to draw the relationship of wild and cultivated plants, their affinities and correct identification. The data is therefore collected from these branches of science helps in identification but, also the better understanding of biodiversity and different environmental problems. The data generated through the project will be of great national and international importance.

Problem Statement

As the Government is planning to explore the natural resources of the country, this project will help to identify the plant resources of the country. It is estimated that up to 100,000 plants, representing more than one third of all the plant species, are currently threatened throughout the world or face extinction in the wild. Botanic Gardens are playing a key role in protecting all our plants for the future. Establishment of Botanic Garden at Botany Department, University of Agriculture, Faisalabad will be extremely important for the conservation of primarily the endangered native flora as well as exotic flora for scientific and educational purpose.
At the present time scientific estimate of the number of living species on the earth including microbes ranges from 1.4 million to 200 million. This range is so large that it immediately highlights our lack of knowledge about this important aspect.
Botanic gardens have collectively accumulated centuries of resources and expertise that now means they play a key role in plant conservation. Many of these activities contribute to ex situ conservation, but botanic gardens also play an important role in in situ conservation.
Horticulture and cultivation skills to grow plants that might be lost in nature, which means their plants' diversity can be conserved in the gardens, but also allows us to consider restoration and rehabilitation of degraded habitats.
Living collections of plants collect species under various groupings, to maintain a living store of genetic diversity that can support many activities in conservation and research.
Seed banks and collections of living plants allow species to be safeguarded. Plants must be carefully collected stored to ensure maximum genetic diversity is retained, and much research is required to determine the best way of storing each species. This is the conservation of plant diversity in situ, and botanic gardens are key to this strategy's capacity and success.
Research and development into plant taxonomy and genetics, phytochemistry, useful properties, informing selection of plants that can withstand degraded and changing environments (especially important in face of the threats posed by climate change).
Education is a strength of botanic gardens that allows them to communicate the importance of conserving plants, reaching out to diverse audiences, and also to communicate how this may be achieved.
Botanic Gardens can play an important role in linking plants with the well-being of people, and also helping conserve indigenous and local knowledge, to encourage the sustainable use of plant resources for the benefit of all, as part of sustainable development.

Objectives

The project has a direct relevance to the commitment of the Government towards enhancing scientific and technical capabilities in the country for economic development.

• To build up native tree arboreta at Botanic Garden
• Special emphasis on plant introduction, ex situ conservation and sustainable utilization.
• Major consideration on ex situ conservation of endangered and wild plants.
• Seed and plant germplasm preservation.

Methodology

Surveys were conducted to Faisalabad, Lahore and Patoki regions in order to collect the different native plant species for their establishment in the New Botanic Garden University of Agriculture Faisalabad. More than 75 plant species, mainly of the families of palms and gymnosperms were collected and planted in the Botanic Garden.

Results and Discussion

The collected plants from different nurseries of Faisalabad, Lahore and Patokki regions were grown in new botanical garden University of Agriculture Faisalabad. Some of the rare plant species established were Bismarkia nobilis, Brahea decumbens, Brahea armata, Butia capitata, Caryota mitis, Chamaedorea cataractarum, Chamaedorea elegans, Chamaedorea seifrizii, Dypsis decaryi, and Raphis excelsa (family Palmae), and Cycas circinalis, . thoursii, Dioon edule, and D. spinolossum (family Cycadaceae).
During the first stage, preference was given to palms and gymnosperms and over 75 plant species were planted in the garden. During the second phase, trees belonging to dicot families will be collected from different areas of the Punjab and will be planted in the garden.

Conclusion

As a inventory of rare and endangered species, many species were planted in the garden of both native and exotic origin. Among native species, Nannorrhops reitchiana and Phoenix loureirii are the endangered species in Pakistan. However, among exotic species, many species of Phoenix, Cheamedora, Cycas, Rhapis, Brahia, Dioon, Bismarckia, and Caryota are of ecological importance.
Recommendations
The future plan includes the establishment of dicot plant species belonging to different genera and species in the botanical garden.