Last updated: March 2025
Peru is classified as one of the 17 most biodiverse countries in the world, so biodiversity and its conservation are important national aspects (2, 3, 4). However, one-third of the native flora currently assessed is threatened (3, 4). Thus, the creation of the Botanical Garden represents the opening of a space to learn about, study and conserve the national flora by strengthening Peruvian society's awareness of its value (4, 5). The Botanical Garden is in its early stages of development and is not open to the public yet, but its development and implementation have the support of several associations such as the British Council, Concytec, the Ministry of Environment, the Ministry of Culture, the British Embassy and the Asociación Pro Jardín Botánico Nacional de Lima (1). The initiative has been incorporated as part of the Bicentennial City project of the Ministry of Environment in Ancon (6). The implementation began in 2021 on a 10-hectare plot of land donated by the Universidad Nacional Agraria La Molina (UNALM) in Lima (3), and it will be carried out in several stages. An Inter-Institutional Committee has been established to oversee its development (3). In addition, it is planned to extend the idea of botanical gardens to other regions of the country, creating a network that will allow the conservation and study of flora in different contexts (4, 5), as the purpose of its development is to condense in one place all the biological richness of the country (7). With this project, they aim to strengthen the conservation of plant species, the generation of inputs for education, and as a source of cultural spaces and for the well-being of its citizens, among others (1, 2). The Botanical Garden is intended to house a select sample of the more than 25,000 species in Peru, emphasising those that are endemic, threatened and of social, cultural and economic relevance (8).
Place where the implementation of the National Botanical Garden of Lima began.
Universidad Agraria La Molina
Overview
Nature-based solution
- Grey infrastructure featuring greens
- Institutional green space
- Parks and urban forests
- Botanical gardens
Key challenges
- Green space, habitats and biodiversity (SDG 15)
- Habitat and biodiversity conservation
- Cultural heritage and cultural diversity
- Preservation of natural heritage
- Health and well-being (SDG 3)
- Creation of opportunities for recreation
- Social justice, cohesion and equity (SDG 10)
- Environmental education
Principal problems in Functional Urban Area (FUA)
- Environmental Degradation
- Biodiversity loss
- Health, Well-being and Social cohesion
- Loss of sense of place and identity
- Other
Key priorities
Biodiversity (conservation and/or restoration)
Focus
Creation of new green areas, Creation of any other green urban spaces, Knowledge creation and awareness raising, Educational and awareness raising programs, Scientific research of biodiversity or ecosystems
Project objectives
The main objective is to know, value and study the local flora, strengthen its conservation, and generate greater awareness of its value in the local community (3). Other objectives include:
- To bring the creation of a national botanical garden for biodiversity conservation onto the public agenda (1).
- To strengthen the conservation of plant species invaluable to science in an ex-situ setting (1, 3, 5)
- To contribute sustainably to the nation's economy (1)
- To generate inputs for education (1, 3)
- To establish a source of cultural spaces and for the well-being of its citizens (1)
- To propose and guide strategies to choose the best measures for the conservation and/or recovery of a species of flora under a high level of threat (3)
- To protect the biodiversity underpinning Peruvian identity, such as highlighting various foods and other uses from around the country (2, 3)
- To link plants to people's well-being and also to help conserve native and local knowledge (5)
Implementation activities
To ensure conservation efforts and native flora, the planning phase selected species and their organisation, taking into account the bioclimatic and soil aspects of the entire country (6).
In terms of outreach, education, and leisure activities, research spaces such as laboratories, herbaria, living collections, seed banks, educational facilities, leisure, conference, and teleconference facilities are planned (1). In addition, constructing the botanical garden on the university campus opens up the possibility of including the scientific community in the project (4).
Finally, a scoping study report mentions the possibility of networking with different public, educational, tourism, and cultural institutions to create synergies, strengthen interactions, and share new opportunities (2).
Biodiversity conservation or restoration-focused activities
Biodiversity conservation:
- Protect species
- Undertake specific measures to protect species
- Undertake specific measures to protect native species
- Undertake specific measures to protect endangered species
- Undertake specific measures to protect valued species
- Take measures for ex situ conservation
- Means for conservation governance
- Manage biological resources for conservation and sustainable use
- Raise public awareness
- Public engagement
- Create and use scientific knowledge for conservation
Main beneficiaries
- National-level government
- Local government/Municipality
- Researchers/University
- Citizens or community groups
Governance
Management set-up
- Co-governance with government and non-government actors
Type of initiating organisation
- Public sector institution
- Non-government organisation/civil society
- Researchers/university
- Other
Participatory approaches/ community involvement
- Co-planning (e.g. stakeholder workshops, focus groups, participatory mapping)
- Consultation (e.g. workshop, surveys, community meetings, town halls)
Details on the roles of the organisations involved in the project
Group of researchers and citizens: formed the association ProJardín Botánico Nacional to promote the botanical garden. They have involved various institutions and personalities from the botanical field in Peru and the world to advance in its development (6)
National Council for Science, Technology and Technological Innovation (Concytec) and the United Kingdom: initiators of the project (5)
Botanical Gardens Conservation International, Royal Botanic Gardens Edinburgh, University of St Andrews Kew and UK Embassy: advisory team (3), responsible for action planning (4)
British Council Peru through the Newton Paulet Fund: Technical assistance (4)
Ministry of Environment, Ministry of Culture: support to the construction of the project (1)
Universidad Nacional Agraria La Molina: land donor (4)
Project implemented in response to ...
... an EU policy or strategy?
Unknown
... a national policy or strategy?
Unknown
... a local policy or strategy?
Yes
(The construction of the Botanical Garden has been incorporated as an initiative as part of the Ministry of Environment's Bicentennial City project in Ancón (6). A multi-sectoral project of the Peruvian government to develop a new sustainable city north of Lima in the district of Ancón (9). The project aims to build 32,500 homes, as well as a green belt in which it is expected to carry out a productive and landscaped forestation of 2,000 hectares, generating a forest corridor of up to 12 kilometres. This green area is expected to include other projects such as the Science Park and one of the branches of the Botanical Garden (9, 10)
In addition, it is mentioned that the United Kingdom has adhered to the Implementation of the Joint Declaration of Intent (JIU) together with Norway and Germany, whose validity has been extended until 2025. The objective of the JIU is that Peru can access results-based payments related to the reduction of deforestation and forest degradation, contributing to the sustainable development of the country (4).)
Type of enablers
Governance innovations (such as public private partnerships), City network or regional partnerships focused on climate change, sustainability, GI or NBS in the city, Other
Financing
Total cost
Unknown
Source(s) of funding
- Multilateral funds/international funding
- Other funding sources are unclear
Type of funding
- Direct funding (grants, subsidies, or self-financed projects by private entities)
- Other funding types are unknown
Non-financial contribution
Type of non-financial contribution
- Provision of land
- Provision of expertise
Who provided the non-financial contribution?
- Other
Impacts and Monitoring
Environmental impacts
- Green space and habitat
- Increased green space area
- Achieved increased green space area
- Reduced biodiversity loss
- Expected reduced biodiversity loss
- Increased number of species present
- Expected increased number of species present
- Increased presence and recovery of wild species
- Expected increased presence and recovery of wild species
- Increased protection of threatened species
- Expected increased protection of threatened species
Economic impacts
- Other
Socio-cultural impacts
- Cultural heritage and sense of place
- Increased sense of place identity, memory and belonging
- Expected increased sense of place identity, memory and belonging
- Increased awareness of flora and fauna as culturally and historically meaningful
- Expected increased awareness of flora and fauna as culturally and historically meaningful
- Education
- Increased support for education and scientific research
- Expected increased support for education and scientific research
- Increased knowledge of locals about local nature
- Expected increased knowledge of locals about local nature
Type of reported impacts
Presence of formal monitoring system
Unknown
Presence of indicators used in reporting
No evidence in public records
Presence of monitoring/ evaluation reports
No evidence in public records
Availability of a web-based monitoring tool
No evidence in public records
Potential risks of implementation and trade-offs
Unknown
References
1.
British Council Perú (n.d.). Jardín Botánico Nacional. Accessed on August 12, 2024, [Source link];
2.
Meagher, T., Meagher, L., (2020). Exploration of a National Botanic Garden, Perú – Report of a Scoping Study. Accessed on August 12, 2024, [Source link];
3.
Kew Science News (2021). Peru’s new National Botanical Garden sets sail with an Inca flower. Accessed on August 12, 2024, [Source link];
4.
Chacón, L. (2021). Conoce los detalles de la creación del primer Jardín Botánico Nacional. Accessed on August 12, 2024, [Source link];
5.
Asociación Pro Jardín Botánico Nacional de Lima (n.d.). Jardines Botánicos. Accessed on August 12, 2024, [Source link];
6.
Tolentino, D. (2021). El Jardín Botánico Nacional será una realidad en nuestro país. Accessed on August 12, 2024, [Source link];
7.
Contreras, C. (2018). Jardín Botánico Nacional empieza a gestarse en Lima. Accessed on August 12, 2024, [Source link];
8.
Peruvian Environmental Ministry (2021). Minam impulsa la creación del primer Jardín Botánico Nacional. Accessed on August 13, 2024, [Source link];
9.
Chacón, L. (2021). Ciudad Bicentenario: ¿qué tan viable es este proyecto al norte de Lima?. Accessed on August 13, 2024, [Source link];
10.
Bicentenario Peru 2021 (2021). Ciudad Bicentenario Propuesta Multisectorial para la Gestión Integral del Territorio. Accessed on August 13, 2024, [Source link];
11.
Andina Agencia Peruana de Noticias (2021). Siembra para el futuro: ponen en marcha proyecto del futuro Jardín Botánico Nacional. Accessed on September 2, 2024, [Source link];
Zac Goldsmith planting Peru's national flower Inauguration ceremony of the National Botanical Garden in Lima
British Embassy, Lima.
Native Plant planted in the Inauguration Ceremony
Kew Science News - https://www.kew.org/read-and-watch/peru-national-botanic-garden
Information about this nature-based solution was collected as part of the Naturescapes project funded by the European Union under Grant Agreement No 101084341.