That's what I called you, my dear reader.

Is it dramatic and heard outside of our spirit? Maybe. But these are my personal experiences and memories, I decided to tell you. The GEF Small Grants Program voluntarily and in turn took the baton and decided to continue the initiative of the Tashkent Botanical Garden administration to preserve another national treasure - the extinct greenhouse collection of the Tashkent Botanical Garden.

I'm not afraid to say that the idea of inviting the great friends of nature - ambassadors, businessmen and representatives of other public organizations - has long been in the greenhouse. But after alarming reports from the Botanical Garden staff that more than 500 species from a collection of rare plants representing different continental species had died last winter, it was decided to take action in this direction. In agreement with the management of the Botanical Garden, they decided to invite everyone who is not a stranger to nature to this island (greenhouse of the Botanical Garden), to a lost world like Spielberg, in a rock forest, in a rock forest. It’s relentless and you feel it very strongly once you cross the city and garden boundary ...

stone rose welcomes guests with a warm heart ...

From the first days of its establishment in Uzbekistan, PMGEF has been a positive impetus to the overall work on the development of our homeland. And in a dry statement, on December 14, 2012, representatives of embassies and diplomats were invited to the Tashkent Botanical Garden. missions accredited in our country. The purpose of the proposal was to acquaint the guests with the plans of ToshBotsad, in particular, the issues of conservation of a unique collection of greenhouse plants and the reconstruction of the greenhouse.

The meeting will be opened by the Director of the Institute of Flora and Fauna of the Academy of Sciences of the Republic of Uzbekistan, followed by a presentation on the greenhouse.

PMGEF has a similar experience in the greenhouse in Samarkand. The project in Samarkand was a success. Many good and talented people put their efforts into it, but at first glance it made no sense to repeat it. If not one - "but": the uniqueness of the project lies in its object, in the greenhouse itself.

The largest collection of tropical and subtropical plants is concentrated in the reserve greenhouse of the Laboratory of Plant, Ornamental, Tropical and Subtropical Plants Introduction of the Institute of Flora and Fauna of the Academy of Sciences of the Republic of Uzbekistan. The species is unparalleled in Central Asia in terms of species composition and diversity. And these are more than 800 species, many of which are the least common and are not found in natural habitats.

In the greenhouse, during the tour

The proposed project aims to restore the greenhouse in the Botanical Garden and thus preserve the unique species that have survived. In the future, it is planned to establish contacts with foreign colleagues to restore lost species, restore and replenish the collection, build modern energy-efficient greenhouses and greenhouses, and exchange experience in greenhouse management.

Today, the condition of the greenhouse is deplorable. Its outdated condition does not allow to properly carry out work on the reproduction and, most importantly, the preservation of a unique collection of plants representing different continental species in recent years. To date, great support has been provided by the state, funds and the garden administration in the maintenance of the greenhouse, but it is known that a number of structural and architectural and construction norms are inconsistent. permissible norms in the construction of a greenhouse complex - it is currently impossible to properly maintain the viability of the greenhouse. Due to these circumstances, the ToshBotsada greenhouse collection lost 500 species of rare plants last winter, which simply perished in the cold winter if possible due to the lack of simple heating and the minimal effectiveness of the existing insulation. insulation. Although a large amount of fuel was consumed, these costs did not bring the desired effect.

- Presentation on the condition of the greenhouse

The complex consists of several sections. Burning wood-burning “hopeless” stoves don’t help either. It's cold everywhere ... Plants continue to die ...

People who are given to the greenhouse with their heart and body want to solve this problem. They prepared hard and wrote a great project. But it is very big and requires a lot of money. PMGEF can only give 50 thousand. And then, if you have other funds to carry out other activities g investments are envisaged. The project is currently supported by the PMGEF Committee. But the search for stakeholders who can help the greenhouse continues.

With the support of PMGEF, proposed by the Botsada administration, the guests were invited to assist in the reconstruction of the existing infrastructure of the greenhouse through financial assistance, exchange of experience in the greenhouse economy (structural innovations). , heating technologies, creating the necessary lighting, microclimate and other aspects), as well as using botanical gardens in their home countries to help replenish lost species in the greenhouse collection.

Embassy staff listen to greenhouse staff comments and information

ToshBotsad workers put forward the idea to get acquainted with the botanical gardens of the countries visited by the ToshBotsad greenhouse, and to continue professional dialogue on the conservation and reproduction of world flora.

Being in the garden for a few hours took my soul several times. Every time you find yourself in the bosom of nature, in the middle of a wide open space, in the middle of a forest or a mountain, your heart becomes an incomprehensible, clear and endless trembling excitement, like a "bird in a cage" rushing somewhere in your chest. Many memories of a flawless and warm childhood come to mind. Around that time, when we drank water from ponds without hesitation and the trees grew big ... And this time when I stepped through the wall - from the world of infinite vanity to the world of eternal beauty and purity, I was pleasant and familiar. I experienced things. perceptions. Here, as in childhood - the trees are large. But there is room for excitement here and it is not so pleasant ...

From the lyrical retreat - returning to the reality of the day, I would like to emphasize that despite the deplorable state of the greenhouse, the enthusiasm of the existing collection and the workers themselves were highly appreciated by the guests. The morning was clear and frosty as usual. The guests enjoyed a walk through the alleys of the Winter Botanical Garden. They are under chestnut-leaved oak crowns, the leaves torn along the edges like a saw blade, the late autumn leaves still falling on their heads and clinging to the side of the "naked" Adam's tree, hawthorn bushes and delicate silhouettes he bit. sarv.

I think if there isn’t a “rock collection” yet, it’s time to fight to save nature - that’s for sure. Otherwise, if we consider the pessimistic scenario and become "realistic", then soon humanity will run out of all its resources and will be left in a proud loneliness ...

Maksad Bauetdinov

Communication Specialist