Call for Help - Hortus Botanicus Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam NL

**"* D* <d*@icangarden.com>**

I am forwarding this on from Freek...if you look at the websites, there is
nothing mentioned because the staff have been told not to say anything, as
Freek confirmed.  This is serious and this forum can help spread the word.
Please do your best to let anyone know that can help...put it on your
websites, put it in your blogs...

This is about an urgent action campaign to save a Dutch botanical garden.
Submitted by Freek Vrugtman, Curator Emeritus, Royal Botanical Gardens,
Hamilton, Ontario, Canada. 

The Botanical Garden of the Vrije Universiteit (Free University) of
Amsterdam, the Netherlands, is slated to be closed, giving way to an
expansion of the University?s Medical Centre.  We urgently request your
action to prevent this from happening.

The Hortus Botanicus, founded in 1967, covers one hectare (2.5 acres),
including 1,000 sq m (about 10,800 sq ft) of greenhouses providing a range
of climatic conditions.
The collections exceed 6,000 taxa, including epiphytic orchids and
bromeliads, the largest collection of cacti in the Netherlands with some
plants being more than a century old,  a bamboo collection, plants of the
bible and plants of other religions, a penjing garden and a bonsai
collection, container plants that are 60 to 80 years old, plants that take
30 years to produce their first flowers, a wide range of economic plants, to
name but a few. Certain collections are part of the Dutch National Plant
Collection, an organization comprising 18 participating botanical gardens in
The Netherlands.
The Hortus is an official repository for plants confiscated under the
provisions of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of
Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES).
The Hortus is an active participant in the international seed exchange
network.
The Hortus has an active educational programme.
The Hortus also provides a green oasis for patients of the University
Medical Centre and the campus population.
For more information about the Hortus Botanicus see its web page:
www.vu.nl/en/current-students/student-facilities/other-facilities/hortus-bot
anicus/index.asp

Please express your concern to:

Dr René M. Smit, Chairman
Executive Board
Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam
De Boelelaan 1105
1081 HV  Amsterdam
The Netherlands

Fax: (011 31) 20 59 85300
E-mail: rm.smit@dienst.vu.nl r*@dienst.vu.nl   

Donna Dawson, Master Gardener
Member Region 7 Garden Writers Association 

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