AFLP Marks 1 Year Anniversary since Inception at EDEN Seminars III

We have just marked one year since EDEN Seminars III and UNITAR launched the Afghan Fellowship Legacy Projects (AFLP) Botanical Gardens network initiative. Little did we know then that the Tokyo gathering would become one of our last in-person events in a long while!

And yet, despite it all, AFLP has advanced step by step, with three universities in Afghanistan — Bamyan University, Kabul University and Paktia University — spearheading the first phase. An exceptional international network of biodiversity and botanical garden experts have rallied around them — including from the San Diego Botanic Garden, Botanic Garden Conservation International, the Denver Botanic Garden, and other prominent biodiversity leaders. Each of the three universities have now dedicated the land, are working towards their Plant Collection Policies, and preparing for various groundbreaking activities. We are happy to share with you that a few days ago Paktia University, one of AFLP partners, received official approval from the Ministry of Higher Education to use the name The Nakamura Botanic Garden, in honor of the late Dr. Tetsu Nakamura.

Please visit our website for more updates about this initiative — which we hope will lead to creating a blueprint not just for Afghanistan, but for the 33 other countries around the globe with no botanical gardens of their own. This would fulfill The EDEN Seminars ideal, of presenting to the world projects that can make a true difference.