| Nationwide: International Biodiversity Day |
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Saturday, 22 May 2010
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South Africa will be joining other nations across the globe to celebrate International Biodiversity Day. And to add their support, the South African National Biodiversity Institute (SANBI) is inviting all members of the public to visit any of the nine National Botanical Gardens around the country to enjoy a day out in perfect biodiversity havens - for free!
 And this year - 2010 - is especially significant as it's been declared International Year of Biodiversity (IYB) by the United Nations General Assembly.
Left: The world-famous Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens
at the foot of Table Mountain, Cape Town
Did you know that South Africa is the third most biodiverse country in world? Something to be really proud of. Our unique wildlife, awesome flowers and fynbos and variety of ecosystems are an important part of the well-being of our nation, as well as playing a vital role in the growth of our economy.
There're lots of exciting things planned at the various gardens to celebrate this day - so get out there and enjoy our national treasures!
The Pretoria National Botanical Garden will host a fun-filled family day. The Pretoria Zoo's Mobile Zoo boasting a range of fascinating creatures will be on hand, as will the Mobile EduLab. SANBI's education and empowerment team will provide a range of exciting activities, and the Garden's latest attraction, a self-guided tree route will introduce visitors to no less than 50 beautiful indigenous trees. All the trees are clearly marked and a booklet with photos and information on the trees along the route has been developed. And in the spirit of the upcoming FIFA World Cup, the `Diski Dancers' will be in the Garden to teach visitors the dance that has captured the imagination of soccer fans across the world.
At the Walter Sisulu National Botanical Garden in Johannesburg, there will be a biodiversity display aimed at raising awareness of the importance of conserving biodiversity, in line with the global objectives of IYB:
* To enhance public knowledge of the threats to biodiversity, and
* To encourage organisations and individuals to take direct or indirect biodiversity conservation activities.
Visitors to the Lowveld National Botanical Garden will enjoy and open day style event where school children will be invited for the day. Various environmental programmes and organisations will exhibit their work, and spread the message of the importance of our biological diversity.
With all nine National Botanical Gardens offering free entrance it is hoped that South Africans will spend a little time discovering more about one of our most precious resources - our incredible, and truly unique biological diversity.
Visit one of the gardens near you:
- Free State National Botanical Garden in Bloemfontein, Free State
- Hantam National Botanical Garden in Nieuwoudtville, Northern Cape
- Harold Porter National Botanical Garden in Betty's Bay, Cape Peninsula
- Karoo Desert National Botanical Garden in Worceste, Western Cape
- Kirstenbosch National Botanical Garden in Cape Town
- KwaZulu Natal National Botanical Garden in Pietermaritzburg, KwaZulu-Natal
- Lowveld National Botanical Garden in Nelspruit, Mpumalanga
- Pretoria National Botanical Garden in Pretoria
- Walter Sisulu National Botanical Garden in Johannesburg
For more info, visit SANBI
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Contact: 012 843 5200
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