1. General information
Location and description of the intervention
City or FUA
Lima (FUA)
Region
Latin America and the Caribbean
Native title of the NBS intervention
Jardín Botánico Nacional
Short description of the intervention
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).
Website of the intervention
https://portal.concytec.gob.pe/images/publicaciones/guias-doc/202002-National_B…
Principal problems
Environmental Degradation
Biodiversity loss
Health, Well-being and Social cohesion
Loss of sense of place and identity
Other
Please specify other principal problem
Conservation of local biodiversity, Poor local knowledge of native plants
Implementation area characterization
Climate
Arid (Desert, Steppe)
Ecosystem
Urban or built environment
Address

012, La Molina, Perú
La Molina
Peru

Location
Point location, which indicates where the NBS takes place
Area boundary (map-based)
NBS area
100000.00m²
Area description
Urban (main city)
Type of area before implementation of the NBS
Central Business District / City Centre
Building
Timeline of intervention
Start date of the intervention (planning process)
2019
Start date of intervention (implementation process)
2021
End date of the intervention
ongoing
Present stage of the intervention
Ongoing
Objectives of the intervention
Goals of the intervention
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)
Key Priorities
Biodiversity (conservation and/or restoration)
Sustainability challenge(s) addressed
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
Habitats and biodiversity conservation: What types of conservation goals are / were defined for the NBS intervention?
Genetic-focused
Species-focused
Habitats and biodiversity conservation: What activities are implemented to realize the conservation goals and targets?
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
Implementation activities and NBS focus
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).
Type of NBS project
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
NBS domain and interventions
Ecological domain(s) where the NBS intervention(s) is/are implemented
Grey infrastructure featuring greens
Institutional green space
Parks and urban forests
Botanical gardens
Amenities offered by the NBS
Educational or biodiversity trails
Cultural (museum, concert areas)
Educational and research amenities (nature protection centre, monitoring stations)
Other
Please specify other amenities offered by the NBS
Elements for entertainment/enjoyment/tourism, conference rooms (2)
Design elements for well-being
Visual elements (e.g., expansive views, scenic views, natural light, diverse vegetation)
Services
Expected ecosystem services delivered
Provisioning services
Genetic materials from all biota
Habitat and supporting services
Maintenance of genetic diversity
Cultural services
Tourism
Inspiration for culture, art and design
Recreation
Intellectual interactions (scientific and / or educational)
Physical and experiential interactions with plants and animals
Scale
Spatial scale
Sub-microscale: Street scale (including buildings)
Beneficiaries
Demographics in implementation area
Unknown
Socio-economic profile of the area
Unknown
Communities vulnerable to environmental hazards or climate change impacts
Unknown
Non-government actors
Public sector institution (e.g. school or hospital)
Non-governmental organisation (NGO) / Civil society / Churches
Researchers, university
Other
Primary Beneficiaries
National-level government
Local government/Municipality
Researchers/University
Citizens or community groups
Specify primary beneficiaries
The Botanical Garden in Peru will offer new economic, tourist, and environmental opportunities for the country (1). It will also offer benefits for citizens in terms of education, culture and recreation (1)
This place would also facilitate connections and collaborations with other institutional entities, universities, research stations, museums and gardens (2, 3).
Marginalized groups
Unknown
Other beneficiaries
Native plant vegetation
Endangered species (flora and fauna)
Governance
Governance arrangements
Co-governance with government and non-government actors
Please specify other non-government actors involved
International actors
Please specify the roles of the specific government and non-government actor groups involved in the initiative
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)
Key actors - initiating organization
Public sector institution
Non-government organisation/civil society
Researchers/university
Other
Please specify other key actors – Initiating organization
Embassies and international entities
Key actors - Other stakeholders involved (besides initiating actors)
Local government/municipality
Researchers/university
Private foundation/trust
Participatory methods/forms of stakeholder involvement (all stakeholders)
Co-planning (e.g. stakeholder workshops, focus groups, participatory mapping)
Consultation (e.g. workshop, surveys, community meetings, town halls)
Please specify other participatory methods
I
Uncommon actors ("Missing actors")
Other
Please specify other missing actor
Embassies and International botanical gardens associations: Botanical Gardens Conservation International, Real Botanical Garden Edinburgh, University of St Andrews Kew and UK Embassy
Land owners
Educational actor (schools or universities)
Other
Please specify other landowner
The first stage of the implementation was done on land owned by a University, but the ownership of the land for the next stages of the process is unknown.
Policy drivers
NBS intervention implemented in response to a Regional Directive/Strategy
Unknown
NBS intervention implemented in response to a national regulations/strategy/plan
Unknown
NBS intervention implemented in response to a local regulation/strategy/plan
Yes
Please specify the "local regulation/strategy/plan"
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).
Relevant strategy or plan
Municipal / city level environmental plan or programme
General municipal plan
Mandatory or voluntary intervention
Voluntary (spontaneous)
Enablers & Barriers
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
Please provide details (e.g, name of the plan or strategy) for the selected policies or initiatives.
Partnerships have been generated between different local and international organisations for the achievement of the project, among them: RBG Kew, RBG Edinburgh, BGCI, Asociación Pro Jardín Botánico Nacional de Lima, Ministry of Environment, Ministry of Culture, the Consejo Nacional de Ciencia, Tecnologíae Innovación Tecnológica, Universities. The project was also involved as an initiative of the Ciudad Bicentenario project, defined as an NBS project (10)
Governace and decison-making instruments
Other
Please specify other Governace and decison-making instrument
Agreements between public, international and educational institutions
Arrangements for governance cooperation
Formal coordination mechanisms to oversee project implementation and decision-making (e.g., multi-stakeholder steering committees, working groups)
Task forces or commissions (e.g. group of multi-disciplinary experts)
Barriers
Unknown
Financing
Total cost
Unknown
Please specify total cost (EUR)
Unknown
What is/was the Cost/Budget (EUR) of the NBS or green infrastructure elements?
Unknown
Source(s) of funding
Multilateral funds/international funding
Other funding sources are unclear
Type of fund(s) used
Direct funding (grants, subsidies, or self-financed projects by private entities)
Other funding types are unknown
Non-financial contribution
Yes
Who provided the non-financial contribution?
Other
Please specify other source of non-financial contribution
International organisations and governments' technical support (1, 3)
Public educational institutions: land (6)
Type of non-financial contribution
Provision of land
Provision of expertise
Co-finance for NBS
Yes
Co-governance arrangement
Unknown
Entrepreneurship opportunities
Unknown
Business models
Business models
Green education model
Which of the involved actors was motivated by this model?
Public actor (e.g. municipality)
Private non-for-profit actor (e.g. NGO, foundation)
Citizens / local communities
Impacts, benefits
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
Please specify other economic impact
Increase the synergies between sectors to promote development and opportunities
Description of environmental benefits
-Increased green space area: "The 10-hectare site, provided by the Universidad Nacional Agraria La Molina (UNALM) in Lima, was launched with a symbolic ceremony joined by The Rt Hon Lord Goldsmith (Minister for Pacific and the Environment) and British Ambassador to Peru, KateHarrison." (3)
-Reduced biodiversity loss: "‘We must bear in mind that it is not possible to conserve something that we do not know; therefore, the possibility of housing a representative sample of the flora gives us this opportunity to raise awareness." (4)
-Increased number of species present: "This is the beginning of a great challenge, as the National Botanical Garden will house a select sample of the more than 25,000 species that exist in Peru, with emphasis on the endemic (which only exist in our country), endangered and socially, culturally and economically relevant species." (11)
-Increased presence and recovery of wild species: "A botanical garden brings together documented collections of living plants and, unlike other green areas, the plants are fully identified, labelled and in a specific order, as they are intended to be part of scientific research, as well as to conserve biological diversity, to be exhibited and to add to education." (4)
- Increased protection of threatened species: "The research carried out in a botanical garden makes it possible to propose and orientate strategies to choose the best measures for the conservation and/or recovery of a species of flora under a high level of threat." (4)
Environmental impact indicators
Green space area created (in ha)
10
Economic impacts
Other
Description of economic benefits
Increase the synergies between sectors to promote development and opportunities: "In terms of reaching large and diverse audiences, creating synergy with multiple partners, tourism and ready international connectivity, it is likely that the national botanic garden itself will need to be a new entity in Lima. However, within Lima and across Perú, the ‘national botanic garden’ initiative in its broadest sense (e.g. a ‘Biodiversity Institute of Perú’) should be a robust network that facilitates interactions, sharing and development of new opportunities. (2).
Social and 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
Description of social and cultural benefits
- Increased sense of place identity, memory and belonging: "National botanic gardens promote awareness of a country’s biodiversity and its contributions as part of a national identity. Peruvians can be proud of their extensive plant biodiversity and the many ways in which plants are connected to their culture" (2)
- Increased awareness of flora and fauna as culturally and historically meaningful: "The creation of this space aims to know, value and study our flora, thus allowing to strengthen and achieve a more sensitized and empowered society regarding the value of our flora." (4)
- Increased support for education and scientific research: "The purpose is to offer a space that houses a wide variety of native and world flora, a space that, at the same time, promotes development, research and education, and that promotes activities to make the population aware of the importance of nature and the value of species conservation." (5)
- Increased knowledge of locals about local nature: "The purpose is to offer a space that houses a wide variety of native and world flora, a space that, at the same time, promotes development, research and education, and that promotes activities to make the population aware of the importance of nature and the value of species conservation." (5)
Evidence for use of assessment
Presence of an assessment, evaluation and/or monitoring process
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
Name of any specific impact assessment tools
Unknown
Use of GIS in mapping impacts
No evidence in public records
Cost-benefit analysis
Unknown
Transparency
Meetings with stakeholders’ representatives
Inclusion of diverse stakeholders in project governance processes (e.g. planning, implementation, monitoring, etc.)
Online disclosure of technical reports (e.g. project documents, reports, or data)
Justice
Community satisfaction
Positive: The majority of feedback and reports indicate high levels of satisfaction and appreciation for the NBS project within the community.
Description of locals satisfaction with the project
It is found that citizens and social groups have been advocating for years for the implementation of a National Botanical Garden in Lima. Thus, the decision to implement the project has been supported in the found sources (7).
Trade-offs & Negative impacts
Unknown
Emphasis of existing social inequalities or injustices
No information reported related to negative social justice-related impacts of the NBS project
Measures to prevent gentrification or displacement
Unknown
High-quality & Transformative NBS
Multiple impacts delivery (climate, biodiversity, just community)
No
Goal setting and impacts delivery
No, project goals were not set, and benefits were not delivered in all 3 key areas.
Reaching original project goals
Inconclusive as the project is still undergoing implementation, or is still on its planning stages
Long-term perspective
Yes
Cost-effective solutions
Unknown
Equitable impacts
A. All stakeholders benefit fairly from the project
Transformative capacity
Social change (e.g. social relationships, networks and dynamics within them)
Ecological change (e.g. ecosystem functions and their distribution)
Magnitude of change
Incremental: shallow; that is, mostly maintaining business-as-usual approaches to adaptation
Application of lessons learned
Unknown
Perception of Environmental Change
Unknown
References
1.
British Council Perú (n.d.). Jardín Botánico Nacional. Accessed on August 12, 2024, [Source link] [Archive];
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] [Archive];
3.
Kew Science News (2021). Peru’s new National Botanical Garden sets sail with an Inca flower. Accessed on August 12, 2024, [Source link] [Archive];
4.
Chacón, L. (2021). Conoce los detalles de la creación del primer Jardín Botánico Nacional. Accessed on August 12, 2024, [Source link] [Archive];
5.
Asociación Pro Jardín Botánico Nacional de Lima (n.d.). Jardines Botánicos. Accessed on August 12, 2024, [Source link] [Archive];
6.
Tolentino, D. (2021). El Jardín Botánico Nacional será una realidad en nuestro país. Accessed on August 12, 2024, [Source link] [Archive];
7.
Contreras, C. (2018). Jardín Botánico Nacional empieza a gestarse en Lima. Accessed on August 12, 2024, [Source link] [Archive];
8.
Peruvian Environmental Ministry (2021). Minam impulsa la creación del primer Jardín Botánico Nacional. Accessed on August 13, 2024, [Source link] [Archive];
9.
Chacón, L. (2021). Ciudad Bicentenario: ¿qué tan viable es este proyecto al norte de Lima?. Accessed on August 13, 2024, [Source link] [Archive];
10.
Bicentenario Peru 2021 (2021). Ciudad Bicentenario Propuesta Multisectorial para la Gestión Integral del Territorio. Accessed on August 13, 2024, [Source link] [Archive];
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] [Archive];
Comments and notes
Public Images
Place where the implementation of the National Botanical Garden of Lima began.
Place where the implementation of the National Botanical Garden of Lima began.
Universidad Agraria La Molina
Zac Goldsmith planting Peru's national flower in the Inauguration ceremony of the National Botanical Garden in Lima
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
Native Plant planted in the Inauguration Ceremony
Kew Science News - https://www.kew.org/read-and-watch/peru-national-botanic-garden