Shinjuku Gyoen is committed to the ex-situ conservation of endangered plant life through two specific associations. First, as a member of the Japan Association of Botanical Gardens, it is a designated garden for the Kanto region, a designated garden for preserving orchids and the hanashinobu Jacob’s ladder [Polemonium kiushianum], and a designated garden for the preservation of seeds. Second, Shinjuku Gyoen is committed to the International Agenda for Botanic Gardens in Conservation, which was established by Botanic Gardens Conservation International.
Cultivating Endangered Plants
As a registered regional conservation garden, Shinjuku Gyoen is working to preserve the lineage of rare domestic plants such as Polemonium kiushianum and cultivating other endangered plants in accordance with Law for the Conservation of Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (LCES).
Collecting and Preserving Seeds of Endangered Flora
Shinjuku Gyoen works together with botanical gardens, universities, research organizations, and others to collect and preserve the seeds of endangered plant species. Various organizations send seeds that they have gathered from all over Japan for preservation, along with dried specimens to verify the species. The seeds are frozen and preserved here, and the dried specimens are sent to the Tsukuba Botanical Garden, National Museum of Nature and Science for storage and cataloging. A great number of plants can be preserved in this way because seeds require very little space and can be stored for long periods. Compared to actually cultivating and growing the plants, this approach is more efficient and is a practical way to preserve a huge diversity of specimens in a very small space.