Céline Orjubin
Founder of My Little Paris
I was very lucky to spend the first years of my life in a garden and to be able to explore the nearby countryside, thus developing an intimate relationship with nature. These adventurous experiences helped me to develop a sensitive relationship with the plant world around me and naturally led me to botanical gardens for further education.
Aware of the need to preserve biodiversity, I joined the professional association Jardins botaniques de France et des pays francophones which encourages gardens to participate in the implementation of the Global Strategy for Plant Conservation. I am now contributing to the ongoing negotiations on the future global strategic frameworks for biodiversity in order to ensure that the plant strategy is taken into account and updated at the COP 15 to be held this autumn in China.
On a personal level, I am also one of the founding members of Jardins et Santé, an association that supports the development of therapeutic gardens in places where people in fragile situations live, promoting well-being through gardening or simple access to a garden.
There are currently 3,700 botanical gardens in the world, 800 in Europe and nearly a hundred in France. Between them, they hold a significant part of the plant diversity. One fifth of the world's known species are now threatened with extinction due to increasing human population pressure, habitat modification, deforestation, over-exploitation, the spread of invasive alien species, pollution and the growing impact of climate change.
Botanical gardens are often located in the heart of cities and are true sanctuaries where plant diversity is catalogued, deciphered and conserved. The interactions between the plant and animal worlds are highlighted, as is the contribution of plants to the functioning of ecosystems.
For city dwellers, botanical gardens are also windows on local or distant biodiversity. Attracting more than 100 million visitors per year worldwide, they are the main vector of information on plant biodiversity and the importance of its preservation. They enable citizens to understand their place in nature and its fragility in order to become responsible actors.
We can only preserve what we know and are able to name.
The knowledge of plants is one of the fundamental missions of botanical gardens. Today, they are one of the few places where traditional botany is taught and can offer nature outings, heroizations and botanical drawing courses. These courses are diversifying to address other themes such as knowledge of environments, biodiversity conservation, initiation to ecology, sustainable development and environmentally friendly practices.
At a time when the benefits of outdoor education are being advocated, the botanical gardens offer educational programs to schools, combining multiple disciplines (artistic, mathematical, biological, botanical, etc.)
The transmission of knowledge also involves the training of staff responsible for managing the collections and scientific mediation. Training combining horticultural, botanical, systematic, ecological and phytosociological knowledge enables the acquisition of the nationally recognized title of botanical gardener. The scientific mediators develop innovative, sensory and technological educational practices.
Finally, as part of the Sud Expert Plantes sustainable development program, training in botanical garden management is being developed and will be offered to 22 French-speaking countries in the French government's priority solidarity zone.
Founder of My Little Paris
Chiroptérologue et Chargé de mission dans la prise en compte de la faune dans la gestion forestière à l'Office national des forêts.
French journalist, essayist and film-maker, specialising in nature and environmental issues
Founder of My Little Paris
Chiroptérologue et Chargé de mission dans la prise en compte de la faune dans la gestion forestière à l'Office national des forêts.
French journalist, essayist and film-maker, specialising in nature and environmental issues
Biologist, professor and researcher, president of Biogée, columnist at France Inter
Journalist, producer and director, President of La Ligue pour la Protection des Oiseaux (League for the Birds Protection)
CEO of Système U from 2005 to 2008, Mission executive for the French Government and member of the Mission Committee of Groupe Rocher
Kew-trained professional horticulturist, currently in charge of public relations for the Jardins des Plantes in Paris. Thirty years’ experience in managing plant collections gained at Kew, Bordeaux and Paris Botanic Gardens.
Geographer and ethnologist, specialist in Japan