News
China’s second national botanical garden unveiled in Guangdong
By He Linping, Jiang Xiaodan, People’s Daily
China unveiled its second national botanical garden on July 11 in Guangzhou, south China’s Guangdong province, just several months after the first was inaugurated in Beijing.
The South China National Botanical Garden, formerly known as the South China Botanical Garden, Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS), is one of the oldest botany research institutions in China. It houses plants ranging from tropical rainforest species to those originally growing in alpine and desert areas.
The national botanical garden is committed to the scientific research, species conservation, dissemination and utilization of the plants in tropical and subtropical regions around the world.
With a total planned area of 319 hectares, it has 38 specialized gardens for 17,168 classified species of ex-situ conservation covering all plant types in south China.
The garden also houses three research centers, one museum of plant specimens, two national field research bases and three key CAS laboratories. Besides, it is also home to an ex-situ conservation center and a germplasm bank for rare and endangered plant species.
At a breeding center for rare and endangered plant species of the botanic garden, every individual plant’s information is recorded to maintain proper management throughout its life cycle, said Ning Zulin, deputy director and senior engineer of a horticultural center of the South China National Botanical Garden.
Primulina huaijiensis, a species of Primulina, is one of the plant species that has its information registered, Ning introduced.
The plant was firstly discovered by Kang Ming, a researcher of the South China Botanical Garden, in a karst cave in Liangcun township, Huaiji county, Zhaoqing, Guangdong province in 2012. There were only around 200 of them when Kang discovered the species. As of 2021, only a few of them existed in the wild, which indicated that the species was critically endangered.
To enhance the protection of the species, the South China Botanical Garden stepped up its efforts on wild population survey and collection of the species. So far, the garden has realized artificial breeding of the species and established a technical system for its ex-situ conservation, which can breed droves of high-quality seedlings in a short period of time and offer strong support for the reintroduction studies and repopulation of the species.
With the efforts of the South China Botanical Garden, repopulation has been achieved for many plant species. It is reported that the garden now houses 643 species of rare and endangered plants and 337 species of national key protected wild plants.
Besides, the South China National Botanical Garden successfully released 36 rare and endangered plant species into the wild. The museum of plant specimens in the garden collects over 1.15 million specimens from more than 49,000 varieties.
The garden is expected to build an experimental platform for the ex-situ conservation and utilization of plant species, as well as a national demonstration base for nature education and ecological progress, so as to improve its capability in scientific research and science popularization.
In addition, a world-class specialized garden and a featured plant demonstration area that carry the characteristics of garden cultures in south China will be constructed, as a way for the South China National Botanical Garden to explore a management and operation mechanism that conforms to both international practice and domestic conditions.
The botanical garden conserves more than 20,000 species of plants including 6,000 economic plant species. About 95 percent of rare and endangered plants in south China are relocated and conserved in the garden, said Ren Hai, director of the South China National Botanical Garden.
The botanical garden mirrors the constantly improving nature reserve system in Guangzhou, as well as the city’s achievements in biodiversity protection. After decades of efforts, Guangzhou has established a number of nature reserves at various levels and with multiple functions. It now houses 89 nature reserves at all levels covering a total area of around 110,000 hectares.
Li Xiaochuan, head of the Guangdong Academy of Forestry, told People’s Daily that the establishment of the South China National Botanical Garden would not only increase the reputation of Guangzhou, but also create more opportunities for biodiversity protection in south China.
The Federal High Court in Abuja has ordered the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to maintain the status quo in a dispute over the party’s candidates emerging from the Benue State APC primaries for the 2027 general election.
The order was made on Thursday by Justice Inyang Ekwo during proceedings in Suit No. FHC/ABJ/CS/1429/2026, filed by Engr. Sesugh Akaagba and other aggrieved APC candidates from Benue State against the APC and INEC.
The plaintiffs had, through an ex parte motion filed on July 5, 2026, sought six interim reliefs, including an order restraining the APC from substituting its validly nominated candidates in Benue State through its June 29, 2026 correspondence, or any subsequent communication, to INEC, pending determination of the substantive suit.
They also sought an order compelling the APC to immediately transmit to INEC the names of candidates validly nominated during the primaries monitored by the electoral commission.
When the matter first came up on July 8, 2026, the court declined to grant the interim application immediately, directing both APC and INEC to appear and respond before any decision was taken. The matter was adjourned to July 16.
At Thursday’s proceedings, counsel representing the APC and INEC were present in court, while the plaintiffs were represented by Mohammed Ndarani, SAN, alongside his legal team.
In his ruling, Justice Ekwo held that since issues had been joined by the parties particularly with INEC now before the court, the defendants were required by law to preserve the subject matter of the litigation pending determination of the substantive suit.
When counsel to the plaintiffs urged the court to caution APC and INEC against taking any further action that could affect the disputed list of candidates, the judge responded that it was “not a matter of advice but of law,” stressing that the defendants were bound to maintain the status quo.
The court consequently restrained APC and INEC from taking any action capable of altering the disputed list of candidates pending the hearing and determination of the substantive suit.
The defendants did not object to the restraining order.
At the commencement of proceedings, the court noted that all parties had voluntarily submitted to its jurisdiction by duly filing and exchanging their respective processes.
It held that there was no procedural or jurisdictional impediment to the expeditious determination of the substantive action, and directed that the matter be heard without further delay.
In furtherance of the objective of preserving the res and safeguarding the efficacy of the judicial process, the court ordered all parties to maintain the status quo pending the hearing and final determination of the substantive suit, restraining any act or omission capable of prejudicing the rights of the parties or rendering the proceedings nugatory.
The court further directed that INEC be served forthwith with the originating and all consequential processes.
The effect of the subsisting order is that INEC is restrained from tampering with the existing list of candidates pending final determination of the suit, and from receiving, recognising, or acting upon any purported substituted list of National Assembly candidates from Benue State submitted by the APC.
The matter was adjourned to July 21, 2026, for hearing of the substantive suit.
Former President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan and former First Lady Patience Ibifaka Jonathan recently celebrated a significant family milestone as they attended the graduation ceremony of their son, Ariara Goodluck Jonathan, at Manchester Metropolitan University in the United Kingdom.
The proud parents joined family members and well-wishers to witness Ariara receive his degree, marking the successful completion of his academic programme. The occasion was filled with joy as the Jonathan family commemorated the achievement, highlighting the importance they place on education and personal development.
The graduation ceremony attracted warm congratulatory messages from friends, associates, and admirers, who wished the graduate continued success in his future endeavours.
The Following names joined the political family of Sen. Dr. George Akume today after leaving the sinking Alia ship .
Under the leadership of Barr. Emmanuel Jime .
The are ;
Chief Nelson Alapa
Douglas pepe SAN senatorial Aspirant zone A,
Engr Peter Ashiekaa
QS Clement Beetseh
Former commissioners
Joy Luga
Ann itodo
Barr martins Shaagee
Miss Dorcas
Prof Usar Joseh
Prof Cephas Tushima
Chief Patrick Idoko
Hon Patience Akor
Hon Fred Idoko
Hon Lawrence Ekpo Onoja Jnr
Hon Andrew Abah
Hon Agbo Innocent Ikwumonu
Hon Simon Omachoko
Hon David Egboja
Dr John Garba
Among together,
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