The planting of a young oak tree or Quercus garryana marks the beginning of a wonderful new collaboration between the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh (RBGE) and the Republic of the Ivory Coast.

On their first visit to the Garden while attending the COP26 climate conference, The Honourable Mr Alain Donwahi, Minister of Water and Forests, Ivory Coast and Her Excellency, Madame Sara Amani, Ambassador of the Ivory Coast in the United Kingdom heard from Simon Milne, Regius Keeper, about the work of RBGE over its 351 years and its current work helping to preserve biodiversity in the face of climate change. 

The work of the Herbarium and two of its historic preserved specimens of the species Aframomum were explained by Professor Pete Hollingsworth, Director of Science and Dr David Harris, Herbarium Curator.  Collected in 1975 from the Ivory Coast, seeds from the plant are traditionally used as a spice.

Mr Donwahi expressed his delight in visiting the Garden and shared his country’s ambitious plans to create the first botanic garden in the Ivory Coast, scheduled for opening in 2023. 

The Ministerial and diplomatic delegations, together with Fraser Lang, CEO of Scottish Africa Business Association, discussed possible projects between the Garden and Ivory Coast and the hope for the creation of a new partnership between RBGE and the Republic of the Ivory Coast.