Scots Curator Richard Attempts to Save Vietnam's Unique Plant Life

The motion

That the Parliament recognises what it sees as the sterling work being carried out by Richard Baines, curator at Logan Botanic Garden in Port Logan, Dumfries and Galloway, in safeguarding species from the biodiversity hotspot in the Hoang Lien mountain range in north-west Vietnam; understands that he is on a botanical mission to collect data and seeds from endangered plants, many of which are becoming increasingly at risk, that he will bring back to the south west of Scotland to grow in the safe surroundings of Galloway; notes that Richard is part of a wider team, including Hanoi’s Institute of Ecology and Biological Resources, Kew Royal Botanic Gardens and Blarney Castle and Gardens, in collecting different plant species within, it understands, the snake-infested jungles and mountain terrain; acknowledges that some species of rhododendron, magnolias and camellias have been classed as vulnerable by the International Union for Conservation of Nature due to logging, expansion of agriculture, climate change and tourism; understands that the expedition will be going to three new mountains, Pu Ta Leng, Pu Su Lung and Mu Cang Chai, to explore and botanise while hopefully finding new species that have never been classified as new to science before; further understands that some specimens will be cultivated and then propagated at Logan, and wishes Richard and his colleagues safe travels in what promises to be an exciting and, hopefully, rewarding adventure.

No recorded vote on this motion. Most motions are never debated, and many that are debated are agreed without a division. Vote records are published from 2011.

Con 23 SNP 8 Lab 3

Party shown is each supporter’s party when the motion was published.

No contribution in the Official Report cites S6M-10930 by reference.