Welcome to the first edition of the Indian Botanic Garden Network Newsletter. The Indian Botanic Garden Network supported by one of the world's largest financial services organization, HSBC through the International programme-“Investing in Nature” (IIN) coordinated by Botanical Garden Conservation International (BGCI), UK. As part of the Investing In Nature (IIN), BGCI has launched an in-country programme Investing In Nature (IIN)-India at NBRI, which is a pioneer step in the development and overall improvement of the Indian botanic gardens community.

A major role of the Network will be to assist Indian botanic gardens to play their part in the International Agenda for Botanic Gardens in Conservation and the Global Strategy for Plant Conservation. Moreover, the botanic gardens of India will be able to readily access information relevant to their programmes and to seek support and guidance from other Indian gardens.

The IIN-India Newsletter will provide an important way in which botanic gardens can stay in touch with what is happening in India and overseas. It will help gardens to promote the work that they are doing, draw on the experience of other gardens and be aware of coming activities that are relevant to them.

The most important part of Indian Botanic Gardens Network will be its members. This Newsletter and the coming national conference (see page 12) will provide the means for member gardens to express their views and advertise their successes.

All Indian botanic gardens are warmly invited to contribute to coming editions of the Indian Botanic Gardens Network Newsletter.

The following are brief details of BGCI's international programme under Investing in Nature.

Threatened plants have been rescued, the diversity of the world's plant species is protected for future generations, and the prosperity of local communities has been increased, so that sustainable development is realized through an effective worldwide network of botanic gardens.

The anticipated outcomes are:

1. The extinction crisis for key plant species around the world will be reversed.
2. Gene banks will be developed to conserve the world's plant diversity for future generations.
3. Botanic gardens will be recognised as an essential part of the Global Plant Conservation and will play strategy for their role effectively.
4. Botanic gardens will meet people's needs for public relaxation, recreation and tourism, particularly in urban areas.
5. Greater awareness among key public, business and government audiences the importance of plants, the threats they face, and action needed to protect them.
6. Model and demonstration projects illustrate the role of environmental education in changing public behaviour, and the value of plants to local livelihoods, food and medicine.
7. Implementation of programmes based on plants at local levels to support community needs, address local environmental and associated social issues and contribute to sustainable development.
8. Botanic gardens expertise pooled through a global website, improved networking among the gardens, improved links with other key organizations, and a strengthened BGCI.