CHINA

It IS time for rare
rhododendrons to strike
their roots in the native soil
nearly a Century after they
were sown on foreign soil by a British botanist, Ernest
Wilson (1876-1930). 1 lie
Royal Botanic Garden.
Edinburgh, Scotland, is
organising the project under
which more than 200 rare
and endangered rhododendrons would be shipped back
to China, with in and to
Conserve Species Under
threat from China's development and rising population.
Many of these plants were
coIlected by Wilson during
his four expeditions to
China. At that time, these
rare plants were safe from
human threats. Increasing
population and the development of roads are leading to
the exploitation of remote
areas for crop growing and
grazing of sheep, cattle and
yak. Grazing brings about
Such ecological changes that
the natural regeneration of
rhododendrons cannot take
place.

The rhododendrons are
being nurtured for three
years in Edinburgh and will
be flown back to China for
plant-breeding programme.