In brief
A recent tour of Royal Botanic Gardens Kew showcased a century‑old time capsule containing endangered plant seeds, noted the urgency of biodiversity protection discussed at COP17 in Yerevan, and highlighted the Palm House’s climate controls and upcoming renovation. The article also questions whether the world can meet 2030 and 2050 conservation targets.
A visit to the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, on Saturday drew attention to a 1985 time capsule buried beneath a dark‑blue tile in the Princess of Wales Conservatory, said Xinhua news. The capsule, slated to be opened in 2085, holds seeds of endangered species endangered by dwindling wild populations.
Xinhua linked the Kew visit to the 17th meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity (COP17) held in Yerevan, Armenia. The conference, it added, underscored the global urgency of halting biodiversity loss.
The Palm House, nicknamed the "living rainforest in London," opened in 1848 and houses over 1,000 tropical and subtropical species. Staff member Leaf explained the facility maintains a consistently high temperature and humidity of around 80 percent to protect the plants.
<blockquote>Staff member Leaf said that to conserve the tropical plants from around the world, the Palm House maintained consistently high temperatures and humidity levels of around 80 percent.</blockquote>
Leaf noted the Palm House, a Victorian‑era greenhouse, is scheduled to close for renovation starting next year, following structural deterioration noted in earlier 20th‑century restorations.
While the time capsule’s contents and the renovation plan are confirmed by Kew officials, the longer‑term goal of halting and reversing biodiversity loss by 2030 and living in harmony with nature by 2050 remains an aspirational question rather than a verified target.
