Chile’s National Botanical Garden, one of the world’s largest centers for botanical conservation and research, is on the brink of total destruction due to a devastating wildfire that has swept through central Chile. The deadly blaze has claimed at least 123 lives and engulfed 98 percent of the garden, according to reports from The New York Times.
Located in the coastal city of Viña del Mar and spanning 1,000 acres, the garden was home to over 1,000 tree species, including rare cacti, exotic plants from Europe and Asia, and some of the world’s last known Sophora toromiro trees, now extinct in the wild. The loss marks a significant blow to global efforts in preserving biodiversity.
On Friday afternoon, staff members were forced to evacuate several hundred visitors as flames rapidly consumed the area. Tragically, a female greenhouse keeper, her mother, and two grandsons lost their lives in the disaster.
The destruction of such a vital repository of plant life highlights the urgent need for increased global cooperation in environmental conservation. As Asia houses some of the most biodiverse regions on the planet, the implications resonate deeply. Nations across Asia are also grappling with the impacts of climate change and the threat of wildfires to their own natural heritage.
This incident serves as a sobering reminder of the fragility of our planet’s ecosystems and the collective responsibility to protect them. It underscores the importance of proactive measures in safeguarding botanical treasures not just in Asia but worldwide.
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Deadly wildfire engulfs one of the world's largest botanic gardens in Chile
cgtn.com
