S.L. 327.634 Art. 5Objectives and Functions.

The Centre shall focus on applied training, research and outreach in areas of botanical sciences, as outlined below. The Centre thus aims:

(a) to promote higher education in applied fields of botanical sciences, including research on bioactive compounds from plants, ethno-botany, taxonomy, in-situ and ex-situ conservation of rare and endangered species, rehabilitation of degraded habitats and restoration ecology, palaeo-palynology and aerobiology, horticulture, and historic gardens;

(b) to conserve, update and expand the present plant collections at the Botanic Gardens, namely, the herbarium, living plants and seed collections;

(c) to use the resource centre and its gardens for teaching and training purposes, and to assist in the technical and logistical aspects of courses of study, which various University entities may organise from time to time in botanical sciences and related disciplines;

(d) to organise public lectures and seminars for special interest groups, with a view to promote the GARDENS AND RESOURCE CENTRE

Resource Centre as well as to raise awareness for the conservation of flora, arboreal environments, historic gardens and trees in general;

(e) to encourage educational visits to the gardens by school children, and by other interest groups and individuals alike;

(f) to collaborate with international institutions in fields of mutual interest (including internships and specialised staff training) and to participate in funded projects relating to the areas of interest outlined in (a) above; and

(g) to carry out other activities ancillary or conducive to the above aims.