Blossoming China sows the seeds to boost biodiversity

IT IS a story often told by environmentalists. China's impressive economic growth hides a more menacing reality: the country will soon provide the greatest threat to the environment, as the government puts rapid industrialisation ahead of the consequences.

But Scotland's top botanist, who has just returned from a three-week official scientific visit to China, tells a different story. Stephen Blackmore, director of the Royal Botanic Garden in Edinburgh, said the country is pouring resources into environmental sciences and will soon lead the way in the innovation of botanic gardens and projects to promote biodiversity. Read on....