On International Biodiversity Day, ENGIE Romania and the Association of Botanical Gardens in Romania announce the completion of the “Gardens of Knowledge” project, an initiative to rehabilitate, expand and revitalize essential spaces within the Botanical Garden of the University of Bucharest.

The project aimed to increase and preserve urban biodiversity by redeveloping three key areas – the Historical Garden, the Children’s Garden and the Italian Garden – all with an essential role in ecological education and in promoting sustainability in the urban environment.

The Historical Garden, unique in Romania, brings together around 60 botanical species and varieties used in local food before 1500. Here, visitors learn about traditional food plants and the importance of maintaining their diversity. This garden is a model of sustainable living, promoting good sustainable gardening practices.

The Children’s Garden is a space dedicated to environmental education, where children and adults will be able to explore the diversity of plants in an interactive and fun way. The design of the garden, in the form of a giant plant, allows visitors to better understand the structure and functions of plants, through non-formal activities, adapted to different age groups. Each part of the plant is a place of learning, where discoveries about nature are at every turn.

The Italian Garden was revitalized by rehabilitating the pond with aquatic and marsh plants, affected in the past by biological imbalances. It has an important illustrative role in explaining the adaptations of plants to aquatic environments and the vulnerability of these ecosystems to climate change.

“We are proud that ENGIE has contributed to the revitalization of iconic spaces in the Bucharest Botanical Garden. In an increasingly crowded urban context and vulnerable to climate change, investments in biodiversity are essential to ensure a healthy and sustainable environment. The “Knowledge Gardens” project is a concrete example of how we can restore and transform a green space into an essential resource for environmental education, awareness and community involvement,” said Nicolas Richard, CEO of ENGIE Romania.

The “Knowledge Gardens” project was financed by ENGIE Romania through the Environmental Platform for Bucharest – a program of the Bucharest Community Foundation and ING Bank.