The document discusses the Botanic Garden of Padua University in Italy. It provides background on the garden's founding in 1545 and describes its historical layout and structures related to water collection. The garden collects rainwater and recycles water for irrigation. It educates visitors on sustainable water use and biodiversity through exhibitions, publications, and laboratories. As part of a global water museums network, the garden could collaborate on exhibitions, research projects, and staff training regarding humid environments and their importance.

1. WATER
MUSEUMS
Global Network
International Workshop, Venice 2 – 4 May 2017
In cooperation with Endorsed by

2. Full Professor of Plant Cell Biology,
Dept of Biology
Director, Botanic Garden
University of Padova
Barbara Baldan Centro di Ateneo Orto
Botanico, Università di
Padova

3. - in 2016 about 220.000 visitors
- funding sources: for didactic project
MIUR, MiBACT, for maintenance University
of Padova. Tickets, guided tours,
naturalistic laboratories.
- Future activities already planned
- Fascination of Plants Day (may 2017)
- International Workshop “Soil ecology” (june
2017)
- Accademia del profumo-Straordinario
sentire (june 2017)
- MAB Youth Forum 2017 UNESCO
(September 2017)
- Maria Rita Stirpe- Acquerello Botanico
(september 2017)
- International workshop Molecular flower
development (september 2017)
- International “Botanical Art Worldwide (May
2018)
Botanic Garden of Padua University

4. Francesco Bonafede
The Garden was founded in 1545 to meet the wishes of
Francesco Bonafede, the teacher of “Lectura
Simplicium” (a sort of present day Pharmaceutical
Botany or Pharmacognosy at the School of Medicine of
the University.
The construction of a Hortus Simplicium was
approved by the Senate
of the Venetian Republic
Botanic Garden of Padua University

5. The area chosen for the establishment of the Botanic Garden
belonged to the benedictine monastery of Santa Giustina and as
located just inside the city walls (asterisk). This area was supplied
with abundant water and was normally used as an orchard by the
monks.
An ancient map (Cristoforo Sorte, 1586) shows the system of
channels (in grey) in the area of the Botanic Garden and the big
wheel used to obtain water from the Alicorno channel.

6. To prevent the frequent thefts of medicinal plants, the
Botanical Garden had to be enclosed by a wall soon after its
foundation. For this reason it was also known as Hortus
cinctus or Hortus conclusus.
The general layout
of the Botanic
Garden remained
unchanged
throughout the
centuries and
unchanged
remains its
location. Since
1997 it has been
inscribed within
the UNESCO
World Heritage.
Layout of the Garden as
published
In the booklet by G. Porro, 1591

7. The need for water has always determined the structural development of
the Botanic Garden. To make provision for water the central fountain,
basins within the four “quarters”, Teofrasto’ s fountain (gate sud) and
Four Seasons Fountain (gate est) were constructed. The first water main
was created in 1575, then it was update over and over again and in 1936
an artesian well has been realized (286 mt depth).
Area available for a possible extension of the Garde

8. In this area new glasshouses which have also spaces
that can be used for didactics and scientific research.
This means a return of the Garden to its past mission
in a modern and updated surrounding.

9. The water is strongly present within the
new Garden of Biodiversity, opened on
September 2014.
-Waterfalls and basins mark the
transition among the different biomes.
-A big tank (450 m3) collects the
rainwater that is continuously recycled.
-An additional artesian well provides
water for emergency needs of the
Biodiversity Garden.

10. Botanic Gardens in Conservation
The conservation of plant diversity is critical for
sustainable development and botanic gardens are
playing a key role as centres of conservation
action.
Gardens maintain a wide range of species as living
plants, in seed banks and tissue culture. Botanic
gardens contain collections of plants for
education, scientific purposes and displays; they
have:
•taxonomically-based collections;
•collections of native plants;
•plants which share a common geographical or
ecological origin such as Mediterranean, desert,
alpine, others;
•wild relatives or cultivars of useful species such
as medicinal, aromatic or textile plants;

11. Botanic Garden in Education
Historical Library, Herbarium
Guided tours, conferences

12. Botanic Garden in
Education

13. 2.1 We already try to have sustainable water
uses in our Botanic Garden: we collect
rainwater, we recycle water, we water only if
strictly needed, gardeners are aware about the
importance of water preservation.
2.2 Possible topics related to MDGs which
could be developed in the future:
- make visitors aware about the sustainable
use of water by educational publication,
dedicated exhibitions, laboratories.
-develop knowledge about the importance of
humidenvironments and the richness of their
biodiversity by setting up more area, within the
Botanic garden, in which aquatic plants will be
cultivated and where other photosynthetic
and/or animal organisms will esthablish.
Water and Millennium Development
Goals

14. 3.1 Main activities that should be at the core of
the Global Network of WA-MUs:
- linkage with other sites within the Global
network which can develop common knowledge
about management of humid biomes
(Bacchiglione, Brenta, Sile rivers).
- Joint exhibitions or tours connecting different
sites of the network about specific subjects (i.e.
plants colonizing humid or sub-humid
environments; animal life in humid biomes; plant
and animal biodiversity in rivers; management of
water sites)
- Awareness that water can be an extreme
environment:: ice, snow or thermal biomes
(mud bath of Abano/ Montegrotto) can host rare
and useful organisms.
Global Network: Botanic Garden expectations

15. 3.2 Botanic Garden of Padova can offer to
the Global Network of WA-MUs:
- Collaboration in joint publications about
the awareness of the importance of water
and humid environmentss
- Support in staff training about plant
physiology, plant cultivation and
maintainance in humid sites.
- Support in choice of plant organisms
designing new water sites or restoration
of existing sites.
- Linkage to academic community to share
ideas, proposal for funding, workshop etc.
- Diffusion of the water knowledge at
different level of difficulty among visitors,
students, experts, enthusiasts.
Global Network: Botanic Garden
expectations

16. 3.3 Advantages that may derive to Botanic
Garden by joining the Global Network of
WA-Mus:
- Opportunity of sharing ideas, work
proposals, set up of research and didactic
projects.
- More visibility and direct linkage of the
Botanic Garden in a network including
different sites having a common target.
- Higher level of communication and more
possibility of knowledge diffusion related
to water.
- Easier achievement of target goals
within the UNESCO framework.
- Possibility of fellow exchanges, stages
for students to prepare thesis or for
personnel to learn best practices of
management, maintenance of the garden..
Global Network: Botanic Garden
expectations

17. Thank You