Kinshasa botanical garden, Botanical garden in Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of Congo.
Kinshasa Botanical Garden is a wooded site featuring trees and plant collections from the Central African region. The grounds contain labeled specimens and display the natural variety of the country in organized plantings.
The garden was founded in the 1930s by Belgian colonial officials and received a different name at that time. This site traces back to the period of Belgian administration in the region.
The garden's name honours Fernand De Boeck, the district commissioner of Moyen-Congo when the park was created in 1933; from 1970 to 1978 it was called Parc de la Révolution. An Environmental Education Service runs outreach for visitors, and the nursery sells plants to individuals and organisations for urban beautification. In 2012 the NGO Les Amis de la nature et des jardins warned publicly about threats to Congo's botanical gardens.
The grounds are best explored on foot, with paths winding through the site. Visitors should plan for adequate time and prepare for the warm, humid climate of the region.
The garden's 8 hectares include 1 hectare now occupied by shops linked to the neighbouring Kinshasa Central Market, so commerce has taken over part of the original grounds. Its nursery, in the northern section, sells plants to individuals and organisations for urban beautification, and is run by four technicians and one agricultural engineer.
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