The PHS Gardening for Biodiversity Symposium , held during the 2020 PHS Philadelphia Flower Show on March 4th at the Pennsylvania Convention Center , featured environmental professionals from around the world to address , school , and increase cognizance on of import environmental takings throughout the day .

Hosted as a collaboration between PHS and the Prince Albert II of Monaco Foundation – USA , the daylight - long computer programme brought together a variety of horticultural experts , environmental advocates , nonprofit leaders , and other notable Guest to draw attention to important environmental concerns globally and throughout the mid - Atlantic region . PHS and the Prince Albert II of Monaco Foundation – USA are leading advocate of biodiversity and sustainability . The partnership between the two organizations during the Flower Show elevated both onto a national and international level to punctuate the importance of addressing today ’s environmental concern .

“ PHS ’s year - cycle environmental study includes extensive efforts in sustainability and biodiversity . This symposium was created to present how it is vital for individuals to understand ways they can bestow to the health and well - being of the area and around the man , ” said Andrew Bunting , PHS Vice President of Public Horticulture . “ PHS was honored to host some of the leading voices in the field at the PHS Gardening for Biodiversity Symposium . ”

Keynote speaker Dr. Peter Raven , a US National Medal of Science recipient role , kicked off the day with a talk entitled “ Biodiversity and Our Common Future , ” addressing the issue of quenching and the role of diverse species in our ecosystems and sprightliness . He talk about elbow room to carry on biodiversity , the degree which efforts have been successful , and how we can do more .

Other notable symposium speakers included Abby Meyer , Executive Director of Botanic Gardens Conservation International US ; Dr. Dennis Whigham , Senior Scientist at the Smithsonian Environmental Research Center ; and Nico Wissing and Lodewijk Hoekstra , carbon monoxide - owners of NL Greenlabel , based in the Netherlands . PHS ’s Vice President of Public Horticulture Andrew Bunting moderated engaging interrogative and answer Roger Sessions roundtable discussions at the symposium , and talker from PHS also presented throughout the twenty-four hour period .

To fill up the symposium , PHS asked everyone to confide to its collective activity opening environ pollinator . An essential way to ensure foresighted - term wellness and well - being within the region and globally is to plant pollinator plants or salute a financial allegiance to an organisation that promotes pollinator in its piece of work .

“ pollinator dally an significant part in biodiversity , yet their population are declining , and PHS is attempt a collective action initiative to increase pollinator in the region , ” said Bunting . “ Promoting pollinators is just one crucial step to improve the biodiversity of the region , leading to improved wellness and well - being . ”

pollinator sustain the earth ’s ecosystem and are responsible for for assisting over 80 % of the world ’s flower plants to regurgitate and keep biodiversity within a population . consort to the U.S. Forest Service , more than one-half of the domain ’s diet of avoirdupois and oils occur from animal - pollinated plant life and more than 150 intellectual nourishment crops in the United States depend on pollinators . The USDA estimates that crops that bet on pollenation are worth more than $ 10 billion a year .

Every year , PHS releases a tilt ofGold Medal Plantsand admit pollinator friendly plants that individuals can grow in his or her own garden . The six plant life chosen for 2020 were also on show at the PHS Philadelphia Flower Show at the Home Gardening Hub . Throughout the twelvemonth , PHS raise sustainable gardening and biodiversity in the greater Philadelphia region by hosting plant swop , horticulture workshops , and gardening - focus lecture . An important room to brook PHS and its work is to become a contributing member . For more info on pollinators or to get involved , visitphsonline.org .