REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, BOGOR -- Botanical gardens can help absorb gas emissions in line with the government's commitment to reduce the carbon emissions by 26 percent by 2020.

"There are four botanical gardens being managed by LIPI (Indonesian Institute of Sciences), namely Bogor Botanical Garden, Cibodas Botanical Garden, Purwodadi Botanical Garden, and Eka Karya Bali Botanical Garden," Head of the Bogor Botanical Garden's Plant Conservation Center Dr Didik Widyatmoko, said here on Sunday.

Botanical gardens also serve as nature laboratories for research, study and recreation, as well as local plant conservation areas, he said, who was accompanied by LIPI spokesperson Nur Tri Aries Suestiningtyas.

The presence of botanical gardens has become strategic since the government's policy to include them in the nine national environmental priorities.

Since 2011, LIPI has been active in developing 21 regional botanical gardens in 17 provinces.

LIPI will organize an expose and seminar on the development of regional botanical gardens in Bogor Botanical Gardens, on November 25-26, 2013.

During 2011-2012, LIPI in cooperation with the public works ministry and the home affairs ministry developed botanical gardens in Enrekang, Kuningan, Samosir, Baturraden, Balikpapan, Katingan, Pucak, Lombok, and Liwa.

This year, LIPI is developing botanical gardens in Banua, South Kalimantan, South Sumatera, Katingan, Pucak, Sambas, and Wamena.