Actiewebsite VU Hortus!

To: Dr. R.M. Smit
President of the Executive Board, VU University Amsterdam

Dear Dr. R.M. Smit,
Thank you for your reply on my letter of concern! (see below)
May I ask you to send a copy of your “initial evaluation studies which
have led the Executive Board to conclude that it is no longer a
tenable option for the Botanical Gardens to continue to occupy its
current site” mentioned in your letter.
It seems to me that your colleagues and advisors are making a
political and an economical mistake by making a risky decision on the
VU University Amsterdam Botanic Garden desintegration.
It doesn’t seem to be the wyse and scientifically, ecologically and
socially proved conclusion and assesment!
Your kind response and a copy of requested materials along with the
current and future Master-Plans for the pice of land in question would
be appreciated greatly!

We here in Siberia are doing special lectures and practical excersises
for university students using special publications and educational
materials on the intangible value of world Botanic Gardens (please,
see “The Weight of Petal” and “Marketing Mostly Intangible Goods:
The Case of Botanical Gardens and Arboreta“).
So we are going to use the case of your VU University Amsterdam
Botanic Garden as an educational material and the case on
“what-not-to-do” for Russian, German and Asian students of biological,
economical, ecological, geographycal, etc. specialities.

Thank you in advance!
Sincerely yours,

Dr. Victor Kuzevanov, Ph.D.
Director, Botanic Garden of Irkutsk State University
Representative of Russia in the East Asia Botanic Gardens Network
Member of the Community Council Chamber of the Irkutsk City
Member of the Presidium of the Irkutsk Regional Branch of the
All-Russia Society of Nature Protection

93 Koltsov Street, P.O. Box 48
Irkutsk, 664039, Russia
Phone/FAX: +7(3952)413476 Mobile phone +79149279139
Email: victor.kuzevanov@gmail.com
INTERNET: http://bogard.isu.ru/indexe.htm

On 2010/7/7, Kaya, V V.Kaya@dienst.vu.nl wrote:
> Dear Sir,

> Many thanks for your e-mail, in which you voiced concern about the
> future of VU University Amsterdam’s Botanical Gardens.
>
> VU University Amsterdam’s urban planning sketches of the new campus show
> the Botanical Gardens site as a location for the construction of new
> buildings. VU University Amsterdam is currently examining the
> implications of a possible closure of the Botanical Gardens.
>
> VU University Amsterdam attaches great importance to the heritage of the
> Botanical Gardens. The university is determined to ensure that the
> Botanical Gardens’ collection is preserved for future generations.
> Accordingly, it is currently exploring the viability of various options
> for disposing of the Botanical Gardens’ collections. This might involve
> distributing them throughout the campus, or transferring them to another
> botanical garden.
>
> Various development options for VU University Amsterdam and VU
> University Medical Center are currently being evaluated. Another area of
> study involves the various ways in which green areas can evolve within
> the context of the new campus. The new campus must be a vibrant and
> multifunctional area, in which teaching, research, living, culture,
> working, and recreation will form an integrated whole. Sustainability
> and green areas will certainly be essential elements of this picture.
> Some of the options under consideration are closed courtyard gardens,
> winter gardens, roof gardens, and hanging gardens. VU University Medical
> Center may decide to create a wellness garden.
>
> The initial results of these studies have led the Executive Board to
> conclude that it is no longer a tenable option for the Botanical Gardens
> to continue to occupy its current site. However, this does not mean that
> the various functions performed by the Botanical Gardens will be
> irretrievably lost. Studies are being carried out to identify ways in
> which these aspects can be integrated into VU University Amsterdam’s new
> campus. It will be at least another two years before the Botanical
> Gardens closes its gates for good.
>
> We greatly appreciate the commitment that you have shown in this matter.
>
> Yours sincerely,
>
> R.M. Smit
> President of the Executive Board, VU University Amsterdam