ABSTRACT
With the destruction and over-exploitation of forests, many species have been affected and forced to face extinction. As we know, plants are a crucial part of biodiversity in our planet as they provide aesthetic values and cultural and economic benefits. In this context, ex situ conservation is considered to be a great tool for plant preservation. In the current climate change scenario, many threatened species are no longer able to survive in their natural habitats. Thus, botanical gardens hold the key to protecting those species that are threatened in some way. The Botanic Garden of Yogi Vemana University, Kadapa, Andhra Pradesh, is recognized by the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEF & CC) Govt. of India, as a Lead Botanical Garden for the conservation of endemic and threatened plants from the Eastern Ghats, India. The garden plays a vital role in conservation, education, and encouraging the public to support conservation of wild life. The garden is currently harboring about 900 indigenous and exotic taxa (445 herbs, 89 climbers and lianas, 98 shrubs, and 268 trees) belonging to 118 families (more than 10,000 individual plants), of which includes about 150 endemic and threatened species.
