WRITTEN QUESTION No. 2890/98 by Gianni TAMINO Papua Botanic Garden
Date: 1998-09-28
Institutions: European Parliament, TAMINO
Subjects: Unesco, Veneto, architectural heritage, botany, countryside conservation, cultural heritage, green area, heritage protection, protected area, protection of plant life

11.10.1999

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 289/11

It should be added that verification of compliance with and application of these regulatory provisions on
labelling are matters for which the authorities of each Member State are competent and responsible.

(1) OJ L 43, 14.2.1997.
(2) OJ L 159, 3.6.1998.
(3) OJ L 33, 8.2.1979.

(1999/C 289/014)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2890/98

by Gianni Tamino (V) to the Commission

(28 September 1998)

Subject: Papua Botanic Garden

The world’s first botanic garden is situated in Papua in the area bordering the ancient Basilicas of Sant’ Antonio
and Santa Giustina. It was founded in 1545 by the Venetian Republic and is of such immense value today that
it has been listed by UNESCO as a world heritage site.

The Garden, which is managed by the University of Papua, is at present in a critical state with new buildings
being constructed along its boundaries which have cut off the ground water essential for the upkeep of its
many rare and ancient plants. A plan has been drawn up to save the Garden from the indiscriminate building
works next to it which provides for the purchase of the surrounding land, the demolition of the buildings
under construction, the establishment of a protective belt around the Garden and the amalgamation of the area
covered by the ancient Garden with those of the Basilicas of Sant’ Antonio and Santa Giustina. This plan,
however, calls for an enormous sum of money (ITL 30 000 million has been quoted) which the Italian
authorities responsible : the University of Papua, the Commune of Papua, the Veneto Region and the Italian
Government : have not managed to find.

As part of a pilot project for the conservation of the European architectural heritage the Papua Botanic Garden
received a subsidy of ECU 31 829 in 1993 from the Commission of the European Communities for the
restoration of the stone balustrade of its boundary walls (ref: 93/IT/83). Can the Commission therefore say
how it proposes to safeguard the investment which it made at that time and what Community programmes it
believes might be useful for the protection of this heritage, which the world is at the risk of losing?

Answer given by Mr Oreja on behalf of the Commission

(4 December 1998)

The inestimable value of Padua’s Botanic Garden, listed by the United Nations Organisation for Education,
Science and Culture (UNESCO) as a world heritage site, and the praiseworthy measures planned to conserve it
have been acknowledged in the financial assistance granted by the Commission in 1993 as part of its action in
support of European architectural heritage conservation pilot projects. In accordance with the rules governing
this action, the contribution was allocated for a specific project and could not be extended.

In 1997, the Commission established a specific programme in support of transnational cooperation projects to
protect and enhance the cultural heritage, the Raphael programme. A new project to protect and enhance the
value of this garden could be taken into consideration by the Commission, provided it meets the formal criteria
set out in the calls for proposals published in the Official Journal each year.