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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: November 23, 2004

SCHUMER SECURES $500,000 FOR NEW YORK BOTANICAL GARDEN

Funding Part of the FY 2005 Omnibus Appropriations Bill

US Senator Charles E. Schumer today announced Congress has passed $500,000 in federal funding for the New York Botanical Garden. The funding was included in the Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education Appropriations section of the Fiscal Year 2005 Omnibus Appropriations bill. The bill now heads to the President for his signature.

The funding will be used to continue the development of software that allows the Garden to catalog and manage data and digital images from its collection of almost 7 million plants specimens. The software tools are called the Virtual Herbarium, and presently a portion of the herbarium collection may be searched free of charge for any scientist or researcher with internet access. Expediting access to this information is critical to botanical research and conservation efforts.

"The New York Botanical Garden is one of the treasures of our city. In addition to being a beautiful place to visit, it brings a great educational service to the city and all who visit it, and I am happy to announce we can provide this funding so that the Garden has the resources and tools it needs to keep up with ever-changing information sharing technology." Schumer said.

Founded in 1891, the New York Botanical Garden is one of the world's great collections of plants, the region's leading educational center for gardening and horticulture, and an international center for plant research. The Garden contains 48 different gardens and plant collections, all on a 250-acre National Historic Landmark site in New York City's Bronx borough.

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