Draft:Charles Bommer

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Charles Bommer (1866–1938)

Charles Bommer (born 13 September 1866, Brussels – died 21 May 1938, Brussels) was a Belgian botanist, professor, and curator. He is best known for designing and establishing the Arboretum of Tervuren in 1902, a large forest-based arboretum near Brussels that remains a unique example of dendrological and geographical landscape design.

Biography

Charles Bommer was born into a botanical family. His father, Jean-Édouard Bommer, and mother, Elise Destrée, were both recognized for their work in botany. He was the eldest son. He began his studies in natural sciences at the Université libre de Bruxelles (ULB) around 1887, initially focusing on zoology. In 1889, he decided to pursue botany and went on to earn his doctoral degree in 1894 under the supervision of Leo Errera, with support from assistant Jean Massart. Following the death of his father in 1895, Bommer became the breadwinner of the house. He found a job as Assistant Naturalist at the National Botanic Garden of Belgium. He also began teaching botany at the University of Brussels (ULB), becoming an extraordinary professor in 1897 and a full professor in 1902. In 1902, Bommer became Curator of the National Botanic Garden. That same year, he was tasked by the General Directorate of Water and Forests to design a forest arboretum in Tervuren.

The Arboretum of Tervuren

Bommer established the Tervuren Arboretum as a geographical forest arboretum. In this model, tree species were grouped according to their natural geographic regions—Europe, Asia, and North America. The arboretum served both scientific and educational purposes: it was used for the acclimatization of exotic species and as a practical teaching tool for his university courses. In 1905, Bommer published a comprehensive study on the arboretum project, completing the formal organization of the site. Although he officially retired in 1930, Bommer continued to be involved in the arboretum's development and care until his death in 1938. His lifelong commitment ensured the preservation and legacy of the site.

Academic and Professional Contributions

• In 1904, he co-founded the Phytogeography Section of the Royal Botanical Society of Belgium, together with Jean Massart. • He co-authored the influential book Les aspects de la végétation de la Belgique, contributing to Belgian landscape botany. • In 1910, Bommer and Count Visart de Bocarmé co-wrote the Report on the Introduction of Exotic Tree Species in Belgium. • He served as: o President of the Royal Botanical Society of Belgium o Vice-president of the Central Forestry Society of Belgium o Member of the Higher Council for Water and Forests

Publications and Research

Charles Bommer published 47 scientific works throughout his career. He was known for his use of photographic documentation of plant species and forest plots, including early aerial photographs of the Tervuren Arboretum. He also oversaw the creation of a photographic lab at the National Botanic Garden. Although some of his dendrological projects remained incomplete, Bommer’s research and documentation had a lasting impact on Belgian botanical sciences.

Selected Works

• 1905 – Compilation study on the Arboretum of Tervuren

• 1930 – Article on the arboretum in the Bulletin of the Université libre de Bruxelles

• 1932 – Presentation at the International Botanical Congress in Amsterdam

Legacy

Charles Bommer’s legacy is most strongly reflected in the Arboretum of Tervuren, which continues to serve as a living laboratory for dendrology, ecology, and climate adaptation research. He is remembered as a dedicated botanist who bridged academic teaching, public education, and applied forestry in Belgium.

References

• Bestor.be. “Bommer, Charles (1866–1938),” Biographical article from the Belgian Science and Technology Observatory (in Dutch). Retrieved July 2025.