Botanic Gardens Conservation International

Botanic Gardens Conservation International
Name	Botanic Gardens Conservation International
Founded	0 1987
Type	Non-governmental organization
Headquarters	Kew, London, United Kingdom
Key people	Paul Smith (Secretary General)
Focus	Plant conservation, biodiversity
Website	https://www.bgci.org

Botanic Gardens Conservation International is a global network and membership organization dedicated to plant conservation. Founded in 1987, it coordinates the efforts of the world's botanic gardens to prevent the loss of plant diversity. The organization operates as a key partner in implementing major international conservation agreements, such as the Convention on Biological Diversity. Its work is centered on providing expertise, resources, and a collaborative framework for its member institutions across more than 100 countries.

History

The organization was established in 1987 by a group of prominent botanists and garden directors, including Vernon Heywood and Grenville Lucas of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. Its formation was a direct response to growing international concern over biodiversity loss and the recognition of botanic gardens as vital repositories of living plant collections. Early support came from institutions like the World Wide Fund for Nature and the International Union for Conservation of Nature. A significant milestone was the publication of the International Agenda for Botanic Gardens in Conservation in 2000, which formally outlined the conservation role of gardens. Its evolution has been closely tied to global policy, including the Earth Summit in Rio de Janeiro and the subsequent development of the Global Strategy for Plant Conservation.

Mission and objectives

The core mission is to mobilize botanic gardens and secure plant diversity for the well-being of people and the planet. Primary objectives include preventing the extinction of threatened plant species, supporting the implementation of the Global Strategy for Plant Conservation, and promoting sustainability and education for sustainable development. The organization aims to enhance the conservation capacity of its members through training, policy advocacy, and scientific collaboration. It also works to raise public awareness about the importance of plants and the critical role of botanic gardens in ecological restoration and climate change mitigation.

Structure and membership

The organization is governed by an elected Board of Trustees and managed by a Secretariat based at Kew Gardens in London. Membership is open to any botanic garden, arboretum, or related institution committed to plant conservation, encompassing over 600 members worldwide. This network includes major institutions such as the Missouri Botanical Garden, the New York Botanical Garden, and the Singapore Botanic Gardens. Regional offices and committees, such as those for North America and East Asia, help tailor activities to local conservation needs. The membership provides a powerful collective voice in forums like the Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity.

Key programmes and initiatives

Key initiatives focus on direct conservation action and capacity building. The Global Tree Assessment aims to complete conservation assessments for all the world's tree species, a project conducted in partnership with the International Union for Conservation of Nature. The PlantSearch database is a unique online tool that tracks the location of threatened plants in living collections. The organization also runs the Global Botanic Garden Fund, which provides grants for conservation projects in developing countries. Other significant programmes address seed banking, crop wild relative conservation, and the creation of Important Plant Areas, modeled on the BirdLife International concept of Important Bird and Biodiversity Areas.

Global Strategy for Plant Conservation

The organization is a leading advocate and implementation partner for the Global Strategy for Plant Conservation, a framework adopted under the Convention on Biological Diversity. It works to translate the strategy's 16 targets into practical actions for botanic gardens, particularly concerning ex situ conservation, ecological restoration, and public education. The organization's tools, such as the ThreatSearch database and the GardenSearch directory, are critical for monitoring progress toward these international targets. It regularly reports on contributions from the botanic garden community to bodies like the Secretariat of the Convention on Biological Diversity.

Publications and resources

The organization produces a wide array of authoritative publications to support the scientific and educational work of its network. Its flagship journal, BGjournal, features articles on botanic garden science and conservation practice. Technical manuals and guidelines, such as those on seed conservation and plant collection management, are standard references for practitioners. It also maintains several crucial online databases, including GardenSearch and PlantSearch, which are freely accessible resources for the global conservation community. These publications and tools are essential for knowledge sharing and setting standards across institutions like the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh and the Australian National Botanic Gardens.

Category:Botanical organizations Category:Conservation organizations Category:International organizations based in the United Kingdom Category:Organizations established in 1987