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BGCI - networking botanic gardens
around the world
Suzanne Sharrock
Director of Global ProgrammesBotanic Gardens Conservation International
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Presentation overview
About BGCI and its networking roles
Introduction to the European Botanic
Gardens Consortium
Consortium activities
BGCI databases and support to the
global network
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About BGCI
Worldwide botanic garden networking
organisation
Established in 1987
HQ at RBG, Kew, UK
Offices in USA, Singapore, China
Associate offices Netherlands, Russia,
Canary Islands, Germany, Colombia
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About BGCI
BGCIs mission is to mobilise botanic
gardens and engage partners in securing
plant diversity for the well-being of
people and the planet
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About BGCI
Membership services
Network Support
Information
Databases
Training
Education
On-the-ground conservation
Conferences
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About BGCI
Network support:
Global Partnership for Plant Conservation European Botanic Gardens Consortium
Southeast Asia Botanic Gardens Network East Asia Botanic Gardens Network African Botanic Gardens Network
Secretariat, meetings, workshops,
publications (as resources allow)
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Indonesia
South AfricaRio de Janeiro, Brazil
UK
Mauritius
Jordan
Germany
Over 2,500botanic gardens in+150 countries -strength indiversity
wales
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Defining the botanic garden
An institution holding collections
of documented and living plantsfor the purposes of scientific
research, conservation, display
and education
Botanic Gardens Conservation International,
1998
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Interesting facts about botanic gardens
The worlds botanic gardens contain 80,000 - 100,000
living plant species (approx 30% of all known plants)
Their collections include plants that are extinct in the wild
Together they receive over 2 million visitors per year They provide an interface between botanical science,
horticulture and the public
They engage with many different sectors of society
(children, students, informed adults, gardeners, generalpublic...)
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Botanic garden networks
Globally linked through BGCI (600+
members worldwide)
Regional networks in most regions (e.g.
European Botanic Garden Consortium
National networks e. PlantNetwork
the Plant Collections Network of Britain
and Ireland.
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National networks
Facilitate information flow
Provide opportunities for training and
capacity building
Exchange of experiences and expertise
Provide a common voice and advocate
for botanic gardens
Provide link to regional and internationalnetworks
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European Botanic Gardens Consortium
800+ botanic gardens in Europe
Linked at national level in national
networks
Representatives of national networks
make up the European Consortium
Established in 1994
All EU countries, plus Croatia, Iceland,Norway and Switzerland as observers.
Total of 27 countries and 4 observers
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European Botanic Gardens Consortium
Consortium meets twice peryear
Meetings hosted by member
countries Costs shared between host
(accommodation and meals)and participants (travel).
Working language English Secretariat and support
BGCI and IABG
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European Botanic Gardens Consortium
Activities include:
European Action Plan for Botanic Gardens inthe European Union
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European Botanic Gardens Consortium
International Plant Exchange Network (IPEN)
Facilitate seed exchange between gardens Non-commercial use
In the framework of the Access and Benefit Sharing(ABS) provisions of the CBD
Code of Conduct for acquisition, maintenance andsupply of plant material
Accessions have IPEN number records country oforigin and acts as unique identifier
136 botanic gardens and arboreta from 19 countries
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European Botanic Gardens Consortium
Sharing information and policy on
potentially invasive plants in botanic
gardens
Lists of known or potentially invasiveplants compiled
Emerging problems identified Fosters vigilance in botanic gardens
Ensures responsible pro-active policies Checklist has over 600 taxa available on
www.plantnetwork.org/aliens/
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European Botanic Gardens Consortium
Pan-European seed-list search system
Use of a code word to link all on-line indicesseminum produced by European botanic
gardens Easy internet searches No central database or compilation required Open to any garden
No registration or membership costs
ebgconsortiumindexseminum2010
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European Botanic Gardens Consortium
EuroGard congresses
Organised every three years Hosted by Consortium member country
Acts as general meeting of the Consortium - activities,priorities, aims and objectives may be reviewed
Congress resolutions inform and advise the Consortium
June 8 - 12 2009 in Helsinki, Finland
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BGCI supporting networking between
botanic gardens
Website
E-bulletins
Publications
Congresses
Databases
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BGCI e-bulletins
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Serial publications
Manuals and guides
Reports and Red lists
BGCI publications
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BGCI databases
GardenSearch
Database of botanic gardens around theworld - 2,673 records to date
PlantSearch Database of plants in cultivation in botanic
gardens worldwide
257 European gardens included
Over 400,000 records, relating to 124,000taxa
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GardenSearch
Gateway to the worlds botanic gardens
Basic information about the garden and link to
website
Web presence for smaller gardens
Directory of information on skills / expertise
available in botanic gardens
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Location of botanic gardens with seed banks
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PlantSearch
List of plants in cultivation
Linked to IUCN Red Lists
National Red Lists Medicinal plants Crop Wild Relatives Alpine species
Tropicos IPNI Plants of the world bibliography
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PlantSearch
All records linked to garden record
But link is not made public
Public interface shows number of
gardens per plant record, but not which
gardens
Data remains anonymous
Blind email option Tool for measuring progress towards
GSPC Target 8.
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Conclusions
There are many botanic gardens around
the world
Networking helps gardens to share
experiences and expertise
European Botanic Gardens Consortium
facilitates information flow and
networking between European gardens
BGCI provides support and tools for
botanic garden networks
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Thank you for your attention!