Definition of a Botanic Garden

The following is a list of criteria that may be met in part or whole by any institution that is considered to be a botanic garden:

A reasonable degree of permanence
An underlying scientific basis for the collections
Proper documentation of the collections, including wild origin
Monitoring of the plants in the collections
Adequate labelling of the plants
Open to the public
Communication of information to other gardens, institutions and the public
Exchange of seed or other materials with other botanic gardens, arboreta or research institutions
Undertaking of scientific or technical research on plants in the collections
Maintanence of research programs in plant taxonomy in associated herbaria.

The above list does not, however, constitute a comprehensive summary of the activities undertaken by botanic gardens.

IUCN Botanic Gardens Conservation Secretariat, Kew, Richmond, United Kingdom (1989).

Contact BGCI Jobs at Botanic Gardens Accessibility Translate This Page Media Centre Help Legal Notices Report Errors Send to Friend Print this Page