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BGANZ and BGCI Strengthen Collaboration
NEW ZEALAND
17th October 2007
 Some of the delegates getting a bit wind-blown
 Some of the delegates enjoying the breeze

The theme of the third BGANZ Congress held at Hamilton Gardens, New Zealand on 11 -14 October was developing partnerships. Keynote speakers included Brian O’Neill, Superintendent of Golden Gates National Park in San Francisco who talked about engaging all sectors of society in local conservation and restoration projects. Golden Gate National Parks involves an impressive 19,000 volunteers. Scot Medbury gave an equally inspirational speech on education and community outreach at San Francisco and Brooklyn Botanic Gardens. The concurrent sessions provided presentations on the range of partnerships underway in botanic gardens of New Zealand and Australia enhancing conservation, visitor participation and education.

Discussions during the Congress led to an agreement to strengthen collaboration between BGCI and BGANZ in delivering capacity building workshops. Building on discussions between BGANZ, BGCI and Asian botanic gardens held at 3GBGC in Wuhan, BGCI and BGANZ will work together with Asian partners to design and deliver a series of workshops on appropriate topics to enhance plant conservation, restoration, community engagement and the management of botanic gardens. The capacity building programme will be developed in a cost effective manner and will draw on the impressive conservation skills of Australian and New Zealand botanic gardens.    

 

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