IPSN Biosecurity Resources
Effective biosecurity practices help safeguard biodiversity, protect rare and valuable species, and maintain the integrity of plant collections for research, education, and conservation.
The IPSN aims at develop and design a comprehensive set of biosecurity resources to support botanic garden and arboretum staff and volunteers in protecting plant collections. These materials are designed to build practical skills in risk assessment, hygiene, and plant health monitoring, empowering staff and volunteers to act confidently and effectively.
By integrating these resources into training and daily operations, teams can greatly improve early detection and rapid response to plant health threats, ensuring healthier, more resilient plant collections and contributing to the long-term sustainability of botanical institutions.
Biosecurity Guidelines and Manuals
- IPSN Guide to Biosecurity in Botanic Gardens and Arboreta – Outlining essential practices for good biosecurity in botanic gardens and arboreta. From sourcing and handling plant material and managing plants on arrival to setting up quarantine facilities and maintaining garden infrastructure to reduce risks effectively it provides a roadmap for users to establish key biosecurity measures in their collections..
Biosecurity Poster Resources and Signage
Downloadable biosecurity signage developed through the collaboration between the Tree Health Centre at the Yorkshire Arboretum and IPSN is now available to support botanic gardens and arboreta in raising awareness and promoting best biosecurity practices.
Displaying these resources throughout your site can have a significant impact by reinforcing daily biosecurity routines, improving early detection of threats, and fostering a culture of plant health vigilance.
- Biosecurity guidelines poster and leaflet: Providing summarized information, this poster resource emphasizes measures to prevent the introduction and spread of plant pests and diseases through vehicles, people, plants, and plant products, serving as a quick reference for daily routines.The accompanying leaflet provides further detail and directs users to additional resources for tailored guidance.
- Biosecurity signage for Botanic Gardens and Arboreta: These ready-to-print posters and signs highlight key biosecurity activities and essential information-such as hygiene measures, basic biosecurity policy requirements, and visitor guidance-making it easy for staff, volunteers, and visitors to understand and act on biosecurity responsibilities.
“What’s wrong with my plants?”
Internal reporting process for Plant Health Concerns
The files are freely accessible and, if you wish to tailor them with your botanic garden’s logo or specific information, editable versions can be provided-just contact the IPSN team at lara.salido@bgci.org or itxaso.quintana@bgci.org.
