News published: 15 April 2026

New Issue of BGjournal Highlights the Power of Data in Botanic Garden Collections

We are pleased to announce the publication of BGjournal, Volume 23, Number 1 (April 2026), focusing on “Living Collections and Data in Botanic Gardens.”

This issue explores how botanic gardens worldwide are harnessing data to enhance the management, conservation, and impact of their living plant collections. As global biodiversity faces increasing pressure, the integration of high-quality data with horticultural expertise is emerging as a critical tool for effective plant conservation.

A central feature of this edition examines the evolution of PlantSearch, BGCI’s flagship global database, with recent developments —including improved data accuracy, enhanced taxonomic integration, and new tools for material exchange— enabling stronger collaboration and more strategic collection management across the global botanic garden network. We also go back to the beginnings of PlantSearch and its importance with the interview with Peter Wyse Jackson (BGCI’s current Chair of the Board).

The issue also showcases leading examples from gardens around the world, including Cambridge University Botanic Garden’s data-driven approach to managing living collections, and a range of database systems supporting conservation, research, and decision-making. Together, these contributions highlight the growing importance of interoperable data systems and shared standards in building a coordinated global “meta-collection” of plants.

Across articles, interviews, and case studies, a clear message emerges: data is as vital as the plants themselves. By improving how information is recorded, shared, and applied, botanic gardens can strengthen their collective role in safeguarding plant diversity for the future.

This issue is essential reading for anyone interested in plant conservation, horticulture, and the future of botanic garden practice.

The next BGjournal will be about metacollections, look out for a call for articles, BGCI members are encouraged to send their articles.

(photo credit Howard Rice)