News published: 15 December 2025

The Korea National Arboretum (KNA) and BGCI are launching a new grants programme on 19th January 2026. This new grants programme has been launched to support and celebrate the International Day of Education in Botanic Gardens which is taking place on 12 June 2026.

International Day of Education in Botanic Gardens

As part of the 11th International Congress on Education in Botanic Gardens (11ICEBG) which took place in Seoul, South Korea from 9-13 June 2025, the hosts (KNA) designated June 12 as an annual day for Botanic Garden Education. This grant programme will support the development of activities and actions that demonstrate the important role of botanic gardens in education. You can read the full Congress statement here.

Climate education projects

To align with BGCI’s Declaration of Intent on Climate Action Education project, which will also launch on 19 January 2026, these grants will be offered for education activities and projects that focus on the topic of climate change and aim to contribute to one of the Declaration’s seven key goals, as outlined below:

1. Build the foundations for nature connectedness and climate learning
2. Collaborate to embed climate change education (relevant to plants, carbon and ecosystems) into school curriculums
3. Empower our visitors/audiences to take climate action
4. Influence government policies and agendas (local to international)
5. Empower the next generation of climate conscious youth and communities
6. Build the right partnerships to mobilise change and increase cooperation
7. Build high-trust relationships to increase inclusion, diversity, equity and accessibility of our programming through community outreach so that no-one is left behind.

Grant information

The grant programme will be open for applications between 19 January and 16 February 2026. Applicants must be BGCI member organisations, who can apply for grants of $1000-2000. Activities must be education related and align with at least one of the key climate goals above. Project activities must take place in 2026 (grants will be disbursed in late May), with some activities or promotion of the project taking place on (or around) the International Day of Education in Botanic Gardens on 12 June 2026.

If you have any questions or would like to discuss a potential project please contact Helen Miller.

BGCI would like to thank the Korea National Arboretum for supporting this grant programme