News Published: 7 July 2025

We are excited to launch an Introduction to Biosecurity for Botanic Gardens and Arboreta – a new, free online module designed specifically for professionals working in botanic gardens and arboreta.

As plant pests and diseases become an increasing threat to biodiversity, the need for strong biosecurity practices in plant collections has never been more urgent. This module provides foundational knowledge and practical tools to help you protect your living collections, support plant health, and comply with national and international biosecurity standards.

The module includes five key sections:

• Welcome to the module
• Fundamentals of plant health and biosecurity
• Importance of biosecurity and plant health in botanic gardens
• Plant biosecurity in plant collections
• Conclusion and next steps

Throughout the module, you’ll explore a range of key biosecurity concepts essential for good plant health and biosecurity practices. These include understanding the biosecurity continuum, navigating plant health governance structures, conducting pathway risk analysis, developing and maintaining biosecurity documentation, and implementing strategies for monitoring and maintaining plant health.

Through engaging and dynamic presentations, you’ll gain a solid understanding of the principles that underpin effective biosecurity plant collection management.