News published: 18 June 2025

As part of the 11th International Congress on Education in Botanic Gardens (11ICEBG) which took place in Seoul, South Korea from 9-13th June 2025, the hosts prepared a statement providing a focus around the key themes of the Congress and recommendations for the future. This included designating June 12th as an annual day for Botanic Garden Education.

Read the full statement below:

We, the participants of the 11th International Congress on Education in Botanic Gardens (ICEBG), convened under the theme “Education for Change: The Role of Botanic Gardens in Addressing Global Challenges”, affirm the urgent need to reimagine and elevate the role of botanic gardens in shaping a sustainable future through transformative education. The Congress was held from June 9 to 13, in Seoul, Korea, organized by Botanic Gardens Conservation International and the Korea National Arboretum.

As we have collectively overcome the global crisis of the COVID-19 pandemic, we have been called to reflect on the relationship between humanity and nature, and to renew our recognition of the value of life and biodiversity. This Statement is founded upon the wisdom and shared understanding gained through that experience. This is closely aligned with vision of the U.N. Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) to ensure that we are “living in harmony with nature” by 2050.

Education has long been at the heart of botanic gardens. Across the world, gardens are already engaging more than a billion people each year and diverse communities in learning, dialogue, and action for conservation. At this pivotal moment, they are centers of transformative education—leading climate action and contributing meaningfully to sustainable development.

We, therefore, commit to advancing further the role of botanic gardens across six key areas, working together to foster tangible, lasting change for a sustainable future:

Nature-Based Therapy and Climate Action in the Age of Climate Crisis

Botanic gardens are sanctuaries of care and healing, offering vital support for mental well-being. We are committed to restoring the human-nature connection and fostering ecological sensitivity.

1. With a growing understanding of eco-anxiety, we will strengthen garden therapy and educational programs in botanic gardens that support mental health and wellbeing.
2. We will actively support youth-led initiatives, citizen science programs, professional training programs, and collaborative projects that empower the next generation as climate action leaders.
3. We will develop and deliver education programs that support local climate action and contribute to climate goals.

Integrating Conservation Technologies, Resources, and Knowledge: Building Interdisciplinary Educational Partnerships

We share a vision of an integrated educational framework founded on collaboration across diverse disciplines—including botany, climate science, psychology, pedagogy, and others. We are committed to creating interdisciplinary partnerships that advance and expand conservation knowledge and resources.

4. We will support the wider expanding role of botanic gardens by delivering education grounded in evidence-based science to support ex-situ conservation and species restoration.
5. We will strengthen partnerships with local communities to promote governance-based conservation and educational initiatives.
6. We will champion inclusive education practices that value Indigenous knowledge and the experiences of communities—especially in underrepresented regions and marginalized peoples—to enhance access to biodiversity education and conservation by strengthening global networks and supporting educational systems.

The actions outlined in these six areas also support the achievement of the CBD’s Kunming Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework and its targets, as well as the complementary actions of the Global Strategy for Plant Conservation, each to be achieved by 2030.

To encourage practical action and collective engagement in the six key areas to which we are committed, we designate June 12 as the International Day of Botanic Gardens Education. This day will serve as a global call for solidarity in addressing the climate and biodiversity crises, and as a symbol of our shared commitment to overcoming these urgent challenges. Through voluntary participation, we aim to raise global awareness of the vital role that botanic garden education plays in promoting environmental consciousness and sustainability worldwide.