News published 13 August 2025

BGCI Strengthens African Botanic Garden Collaboration at AETFAT Congress in Ghana

From 3–8 August, BGCI staff and partners joined the 23rd Association for the Taxonomic Study of the Flora of Tropical Africa (AETFAT) Congress in Accra, Ghana, contributing to a series of meetings, workshops, and strategic discussions aimed at strengthening plant conservation and botanical collaboration across Africa.

Revitalising the African Botanic Gardens Network (ABGN)

A highlight of the week was the ABGN meeting, which brought together 34 delegates from 13 African countries, alongside representatives from BGCI, Jardins botaniques de France et des pays francophones (JBFPF), Jardin Botanique de Paris, and Conservatoire et Jardin Botaniques Genève. The gathering sought to reinvigorate the ABGN—founded in 2002 but less active in recent years—by reviewing its aims, membership processes, and working practices.

The main topics discussed concerned the modalities of joining ABGN and the links with to BGCI membership, ABGN structure and exploring the option of a sub-regional structure to better reflect the Africa’s diverse biogeographical and cultural landscape, as well as developing a sustainable revenue stream to enable more systematic convening of the network. Participants at the meeting were invited to reflect on technical capacity and training needs, project development and resource mobilisation, as well as coordination and communication within ABGN.

BGCI aims to adopt the successful regional facilitation model currently in place in the Caribbean and Central America Network. The session, supported by the RTRP-Seed project funded by the International Climate Initiative (IKI), received strong backing from JBFPF, represented by Jardin Botanique de Paris curator, Régis Crisnaire. BGCI Africa also presented an overview of its ongoing projects and engagement opportunities.

Looking Ahead: Côte d’Ivoire to Host Next AETFAT Congress

During the AETFAT business meeting, Prof. François Kouamé of Alassane Ouattara University successfully presented Côte d’Ivoire’s bid to host the XXIV AETFAT Congress. BGCI extended its full support to the planning of the next AETFAT congress.

Restoration, Biosecurity, and Plant Health

Two thematic sessions further enriched the Congress

• Right Tree, Right Place, Right Purpose (RTRP–Seed Symposia: Introducing a five-year IKI-funded project focused on supplying high-quality tree planting material of native tree species for landscape restoration in Kenya, Ethiopia, Rwanda, and Uganda (with less activities in Burkina Faso). The symposium presented various experiences, focusing on supply of native tree seeds for good restoration practices, community and policy engagement, species prioritisation, and demonstration plots.
• Strengthening Biosecurity and Plant Health Monitoring Workshop: An International Plant Sentinel Network (IPSN)-led session addressing regional surveillance innovation, biosecurity legislation, and cross-border cooperation.

Both sessions sparked lively discussion, exchange of expertise, and new opportunities for collaboration.

If you would like to be part of the African Botanic Gardens Network, please click below.