News published: 7 May 2026

Botanic gardens are increasingly recognised as important players in tackling one of the biggest environmental challenges of our time: restoring damaged ecosystems. Once mainly known for displaying beautiful plant collections and educating visitors, these gardens now play a much bigger role. Today, they combine science, conservation, and community work to help rebuild habitats that have been lost or degraded.

Habitat restoration means helping nature recover after it has been damaged by activities such as deforestation, farming, or urban development. This is not as simple as planting trees. It involves rebuilding entire ecosystems so that plants, animals, soils, and water systems can function together again. Botanic gardens are the ideal organisations to do this work as they bring together plant science expertise and practical horticultural skills. Many gardens maintain seed banks and living collections that store rare and threatened plants, these collections act as a safety net for species that may have disappeared from the wild. Additionally, the living collections provide the material needed to reintroduce these plant species back into restored habitats.

Equally important is the scientific approach botanic gardens take. They carefully select which species to plant based on local conditions, ensuring that restoration uses native plants suited to the environment. This helps ecosystems recover in a way that is stable and sustainable over time, rather than relying on quick fixes that are not suitable or resilient and may not last. Botanic gardens also develop techniques for growing difficult species and produce large numbers of plants for restoration projects. In doing so, they help turn scientific knowledge into practical action on the ground.

From conservation to active restoration

In the past, much of the work of botanic gardens focused on protecting plants in collections, known as ex situ conservation. While this remains important, there has been a clear shift towards using these collections to support restoration in the wild. Today, botanic gardens act as bridges between science and real-world conservation. Many gardens are directly involved in restoration projects, often creating demonstration sites where different techniques can be tested and improved. These sites help scientists and practitioners learn what works best in different environments.

Botanic gardens also play a key role in training and capacity building. They teach skills such as seed collection, plant propagation, and restoration planning, particularly in countries where resources and expertise may be limited. Public engagement is another important part of their work. Approximately a billion people visit botanic gardens each year, making them ideal places to raise awareness about biodiversity loss and the importance of restoring nature.

The role of BGCI

At the centre of this global effort is Botanic Gardens Conservation International (BGCI), which coordinates the work of botanic gardens worldwide. Founded in 1987, BGCI connects more than 1000 institutions across over 100 countries, forming the largest network dedicated to plant conservation. BGCI helps bring together knowledge, resources and expertise from across this network. Through global databases, we enable gardens to share information about the plants they hold and identify which species most need conservation and/or restoration. We provide training and support, helping build capacity in restoration and conservation worldwide. By linking institutions together, BGCI ensures that efforts are coordinated and based on the best available science. One of our key initiatives is the Ecological Restoration Alliance, which connects botanic gardens actively working on restoration projects. Through this network, gardens share experience and develop best practices, contributing to global efforts such as the United Nations Decade on Ecosystem Restoration.

Around the world, botanic gardens are already restoring habitats and demonstrating what is possible. A prime example is Kadoorie Farm and Botanic Garden in Hong Kong; over several decades, they have worked to restore native forests on degraded hillsides. By using native species and applying long-term research, they have shown how damaged landscapes can recover into healthy ecosystems. In Africa, Tooro Botanical Gardens in Uganda has supported forest restoration while working closely with local communities, helping to improve both biodiversity and livelihoods. Similarly, Brackenhurst Botanic Garden in Kenya has transformed degraded land into a diverse native forest and now acts as a training centre for restoration across the region.

The Global Biodiversity Standard

As restoration efforts grow worldwide, ensuring quality has become increasingly important. Not all projects deliver real benefits for biodiversity, and some can even cause harm if poorly designed. To address this, BGCI and its partners have helped develop The Global Biodiversity Standard (TGBS). This framework provides a way to assess whether restoration projects are genuinely improving biodiversity and ecosystem health. TGBS uses clear criteria and independent assessment to evaluate projects. It encourages the use of native species, supports long-term sustainability, and promotes restoration that benefits both nature and people. Botanic gardens are central to implementing this standard, both through their own projects and by being TGBS hubs and training others. The recognition of Kadoorie Farm under this system highlights how high-quality, science-based restoration can be achieved.

Local and global impacts

At a local level, botanic gardens help restore habitats, support wildlife, and create green spaces for communities. Their work can improve soil health, reduce flooding, and enhance urban environments. At a global scale, their impact is even greater. Collectively, botanic gardens hold at least one-third of all known plant species in their collections, providing a vast resource for conservation and restoration.

BGCI helps amplify this impact by coordinating efforts and ensuring that restoration is carried out effectively and responsibly. Looking ahead, its 2026–2030 strategy places restoration at the heart of its work, with a focus on scaling up efforts, improving quality, and supporting communities around the world. Through global coordination by BGCI, and with tools such as The Global Biodiversity Standard, their work is helping to ensure that restoration delivers real benefits for biodiversity.

The original article was written for Countryside Jobs Service.