News published 02 May 2025

The Marsh Awards 2025 – Winners Announced!

On an annual basis, BGCI operates The Marsh Awards for International Plant Conservation and Botanic Garden Education sponsored by The Marsh Charitable Trust.

The Marsh Charitable Trust was established in 1981 and runs a portfolio of awards which recognise the contribution of dedicated individuals working in different sectors – to improve the world we live in.

There are 2 awards available that offer professional recognition and a £1,000 prize. Potential awardees are nominated by their peers through the BGCI Membership network, and then the winners are judged by the BGCI International Advisory Council and the Marsh Charitable Trust.

The winners for 2025 are:

Marsh Award for International Plant Conservation – Rodrigo De Sousa

Rodrigo De Sousa, is the Tropical Forests Program Manager at Osa Conservation, Costa Rica

Highlights from their nomination include:

Rodrigo has dedicated over 20 years to plant conservation and ecosystem restoration in Venezuela and Costa Rica. With expertise in agronomy, agricultural economics, and environmental development, he has led large-scale reforestation and biodiversity projects, especially in Costa Rica’s Coto Brus, Buenos Aires, and Osa regions. This includes his leadership in the Ridge to Reef Restoration Network, which resulted in planting nearly 400,000 trees across 400 acres, including 20,000 threatened species, and engaging over 350 farmers.

Rodrigo has consistently demonstrated motivation, dedication, and innovation beyond his formal responsibilities in plant conservation. He integrates innovative, community-driven approaches as well as contributes to capacity-building through training programs for young conservationists and has initiated botanical programs to identify and protect endangered plant species within restoration sites.

Marsh Award for Education in Botanic Gardens – Vesta Vančugovienė

Vesta Vančugovienė is an educator at Vytautas Magnus University Botanical Garden, Lithuania

Highlights from their nomination include:

Vesta Vančugovienė is a pioneering educator and researcher who has significantly advanced science education in botanical gardens. Beginning her career at Vytautas Magnus University Botanical Garden in Kaunas, Lithuania, she transitioned from molecular biology to education science, driven by her passion for nature education. Vesta has developed and led numerous educational initiatives, including national science competitions and virtual learning programs, and has represented her work at international conferences and in publications like Roots.

Vesta’s dedication extends beyond her formal role. She supervised Lithuania’s contribution to the Venice Architecture Biennale in 2018 and led the rapid adaptation of educational programs during the COVID-19 pandemic. Her ability to integrate biology, pedagogy, and hands-on teaching has created a holistic model of science education that is both practical and scalable. Her work is widely applicable to similar educational systems globally and offers a compelling vision for the future of biology education.

Congratulations to both winners!

The winners will be honoured and receive their awards at two separate events. Join us to learn more about Rodrigo’s work in a webinar on 22 May 2025, 4pm UK time. This will be a joint presentation with BGCI’s Patricia Malcolm on PlantSearch new communication facility. Vesta’s work will be highlighted at the the 11th International Congress on Education in Botanic Gardens, in Seoul, South Korea.