BGCI Botanic Garden Accreditation and ArbNet Arboretum Accreditation Announce Reciprocal Arrangement
ArbNet and Botanic Gardens Conservation International (BGCI) announced today an agreement to allow applicants to be considered for accreditation by both organizations through a single application.
The BGCI Botanic Garden Accreditation Scheme is aimed at botanical institutions wishing to establish their credentials as botanic gardens. BGCI Botanic Garden Accreditation sets international standards and assesses and places a high value on the unique skills, knowledge and data in botanic gardens. No other international program of accreditation exists that is specific to botanic gardens.
The ArbNet Arboretum Accreditation Program establishes and shares a widely recognized set of industry standards for the purpose of unifying the arboretum community and fostering the professionalism of arboreta worldwide. There are four levels of accreditation, which recognize various degrees of development and capacity in arboreta - public gardens with a substantial focus on trees and woody plants. No other international program of accreditation exists that is specific to arboreta.
Both BGCI Botanic Garden Accreditation and ArbNet Arboretum Accreditation (at levels III and IV) set similar standards for leadership, collections management, horticulture, public education, research, staff, and networking. Each accreditation platform, however, supports different target institutions. BGCI Botanic Garden Accreditation recognizes botanical institutions with a focus on plant conservation and sustainability, while ArbNet Arboretum Accreditation is tailored to gardens with a strong focus on woody plants and trees.
The accreditations that are most closely aligned are BGCI Botanic Garden Accreditation and ArbNet Level III Accreditation. Under this new reciprocal agreement, those applying for BGCI’s Botanic Garden Accreditation who wish to be considered for ArbNet Arboretum Accreditation must provide additional information related to their focus on woody plant and tree species.
Those applying for ArbNet’s Arboretum Accreditation at Level III or IV who wish to be considered for BGCI’s Botanic Garden Accreditation will need to provide additional information on their plant conservation and sustainability activities.
Institutions that are already accredited BGCI Botanic Gardens or ArbNet Level III or IV Arboreta will be able to provide an addendum to their completed application to be considered for the other accreditation platform.
To apply for BGCI Botanic Garden Accreditation and ArbNet Accreditation visit: https://www.bgci.org/our-work/services-for-botanic-gardens/bgci-accreditation-scheme/botanic-garden-accreditation/
http://arbnet.org/arboretum-accreditation-program
Why apply for Botanic Garden Accreditation and ArbNet Arboretum Accreditation?
- Not all botanical institutions or collections qualify for both Botanic Garden Accreditation and ArbNet Arboretum Accreditation. In applying for both, you have the opportunity to establish credentials and receive recognition as both a botanic garden that excels in conservation and sustainability and an arboretum that advances the planting and care of trees and other woody plants.
- By taking advantage of the reciprocal accreditation opportunity offered by BGCI and ArbNet, you can save time and effort by applying for both certifications in a single application, on either the BGCI or ArbNet websites.
