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WHAT IS THE CONSORTIUM? There are around 800 botanic gardens in Europe and in most countries these are linked through national botanic garden networks. Representatives of the national networks come together in the European Botanic Gardens Consortium, of which BGCI is the convenor.
The Consortium meets twice a year, with meetings being hosted by member gardens.
In line with the interests of BGCI, much of the work of the Consortium is focused on wild plant
conservation and issues related to the sharing of information and plant resources throughout
the European region. Other EBG Projects:
ALIEN PLANTS |
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THE EUROPEAN BOTANIC GARDENS CONSORTIUMInternational Plant Exchange Network (IPEN) Last updated: 26 November 2009
A system for the exchange of non-commercial plant material between botanic gardens, based on the CBD
Much of the work of botanic gardens depends on the exchange of plant material between gardens and on access to plant material from the wild. International seed exchange, which takes place free of charge, has a long-standing tradition and runs within a more or less closed circuit of botanic gardens and other botanic research organizations. Consequently botanic gardens, as recipients of genetic resources on the one hand and as institutions supplying plant material on the other hand, are deeply affected by the Access and Benefit Sharing (ABS) provisions of the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD).
To date, 123 botanic gardens and arboreta from 16 countries have joined the IPEN network (right).
Gardens that wish to join the network must sign and abide by a Code of Conduct that sets out the
gardens’ responsibilities for acquisition, maintenance and supply of living plant material and
associated benefit-sharing. Acquisition or supply of material with extra terms and conditions,
or any use for commercial purposes, is not covered by the network and requires the use of appropriate
Material Transfer Agreements.
IPEN number
The IPEN number consists of four elements:
Full details and the Code of Conduct is available here as a pdf document from the BGCI German Regional Office.
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The IPEN network aims to facilitate the exchange of plant material between member gardens while respecting the Access and Benefit-Sharing regulations of the CBD. Gardens that wish to join the network must sign and abide by a Code of Conduct that sets out gardens’ responsibilities for acquisition, maintenance and supply of living plant material and associated benefit-sharing. Acquisition or supply of material with extra terms and conditions, or any use for commercial purposes, is not covered by the network and requires the use of appropriate Material Transfer Agreements.