Plants have brought Australasian Botanic Gardens together though BGANZ every two years since 2003. The BGANZ 2019 congress is being held in Wellington on the 20-23 of October 2019.

They have canvassed a range of roles and perceived roles for botanic gardens. They have been about education, conservation, their roles in communities and any number of shades of these themes.

2019 returns to basics – it is all about the plants. Since, education, recreation, conservation, community outreach – they are all dependent on plants. Botanic gardens were established to gather plants for economic purposes, for medicinal purposes then alongside private collectors for the joy and privilege that plants can bring. As we have become increasingly urbanised 55% of the world’s population now lives in cities people, have increasingly lost touch with plants as the staple of life. Where they come from, their myriad of benefits to people, their contribution to the livability of our cities.

To learn more about this event visit: www.confer.nz/bganz2019/