As part of a revision of all of BGCI Accreditation Scheme manuals and system, BGCI has redefined the targets required to achieve Conservation Practitioner Accreditation and improved the application and mentorship process. Today, we are launching a revised version of the BGCI Conservation Practitioner Accreditation Standards and a new platform to make the process of applying easier for gardens and for BGCI.

Standards Manual

Botanic gardens may wish to review the requirements set to achieve Conservation Practitioner Accreditation. The Standards Manual sets each target out clearly.

Download the Standard

Apply today

Apply today for BGCI Conservation Practitioner Accreditation to establish your institution's credentials as a leading plant conservation organisation.

Apply today!

BGCI Conservation Practitioner Accreditation distinguishes botanic gardens from non-botanic gardens and recognises botanic organisations with a conservation of plant diversity oriented approach at the heart of their activities. The scheme aims to raise awareness and recognition of the activities that botanic gardens do exceptionally well to policymakers and funders. Accreditation results in tangible benefits for participating gardens – such as recognition, peer review, creating standards for excellence, and funding – and acts as a motivator for botanic garden leadership.

Only BGCI members can apply for BGCI Conservation Practitioner Accreditation, application and mentorship is free of charge.

The New System – Using the SheepApp

For those of you that have managed membership, applied for the Directory of Expertise, or applied for grants through the Global Botanic Garden Fund, the new platform for applying for BGCI Conservation Practitioner Accreditation will be familiar as it is also using the SheepApp!

To be accredited as a BGCI Conservation Practitioner, institutions will need to show that they carry out a range of conservation-related policies, practices and activities. Through the new system applicants will answer specific questions for each of the targets and provide evidence.

The criteria measured assess and value the fundamental components of a botanic garden in the following areas:

• Leadership commitment to conservation
• Collections of conservation value
• Public engagement on conservation issues
• Conservation horticulture
• Conservation scientific research
• Conservation activities
• Sustainability and ethics
• Staff commitment to conservation
• Network membership