News published: 13 July 2023

BGCI is inviting Expressions of Interest from botanic gardens or arboreta interested in hosting the 9th Global Botanic Gardens Congress in 2027.

The Global Botanic Gardens Congress, held once every three years, is traditionally hosted by a BGCI botanic garden member, with Congress activities centred around the host botanic garden.

Where possible, BGCI aims to reflect a broad geographical spread of Congress locations to encourage participation from around the world.

Past Congresses have been held in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil (1992), Perth, Australia (1995), Cape Town, South Africa (1998), North Carolina, USA (2000), Barcelona, Spain (2004), Wuhan, China (2007) Dublin, Ireland (2010), Dunedin, New Zealand (2013), Geneva, Switzerland (2017) and Melbourne, Australia (2021). The next congress will be in Singapore in 2024.

The process for deciding the host of the 9th Global Botanic Garden Congress is described below:

1. Email expression of Interest submitted by interested botanic gardens or arboreta to the Secretary General of BGCI by 1 October 2023.
2. Pre-Proposal submitted by interested botanic gardens or arboreta to the Secretary General of BGCI by 31 December 2023.
3. Short-list of potential hosts developed by a sub-committee of BGCI’s International Advisory Council and submitted to the Secretary General of BGCI by 31 January 2024.
4. Secretary General of BGCI notifies short-listed candidates by 5 February 2024.
5. Full Proposal submitted by short-listed candidates to the Secretary General of BGCI by 30 May 2024.
6. BGCI’s International Advisory Council sub-committee reviews and recommends proposed host to the BGCI Board for approval on 30 June 2024.
7. BGCI announces host of 9th Global Botanic Garden Congress at event during the 8th Global Botanic Garden Congress in Singapore 6-10 August 2024.

Botanic gardens or arboreta interested in hosting an international Congress with Botanic Gardens Conservation International should email an Expression of Interest to the Secretary General, BGCI by 1st October 2023. The Expression of Interest should contain brief answers to the following questions:

1. Who are you? Describe the Botanic Garden or Arboretum.
2. Where will the congress be held?
3. Why would you like to host the congress?