News Published: 9 August 2024

– Focus on role of botanic gardens in restoring habitats impacted by climate change – 

Botanic Gardens Conservation International today announced that The Morton Arboretum and the Chicago Botanic Garden have been selected to partner with BGCI to host the 9th Global Botanic Gardens Congress in Chicago in summer 2027. The Congress is held every three to four years and is the only global congress dedicated to botanic gardens. This will be the first time it will be held in North America in 27 years.

Delegates from among the world’s 3,000 botanic gardens will participate in the conference with a theme focused on the role that botanic gardens play in habitat restoration in the wild, as well as in urban built environments. “As we navigate the impacts of climate change, there has never been a more urgent need to revive damaged habitats than now,” said Jill Koski, president and CEO of The Morton Arboretum. “This international congress will amplify the research and conservation work being done in the world’s botanic gardens that is essential to ecosystem restoration.”

The Congress will bring together botanic garden professionals and other stakeholders from
around the world to discuss the many facets of habitat and ecosystem restoration that botanic gardens are engaged in. “The conference provides botanic gardens with a meaningful opportunity to showcase their expertise in plant science, conservation, horticulture and educational outreach to deliver impactful insights for species and habitat conservation,” said Jean M. Franczyk, president and CEO of the Chicago Botanic Garden. “We’re eager for our colleagues to visit Chicago and share our challenges, showcase successes and innovative new programs, and forge collaborative solutions to address the world’s pressing environmental issues.”

The Morton Arboretum is a globally recognized leader in tree research, conservation, and
education, contributing scientific knowledge and technical experience to secure the future of trees locally, nationally and worldwide. The Chicago Botanic Garden is a world-renowned living museum that helps build healthier communities through urban agriculture, offers lifelong learning opportunities, leads pioneering plant conservation research and showcases the beauty of horticulture.

The Congress will be held at a downtown Chicago location, with the Arboretum and the Garden hosting programs and events at their sites during the event. Tours throughout the state will connect attendees with regional hubs of biodiversity conservation and ecological restoration.

“Chicago’s motto is the latin phrase Urbs in Horto, City in a Garden,” Koski said. “We look forward to showcasing the many beautiful and unique natural spaces the city and surrounding suburbs have to offer this international audience of botanic garden colleagues.”

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About BGCI

Botanic Gardens Conservation International (BGCI) is a membership organisation, representing botanic gardens in more than 100 countries around the world. It was established in 1987 to link the botanic gardens of the world in a global network for plant conservation. The BGCI network of botanic gardens includes: globally significant living plant collections, covering approximately a third of known plant diversity; world class seed banks, glass houses and tissue culture infrastructures, and; technical knowledge networks covering all aspects of plant conservation policy, practice and education. BGCI has a staff of more than thirty, most of which are based at the BGCI global headquarters in Richmond, United Kingdom. In addition, BGCI has offices in the United States of America, China, Singapore and Kenya. We aim to support and empower our members and the wider conservation community, so that our knowledge and expertise can be applied to reversing the threat of extinction facing plants. Our vision is a world in which plant diversity is valued. Every three years we partner with a botanic garden to co-host the Global Botanic Gardens Congress, ensuring our network connects and grows to enable us to achieve our mission ‘To mobilise botanic gardens and engage partners in securing plant diversity for the well-being of people and the planet.’

About Chicago Botanic Garden
The Chicago Botanic Garden is a world-renowned living museum and so much more. Its roots grow throughout greater Chicago and beyond, inspiring all people to connect with plants. The Garden helps build healthier communities through urban agriculture, offers lifelong learning opportunities, leads pioneering plant conservation research and showcases the beauty of
horticulture. The Garden is a nonprofit organization run as a public/private partnership with the Forest Preserves of Cook County. Additional information about the Chicago Botanic Garden can be found at chicagobotanic.org.

About The Morton Arboretum
The Morton Arboretum is a world-renowned leader in tree science and research. Its 1,700 acre site cares for more than 106,714 specimens representing 4,067 different kinds of plants. The Arboretum’s Center for Tree Science collaborates with researchers around the world, contributing scientific knowledge and technical experience to secure the future of trees. The Arboretum’s Global Tree Conservation Program leverages the expertise of the botanical garden community to protect and restore vulnerable and threatened trees. Its Center for Species Survival: Trees is the only tree-focused center designated by the Species Survival Commission (SSC) of the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), the world’s largest conservation organization. Additional information about the Arboretum’s scientific work and how it contributes to a greener, healthier world where people and trees thrive together can be found at mortonarb.org.

Contacts:
The Morton Arboretum – Ellyn Fortino, efortino@mortonarb.org, 630-890-2096
Chicago Botanic Garden – Erin Benassi, ebenassi@chicagobotanic.org, 847-835-6819