International recognition for the University Gardens
The University Gardens have received official accreditation from Botanic Gardens Conservation International as conforming to the highest international standards.
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“We are proud to have received this recognition, confirming the international importance of the gardens, the collections, and the work we do with them, says Heidi Lie Andersen at the University Gardens.
One of 60 worldwide
The University Museum of Bergen’s University Gardens (the Museum garden, Botanical garden, and Arboretum), have become one of just 60 botanical gardens worldwide officially accredited by Botanic Gardens Conservation International (BGCI), as conforming to the highest international standards. Other accredited gardens include the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh, Missouri Botanical Garden, and the botanical gardens of the universities of Cambridge, Copenhagen, Gothenburg, and Oslo.
The gardens have been a safe haven for the public during the corona crisis, with record numbers of visitors. In just five weeks, 9000 visitors went through the gates to the botanical garden, and for all the Norwegian tourists that we expect during the summer we have planned a rich and interesting programme of garden tours (https://www.uib.no/universitetshagene/136873/sommervandringer-i-universitetshagene).
More than just a garden
Botanical gardens are centres of excellence in botanical research, conservation, and education. The collections are documented and curated by specialist scientific staff following international regulations, and they are open to the visiting public. Accreditation by BGCI means recognition of the University Gardens’ excellence under criteria encompassing leadership, collections management, horticulture, public education, community/cultural activities, conservation actions, scientific research, staff, networking and sustainability. We are proud of this achievement and look forward to building on it into the future.
Botanic garden
BGCI defines a botanic garden, and how to measure performance and success as:
- A reasonable degree of permanence
- An underlying scientific basis for the collections
- Proper documentation of the collections, including wild origin
- Monitoring and long-term maintenance of plants in the collections
- Adequate labeling of plants
- Open to the public
- Communication of information to other gardens, institutions and the public
- Promoting conservation through extension and environmental education activities
- Exchange of seed or other materials with other botanic gardens, arboreta or research institutions
- Undertaking of scientific or technical research on plants in the collections including taxonomy, molecular biology, biochemistry, ecology, biodiversity conservation and other disciplines
- Conserving rare and threatened plants in ex situ collections (e.g. in the garden, seed banks etc.) and, wherever possible, in their natural habitats
- Compliance with international and national regulatory frameworks (e.g. the CBD, CITES, plant health, invasive species etc.)
- Adoption and promotion of sustainable practices such as renewable energy, water conservation and waste recycling
- Adoption and promotion of ethical standards related to knowledge, data sharing, procurement, commercialization and employment.
