The Olarizu Botanical Garden (JBO) in Vitoria-Gasteiz is now a member of a global network of botanical gardens and organizations committed to flora conservation. Botanic Gardens Conservation International (BGCI), the leading entity, operates in over 100 countries with the mission to protect plant diversity and enhance the well-being of people and the planet.
This affiliation will enable the JBO to expand its collaboration and knowledge-sharing opportunities with leading institutions worldwide. It will also provide access to specialized resources for collection management and plant conservation, as explained by Borja Rodríguez, the Environment Councillor.
As a member of this international network, Olarizu will gain access to global databases such as PlantSearch, ThreatSearch, and GlobalTreeSearch. Additionally, it will benefit from specialized training, technical advice, and opportunities for funding and participation in scientific, educational, and conservation projects.
Rodríguez emphasized that this move "is an opportunity to promote the Vitoria-Gasteiz City Council's botanical garden and the city itself internationally, thereby addressing current major environmental challenges through collaboration and shared knowledge".
This accession represents a significant boost for the Olarizu Botanical Garden, which has over 15 years of experience in conservation, research, environmental education, scientific outreach, and the management of plant collections.
The Olarizu Botanical Garden has been a member of the Ibero-Macaronesian Association of Botanical Gardens (AIMJB) since 2012. Through this association, it has participated in and coordinated various initiatives, including leading the Spanish Network of Wild Plant Germplasm Banks and Native Phytoresources (REDBAG) for the past seven years and organizing the XVIII Congress of Botanical Gardens of AIMJB, held in Vitoria-Gasteiz last June.
