Presented by the Plant Conservation Community
Botanic gardens cultivate more than 100,000 plant species worldwide, nearly one third of all known plant diversity. Yet in an era of climate change and biodiversity loss, living collections should make better use of data for sustainability, for resilience, and for nature-based solutions to some of societies big challenges. This webinar explores how botanic gardens can transform their living collections into high-performance assets for conservation, research, and impact by strengthening our data systems and their use.
Drawing from recent global analyses and international collaborations, Researcher and author Sam Brockington will examine why plant records are not just labels, but the backbone of conservation strategy, scientific discovery, regulatory compliance, and institutional credibility. He will discuss the concept of a data connected network of living collections and outline practical principles for making collections data more open, accurate, secure, and interoperable.
Participants will leave with a clearer understanding of how better data management can unlock the full potential of their collections and position gardens as essential leaders in twenty-first-century biodiversity solutions.
Presenter: Professor Samuel Brockington, Deputy Director and Curator, Cambridge University Botanic Gardens
Moderator: Dr. Tania Hernandez, Research Scientist, New World Succulents, Desert Botanical Garden
Cost: Free for Members; $15 for Non-Members.
This event is hosted via Zoom with closed captioning and will be recorded for later access in the Library/Media Center approximately one week following the event. Attendees are strictly prohibited from using personal AI notetaking tools or other unauthorized recording devices. Please note that this event is governed by the Association’s Code of Professional Ethics and Anti-Harassment Policy, ensuring a harassment-free environment for all participants. For complete details on conduct, recording, and all professional development policies, please review the full statements or contact info@publicgardens.org for questions.
The statements and opinions expressed by panelists, hosts, attendees, or other participants of this event are their own and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of, nor are endorsed by, the American Public Gardens Association.
