Native Plant Trust, formerly known as New England Wild Flower Society, is one of the first organizations in the world awarded Advanced Conservation Practitioner Accreditation by Botanic Gardens Conservation International (BGCI). BGCI’s Advanced Conservation Practitioner Accreditation recognizes botanic institutions with significant conservation impact and with work that supports local, national or global conservation goals.

“Plant conservation is a core part of our mission at Native Plant Trust. We are honored to be among the first organizations recognized by BGCI for high professional standards and for achievements in our plant conservation program,” Executive Director Debbi Edelstein said. “The new Advanced Conservation Practitioner Accreditation provides an important framework for strengthening conservation initiatives and enhancing collaboration on policies throughout the worldwide network.”

The following botanic gardens are the first recipients of BGCI’s Advanced Conservation Practitioner Accreditation:

  • Atlanta Botanical Garden (GA)
  • Chicago Botanic Garden (IL)
  • Denver Botanic Garden (CO)
  • Meise Botanic Garden (Belgium)
  • Missouri Botanic Garden (MO)
  • Montgomery Botanical Center (FL)
  • National Botanic Garden of Wales (UK)
  • Native Plant Trust/Garden in the Woods (MA)
  • North Carolina Botanical Garden (NC)
  • Royal Botanic Gardens and Domain Trust (Australia)
  • Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh (UK)
  • State Botanical Garden of Georgia (GA)

BGCI accreditation ensures that gardens adhere to international standards. The Advanced Practitioner Accreditation includes a Conservation Collections Assessment by BGCI, and applications are reviewed through a rigorous external review process that culminates with an endorsement by members of BGCI’s international Advisory Council, a global leadership forum for botanic gardens comprising 30 garden directors from six continents.

ABOUT NATIVE PLANT TRUST

Native Plant Trust is the nation’s first plant conservation organization and the only one solely focused on New England’s native plants. We save native plants in the wild, grow them for gardens and restorations, and educate others on their value and use. We are based at Garden in the Woods, a renowned native plant botanic garden that attracts visitors from all over the world. From this flagship property in Framingham, Massachusetts, 25 staff and many of our 1,500 trained volunteers work throughout New England each year to monitor and protect rare and endangered plants, collect and preserve seeds to ensure biological diversity, detect and control invasive species, conduct research, and offer a range of educational programs. Native Plant Trust also operates a nursery at Nasami Farm in western Massachusetts and manages six sanctuaries in Maine, New Hampshire, and Vermont that are open to the public. For more information, please visit www.nativeplanttrust.org.