A major part of the BGCI's programme for environmental education, plant conservation and sustainable development, is a worldwide registration of botanic gardens as participants in achieving the objectives of the International Agenda for Botanic Gardens in Conservation.

The International Agenda for Botanic Gardens in conservation is a global framework for botanic garden policies, programmes and priorities in biodiversity conservation. It was prepared by Botanic Gardens Conservation International (BGCI) between 1998 and 2000. The international Agenda was based on contributions from and consultations with over 300 institutions and individuals throughout the international botanic garden, botanical and conservation communities.

Launched in June 2000 at the 1st World Botanic Gardens Congress (Asheville, North Carolina, U.S.A.), the International Agenda updates and replaces the earlier Botanic Gardens Conservation Strategy (prepared by BGCI, IUCN and WWF, 1989).

The International Agenda has been included as a major contribution to the achievement of the Global Strategy for Plant Conservation (GSPC). The GSPC was adopted by the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) in April, 2002.

The objectives of the International Agenda are to:

• Provide a common global framework for botanic garden policies, programmes and priorities in biodiversity conservation.
• Define the role of botanic gardens in the development of global partnerships and alliances for biodiversity conservation.
• Stimulate the evaluation and development of conservation policies and practices in botanic gardens to enhance their effectiveness and efficiency.
• Develop a means to monitor and record the actions undertaken by botanic gardens in conservation.
• Promote the role of botanic gardens in conservation.
• Provide guidance for botanic gardens on contemporary issues in conservation.
  

The International Agenda defines the global mission of botanic gardens worldwide in conservation as follows:

• Stem the loss of plant species and their genetic diversity worldwide.
• Focus on preventing further degradation of the world's natural environment.
• Raise public understanding of the value of plant diversity and the threats it faces.
• Implement practical action for the benefit and improvement of the world's natural environment.
• Promote and ensure the sustainable use of the world's natural resources for present and future generations.
  

As proposed in the International Agenda, botanic gardens may register their contributions to the achievement of the International Agenda by making a written undertaking to work for the implementation of its provisions. It invites botanic gardens to adopt the International Agenda as their (or part of their) institutional policy on conservation.

Registering with the International Agenda provides a clear indication of your institution's/ organisation's
commitment to plant conservation. It allows actions undertaken in support of plant conservation to be recognised and recorded internationally as contributions towards the global effort being made to conserve plant diversity. For example, contributions made by institutions to implementing the International Agenda will be reported by BGCI to the Secretariat of the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) towards the achievement of the Convention's Global Strategy for Plant Conservation.

At the forthcoming first national meeting of Indian botanic gardens, delegates will have the opportunity to learn more about the International Agenda and to register as participants.