Botanic Gardens Australia & New Zealand (BGANZ) and IrisBG are delighted to announce a long-term partnership combining IrisBG’s expertise in plant collections management and curation with BGANZ’s purpose to uplift botanic gardens, nurturing a deeper appreciation for plants, and fostering plant conservation.
Connecting BGANZ’s network of 120 botanic gardens, arboreta and allied institutions across Australia and New Zealand with IrisBG’s community-focused plant collections system will be remarkable and innovative in the way both organizations address the need for data sharing to combat the effects of climate change on the natural world.
Botanic gardens play a vital role in addressing the pressing issues we face, including critical challenges like plant biodiversity loss and climate change. The BGANZ-IrisBG partnership is set to empower gardens with the essential tools needed for effective conservation, biodiversity protection, restoration, and public education. Together, we will leverage skills in botanical data management, knowledge sharing, training, and policy advocacy to equip gardens across the region.
We eagerly anticipate the release of collaborative annual projects for the BGANZ network members, starting with the “Beginners Guide to Plant Accessioning” in 2025. As a testament to its commitment to the partnership, IrisBG has developed a BGANZ member benefit that offers BGANZ members an advantageous discount on IrisBG licenses and services.
Read more about the BGANZ member offer.
“BGANZ is delighted to partner with IrisBG, as developing comprehensive plant data records and management systems within botanic gardens is essential for effective conservation work. By uplifting our members, we assist them to safeguard our flora, ensuring that vital species are preserved, studied and protected for future generations.”
Cassandra Nichols, Chief Executive Officer, BGANZ Ltd.
“We at IrisBG are excited to collaborate with the BGANZ community to optimize the record-keeping of their plant collections. We promote knowledge sharing, data and botanical material exchange, and regional and global conservation efforts where high-quality data is key. This partnership will provide BGANZ members with innovative resources and support to strengthen collection management to benefit current and future generations.”
Mari Rustan, Director of Strategy and Product Manager, IrisBG.
Since 2004, BGANZ has served as the peak body representing botanic gardens across Australia and New Zealand, fostering a vision where plants are valued and protected. Their initiatives advocate for government and industry policies that advance botanic gardens and promote community awareness of their valuable contributions to conservation.
For over 25 years, IrisBG has offered a scalable and flexible software solution suitable for all types and sizes of botanical collections. Its robust platform allows the recording and mapping of detailed information for accession records using any device. IrisBG is known for its extensive network, including a dedicated support team, unlimited email assistance, software tutorials, and two platforms for users to share insights and ideas: monthly IrisBG Coffee Chats and the IrisBG user forum.