South Korea prepares to host the 11th International Congress on Education in Botanic Gardens in 2025
The National Arboretum of the Korea Forest Service has recently unveiled plans to host the 11th International Congress on Education in Botanic Gardens (ICEBG 2025), scheduled for June 9 to June 13, 2025. This significant event will take place at the COEX Exhibition Hall in Seoul and the DMZ Native Plant Garden in Yanggu, Gangwon Province. The congress, organised in collaboration with Botanic Gardens Conservation International (BGCI) and the Korea Arboretum & Garden Management Association, is expected to attract approximately 1,600 educators, researchers, and stakeholders from the field of ecological education, representing over 50 countries.
This year’s congress is themed "Education for Change: The Role of Botanic Gardens in Addressing Global Challenges" and aims to foster discussions around the roles that botanical gardens can play in confronting today’s pressing environmental issues. Attendees will engage in 140 presentations and participate in 45 workshops, covering a diverse array of subjects related to biodiversity and climate change. Keynote speeches by prominent figures such as Professor Choi Jae-cheon and Shabaz Khan, Director of UNESCO East Asia, promise to set an inspiring tone for the congress.
One highlight of ICEBG 2025 will be the emphasis on practical engagement through various interactive sessions, as the organisers are encouraging submissions for hands-on workshops and roundtable discussions. This initiative aligns with BGCI's ongoing commitment to making education in botanic gardens more inclusive and actionable. The congress is poised to serve as a platform not only for knowledge sharing but also for catalysing collaborative efforts in environmental conservation.
On the closing day of the congress, both the BGCI and the Korea Forest Service will jointly announce a declaration aimed at enhancing international cooperation in the face of climate challenges and biodiversity conservation. This declaration is expected to reflect insights gained throughout the congress and articulate a collective vision for the future of botanic garden education.
In addition to formal presentations, participants will have opportunities to engage in field tours, including visits to special sessions at the DMZ Botanic Garden and other notable sites in Seoul. The organisers have also extended an invitation for participants to submit abstracts for presentations, with a submission deadline now set for February 28, 2025. This move underscores a commitment to inclusivity and wider participation, particularly from early-career professionals, with the BGCI also offering bursaries to assist eligible candidates in attending the congress.
Im Young-seok, Director of the National Arboretum, noted the significance of this event for showcasing South Korea’s capabilities in ecological education. He expressed hope that the congress will extend the reach of botanical garden education into practical applications within daily life and promote integration with diverse fields such as art and culture.
As the climate crisis intensifies globally, gatherings such as ICEBG 2025 will be integral in shaping the role of botanical gardens as centres for learning, advocacy, and action in sustainability. With a diverse array of participants and a rich programme, the upcoming congress is set to be a vital forum for addressing the environmental challenges that our global community faces today.