NC Zoo earns botanical garden accreditation

The North Carolina Zoo has recently been awarded the botanical garden accreditation, an honor awarded to only a handful of zoos in the nation. This is a significant milestone for the zoo to achieve, especially considering it collides with the Zoo’s 50th anniversary. 

This is not the only honor the zoo has received this year. Earlier this year, Newsweek named the North Carolina Zoo the best zoo in the country. 

“Our dual status as both a Zoo and Botanical Garden reflects our long-standing commitment to conservation, education, and the preservation of diverse species, including plant life,” the zoo’s director and CEO, Patricia Simmons, said in a press release. “This honor is well-deserved and highlights our Zoo’s essential role as a center for environmental education and responsible stewardship.”

The accreditation is granted by Botanic Gardens Conservation International (BGCI). According to its website, BCGI is a membership organization representing botanic gardens in more than 100 countries worldwide. The organization is an independent UK charity that was established in 1987 to link the botanic gardens of the world in a “global network of plant conservation.” 

BCGI aims to “…support and empower our members and the wider conservation community so that our knowledge and expertise can be applied to reversing the threat of extinction facing plants.”  

In a world where plant diversity is valued, secured, and supported by all life. Their mission is “to mobilise botanic gardens and engage partners in securing plant diversity for the well-being of people and the planet.”

As outlined in their strategic framework from 2021-25, BCGI promotes an efficient, cost-effective, and rational approach to plant conservation in botanic gardens in the following ways: saving plants, inspiring and leading people, sharing knowledge and resources, ensuring an effective and resilient BCGI, and addressing global challenges through public engagement and education. 

Achieving the botanical garden accreditation has been a longtime goal of the Zoo, according to Simmons, who described it as the “cherry on top” of their golden anniversary year. 

“This accomplishment would not be possible without the dedication, expertise, and tireless work of our Zoo’s talented Horticulture team,” said Sara Pack a representative of the Zoo. “Their passion for cultivating and showcasing the natural beauty of our landscapes has enriched the Zoo experience for staff and guests for many years. We are grateful to see their outstanding work professionally recognized and affirmed through this accreditation.”

According to the press release, the zoo “conforms to the highest international standards,” as described by the BCGI, in plant conservation and care.

Achieving the Botanical Garden Accreditation has been a longtime goal of the Zoo, according to Simmons, who described it as the “cherry on top” of their golden anniversary year. 

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