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Our mission is to.....

Increase and spread knowledge about plants

Contribute to the conservation of biodiversity

The National Botanic Garden of Belgium is a centre of excellence for science and horticulture. We are responsibe for safeguarding the heritage of the past and for providing a legacy for the future. Not only do we look after beautiful plant collections, but also historic buildings, one of the largest herbaria in the world and a botanical library of international repute.

Our collections contain a considerable body of information on the diversity of plants and anyone can use our facilities. Students and researchers often visit from Belgium and overseas.

European botanic gardens have a long and fascinating history. During their history, they have succeeded in adapting themselves to the needs of society. In other eras, European Botanic Gardens were at the heart of several important economic and sociological developments. They were partly involved in the drive towards the acquisition of colonies and the validation of tropical products such as timber and rubber.

Nowadays the mission of botanic gardens is educative, botanical and ecological. They constitute invaluable tool in the management and conservion of biological diversity. Moreover, especially in Europe, botanic gardens are frequently located in historic parks and, as such, they carry huge responsibility of maintaining historic sites.

The botanic gardens of the European Union have created a Consortium within 'Botanic Gardens Conservation International' (BGCI), which promotes botanic gardens woldwide.