The W.J. Beal Botanical Garden was established in 1873 and has become the first and only garden in the state of Michigan to have earned BCGI accreditation.
Michigan State University’s Beal Botanical Garden has received recognition and accreditation from the Botanic Gardens Conservation International, a UK-based organization that connects gardens around the world to promote plant conservation. There are around 100 BCGI accredited gardens across the globe, and Beal Botanical Garden’s inclusion in the membership signifies its commitment to conservation, knowledge sharing, and efforts to address challenges. The garden had to undergo a lengthy and multi-step accreditation effort that was led by Katie Fry, who serves as the garden’s collections manager.
According to an article on Michigan State University’s website, Fry was quoted as saying, “The most important thing to me about achieving BGCI accreditation is that it formalizes the garden’s commitment and accountability to the highest standards of documenting, understanding, growing and caring for plant diversity. Simply put, we are working to make our world a better place. We are doing this through conservation, education and connecting people with nature.”
Among the work the team presented to BCGI to demonstrate its commitment to the organization’s standards was its new five-year strategic plan document, which discussed efforts and initiatives undertaken by the university and community partners, the implementation of a new plant collections policy and a new rewilding initiative, expanded education programming, a new initiative called Nurture Your Roots, and an internship program to help undergraduate students gain experience in hands-on conservation opportunities.
Beal Botanical Garden Director Alan Prather said, “BGCI accreditation is a great accomplishment and validates the efforts of the Beal Botanical Garden team in expanding our work in conservation, sustainability, well-being, as well as supporting research and education efforts on campus and beyond. The honor of this recognition of the garden not only raises the international profile of MSU with regard to conservation and sustainability, but it also encourages more partnerships across the university and around the globe.”
According to the website for BCGI, the organization’s mission is “To mobilise botanic gardens and engage partners in securing plant diversity for the well-being of people and the planet,” and it does this by “Saving plants; Inspiring and leading people; Sharing knowledge and resources; Addressing global challenges through public engagement and education, and; Ensuring an effective and resilient BGCI.”
Beal Botanical Garden has a spot on the Michigan State Register of Historic Places. It was established in 1873 along the Red Cedar River on the university’s campus. The garden features more than 2,000 plants from around the world.
Judith Stoddart, who serves as the vice provost for University Arts and Collections, said, “MSU is home to world-class cultural institutions with collections that serve as vital infrastructure for research, teaching and public engagement. This prestigious international recognition underlines the ways that the Beal Botanical Garden team continues to innovate and reimagine its historic mission as a living laboratory for campus and community.”
For more information about Michigan State University, visit the school’s website.