The value of existing skills and facilities in botanic gardens needs to be recognised, as well as their potential for training others. National and regional agencies need to be convinced that botanic gardens are key players in conservation and other disciplines, and ideal venues for professional and vocational training courses in conservation, horticulture and plant science (see also Objective D3).

Training for botanic garden staff is required on the implications and implementation of international legislation and instruments, such as the CBD and CITES. Such training can be facilitated by national network organisations or by the BGCIAABG European Botanic Gardens Consortium.

Whilst conservation biology is increasingly included in university courses, the practical aspects are not being sufficiently developed within the botanic garden community. Some gardens lack the necessary technical and staffing resources, facilities, finding and links with local, national and international conservation policies to takg part in Conservation programmes.

To achieve Objective F2, EU botanic gardens should:

• develop and offer training courses in conservation biology; management of botanic gardens, information technology, environmental education (see Case Study 25) and horticulture
• improve training in horticultural skills and raise the standard and status of horticulture as a profession, to broaden the skills base in EU botanic gardens
• establish professional standards for management of plant data and threatened species through the production of technical manuals, and staff training.

• further develop the BGCI and IABG advisory group, to provide an interface between national networks and international and European legal frameworks, ensuring the supply of information to botanic gardens and full representation of their interests in the appropriate international forum
• support the development of collaborative partnerships with botanic gardens and other institutions and organisations elsewhere in the world, with the primary purpose of assisting the development and strengthening of such institutions and raising their capacity in many areas, such as botanical research, biodiversity conservation and environmental education
• assess their potential contribution to conserving threatened species in Europe, and undertake a gap analysis to identify technologies and skills required
• establish regional and national, professional standards in documentation and cultivation of threatened plants.
• seek to be involved in collaborative activities and training to facilitate the development of international projects, through BGCI, IABG and other appropriate organisations
• where appropriate, be active in collaborative programmes with other like-minded organisations and institutions in Eastern Europe and the countries of the former Soviet Union, to assist in building their capacity to adjust to changing economic, social and environmental conditions in these countries (see Case study 27).