A system for the exchange of non-commercial plant material between botanic gardens, based on the CBD

Much of the work of botanic gardens depends on the exchange of plant material between gardens and on access to plant material from the wild. International seed exchange, which takes place free of charge, has a long-standing tradition and runs within a more or less closed circuit of botanic gardens and other botanic research organizations. Consequently botanic gardens, as recipients of genetic resources on the one hand and as institutions supplying plant material on the other hand, are deeply affected by the Access and Benefit Sharing (ABS) provisions of the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD).

The IPEN network aims to facilitate the exchange of plant material between member gardens while respecting the Access and Benefit-Sharing regulations of the CBD. Gardens that wish to join the network must sign and abide by a Code of Conduct that sets out gardens’ responsibilities for acquisition, maintenance and supply of living plant material and associated benefit-sharing. Acquisition or supply of material with extra terms and conditions, or any use for commercial purposes, is not covered by the network and requires the use of appropriate Material Transfer Agreements.

To date, 123 botanic gardens and arboreta from 16 countries have joined the IPEN network (right).

Gardens that wish to join the network must sign and abide by a Code of Conduct that sets out the gardens’ responsibilities for acquisition, maintenance and supply of living plant material and associated benefit-sharing. Acquisition or supply of material with extra terms and conditions, or any use for commercial purposes, is not covered by the network and requires the use of appropriate Material Transfer Agreements.

IPEN number

The IPEN number consists of four elements:

1. Country of origin (two positions, abbreviation according to ISO 3166-1-alpha-2, "XX" for unknown origin).
2. Restrictions of transfer (one position, "1" if there exist a restriction, "0" if none).
3. Garden code, which can be found on the website of BGCI under "Garden Search".
4. Identification number (accession number of the specific garden. Example: 2004-149 or 03214, whatever the specific recording system of the gardens generates).