Lombardy Botanic Gardens Network

We run projects connected with the four areas of interest to botanic gardens (research, education, divulgationa and biodiversity conservation). We are a small association representing 5 big institutions (2 universities, 1 national park, 1 municipality and a private body managing public heritage) owing 7 botanic gardens located in Lombardy Region. We've just celebrated 10 year of networking and are keen on establishing new relationships at an international level. Our areas of interest would cover many of topics, from scientific/environmental to social issues - botanic gardens can be considered as museums or as places where informal education takes place, and are increasingly being involved in social policies development because of their social role; they also are ideal places for performing research activities connected with the use of plants and with plant derived products, but also, due to the living collections they host, they are unique places for delivering divulgation activities connected with environmental issues, especially with climate change and biodiversity conservation. Their target for divulgation/education activities is really wide, covering a range of groups from schools, to people with special needs or at risk of marginalization.