Doesn IPEN lead to two classes of botanic gardens, IPEN members and non-members?
The aim of IPEN is to include more and more botanic gardens. If most gardens become IPEN members, this problem will not occur. IPEN seeks to improve the profile of Botanic Gardens in the countries of origin. In many of these countries, Botanic Gardens are considered to support “biopiracy” and compared to Pharmaceutical companies (in regard of the use of genetic resources). It is therefore most important that the confidence of the countries of origin of the genetic resources is restored and the work of the Botanic Gardens is understood. This is the essence of IPEN: the botanic gardens state that they don’t use the plants commercially and that they don’t give it away for commercial purposes without the agreement of the country of origin.
