Union of Botanic Gardens of the Czech Republic

The Union of Botanic Gardens of the Czech Republic (Czech: Unie botanických zahrad České republiky, commonly abbreviated UBZ) is a voluntary non-governmental non-profit association that brings together botanical gardens and arboreta across the Czech Republic. It was founded in spring 2005 as an občanské sdružení (civic association) with 25 founding member gardens and arboreta. Its purpose is to help member institutions fulfil the mission of botanical gardens and to support their overall development. Membership is open to natural or legal persons, or organisational units of such persons, that operate as a botanical garden or arboretum; membership may be full (řádné) or associate (přidružené). The Union represents Czech botanical gardens in dealings with Czech state authorities and institutions and with international organisations, in particular the European Consortium of Botanical Gardens and Botanic Gardens Conservation International (BGCI). It organises an annual general assembly and a professional conference, as well as a regular "botanical gathering" (botanické družení) of botanical garden staff. It also publishes the Zpravodaj botanických zahrad ČR (Newsletter of Czech Botanical Gardens), whose editorial board was re-established in 2020. A key area of the Union's work is plant conservation. On 24 June 2016 it established the Working Group for Gene Pools in Czech Botanical Gardens (Pracovní skupina pro genofondy v botanických zahradách ČR), which coordinates ex situ conservation of plants. Besides representatives of botanical gardens, the group includes representatives of the Ministry of the Environment, the Ministry of Agriculture and the National Programme of Plant Genetic Resources, and it usually meets twice a year. The group has prepared a proposal of species of interest for conservation in botanical gardens. In December 2025 the Union signed a cooperation agreement with the Nature Conservation Agency of the Czech Republic (AOPK), which is expected to open the way for member gardens to obtain financial support for ex-situ conservation projects for endangered plant species. The Union is seated in the building of the Botanical Garden of the City of Prague at Trojská 800/196, 171 00 Praha 7 – Troja. Between general assemblies, its activities are directed by a council (rada) elected for four years, consisting of a president, a vice-president and council members, with a secretary handling day-to-day operations. The council elected by the general assembly on 18 January 2022 comprised President Pavel Sekerka, Vice-President Vlastik Rybka, council members Ladislav Pavlata, Eduard Chvosta and Magdalena Chytrá, and Secretary Anna Procházková. Membership has grown steadily: from 25 founding members in 2005 to 30 in 2009, 31 in 2012, 35 in 2015 and 40 in 2023 (35 full and 4 associate members). The Union also awards honorary membership each year. In addition to its conservation and representation work, the Union is active in publishing and public outreach. Together with Academia it published the guide "Botanické zahrady a arboreta České republiky" (2010), and it distributes the guide "Průvodce Botanické zahrady a arboreta České republiky" to member gardens. It promotes events such as the Day of Botanical Gardens and maintains a calendar of events in botanical gardens. It also shares information relevant to gardens, such as warnings from the Central Institute for Supervising and Testing in Agriculture (ÚKZÚZ) about invasive pests. The Union thus functions as the umbrella body and collective voice of Czech botanical gardens, linking individual gardens to national ministries and to the international botanical garden community.

The Union of Botanic Gardens of the Czech Republic was founded in spring 2005 as a civic association (občanské sdružení) whose members were 25 botanical gardens and arboreta in the Czech Republic. Its creation followed earlier forms of cooperation: from the 1960s to the 1990s, Czech and Slovak botanical gardens had worked together under the Advisory Board for Botanical Gardens (Poradní sbor pro botanické zahrady), which initially belonged to the Ministry of Culture of the Czech Socialist Republic and later to the Ministry of the Environment of the Czech Republic. The Union thus built on this tradition of coordination while establishing a formal, voluntary association. Membership grew steadily after the founding. Four years later, in 2009, the Union reported 30 members; in 2012 it had 31 members; in 2015 it had 35 members; and by 2023 it had a total of 40 members, of which 35 were full members and 4 were associate members. The Union also awards honorary membership each year. A significant development in the Union's conservation work came on 24 June 2016, when the Working Group for Gene Pools in Czech Botanical Gardens (Pracovní skupina pro genofondy v botanických zahradách ČR) was established. Its task is to coordinate ex situ conservation of plants. In addition to representatives of botanical gardens, the group includes representatives of the Ministry of the Environment, the Ministry of Agriculture and the National Programme of Plant Genetic Resources. It usually meets twice a year and has prepared a proposal of species of interest for conservation in botanical gardens. In 2020 the Union's editorial board began work and the publication of the Zpravodaj botanických zahrad ČR (Newsletter of Czech Botanical Gardens) was renewed. In 2010 the Union, together with Academia, published the book "Botanické zahrady a arboreta České republiky" by Magdalena Chytrá, Petr Hanzelka and Radoslav Kacerovský. The Union also distributes the guide "Průvodce Botanické zahrady a arboreta České republiky" to member gardens. On 8 December 2025, at a meeting of the union council at the Botanical Garden of the Faculty of Science, Charles University, UBZ President Pavel Sekerka ceremonially signed a cooperation agreement with the Nature Conservation Agency of the Czech Republic (AOPK). The agreement is expected to open the way for member gardens to obtain financial support for projects of ex-situ conservation of endangered plant species. The Union's general assembly took place on 7 January 2026 at the Zoo and Botanical Garden in Pilsen. The Union continues to organise annual general assemblies, professional conferences, botanical gatherings and other events, and to represent Czech botanical gardens internationally, including at the EuroGard X conference in Rome in 2025.

• 2026

  General assembly held on 7 January 2026 in Pilsen; conference on useful plants scheduled for 5 November 2026.

• 2025

  Cooperation agreement with AOPK signed on 8 December 2025.

• 2023

  Union had 40 members (35 full, 4 associate).

• 2022

  New council elected by general assembly on 18 January 2022 (President Pavel Sekerka).

• 2020

  Editorial board began work; publication of Zpravodaj botanických zahrad ČR renewed.

• 2016

  Working Group for Gene Pools in Czech Botanical Gardens established on 24 June 2016.

• 2015

  Union had 35 members.

• 2012

  Union had 31 members.

• 2010

  Book "Botanické zahrady a arboreta České republiky" published by Academia and the Union.

• 2009

  Union reported 30 members.

• 2005

  Union founded in spring 2005 as a civic association with 25 member botanical gardens and arboreta.

National umbrella association and collective voice of Czech botanical gardens and arboreta, linking members to state authorities and international botanical garden organisations.

• Zpravodaj botanických zahrad ČR (Newsletter of Czech Botanical Gardens)

  Newsletter of the Union; publication renewed in 2020.

• Botanické zahrady a arboreta České republiky (book)

  Book published in 2010 by Academia and the Union, authored by Magdalena Chytrá, Petr Hanzelka and Radoslav Kacerovský.

• Průvodce Botanické zahrady a arboreta České republiky (guide)

  Guide distributed to member gardens.

1. 1Unie botanických zahrad ČR – official websiteubzcr.cz
2. 2Unie botanických zahrad České republiky – Czech Wikipediacs.wikipedia.org
3. 3Union of Botanic Gardens of the Czech Republic – Wikidatawikidata.org