2026 Botanical Bridges Congress Host Announced!
April 20-24, 2026
We are thrilled to announce that the host institution for the 2026 Botanical Bridges Congress has been selected! After a thorough application process, Jardín Botánico Nacional Dr. Rafael M. Moscoso in the Dominican Republic has been chosen to partner with the Caribbean and Central American Botanic Gardens Network (CCABGN) and Botanic Gardens Conservation International (BGCI) in organizing this incredible event.
The Congress will bring together botanical experts, conservation professionals from a wide range of disciplines, and institutions from across the region, fostering collaboration and innovation in plant conservation. We are confident that Jardín Botánico Nacional Dr. Rafael M. Moscoso will provide an excellent platform for the Congress and help make this an unforgettable experience for all participants.
Scholarships will be available to support network member participation. To receive the latest news, please be sure to subscribe to our Botanical Bridges Newsletter below!
About the Host
Jardín Botánico Nacional “Dr. Rafael M. Moscoso”
Located in Santo Domingo, the Jardín Botánico Nacional Dr. Rafael M. Moscoso (JBN) is the largest and most prestigious in the Dominican Republic. It occupies 2 million square meters. It was founded on August 15, 1976, and owes its name to the prominent Dominican botanist Dr. Rafael M. Moscoso. Serving as a vital center for research, botanical conservation, environmental education, and recreation, it houses an extensive collection of endemic and native plant species, particularly from the Caribbean region.
This institution plays a key role in plant conservation, showcasing Dominican biodiversity through thematic exhibits, including an impressive arboretum, a fern pavilion, an orchid pavilion, a bromeliad pavilion, a seed bank, a butterfly garden, an ecological museum, a palm collection, an ecological reserve, a Japanese garden, a floral clock, a medicinal plant garden, and the National Herbarium, among other equally important and beautiful attractions. The JBN is a center for environmental education and community engagement that works to raise awareness about the importance of plant management and care, as well as sustainability.
As host of the 2026 Botanical Bridges Congress, the Jardín Botánico Nacional Dr. Rafael M. Moscoso will provide an exceptional platform to bring together plant conservation experts across diverse disciplines from across the region, fostering collaboration and knowledge sharing to address critical challenges facing the flora of the Caribbean and Central America.
The congress will include lectures, oral presentations, posters, and workshops related to the work of the region’s botanical gardens. Post-conference recreational activities will also be held. The 2026 Botanical Bridges Congress will be organized by the Jardín Botánico Nacional Dr. Rafael M. Moscoso of Santo Domingo and is supported by the Caribbean and Central American Botanic Gardens Network (CCABG), Botanic Gardens Conservation International (BGCI), Naples Botanical Garden, Marie Selby Botanical Gardens, and the Leon Levy Native Plant Preserve.
About Santo Domingo
Santo Domingo, officially Santo Domingo de Guzmán, is the capital of the Dominican Republic. The city is located on the Caribbean Sea, at the mouth of the Ozama River, on the island’s southern coast. Due to its invaluable historical heritage and numerous artistic and cultural events, the city was chosen as the American Capital of Culture in 2010. It has also hosted the 2003 Pan American Games, the 1974 Central American and Caribbean Games, and the Caribbean Series on several occasions. Santo Domingo is home to the first cathedral and the first castle in the Americas; both located in the Colonial City, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Thanks to this, the city, especially its Historic Center, receives approximately one million international visitors each year.