Position paper on botanical gardens and colonialism

The Association of Botanic Gardens has published the position paper "Botanic Gardens, Plant Collections and Colonialism". This declaration is the result of a discussion by a working group of curators in the Association of Botanic Gardens (VBG). The following were involved: Botanic Garden Berlin: Dr. Nils Köster, Botanic Gardens Bonn: Dr. Conny Löhne, Palmengarten der Stadt Frankfurt: Dr. Marco Schmidt; Botanic Garden Potsdam: Dr. Michael Burkart; Botanic Garden Tübingen: Dr. Alexandra Kehl; Tropengewächshaus Witzenhausen/Kassel: Marina Hethke; Succulent Collection Zurich: Dr. Felix Merklinger.

The group took a critical look at the post-colonial references of their collections, their history and their self-image. They were supported by Runa Hoffmann, Master's student at the Botanic Garden Berlin, Alexandra Straka, Master's student at the Botanic Garden Potsdam and Demba Sanoh, historian, Berlin.

A bibliography completes the paper.