The Pretoria National Botanical Garden (PNBG) has achieved international recognition after being awarded the highest level of accreditation by The ArbNet Arboretum Accreditation Program and The Morton Arboretum.

The Citizen reports that the garden is now among only 46 botanical gardens worldwide to receive the prestigious Level 4 accreditation, marking it as a leader in tree conservation, research, and public education.

This global initiative recognises arboreta based on their commitment to professional standards, collection development, and excellence in tree-focused gardens. The Level 4 distinction represents the highest possible achievement in the field.

“Being part of ArbNet connects us to a global network of arboreta and strengthens our ability to protect and celebrate South Africa’s incredible tree heritage,” said Mpho Mathalauga, Senior Horticulturist of the PNBG, as per The Citizen.

Established in 1946 and opened to the public in 1958, the 76-hectare botanical gardens serve as the headquarters of the South African National Biodiversity Institute (SANBI) and the National Herbarium.

The garden focuses on indigenous plants, particularly trees from northern and eastern South Africa, South African cycads, and succulent species.

The ArbNet accreditation now places the garden in the Morton Register of Arboreta, a prestigious database of the world’s arboreta and gardens dedicated to woody plants.

SANBI stated that this recognition attests to the garden’s achievement of particular standards of professional practices deemed important for arboreta and botanical gardens.

“This accreditation is an important step in the right direction for the PNBG, reinforcing our commitment to the conservation and sustainable management of indigenous trees. Our long-term vision is to establish PNBG as a gene bank for most of South Africa’s tree species, ensuring the preservation of genetic diversity for future generations,” Mathalauga added, according to The Citizen.

The garden boasts unique features, including an avenue of Tree Wisterias (Bolusanthus speciosus), and naturally occurring Lekkerbreek (Ochna pulchra) and Magalies Redwood (Ochna pretoriensis).

Its landscape extends into the Magaliesberg mountain range, combining both carefully designed and natural areas.

This latest international recognition adds to the garden’s impressive legacy, having also been awarded Best Place to Get Back to Nature for 10 consecutive years by the Best of Pretoria Rekord Readers’ Choice Awards.

SA parks in the Morton Register of Arboreta

South Africa currently has 29 parks and arboretums listed in the Morton Register of Arboreta, including:

  1. Pretoria National Botanical Garden (Pretoria, Gauteng)
  2. Arboretum Nursery & Guest Farm (Alberton, South Africa)
  3. Arboretum of the Municipality of Paarl (Paarl, Western Cape)
  4. Beechwood Botanical Garden (South Africa)
  5. Cape Flats Nature Reserve (University of the Western Cape)
  6. Durban Botanic Gardens (9A John Zikhali Rd, Durban)
  7. Fields College, Rustenburg (226 Klopper Street Protea Park, Rustenburg)
  8. Free State Botanical Garden (Rayton Rd, Bloemfontein)
  9. Hantam National Botanical Garden (Northern Cape)
  10. Harold Porter National Botanical Garden (Betty’s Bay, Western Cape)
  11. Hermanus Botanical Society (Hermanus, Western Cape)
  12. Johannesburg Botanic Garden (Johannesburg, Gauteng)
  13. Kirstenbosch National Botanical Garden (Rhodes Drive, Newlands, Cape Town)
  14. KwaZulu Natal National Botanical Garden (2 Swartkops Rd, Prestbury)
  15. Kwelera National Botanical Garden (Eastern Cape)
  16. Lebone II College of the Royal Bafokeng (Farm Morgenzon 261 JQ, Phokeng)
  17. Lowveld National Botanical Garden (Nelspruit, Mpumalanga)
  18. Makana Botanical Garden (Eastern Cape)
  19. Manie van der Schijff Botanical Garden (University of Pretoria, Gauteng)
  20. North-West University Botanical Garden (North West Province)
  21. Paarl Arboretum (Paarl, Western Cape)
  22. Rustenburg High School Arboretum (Corner Kock & Von Wielligh Street, Rustenburg)
  23. Stellenbosch University Botanical Garden (Stellenbosch, Western Cape)
  24. The Arderene Gardens (Cape Town, Western Cape)
  25. The Garden Route Botanical Garden (George, Western Cape)
  26. Thohoyandou Botanical Garden (Limpopo)
  27. Tokai Arboretum (Cape Town, Western Cape)
  28. University of KwaZulu-Natal Botanical Gardens (KwaZulu-Natal)
  29. Walter Sisulu National Botanical Garden (Malcolm Road, Gauteng)

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This article was originally published on Getaway Magazine.

Image: Gauteng Tourism Authority