Educational capacity of botanical gardens: What do the research results say?

Abstract

Considering that they have been visited by more than 750 million people each year (BGCI, 2023), botanical gardens can play an important role in solving the global problems we face such as climate change, food security, and loss of biodiversity. In order to achieve this, it is recommended to strengthen the educational role of botanical gardens, to review the research results made so far in this field, and to support new research. Within the scope of this study, it is aimed to review the scientific research on the education and public awareness role of botanical gardens. Within the scope of this research, scientific studies published in peer-reviewed scientific journals on educational aspects of botanical gardens were reviewed. Thirty-two studies were reached as a result of the literature review carried out in accordance with the determined criteria. With the content analysis, the educational role of botanical gardens was systematically analyzed and interpreted according to research findings.