As part of our continuing efforts to indentify new programs and services of value to you, APGA is very pleased to announce an agreement with ESRI, the premier provider of GIS software, to provide millions of dollars in free software and support to APGA member gardens. APGA is extremely grateful to ESRI and its CEO, Jack Dangermond, for this generous contribution.
The impetus for ESRI to make the contribution comes from its long-standing commitment to the conservation and research efforts of botanical gardens and zoos. As Jack stated in a video clip played at the APGA Annual Conference, "[ESRI] is so pleased to be able to donate [our software] to all of the members of APGA. We appreciate your work. We think it is extremely important in both supporting people seeing gardens, but also in research and conservation."
As further evidence of ESRI's commitment, the Memorandum of Understanding between ESRI and APGA states, "This agreement reinforces the shared commitment of ESRI and APGA to increase the capacity of public gardens to address issues of pressing social and community importance. Furthermore, it is formed with the goal of developing the capacity of botanical gardens to
- contribute towards the capacity of member gardens to conserve plant diversity via state-of-the-art database management and mapping technologies,
- manage their plant databases that are rapidly expanding in scope and importance,
- communicate to the public via mapping and other tools, and
- raise public awareness and concern for plants and their conservation."
In an effort to jump-start the partnership ESRI invited Peter Raven to be the Keynote Speaker at its Users Conference in early August, which draws more than 20,000 ESRI users from all over the world. It also devoted its entire exhibit gallery to the important work of public gardens in conservation, research, and education.
The groundbreaking partnership agreement provides our gardens with access to the rapidly growing field of advanced GIS-based software applications, and includes:
- Free software, data, books, and training via the ESRI Conservation Program.
- Free software maintenance, upgrades, and support, as well as unlimited free on-line training and unlimited "standby" live training.
- Free registration to the ESRI International User Conference for qualified APGA Individual Members.
- Free on-line training, specialized for botanical garden staff via the ESRI Virtual Campus.
We are currently working with ESRI to create a streamlined application process that will ensure we are able to get the software to you ask quickly as possible. As soon as that process is in place, I urge all APGA Gardens to enthusiastically embrace this historic opportunity to increase your capacity by utilizing these advanced technologies.
We would be remiss if we did not recognize the contribution of some APGA members in making this program a reality. First, the U.C. Davis Arboretum and specifically, Mary Burke, for all of her hard work. Second, the Missouri Botanical Garden for playing a leadership role in working with ESRI.
