Over harvesting and illegal trade are major drivers of extinction for plants. The internet has revolutionised trade, enabling sellers and buyers, who may never have been in contact to trade. Consequently, this has facilitated illegal trade, creating unrealistic demands and needs for plant species. Plants are poached from the wild resulting in extinctions and negatively impacting local communities’ livelihoods. Many consumers are unaware of this illegal trade, particularly those buying online.

BGCI will use the global reach that botanic gardens have in their visitors to create an awareness campaign on the illegal trade of plants. Raising awareness of consumers will help tackle this threat to plants and reduce the pressure and ultimately prevent extinctions in the wild.