Botanical gardens have functioned as museum facilities for generations, but this model is slowly being abandoned. Increasingly, they are becoming vibrant social centres (especially in the United States and Western European countries). Does the increase in the social role of botanical gardens present an opportunity or a threat to their development? Examples of gardens such as the Eden Project or San Francisco Botanical Garden show that the new concept of botanical gardens can bring many social and even economic benefits.

Botanical gardens have functioned as museum facilities for generations, but this model is slowly being abandoned. Increasingly, they are becoming vibrant social centres (especially in the United States and Western European countries). Does the increase in the social role of botanical gardens present an opportunity or a threat to their development? Examples of gardens such as the Eden Project or San Francisco Botanical Garden show that the new concept of botanical gardens can bring many social and even economic benefits.