read about the latest trends
hear about new exhibtions
gain insights to our latest reports
The International Association of Horticultural Producers (AIPH) members consist of thousands of growers of flowers and ornamental plants around the world who are together united by one essential goal – promoting the place of plants in people’s lives.
About
Contact
AIPH is responsible for approving the world’s most exceptional horticultural expos creating long lasting green legacies in cities across the globe.
Overview
Media
Approved Expos
Contact
AIPH Blooming Economies & Cities to Inspire the World
AIPH Blooming Economies & Cities to Inspire The World 2.0. Up-to-date statistics from recent Expos hosted in Asia and Europe.
Learn moreAIPH hosts several conferences, webinars and events such as the International Grower of the Year award throughout the year. Read about these along with the latest news about the association’s activities.
News
Previous Events
Contact
AIPH International Grower of the Year
The AIPH International Grower of the Year Awards celebrate the best of the best in ornamental horticulture
Learn moreAIPH’s key aim is to stimulate demand for ornamental trees, plants and flowers worldwide. We are committed to supporting growers in achieving this by protecting and promoting the interests of the industry.
Ornamentals Groups
Contact
The AIPH’s Global Industry Intelligence Centre (GIIC) is an international hub for industry information and knowledge exchange.
International Vision Project
Statistical Yearbook
Consultancy and Bespoke Reports
Contact
Country Profile - Thailand
The report contains insights on production and consumption of the floriculture industry in Thailand, imports and exports, and business opportunities
DownloadAIPH Green City activities promote the essential role of plants in creating vibrant urban areas in which people and businesses can thrive.
Overview
News
Green City Guidelines
World Green City Awards
Contact
The AIPH World Green City Awards are the first and only global awards for cities where plants and nature are the core focus. As an ongoing competition with entries open every 2 years, the Awards recognise the role of city authorities in promoting and supporting greater inclusion of plants and nature in urban environments.
The Awards are designed to champion ambitious nature-orientated approaches to city design and operation. Specifically, they seek to recognise public initiatives relying on a greater use of plants and nature to create better city environments – helping to fulfil local aspirations for improved economic, social and environmental resilience.
Building on the success of previous editions, the 2026 awards will celebrate inspiring initiatives such as the previous Grand Winners: Chengdu, China’s ‘Urban Green Heart Programme‘ (2024) and City of Hyderabad, India’s ‘Green Garland to the State of Telangana‘ (2022).
Stage: Submissions are now closed, and judging is in progress.
Next Milestone: Finalists will be announced in Spring/Summer 2026.
*Dates are indicative only and may be subject to change.
All award entries are initially judged by a multidisciplinary, international Technical Panel with an advanced knowledge of Green City principles. The Technical Panel scores each entry against the evaluation criteria and selected three finalists in each award category. The Technical Panel may also nominate impressive and innovative entries that are not included as finalists for receipt of Certificates of Merit.
Representing a diversity of disciplines, geographies, and experiences, the 2026 Technical Panel brings together leaders in urban ecology, climate resilience, landscape architecture, community engagement, and sustainable development. With members representing 15 countries across six continents, the Panel reflects the global nature of the Awards and ensures that diverse perspectives inform the evaluation of entries.
Sruthi Atmakur-Javdekar, Founder, Principal Architect & Research Director, GRIT, IndiaDr. Sruthi Atmakur-Javdekar is an architect, landscape architect and environmental psychologist. She is the founder, principal architect and research director of an interdisciplinary consulting firm, ‘GRIT’ that humanises environments for children, young people and adults in urban areas of the developing world. Sruthi has a PhD in Environmental Psychology from the CUNY Graduate Center in New York City, and is a recipient of two university gold medals for excellence in Architectural education at undergraduate level in India and holds a masters degree in Landscape Architecture from Virginia Tech.
Laura Barron, Associate Director, Resilient Cities Catalyst, United StatesLaura Barron is Associate Director at Resilient Cities Catalyst, leading multiple global initiatives including the Mediterranean Climate Action Partnership and the California Resilience Partnership which promote catalytic funding and project acceleration for climate adaptation in drought, wildfire, extreme heat, and coastal resilience. Prior, she was Deputy Director for Climate Resilience & Sustainability for the Clinton Global Initiative, overseeing their oceans/water, urban decarbonization, and disaster portfolios. She also spent a decade at University of Pennsylvania at the Penn Institute for Urban Research and Penn Sustainability, where she received her dual master’s in Environmental Studies and Public Health.
Olivia Bina, Senior Researcher, University of Lisbon, PortugalOlivia Bina is Senior Researcher at the Institute of Social Sciences-University of Lisbon (Portugal), and Fellow of the World Academy of Art and Science (WAAS). Her research focuses on change for sustainable urban futures, on the critique of “green” growth and notions of scarcity, exploring plural framings of human-nature connectedness.
Robert Brears, Founder, Our Future Water & Green Climate Fund International Sectoral Expert (Water), New ZealandRobert C. Brears is a global expert in water security, green growth, and sustainability. He is the author of Financing Water Security and Green Growth (Oxford University Press), Editor of The Circular Economy and Liveable Cities (Cambridge University Press), and founder of Our Future Water and Global Climate Solutions. He also serves on the UN Green Climate Fund’s Roster of Experts (Water), supporting climate resilience worldwide.
JD Brown, Program Director, Biophilic Cities, United StatesJD Brown explores the intersection of urban planning and policy frameworks to help cities nurture abundant, biodiverse, and equitably accessible nature. JD is a Policy & Planning Senior Associate with Second Nature Ecology + Design and the Program Director for Biophilic Cities, located in the University of Virginia’s School of Architecture, where he collaborates with partners in cities around the world to shape innovative mechanisms to advance the planning and design of biophilic cities.
Dr. Carly Cowell, Director of Conservation, Botanic Gardens Conservation International, UKDr. Carly Cowell is Director of Conservation at Botanic Gardens Conservation International (BGCI), where she leads global programmes advancing plant conservation, ecological restoration, and urban greening. She holds a PhD in Plant Ecology and a Master’s in Conservation Biology, with extensive experience in biodiversity management and sustainability planning. Carly’s work focuses on integrating native plant conservation and nature-based solutions into cities, promoting climate-resilient, biodiverse urban environments. Through research, policy engagement, and partnerships, she empowers botanic gardens worldwide to act as hubs for urban greening, restoration, and community engagement, linking plant science with the creation of healthier, more sustainable cities.
Sarah Crowe, Town Planner / Lecturer, University of the West of Scotland, United KingdomSarah is a Chartered Town Planner, Recognised Practitioner in Urban Design and a Lecturer in Town Planning at the University of the West of Scotland. Her doctoral research explored how integrating placemaking with blue green infrastructure can create liveable, flood-resilient urban environments. Passionate about sustainable, people-centred places, Sarah’s work connects research, practice and policy, contributing to wider conversations on environmental planning and urban design. She leads teaching on blue and green space design, urban regeneration, and placemaking, drawing on extensive professional experience in regeneration, community development and project management to bridge academic insight with real-world practice.
Anton Earle, Global Coordinator: Water Systems, ICLEI Africa, South AfricaAn environment and development professional, Anton Earle leads teams in water management and development internationally, facilitating the interaction between governments, civil society, the private sector and other stakeholders for risk-reduction for investments in climate-resilient development. He is experienced in governance and institutional formation for water management at the inter-state level in Africa, the Middle-East and East Asia. His current position is ICLEI’s Global Coordinator of Water Systems.
Elizaveta Fakirova, Co-Founder of What’s That Green? and PhD Candidate at Technical University of Munich, GermanyElizaveta is a strategist, researcher, and project leader focused on collaborative governance and community building in nature-based solutions (NbS) – helping cities become greener, more inclusive, and resilient. With over ten years of experience, she bridges research and practice to support municipalities in strengthening participation processes, engaging civil society, and fostering cross-sector collaboration to advance NbS. She is the co-founder of What’s That Green?, a community-powered platform for professional growth in NbS. Currently, she is a PhD candidate in NbS governance at the Technical University of Munich and part of the EU-funded JUSTNature project, which enhances just co-governance across European cities.
Glenn Fenton, Managing Director, Nationwide Trees, AustraliaGlenn is Managing Director of Nationwide Trees, a leading tree production nursery in Australia. He was one of the original architects of Vision 2020, a highly successful Australian initiative that aimed to increase urban green space by 20% by the year 2020. More recently, he has chaired the Melbourne International Flower and Garden Show, focusing on urban greening and public understanding of the benefits of the urban forest. He has chaired numerous industry bodies at the state and national level, including Greenlife Industry Australia. He is a recent member of Horticulture Innovation Australia’s expert panel advising on investment in their Green Cities research and development program.
Mayu Ferrufino, Executive Director, Parque Cuscatlán Fundación, El SalvadorMayu Ferrufino is the Executive Director of Fundación Parque Cuscatlán (FUNDAPARC), a Salvadoran non-profit dedicated to urban park conservation and the promotion of activities for social coexistence. Through her leadership and in alliance with the Municipality of San Salvador Centro, Parque Cuscatlán has been consolidated as an inclusive and safe urban landmark, greatly multiplying its number of visitors. With a strategic vision, she promotes innovative programs that combine well-being, culture, sustainability, and gender equity. Through social management and the potential of parks, she seeks to build alliances to achieve resilient communities and more human cities.
Kevin Frediani, Operations Manager, National Trust for Scotland, United KingdomKevin Frediani is Operation Manager for the National Trust in Angus, leading the stewardship of some of the region’s most treasured historic and cultural sites. Previously, he was Curator of the Botanic Garden and Head of Grounds at the University of Dundee. His research interests explore how spaces become places imbued with emotion through the actions and reactions of people and environment. Kevin’s previous experience is in the management of complex projects in novel rural landscapes and non-rural places while delivering innovative solutions for the development of heritage landscapes, Botanic Gardens, Zoos and productive landscapes (including Urban Agriculture). Part of the core project team for Urban ReLeaf European Citizen Observatory, he is also a Circular Tayside Ambassador. Kevin currently leads of Bioregioning Tayside’s food work.
Vivian Fu, Senior Manager, Wetlands for Asian Flyways Initiative, WWF, Hong KongVivian is from Hong Kong and has a background in ecology with her undergraduate and MPhil degree in freshwater ecology and herpetology, as well as a master degree in social sciences. Vivian has been working on bird conservation for over 15 years at various national and international organizations, including the East Asian-Australasian Flyway Partnership Secretariat, BirdLife International and Hong Kong Bird Watching Society. Vivian has experience in developing initiatives that build synergies with different stakeholders, from government agencies to local communities to school children. She is particularly passionate about inspiring and empowering young people to take action in conserving nature.
Naim Keruwala, Regional Director – South and West Asia, C40, IndiaNaim Keruwala currently serves as Regional Director for South & West Asia at C40 Cities, leading strategic engagement across the region. He has over 16 years of experience in policy and social impact, working at the intersection of sustainable urban development, development finance, participatory governance, and climate action. Previously, he led the Government of India’s CITIIS program as a Program Director at NIUA, overseeing a US$500 million blended finance portfolio for sustainable infrastructure and climate governance. Naim holds a Master’s in Economics and an Advanced Management Program in Infrastructure from ISB, and is a Salzburg Global Fellow.
Brenda Kessler, Program Manager, Children & Nature Network, USABrenda Kessler is a Program Manager at the Children & Nature Network, where she supports cities across the United States in developing and scaling strategies—such as green schoolyards—that meaningfully connect children to nature. In her role, she provides technical assistance, guides cross-sector collaborations, and helps communities leverage policy, planning, and systems change to expand equitable access to nature. Brenda also contributes to the organization’s global initiatives and is a two-time Salzburg Global Fellow.
Gitty Korsuize, Urban Nature Advisor, NetherlandsGitty Korsuize works as an independent urban ecologist. She lives in the city of Utrecht. She connects people with nature, nature with people and people with an interest in nature with each other. As a strategist she seizes opportunities to preserve and strengthen nature. The Utrecht approach to the animal-friendly building, for example, converts the flora and fauna research funds into more effective measures for animals that depend on buildings in the city. As co-chair of the Eurocities working group on Green Areas and Biodiversity she innovated ways of sharing knowledge on best practices. As curator for the Nature of Cities Festival she brings inspirational people together to strengthen the network which adds to, and improves the nature of our cities. In 2022 the city of Utrecht was one of the finalist for the World Green City Award in the category Living Green for Health and Wellbeing. In 2024 the city of Utrecht hosted the AIPH Gala diner during the Future Green Cities Conference.
Leticia Lozano, Director General, MACIA Estudio, MexicoLeticia is an architect, researcher and child-friendly cities consultant leading MACIA, a Mexico City–based studio dedicated to creating playful spaces and learning experiences that strengthen children’s integral development. With over twelve years’ experience, she has collaborated with governments and organisations to design projects that place childhood at the centre of urban life. She led the Playful City strategy at the Lab for the City (2015–18), was the only Latin American Fellow at the Creative Producers International programme (2017–19), and became a member of the first Emerging Urban Leaders Cohort (2020–21). She is the author of Architecture for Urban Play and serves on the World Urban Parks “Children, Play and Nature” Committee.
Liteboho Makhele, Country Coordinator, GIZ Natural Resources Stewardship, South AfricaLiteboho is a seasoned Sustainability Specialist and Programme Manager with 20 years’ experience working across public and private sector organisations on applied research, education and community buildings, urban regeneration, environmental sustainability and climate change adaptation.
She is currently the Country Coordinator for the Natural Resources Stewardship Programme II (NatuReS II) at the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH in South Africa. Her role is on fostering collaborative multi-stakeholder stewardship partnerships between public, private and civil society actors for the efficient and sustainable use and management of natural resources in special economic zones, industrial parks and areas, Cities and catchments.
Melinda Martinus, Lead Researcher, ISEAS-Yusof Ishak Institute (ISEAS), SingaporeMelinda Martinus is a lead researcher in socio-cultural affairs at the Institute of Southeast Asian Studies – Yusof Ishak Institute (ISEAS), Singapore. Melinda’s research interests revolve around regional integration, sustainable development, smart city initiatives, digitalization, institutional framework, and policy for advancing climate ambitions in ASEAN countries. Melinda is the production editor of ISEAS’ biannual flagship magazine, ASEANFocus. In addition, she is the co-editor of the institute’s two annual survey reports, the State of Southeast Asia and the Southeast Asia Climate Outlook, which serve as barometers to gauge geostrategic affairs, development, and sustainability issues in the region. Before joining ISEAS, she was a program manager at Kota Kita Foundation, Indonesia, and a researcher at the Center for Metropolitan Studies at Tarumanagara University Jakarta, where she led research projects on urban resilience, housing and slum upgrading, and urban governance in Indonesian cities. Melinda completed her bachelor’s and master’s degrees in urban planning from Tarumanagara University, Jakarta, and Columbia University, New York.
Irene Nagudi, Founder & Director, Kichini Gardeners Initiative, UgandaIrene Nagudi is a passionate conservation educator and community leader dedicated to integrating sustainable agriculture and climate education into schools and communities. As the Founder and Director of Kichini Gardeners Initiative, she empowers children and communities to create green spaces for food security and environmental resilience. A Kofi Annan Changemaker and MSII SDG Winner 2023, Irene has spearheaded innovative projects like Climate Talking Ambiance and Just A Seedling, using school gardens and fruit trees to enhance urban biodiversity. She advocates for greenery and agroecology in schools, urban homes as a tool for climate resilience, biodiversity conservation, and outdoor learning.
Amanda O’Rourke, CEO, 8 80 Cities, CanadaAmanda O’Rourke is the Executive Director of 8 80 Cities. She has over 20 years of experience leading strategic planning, partnership development, and managing high impact teams. She has led award-winning and transformative human centered public space design projects in cities and towns in Canada and the United States. Amanda has also led city leadership training and capacity building programs in North America, Europe and Australia. Amanda is a sought-after placemaking leader, writer, speaker, and experienced facilitator. She enjoys working collaboratively with city governments and communities to support health, equity, and sustainability goals. Amanda holds a Master of Science in Urban Planning from the University of Toronto and a Bachelor of Science in Environmental Biology from Queen’s University. She is a Co-Chair for World Urban Parks, Advisory Board Member to Healthy Places by Design, and a former Salzburg Global Fellow. Amanda was recently named one of the 10 most loved Torontonians in the last 10 years in Spacing Magazine’s 20th anniversary edition.
John-Rob Pool, Senior Manager, Nature-positive Urban Development & UrbanShift, WRI Ross Center for Sustainable Cities, World Resources Institute, United StatesJohn-Rob is the Senior Manager for UrbanShift in the WRI Ross Center for Sustainable Cities at World Resources Institute. He is also the Senior Manager for Nature-Positive Urban Development, supporting WRI’s efforts to integrate nature and biodiversity into urban development projects. In his role, John-Rob leads WRI’s UrbanShift team and manages WRI’s contributions to UrbanShift by overseeing the day-to-day management of the project. He develops and delivers technical content on nature-based solutions, urban biodiversity and urban climate finance for capacity building activities such as City Academies, Geospatial Planning Labs and Peer Exchanges. John-Rob is a published and recognized expert on urban nature-based solutions. He has authored and contributed to topical research, been invited to speak at multiple global conferences and events, and been cited in numerous media articles. John-Rob holds a Master of Science in Environmental Policy from the University of Oxford, where he was a student of St Edmund Hall. He also holds a Bachelor of Science (Honors) in Biodiversity and Conservation and a Bachelor of Science in Zoology and Environmental Science, both from Rhodes University in Grahamstown, South Africa.
Dominic Regester, Program Director, Salzburg Global, AustriaDominic Regester is Director of the Center for Education Transformation at Salzburg Global, designing and leading programs on the futures of education. He is an advisor for Digital Promise, the Learning Economy Foundation, is a founding member of YouthxYouth’s Wisdom Council, and serves as Executive Director of Karanga: the global alliance for SEL and Life Skills.
Luis Romahn, CEO, World Urban Parks, MexicoLuis is the Executive Director of World Urban Parks Organization. President and founder of Parks of Mexico and Founder of the National Association of Parks and Recreation Mexico (ANPR) and co-founder of Park Art. Has worked for the last 12 years in public space projects through participatory design, community building and financial sustainability. For the past 5 years, he has led the ANPR, offering its members professional development, updated information, networking and employment opportunities; benefiting the sector through research, standards, data and advocacy, promoting the values and role of the field. He is part of the Emerging Urban Leader First Cohort. A programme of the World Urban Parks and the Salzburg Seminar. Speaker in Colombia, Peru, Argentina, Chile, Ecuador, México, Spain and the U.S. about public spaces and parks. Author of the book “Building My Park – From Citizen Participation to the Administration of Public Space”. Has a professional degree in Marketing and a Master’s Degree in Education and Communication, both by Monterrey Tec.
Loredana Scuto, Programme Officer – Urban, IUCN, GermanyLoredana Scuto serves as Programme Officer – Urban at the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), where she supports the development of IUCN knowledge products, such as the IUCN Urban Nature Indexes, as well as the implementation of projects for the protection of urban biodiversity and the sustainable development of cities. Prior to joining IUCN, she worked in the fields of (World) heritage management, human rights and biocultural diversity in different countries, including France, Austria and Italy. She holds a BA in Cultural Management (Ca’ Foscari University, Italy) and a Dual MA Degree in World Heritage Studies (Brandenburg University of Technology, Germany) and Cultural Heritage (Deakin University, Australia).
Anushri Tiwari, South Asian Lead at UbHub and Project Research Associate at the Indian Institute of Technology, IndiaAnushri Tiwari is an urban ecologist focused on urban adaptation, biodiversity, and restoration in rapidly transforming cityscapes. She has contributed to international frameworks such as the Urban Nature Index (UNI), IUCN’s Global Standard for Nature-based Solutions (NbS), and science-based targets for cities, supporting evidence-based integration of nature into urban governance. Anushri works with IUCN, Urban Biodiversity Hub, and partners across South and Southeast Asia on adaptation finance, participatory restoration, and ecosystem–livelihood interdependencies. She also teaches “Urban Futures,” equipping graduate students with analytical and field-based tools to evaluate ecological conditions, bridging research, practice, and policy for resilient cities.
Ton Vergeldt, Senior Project Manager, Arcadis, NetherlandsTon Vergeldt is a senior project manager at Arcadis Nederland BV and works in integral sustainable projects in which all professional disciplines (environment, water, infrastructure and buildings) are inclusively represented to create a better urban environment for future generations. After completing his HBO studies at Larenstein International University of Applied Sciences, he studied for a year at Wageningen Agricultural University before joining a landscape architecture firm. Employed by Arcadis from 1-1-1999, he realised, among other things, the Floriade 2012 and 2022 for the Venlo and Almere regions from the initiation phase to realisation, exploitation and dismantling. In the period 2007-2010, he developed sustainable area development (C2C) together with several leading municipalities in the Netherlands and the Ministry of Economic Affairs in order to translate sustainability into the design and implementation phase of urban area development. This formed the foundation for the further development of sustainable area development, in which all aspects of sustainability are addressed at the various scale levels. He like to help others on their way to sustainable future cities.
Marta Weber, Vice-President, World Green Infrastructure Network, PolandDr. Marta Weber-Siwirska is a landscape architect at Wrocław University of Environmental and Life Sciences. She co-founded and chairs the Polish Green Roof Association, is a founding member of the Association of Polish Landscape Architects, and serves as Vice-President of the World Green Infrastructure Network (WGIN). Her research and publications focus on urban greenery—especially green roofs, living walls, and climate adaptation. She has received multiple awards from the Rector of Wrocław University for her teaching, research, and organizational achievements. In 2020, she contributed as an expert to the EU Biodiversity Strategy for 2030
A Jury drawn from internationally recognised City, Nature, and Sustainability focused organisations will assess the Finalists to select seven Category Winners and the overall Grand Winner.
Each entry will be scored against the six judging criteria:
Jury members will be announced soon.
All Finalists in each of the seven categories are eligible for the AIPH Youth Award, held in collaboration with GYBN. From the 21 Finalists, the Youth Jury votes for a shortlist of three entries from which they will select the winner of the AIPH Youth Award: the top entry most likely to inspire the youth and fulfil their needs for a secure, healthy future.
The Youth Jury comprises young people aged 18-35 with a passion for urban greening and city liveability. Jury members will be announced soon.
