Extracted from the Director of National Parks Annual Report 2004 - 2005
http://www.anbg.gov.au
The Australian National Botanic Gardens (ANBG) is a major scientific, educational and recreational resource. It was one of the first botanic gardens in the world to adopt the study and display of indigenous species as a principal goal. One-third of the known flowering plant species that occur in Australia, and about half the known eucalypt species, are represented in its living collection.
The ANBG contributes to meeting Australia’s obligations under various international environment conventions to which Australia is a signatory. In particular, the Convention on Biological Diversity recognises the importance of botanic gardens in ex situ and in situ conservation, research, training, plant identification and monitoring, raising public awareness, providing access to genetic resources, and global cooperation in relation to sustainable use of plant biodiversity.
Location | Latitude 35°16’ South, Longitude 149°06’ East |
Area | 90 hectares |
Proclamation date | 17 September 1991 |
IUCN category | Category IV |
Biogeographic context | Houses plants from a vast range of biogeographic regions—alpine to tropical, coastal to central desert |
Management plan | Second plan in effect, expires 9 January 2009 |
Other significant management documents | Management plan implementation schedule; risk assessment and management schedule; ANBG Masterplan (National Capital Authority); Capital Works and Maintenance Plan 2002–05; ANBG Fire Procedures 2004–05; kangaroo and wallaby management plans; ANBG Education Service Policy; ANBG Photograph Collection Policy; Agreement for the Establishment and Operation of the Centre for Plant Biodiversity Research (CPBR) between the Director of National Parks and the CSIRO The ANBG is listed on the Commonwealth Heritage List |
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Financial | Operating | $9.644 million |
Capital | $0.392 million | |
Revenue | $0.384 million | |
Visitors | 439,600 (est) | |
Permits | Permits issued for 4 commercial activities; licences issued for 59 weddings or wedding photography; licences issued to publish 1,225 photographs from the collection |
International conventions and agreements | |
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World Heritage Convention | Supports Australia’s World Heritage sites through research, plant collections, plant identification, and horticultural and educational programmes |
Wetlands (Ramsar) Convention | Supports Australia’s obligations under the Ramsar Convention through access to plant identification services and data on aquatic plants in the Australian National Herbarium |
Other agreements | Collaborates with international organisations including: • International Association of Botanic Gardens • International Association of Plant Taxonomists • International Plant Propagators Society • International Union of Biological Sciences Taxonomic Databases Working Group • International Plant Name Index (Kew Botanic Gardens and Harvard University) • Global Biodiversity Information Facility • International Organisation for Plant Information World Vascular Plant Checklist Project |
The Centre for Plant Biodiversity Research is a joint venture by the ANBG and CSIRO Plant Industry. It was formed under a seven-year agreement between the then Director of National Parks and Wildlife and CSIRO in 1993 and renewed for a further 10 years in 2000.
The Australian National Herbarium is part of this facility, housing voucher specimens for plants in the ANBG with data supporting the living, herbarium, and photograph collections.The herbarium is a major contributor to Australia’sVirtual Herbarium, a national project involving all states and territories, and the Consensus Census project to produce an accepted list of scientific names for Australian plants.
The ANBG’s scientific planting is documented through voucher specimens in the Australian National Herbarium. A team of botanists, including national and international collaborators, ensure that the correct botanical names are always applied. New collection accessions help document the occurrence and distribution of plants in Australia.
A specialised and sophisticated database system maintains essential links between specimens in the herbarium, contemporary scientific literature, and the plants in the gardens.
A team of ANBG staff continually assesses the ANBG’s living plant specimens.
Water resource management continues to be a major challenge for the ANBG.This is due to both the continuing drought and sharp increases in unit water costs to major users in Canberra. Some work has been done to identify non-potable water supplies and recirculation opportunities. This work will continue.
Maintaining the ANBG’s growing role as a tourist attraction will remain a key focus. Continuing to offer interesting visitor attractions, like the Friends of the ANBG’s summer concerts and guided tours, will be important.
The Friends have established a tax deductible public fund to assist with projects in the ANBG. Expanding this fund continues to be a challenge.
Work on Australia’s Virtual Herbarium will continue into 2005–06, including redeveloping the internet application and interface, and increasing data entry rates.
Late in 2004–05 work commenced on the Consensus Census project to produce a list of flowering plant names for the whole of Australia that is endorsed by the Australian Government and the state and territory herbaria.The project coordinator is located at the ANBG and the project is due for completion in 2007.
The ANBG’s database applications are being redeveloped, involving tighter integration of plant name, living collections, herbarium and plant image data.The new applications are due to be implemented late in 2005.
The ANBG is embarking on a new phase of plant records and facilities management using geographic information systems (GIS) to record and visualise the location and condition of plants, amenities and services.
The global transition to digital photography has led the ANBG to move to digital plant imaging resulting in significant changes to database management.
Major issues
• Water management infrastructure
Actions
• Increase water use efficiency
Performance results 2004–05
Major issues
Major issues
Actions
Performance results 2004–05
Major issues
Performance results 2004–05
Major issues
Actions
Performance results 2004–05
KRA7: Biodiversity knowledge management
Major issues
Actions
Performance results 2004–05