Executive Summary
The Australian National Botanic Gardens (ANBG) is established for the increase
of knowledge, appreciation and enjoyment of Australias plant heritage
by establishing, as an integrated resource, a collection of living and herbarium
specimens of Australian and related plants for study, interpretation, conservation
and display.
The mission of the Gardens is to grow, study and promote Australian
plants.
This Management Plan for the ANBG sets out the future management of the Gardens
for the next seven years.
Part One (Chapters 1 and 2) describes the Gardens itself, as well as the legislative
context and other relevant background information. Part Two (Chapters 3 to 10)
details the management actions that will be taken during the term of this Management
Plan to support the Gardens purpose and mission.
In addition to continuing ongoing and routine activities, the key outcomes
the Gardens aims to achieve during the term of this Plan are described below.
Growing Australian plants (Chapters 3, 7 and 8)
To improve the living collection by:
- relocating the nursery and redevelopment of the existing nursery site for
new horticultural attractions such as displays of wetland plants;
- rationalising existing separate depot facilities and equipment;
- extending the rock garden and displays of Australian annual flowering plants;
and
- developing thematic displays and/or interpretation on the origins of Australias
flora, including Gondwana;
Studying Australian plants (Chapters 4 and 6)
Continue to participate in the Centre for Plant Biodiversity Research, with
particular emphasis on:
- completing the co-location of the Australian National Herbarium collection,
staff and laboratories;
- completing the database which captures the herbarium collection and integrates
plant name and specimen data from the Australian National Herbarium with records
for the living and photograph collections;
- facilitating and contributing to the development of the Australian Virtual
Herbarium to electronically link herbarium data sets across Australia and
make this data available to the community;
- developing additional interactive identification tools focusing on pea flowers,
eucalypts, grevilleas and orchids;
- establishing a research program examining the origins of the Australian
angiosperm flora using molecular, morphological and biological techniques;
and
- developing effective spatial modelling tools to assist management of small
or restricted populations, such as rare and threatened plants.
Promoting Australian plants (Chapters 5 and 6)
Host major exhibits and educational activities and implement interpretive strategies
to meet the identified needs of visitors to the Gardens. Major targets will
include:
- redeveloping the core area visitor facilities including a new Visitor Centre
(combining reception, display, public herbarium and retail facilities) and
an associated core precinct area (plaza, cafe and environmental education
functions) and redeveloping the existing Visitor Centre as a functions facility;
- achieving excellence in the environmental education program;
- improving the directional and orientation signage in the Gardens as part
of a review of the thematic displays.
Support a series of community outreach activities, particularly to:
- increase and broaden membership of the Friends of the Gardens; and
- expand the range of programs where volunteers can assist in the Gardens.
Administration and Management (Chapters 6, 7, 8 and 9)
- Establish a best-practice facilities management system for the infrastructure
and collections of the Gardens, with a first priority on completing an accurate
detailed survey of the Gardens.
- Modernise infrastructure and service facilities to meet efficiency, safety
and environmental standards, with particular focus on upgrading water supply
and reticulation systems.
- Undertake further visitor surveys to assist in preparation of the next Management
Plan.
- Evaluate management options for the southern extension.
- Pursue appropriate commercial partnerships and revenue raising opportunities.
Updated
15 December, 2004
, webmaster, ANBG (anbg-info@anbg.gov.au)