Global spotlight on business of Botanic Gardens

In a first for botanic gardens in Australia, the Royal Botanic Gardens & Domain Trust’s three estates will face international scrutiny with a ‘Peer Review’ in a drive to excel on the global market.

Royal Botanic Gardens & Domain Trust Executive Director, Professor David Mabberley said

a team of international experts from high-profile gardens around the world will arrive on Sun, 4th December, and with others, will examine the Trust’s overall management and strategic direction.

“In 2016, Sydney’s Royal Botanic Garden, the nations first botanic garden and oldest scientific organistion will be 200 years old.  As we head towards its bicentenary, I’d like to see it recognised as one of the world’s best - and a higher profile and increased visitation to our other estates, the Australian Botanic Garden, Mount Annan and the Blue Mountains Botanic Garden, Mount Tomah,” Professor Mabberley said.

“The Australian Botanic Garden is the country’s largest, on its way to growing all 25,000 of our native plant species, it will also be home to Australia’s largest native seedbank (PlantBank).  The Blue Mountains Botanic Garden is Australia’s highest, surrounded by a world-class collection of plants and the Greater Blue Mountains World Heritage Area, it is also home to the World Heritage Exhibition Centre.  The Trust also manages the National Herbarium of NSW.

“The 2016 bicentenary occasion is of state, national and international significance.  In the lead-up, the Trust has prepared a diverse program of capital projects, events and activities that will see major improvements made to all its estates.  The Peer Review will examine the Trust’s preparedness for 2016 and more importantly, beyond,” he said.

The State Government has already contributed $38 million over seven years to the 2016 program and there is a drive to enlist benefactors, sponsorship and corporate support to raise a target of $40 million.

Professor Mabberley said he needs the public to commit their hearts and minds to understanding the importance of botanic gardens.

“Behind the beautiful gardens and greenhouses, there is hard science going on.  Increasingly plants are being lost in their native habitats and survive only in cultivation.  Today, the world’s botanic gardens grow over 30 per cent of the world’s known plants,” he said.

“Our scientists investigate the properties of plants and what they can offer the pharmaceutical, chemical and medical fields.  They also work hard on plant conservation and increasing biodiversity – this is why seedbanks are so important.  Plants are essential to life they produce food, clothing and materials essential for building and industry.  ”

 
The International Peer Review team will consist of Professor Dr Thomas Borsch, Director, Berlin Botanic Garden and Museum  (Botanischer Garten and Botanisches Museum Berlin-Dahlem); Paul Redman, Director, Longwood Gardens, USA; Brian Holley, Executive Director, Naples Botanical Garden, USA; Professor Angela McFarlane, Director of Public Engagement and Learning, The Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, UK.  The team will also include Australian businessman Guy Cooper, PSM and former Executive Director of Taronga Zoo and Bob Conroy, Executive Director, Park Management, Office of Environment and Heritage.

The Peer Review work is pro-bono, Novitel has sponsored accommodation for overseas members.