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Unlocking why and fungi matter Royal Botanic , strategy to 2020/21 1

Contents

4 Foreword 5 Unlocking why plants and fungi matter 8 Looking to the future 11 Our objectives 14 Delivering our objectives 14 Collections for the benefit of humankind 17 Science that helps solve the critical challenges facing humanity today 19 Creating the world’s leading botanic gardens 21 Sharing our knowledge through education 23 A sustainable and dynamic organisation 26 Achieving impact 2

Critical challenges facing humanity

Biodiversity loss

Human population growth1

Plant diseases

Food security

1 United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs: http://esa.un.org/unpd/wpp/ Graphs/Probabilistic/POP/TOT 2 2 Davis et al. 2012, PLoS ONE 7(11) Climate change 3 4

Foreword

Unlocking Why Plants and Fungi Matter is our vision for how a better understanding of plants and fungi will contribute to solving some of the most critical challenges facing humanity today. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew is already a world famous centre for botanical and mycological knowledge. Our two inspiring gardens enchant our visitors with the wonder of the world’s diversity; and we reach beyond our walls to excite and educate individuals and communities. Delivering this strategy will build on these successes as we aim to be the global resource for plant and fungal knowledge, building an understanding of the world’s plants and fungi upon which all our lives depend. Our goal is that every person who interacts with RBG Kew will discover something amazing about the world of plants and fungi, the importance of their diversity, and how all our lives can be improved through appreciating and understanding that diversity better. From showcasing the beauty of plant diversity in the Great Broad Walk Borders at to digitising our scientific collections and releasing the data for others to use, we will be unlocking why plants and fungi matter. This is an exciting time in RBG Kew’s history. We are stewards of this organisation and the accumulated knowledge of our collections, data and people. By delivering this strategy successfully, our organisation will be stronger, we will reach and inspire more people, and contribute to solutions to our planet’s most serious contemporary challenges.

Marcus Agius Chairman Director 5

Unlocking why plants and fungi matter

Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew’s mission is to be the global resource for plant and fungal knowledge, building an understanding of the world’s plants and fungi upon which all our lives depend. We use the power of our science and the rich diversity of our gardens and collections to provide knowledge, inspiration and understanding of why plants and fungi matter to everyone. We want a world where plants and fungi are understood, valued and conserved – because all our lives depend on them. 6 7 8

Looking to the future

The world needs RBG Kew now From its earliest days, the success more than ever, and RBG Kew of RBG Kew has been interwoven has more to offer the world in with the economic success of the response. This document sets out and the wellbeing our ambitions, our contemporary of people across the globe. relevance, and the key activities that will be our focus over the next This strategy builds on the five years. successes of the past, allowing RBG Kew to fully use the strengths RBG Kew has constantly evolved of our heritage and the accumulated in response to the demands and collections, knowledge and data we needs of society over the 250 hold, while focusing on the urgent years since Kew Gardens was needs of society today. established by Princess Augusta. 9

Loss of , climate Through increasing understanding RBG Kew staff are authentic and change, rapidly-spreading pests of why plants and fungi matter, passionate experts who share their and diseases, human population RBG Kew unlocks their potential. knowledge, stimulating curiosity growth, and the associated This is an urgent task. We face and debate. Our many visitors challenges of food security are unprecedented losses of biodiversity love the beauty and diversity of causing unprecedented stress and rapid environmental change, our gardens and our activities on human societies around the and risk losing the precious secrets beyond the garden walls inspire world. Plants and fungi hold the that plants and fungi can give us millions more. We will use the key to help solve these challenges before we discover them. If we unique combination of our data- through the fundamental life-giving are successful in achieving our rich collections, our science and processes they drive, the properties strategy, ecosystems and human our gardens to become the global they contain, and the materials and societies across the globe will be voice for unlocking why plants and food they provide. more resilient. fungi matter. If we are successful 10

in achieving our strategy, people all We have set ourselves five strategic around the world will have a greater objectives to move RBG Kew forward understanding of why plants and successfully into the next decade. fungi matter.

RBG Kew’s work ultimately benefits every human being on the planet today and in the future. We have a profound responsibility, our strategy is ambitious and it builds on the purpose and work of RBG Kew through its history. 11 Our objectives

Our science makes a demonstrable contribution to solving critical challenges facing humanity today

Our collections are We are valued as the curated to excellent We are the world’s leading pre-eminent provider botanic gardens where of public education standards and are our large and diverse on plant and fungal widely used for the audiences develop their science, conservation understanding of why and horticulture benefit of humankind plants and fungi matter

We are a sustainable and dynamic organisation, making positive global impacts in partnership with others

13 14

Delivering our objectives Collections for the benefit of humankind

The size and diversity of RBG Kew’s These collections are at the heart collections are unique. They are of our future success. We will a huge database for plant and curate them to excellent standards, fungal diversity knowledge: one ensuring we are responsible of the largest and most diverse stewards for these invaluable global of dried, pressed assets. We will continue to develop plant specimens and the largest our collections, ensuring they fungarium in the world; the largest remain of contemporary relevance. living plant collection of any botanic We will open up our collections, garden and the world’s largest wild including the valuable data they plant DNA and tissue bank, and the hold, ensuring they are widely used only global wild plant . for active scientific purposes that benefit humankind. 15 More than seven million sheets, including 330,000 type specimens that were used to describe new species

1.25 million dried fungal specimens, the largest such collection in the world

Nearly 180,000 individual plants from over 30,000 taxa, including 1,300 threatened species in our gardens

50,000 samples of DNA from over 35,000 species of plants in our DNA bank

More than 2 billion seeds, from 36,000 species of plants in the Millennium Seed Bank in Wakehurst 16

RBG Kew is a collections-based largest database of plant diversity crops. They can be used for organisation, but many people are for the world. Through portals such research, innovation and as the not aware of the incredible assets as Plants of the World Online and ultimate insurance against that we hold and care for. the Useful Plants & Fungi Portal, we species extinction. will bring together data, information We aim to digitise our collections, to and insight on the diversity of the Through our combined actions on complement the physical collections. plant and fungal kingdoms and banking endangered seeds and We will explore opportunities to join their uses. our horticultural expertise, we are forces with other botanic gardens saving species from extinction. Our and herbaria across the UK to The Millennium Seed Bank living collection holds around 1,300 create a National Digital Herbarium, Partnership is the world’s species of conservation interest1, pooling the resources of the UK’s largest ex-situ plant conservation including 13 species that are plant collections to ensure our programme, aiming to bank extinct in the wild. Our horticultural nation builds its reputation as the seeds from 25% of the world’s teams are experts in growing plants global leader in plant . plant species by 2020. Through that have never been propagated, partnerships in more than 80 working with other botanical We will release digitised data as countries, we focus on banking gardens around the world to ensure Open Data, providing an invaluable endangered, endemic and their continued survival. resource for scientists and economically valuable species innovators liberating the world’s including the wild relatives of

1 Defined by IUCN Red List criteria of ‘Extinct in the Wild’, ‘Critically Endangered’, ‘Endangered’ and ‘Vulnerable’ 17

Science that helps solve the critical challenges facing humanity today

We published our Science Strategy in Ethiopia or yams in Madagascar, The report will provide new in February 2015, setting our diseases and pests such as fungal evidence and perspectives on a vision to document and understand pathogens, and chemical traits and range of key issues, and act as an global plant and fungal diversity, properties of plants and fungi used important horizon-scan to identify and its uses, bringing authoritative in traditional medicinal remedies, strategic research and policy expertise to bear on the critical will help us find solutions to the priorities for the UK and overseas. challenges facing humanity. critical challenges we face. One in five of the world’s plants Food security, ecosystem resilience, We will release an annual State of is threatened with extinction. and human populations that rely the World’s Plants report, providing Many of these occur in the tropics on a healthy environment are all an overview of the status of the where extinction continues through in danger as a result of climate plant kingdom. Our scientists will humanity’s destruction of habitats. change, and the loss of habitat and combine their extensive knowledge The Tropical Important Plant Areas biodiversity. Our scientific research and expertise in an authoritative initiative will assess the highest into plant resources such as coffee evaluation of the status of plants. priority areas for plant conservation, 18

providing mapping tools for use comparative plant and fungal across seven countries by 2020 research. This will accelerate the to assist conservation action by discovery of new taxa, particularly our partners. in less well-known groups, as well as facilitating the exploration of Our understanding of the diversity previously undiscovered properties of plant and fungal life is constantly and uses. growing. To better understand how the world’s plants and fungi are related to each other, and how they evolved, we will complete the Plant and Fungal Trees of Life. This comprehensive investigation of evolutionary relationships will provide a unifying framework for 19

Creating the world’s leading botanic gardens

Our two botanic gardens, at We aspire to take every visitor on We will create distinctive, high Kew Gardens in west an exciting journey through the quality experiences in our gardens, and Wakehurst in the diversity of the plant and fungal to attract a broader audience from countryside, display the diversity kingdoms, inspiring them with the across the UK and worldwide. We of plant life from around the world importance of plants and fungi in want our botanic gardens to be a within spectacular landscapes. their lives. We connect with visitors reason for people to visit the UK and Kew Gardens is a UNESCO World through their love for the beauty of for British residents to make the Heritage Site, recognising the plants. We will achieve this through journey across the country. We want historical and contemporary continually improving the gardens, our visitors to be representative interaction of the natural and built bringing our collections and science of society and will positively act to landscapes with the botanical to life. ensure there are opportunities for science conducted within them. a greater diversity of people to be drawn into our gardens. We are developing a series of new At Wakehurst we will open up experiences to engage children more of our country estate to with plants and fungi. A new visitors, focusing on wild plants children’s garden at Kew Gardens from wild places. Through outreach will be created, providing a natural projects we will enlist millions of and exciting area for playing and people across the world to join learning. Our annual Family Science with us in unlocking why plants and Festival will uncover the amazing fungi matter. We will also engage a hidden secrets of the plant and global audience through the latest fungal kingdoms through games online opportunities, sharing our and activities. Engaging the next passion for plants and fungi in our generation is crucial to achieving ‘virtual garden’. our mission. 21

Sharing our knowledge through education 22

RBG Kew holds the accumulated ambitious plans to expand and applications for academia, knowledge and expertise from deepen our engagement. government, industry and 250 years of world-leading consultancy. Complementing this mycological and botanical science, RBG Kew’s School of Horticulture Masters course, we will continue conservation and horticulture. We provides world class vocational to provide opportunities for PhD have learned much and want to training for botanical horticulture students to partner with us, and share that learning by providing skills. Through an active provide a series of specialist high quality public education apprenticeship programme, the courses for scientists from programmes for school groups, world famous Kew Diploma in around the world. apprentices, higher and further Horticulture, and new modular education students, professionals, courses in horticulture, we aim to We will not just educate and keen amateurs alike. be the global leader in botanical professionals, and we are creating horticulture education. a series of courses aimed at the Our structured schools programmes keen amateur and enthusiast. bring the curriculum to life for In 2015 we introduced the Masters Horticultural and scientific skills school students, and our teacher in Science course in Plant and enrich the lives of everyone who training programmes enable the Fungal Taxonomy, Diversity learns them, enabling everyone to wonders of the plant and fungal and Conservation. This course unlock why plants and fungi matter kingdoms to inspire students in addresses skills gaps in taxonomy for them. school classrooms across the and systematics. We will train a country. We host around 90,000 new generation of taxonomists students per year, and have in cross-disciplinary skills with 23

A sustainable and dynamic organisation

RBG Kew will only be able to RBG Kew acts in a distinctive strategy. We will seek partnerships achieve the positive global impact way that makes the most of our with individuals, businesses, it aspires to if it is a sustainable strengths. We care deeply about governments, universities, other and dynamic organisation. This the future of the planet, the plant charities and public sector bodies requires us to ensure that we have and fungal kingdoms and all who share our ambitions. talented and motivated people, people around the world who rely Through partnership and 21st century built and technological on a healthy environment. We are collaboration we will create a infrastructure, an organisational authentic and passionate experts, world where plants and fungi are culture that supports successful collaborating and sharing our understood, valued and conserved. delivery, and a positive reputation knowledge to stimulate curiosity that underpins our ability to and debate, celebrating beauty Securing our long-term financial forge productive partnerships and encouraging a life-long love health underpins all our ambitions. with organisations around the of plants. We cherish the diversity We will achieve this through world. Financial health will be the of our collections, and value the our positive relationships with foundation for all of this. diversity of our people and everyone government, building our charitable we work with. We are ambitious supporter base and growing our Our staff and volunteers will be and bold, with a strong desire to self-generated income, as well as supported and cared for. We want to innovate and improve. operating as efficiently as possible. recruit and retain the most talented We deliver public value, achieve individuals, and will find ways to We will work internationally, our charitable purpose and provide provide reward and recognition for across the UK and with our local enjoyable and inspiring services their work. Without them, none of communities around Kew Gardens to our direct customers. All these our ambitions will be delivered. and Wakehurst to achieve our elements are mutually supportive. 24

Our expertise will influence the Kew Foundation is a charity that development of policies in the UK supports RBG Kew. It is a crucial and around the world. RBG Kew partner in raising funds for our has been directed by Parliament to activities and for helping us build a deliver six general functions set out network of financial supporters in in the National Heritage Act, 19831. the UK and across the globe. We directly support the Department of Environment, Food and Rural RBG Kew operates in a competitive Affairs in achieving their priorities marketplace for visitors and so we for improving the environment and remain acutely tuned to the needs safeguarding plant health. RBG Kew of our existing and potential future also supports wider UK government customers. This attention to our objectives, through our international customers stimulates innovation collaborations, contributions and drives us to develop inspiring to wellbeing and development products that underpin our mission across the globe, in educating and and positively contribute to our inspiring the next generation of financial health. scientists, and in promoting the UK as a destination for scientists and tourists.

1 www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/1983/47/section/24 25 26 Achieving impact

We are embarking on an ambitious period in • Number of citations from RBG Kew’s our history. To ensure we keep on track, we scientific publications will focus on eight priority initiatives: • Total science income drawn down in-year 1. Delivering the Science Strategy and • Number of IUCN threatened species in curating the collections the MSB and Living collections 2. Maximising the potential of the gardens • Total visits to Kew Gardens and Wakehurst 3. Growing commercial income • Percentage of total day-time visitors who 4. Creating outstanding learning and feel that they have learned something as outreach propositions a result of their visit 5. Engaging the public and key • Self-generated income stakeholders in RBG Kew’s importance and impact • Number of apprentices, Diploma and Masters students moving onto further 6. Growing philanthropic support and education and employment in a relevant Friends income discipline 7. Achieving success through our people • Number of school pupil visits to Kew 8. Improving the built and technological Gardens and Wakehurst infrastructure • Positive brand recognition score

• Fundraising income received by RBG Kew To track our success, we will monitor our progress against the following measures: • Total number of Friends of Kew Gardens and Wakehurst • Number of new plant, fungal and seed accessions to our collections • Staff engagement score

• Number of visits to RBG Kew’s digital • Floor area of useable building space not collections and database resources in operational use

• Number of scientific publications • Reduction in gas emissions 1

Photographs and maps displayed in this document were kindly provided by: Steve Lancefield Jeff Eden Paul Cannon Megan Taylor Bryn Detinger Dafydd Davies-Hughes Tim Utteridge

Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew Richmond TW9 3AE kew.org/strategy