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Collection Policy for the Living Collection David Rae (Editor), Peter Baxter, David Knott, David Mitchell, David Paterson and Barry Unwin 3908_Coll_policy.indd 1 21/9/06 3:24:25 pm 2 | ROYAL BOTANIC GARDEN EDINBURGH COLLECTION POLICY FOR THE LIVING COLLECTION Contents Regius Keeper’s Foreword 3 Section IV Collection types 22 Introduction 22 Introduction 3 Conservation collections 22 PlantNetwork Target 8 project 24 Purpose, aims and objectives 3 Scottish Plant Project 25 International Conifer Conservation Programme 25 Section I National and international context, National Council for the Conservation of Plants stakeholders and user groups 4 and Gardens (NCCPG) 25 Off-site collections 26 National and international context 4 Convention on Biological Diversity 4 Heritage or historic plants, plant collections or Global Strategy for Plant Conservation 4 landscape features 27 Plant Diversity Challenge 5 British native plants International Agenda for Botanic Gardens in Scottish Plants Project (formerly known as the Conservation 6 Scottish Rare Plants Project) 29 Action Plan for the Botanic gardens in the European Union & Planta Europa 6 Section V Acquisition and transfer 30 Convention on Trade in Endangered species of Introduction 30 Wild Flora and Fauna 8 Fieldwork 30 Global warming/outside influences 8 Index Seminum 31 Stakeholders and user groups 9 Other seed and plant catalogues 31 Research and conservation 9 Acquisition 31 Education and teaching 10 Repatriation 32 Interpretation 10 Policy for the short to medium term storage Phenology 10 and sowing of seed 33 Visiting public and special interest groups 12 Deaccessions policy 34 Section II Standards of information, targets Conclusion 34 and review 13 Introduction 13 Appendices 35 Standards of information 13 Appendix I Families, genera and projects listed Minimum standards for collecting new plants 13 Minumum standards of record keeping once the in the Science Strategy 35 plant is in cultivation 13 Appendix II Geographical designations for each Publication and availability of information Garden 36 Review of new technologies to improve efficiency of Appendix III Representation themes for each record keeping 14 Garden 37 Targets 14 Appendix IV Plants growing at one of RBGE’s Review 15 Gardens and listed in Bean (and Verification 16 therefore of heritage interested) 38 Information capture 16 Appendix V Acquisition policy 40 Labelling 17 Appendix VI Family and genus designations for Dawyck and Logan 41 Section III Landscape, design and representation policy 19 Introduction 19 Acknowledgements General landscape 19 The authors acknowledge, with thanks, the comments and assistance Use of cultivars 19 given by: Peter Brownless, Rob Cubey, Martin Gardner, Mary Gibby, Representation 20 Geoff Harper, David Harris, Fiona Inches, Sabina Knees, Jeanette Latta, Phil Lusby, Michael Moeller, Toby Pennington, Graham Stewart, Philip Thomas and Kerry Walter. 3908_Coll_policy.indd 2 21/9/06 3:24:26 pm ROYAL BOTANIC GARDEN EDINBURGH COLLECTION POLICY FOR THE LIVING COLLECTION | 3 Living Collections Policy I am delighted to introduce the Royal Botanic Garden be shaped and managed over the coming years it Edinburgh’s new Living Collections Policy which has will present staff and external parties with a view of been update for the first time since 1994. The world current thinking. The Policy is intended as a guide has changed considerable since then, with more and each Curator has the responsibility to develop plant species threatened in the wild than ever before and progress the elements of it which are of most and the Global Strategy for Plant Conservation setting importance to their parts of the Collection. However, out targets to address this problem. This Policy has in trying to meet as many of the standards and been drawn up with the Global Strategy very much in challenges as possible it will be necessary to make mind and I congratulate Dr David Rae and his many the very best use of available staff and resources colleagues who have contributed to the Policy for the quality and clarity of their work which will guide the development of our living collections in the future. Purpose, aims and Prof Stephen Blackmore FRSE objectives Regius Keeper The purpose of this Collections Policy is to ensure that the Living Collection is well managed, both now Introduction and into the future. More specifically, the aim is to ensure that the right plants are in the right place for This Collection Policy updates and replaces the last those who want to use them. Acquisitions Policy published in 1994. In upgrading Objectives are as follows: to a Collection Policy a number of new chapters have • To ensure the Living Collection fulfills, and been included to describe the wider management integrates with, the wider agenda of the RBGE as of the Living Collection, not just the acquisition of described in the introduction new material. Its scope is also broader than before • To provide long term planning and continuity and it is now more closely integrated into RBGE’s for the Collection and guard against short term Mission Statement, Corporate Planning process, policy changes new Ministerial priorities (of March 2005), Science • To create the richest (total numbers, species Strategy and the National Heritage Act (1985). In diversity and diversity within species) Collection developing this Policy attention has also been paid possible within the resources available to recognizing the important role of the Living • To make the best possible use of the diverse Collection in the global and national context in issues climates at the four sites and the glasshouse such as the environment, climate change and the facilities at Edinburgh quality of life. Finally, this Policy now also recognises • To create and maintain one of the best managed the importance of national and international policies and documented botanic garden collections in and legislation and makes reference to, for instance, the world the Convention on Biological Diversity and the • To ensure the Collection is ‘fit for purpose’ so that Global Strategy for Plant Conservation, thereby it can make a positive contribution to research, highlighting the truly international value of the Living conservation, education and training Collections at all four Gardens and associated sites. • To make the Collection as accessible and The Policy lays down some challenging targets attractive as possible (both physically and that will be hard to reach and hard to sustain. intellectually) thereby creating beautiful However, the authors believed that it was important landscapes for recreation, contributing to quality to present these standards and aspirations even if of life issues and increasing visitor numbers they cannot all be met all of the time. Were they to • To be aware of the possible implications for the have presented the status quo there would have Collection of climate change and, in this respect, been no chance of raising standards. At least by make the best possible use of the microclimates presenting a vision of how the Collection should of the four gardens. 3908_Coll_policy.indd 3 21/9/06 3:24:26 pm 4 | ROYAL BOTANIC GARDEN EDINBURGH COLLECTION POLICY FOR THE LIVING COLLECTION Section I National and International Context, Stakeholders and User Groups National and International • The long term storage of documentation and access agreements Context • Long term storage of CBD transfer (plant release) forms The Garden functions within a set of national • Benefit sharing and information sharing with and international policies, acts, guidelines, action donor countries plans and legislative frameworks, including those While it is important to comply by the restrictions produced by our sponsor Department- the Scottish of the CBD it is important also to note that issues Executive Environment and Rural Affairs Department. of access, transfer and benefit-sharing (Articles 15 These policies and the newer Ministerial priorities & 16), and the responsibilities they bring, are only of March 2005 have shaped our Mission Statement part of the Convention’s purpose. Other areas of and Corporate Plan. The Living Collection is a direct relevance to RBGE (and other botanic gardens) fundamental part of the Garden and its care and include: development is clearly stated in the National • Development of national strategies Heritage (Scotland) Act 1985, Ministerial priorities (Article 6a) (“maintain and develop the collections”) and • Identification and monitoring (Article 7) Corporate Plan of 2006. National and international • In situ conservation (Article 8) policies of most relevance to the Living Collection, • Ex situ conservation (Article 9) and our interaction with them are as follows: • Sustainable use of the components of biodiversity (Article 10) The Convention on Biological Diversity • Research and training (Article 12) (CBD) • Public education and awareness (Article 13) The purpose of the CBD is: • Technical and scientific cooperation • The conservation of biological diversity (Article 18) • The sustainable use of biodiversity The Horticulture Division is very much aware of • The fair and equitable sharing of the benefits these Articles, along with the opportunities and arising from biodiversity responsibilities they bring, and will ensure that the The RBGE strives to set the highest standards of Living Collection is managed and can be utilized to compliance within the spirit and law of the CBD. In promote them. recognizing our responsibilities under the CBD RBGE has References: signed both the