royal botanic gardens board victoria 2001/02 Annual Report Conserving Australia’s plants for the future Charter Under the Royal Botanic Gardens Act 1991, the objectives of the Vision organisation are: •To conserve, protect and To be one of the improve the botanic gardens and managed land and their col- world’s outstanding lections of living plants; •To conserve and enhance the botanic gardens State Botanical Collection and National Herbarium of Victoria; •To provide for the use of the State Botanical Collection or plants or plant specimens at the botanic gardens or managed land for scientific or reference purposes, consistent with accepted international practice; •To increase public knowledge and awareness of plants and plant communities; and Mission •To provide for the use of the botanic gardens for education, To advance public enjoyment and tourism. knowledge, enjoyment and conservation of plants through excel- lence in biodiversity Values research and management, In all our dealings with Government, our sponsors, our staff and volunteers, visitors and clients, we commit horticultural displays and to integrity, trust and fairness, profes- sionalism, excellence, achievement and educational programs innovation. The year in brief Major project developments •Significant progress was made on the development of two landmark horticultural projects – the Australian Garden at RBG Cranbourne and The Ian Potter Foundation Children's Garden at RBG Melbourne. •Major funding was received for the An integrated approach construction of the first 11 hectares to plant conservation of the Australian Garden, including a visitor centre. The collection and • The Royal Botanic Gardens demon- propagation of plant material for the strated its commitment to biodiversity project commenced, and over 1,300 conservation with the development of •Achievements arising from the policy plant species were assessed for their a Policy for the Conservation of Plant included the propagation of rare potential to become environmental Biodiversity. and threatened plant species; weeds in the Australian Garden. the identification, classification •All facets of the Royal Botanic and mapping of remnant vegetation • Following the completion of the land- Gardens’ activities are addressed in the Port Phillip region; and the scape plans, construction of in the policy. development of a code of practice The Ian Potter Foundation Children’s •Aworking group was established to ensure that all works undertaken Garden commenced with preliminary to facilitate the implementation of comply with the principles of site works and documentation of the policy’s objectives. Ecologically Sustainable Development. the site’s requirements. The propagation of rare A positive outlook for Dr Philip Moors, Director, and threatened species Royal Botanic Gardens, is an important ecological research and the Minister component of the Royal •An independent review of one of for Environment and Botanic Gardens’ plant Conservation, the conservation programs. the Royal Botanic Gardens research Hon Sherryl Garbutt MP, units, ARCUE, strongly endorsed at the announcement of the establishment and research direc- the Victorian Government's financial support of tion of the unit and its mutually bene- the Australian Garden. ficial collaboration with The University of Melbourne. • The Baker Foundation agreed to extend its funding support for ARCUE for a further three years. Generous financial and voluntary support •Many of the Royal Botanic Gardens’ projects benefited from generous donations from individuals, corporate Grey-headed Flying-foxes sponsorships, grants from community • Considerable progress has been made groups, philanthropic trusts and foun- on the implementation of a strategy Australia’s Virtual Herbarium dations, and government bodies. to manage the Grey-headed Flying-fox •The Herbarium joined a large-scale population at RBG Melbourne. •Anew fundraising program, collaborative project between Sponsor a Tree or Collection, proved •After extensive investigations by Australia’s major herbaria to provide popular with the public, allowing the Department of Natural Resources on-line access to the scientific them the opportunity to contribute and Environment, assisted by data held on each of the six million to maintaining the beauty of the research scientists from ARCUE, an plant specimens held within these Royal Botanic Gardens. alternative roosting site at Horseshoe collections. Bend, Ivanhoe, was identified. •Volunteers continued to be important • The five-year project has received contributors to the life of the Royal • Flying-foxes will be captured from funding from State, Territory and Botanic Gardens with their support RBG Melbourne and transferred Commonwealth governments. for the organisation’s corporate goals. to establish a new colony. • The scientific data will be This support was acknowledged in This will assist in reducing damage essential for monitoring and enhanc- 2001 with a commemorative tree caused by flying-foxes to the ing our understanding planting as part of the International historic and renowned landscapes of Australia’s biodiversity. Year of the Volunteer. of RBG Melbourne. Australia’s Virtual Scientific communication Considerable progress has Herbarium project will been made on a strategy enable access via the • Through its scientific research, for the management of the internet to plant names, the Herbarium has positioned flying-fox population roosting descriptions, occurrences at RBG Melbourne. and distribution of itself as one of Victoria’s key the six million plant speci- scientific institutions. mens housed in Australia’s major herbaria. •Awareness of the Herbarium’s role in biodiversity research is furthered through publications, conferences, presentations and media articles. contents The Royal Botanic Gardens •Inside front cover 22 Our Employees Board Victoria is responsible to the Minister for Environment and Conservation. The Royal Vision, Mission, Charter, Values, The Year in Brief The Royal Botanic Gardens is committed Botanic Gardens Board Victoria to the development of a skilled and professional administers the Royal Botanic 1 Contents workforce. Gardens Melbourne, the Royal Botanic Gardens Cranbourne, 24 Corporate Plan Priorities the National Herbarium of Victoria, 2 Major Achievements the State Botanical Collection A new corporate plan for 2002/2005 has been and the Australian Research 4 Major Highlight Centre for Urban Ecology. developed with implementation in the 2002/03 The patron of the Royal Botanic financial year. Gardens Board Victoria is Dame Knowledge and Enjoyment Elisabeth Murdoch AC DBE, a The Royal Botanic Gardens plays an 26 Annual Outputs valued supporter for many years. increasingly important role in environmental Throughout this document the and conservation education. Plant Sciences organisation will be referred to This output group relates to the use of the Royal as follows: 6 Conservation of Plant Biodiversity Botanic Gardens’ collections of plant specimens Royal Botanic Gardens Board for botanical and horticultural research. Victoria – refers to the The Royal Botanic Gardens reinforced its body responsible for commitment to biodiversity conservation through 28 Annual Outputs corporate governance the development of its new policy. Royal Botanic Gardens – refers Management of Administered Assets to the Royal Botanic Gardens 8 Chairman’s Foreword Melbourne, the whole organisation, The Royal Botanic Gardens protects the including the sites at South Yarra Significant capital funding support from the assets under its management for the benefit and Cranbourne, the National of future generations. Herbarium of Victoria, the Victorian Government for the Australian Garden State Botanical Collection and at RBG Cranbourne. the Australian Research Centre 30 Annual Outputs for Urban Ecology 9 Director’s Report Visitor Programs RBG Melbourne – refers to the site at South Yarra A major challenge has been developing a The aim of the Visitor Programs output group is strategy to manage the Grey-headed Flying-fox. RBG Cranbourne – refers to enhance visitors’ and students’ understanding and appreciation of plants. to the site at Cranbourne 10 Corporate Governance Herbarium – refers to the 32 Annual Outputs National Herbarium of Victoria The Board comprises seven members, including and State Botanical Collection at RBG Melbourne a Chairperson and a Deputy Chairperson, Businesses who are appointed by the Governor in Council. ARCUE – refers to the Australian The Businesses output group aims to stimulate Research Centre for Urban 14 The Organisation economic activity from a range of retail and Ecology whose office is located hospitality businesses, and through fundraising. at The University of Melbourne The Royal Botanic Gardens Board Victoria administers RBG Melbourne, RBG Cranbourne, 33 Financial Overview the Herbarium and ARCUE. 34 Outlook 18 Generous Financial Support To safeguard the future of the Royal Botanic 36 Auditor-General’s Report Gardens, a variety of private fund-generating programs are in place. 37 Statement by the Board 19 Support Groups, Volunteers 38 Financial Statements and Honorary Associates 53 Appendices Volunteers at the Royal Botanic Gardens play an important role in supporting the organisation. 66 Compliance Index Cover image: •Inside back cover The leaf featured on the front cover of this Annual Report is from a shrub called Choisya ternata Humb., Bonpl. & Kunth, which is Contact details and maps part of the Rutaceae family. This shrub