Dr Judy West AO on Gardening Australia
Series 34 Episode 25, Succulent, Botanic, Radio, Overgrown & Native
Broadcast Fri 15 Sep 2023 at 7:30pm
Copyright ABC iview
Forward through to 44 min 30 sec to view.
https://www.abc.net.au/gardening/how-to/2023-series-34-episode-25/102862790
I am pleased to accept the invitation to take on the role of Patron of the AAFBG and I am looking forward to ‘working’ with you all.
With inspiration from you as AAFBG members I will continue to be a strong supporter and advocate of Friends Groups across the botanic gardens sector.
Dr Judy West, AO
Patron
Our Botanic Gardens Have The Opportunity to Contribute Nationally to Help Future Proof Plants Against Climate Change
Our botanic gardens across the country, old and new, large and small, successfully continue helping to link people with plants through their roles in education and learning, displaying plant species in various groupings, conserving threatened plant species through living collections and seed banks, providing habitats for pollinators and building a wealth of diverse plant knowledge.
At this time of changing environmental conditions and climate variability our botanic gardens have the opportunity to contribute nationally to help future-proof plants against climate change. Over decades of developing an extensive knowledge-base, and through scientific endeavour botanic gardens hold major amounts of disparate information. As we gradually understand more about plant traits and features and how they function, both in-situ and ex-situ, we are presented with a slightly changing role of our botanic gardens.
Bringing together this accumulating mass of data, particularly from seeds and their germination characteristics, will involve continental-scale research and conservation effort. Detailed analyses will be needed with the aim of predicting how future climates will influence plant species' likely responses to climate variability and appropriate climate regimes, and locations where they will show resilience in the long term.
Friends already undertake extremely worthwhile activities in our gardens, and there is an opportunity to be more engaged in areas such as the following:
- Collecting in the wild and specimen material storage
- Notetaking and recording through digital and photographic means
- Technology-assisted presentation of education information
- Plant propagation techniques, and more ...
Now don't be alarmed ... I am not proposing that you as the Friends of Australia's Botanic Gardens community, undertake this proposed intensive collaborative program of investigation running across academic circles, botanic gardens, conservation management and industry, and beyond. However, with botanic gardens coming into their fore. I believe that opportunities will present for Friends groups continuing to contribute their skills and expertise, but across a wider range of activities within our botanic gardens. Some of these may be of a more technical nature than others, and could inspire and expand the capability of the many Friends groups.
Those botanic gardens with research labs - mostly the larger more established organisations - could also attract Friends to be involved with more technical conservation-specific research projects especially around conservation of our seed collections and live plant horticulture tasks.
Some of our gardens are already bringing together their horticulture teams and seed bank researchers to develop a more holistic approach to conversation, especially around threatened species.
I see increasing moves in this direction, which will involve building relationships between Friends who may seek some stimulation in working with dedicated staff, who understandably are passionate about their elements of the ex-situ plant management and conservation responsibilities, contributing to both natural and cultural values of our Australian flora. These relationships exist in some botanic gardens and are growing into productive partnerships based on appropriate training and working together. It is important to build on such opportunities by taking small steps and involving 1:1 individual relationships so that others will see the benefits for all concerned, and be attracted to such volunteer activity.
Dr Judy West AO
Patron