What does sustainability really mean for botanic gardens?

Mark Richardson Director, Asia and Middle East Programmes

Supported by

What is sustainability?
To meet the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.
Our Common Future (1987) UN Brundtland Commission

This definition caters for both maintaining the current lifestyles in the developed world and, more importantly, improving the lifestyles in the developing world.

Sustainability includes the need to: respect and care for the community of living beings; conserve the vitality and diversity of the Earth; reduce to a minimum the exhaustion of non renewable resources; modify personal attitudes and practices, and; enable communities to take care of their own environment Caring for the Earth, (1991) IUCN, UNEP, and WWF

What are the principal things botanic gardens need to sustain them?

Patronage
Financial support whether from government, corporate or other sources

Political/public support for the botanic garden and an appreciation of its worth
Visitation

Plant diversity

We have little control over the many unsustainable practices that occur throughout the world

We can play a role in education It takes one tree to produce a thousand matches, but only one match to destroy a thousand trees

Alien weeds can be very prevalent the conspicuous plants in these image are all weeds

We can help to minimise the spread of invasive alien plants

Mimosa in northern Australia

Acacia balileyana in south-eastern Australia a weed only a few 100 kms from its original location.

We must not introduce plants into gardens just for noveltys sake the impacts on native flora can be serious

We can also strive for sustainable collecting practices the collection of orchids for gardens collection has been as least as destructive as the collectors of Prunus bark.

Water

Examples of water conservation

Melbourne The Royal Botanic Gardens have reduced irrigation water use by 60% in 2004-05 compared to 1994-95s consumption of 251 ML (when irrigation improvements began). This has occurred during a climate of lowest on record rainfall (from 19962004) and with over 3.3 hectares in landscape extensions added to the irrigation management regime. Irrigation Management Plan 2002-2007

WATER CONSERVATION Water consumption Water conservation target Staff development Community education Soil management Irrigation maintenance Turf management Living collections Landscape development Mulching Hydraulic efficiency

Adelaide The Adelaide Botanic Gardens drilled an investigation bore 200 metres underground, searching for an aquifer that could be used to store storm water for summer irrigation. The investigation is part of a project designed to cut the amount of mains water used to irrigate the gardens.

Maintaining a skilled staff

Attracting staff that can effectively achieve the Gardens mission in: - horticulture - plant science - education

Providing the training needed to fill the gaps

We need to recruit and retain skilled staff

What aspects of sustainability would botanic gardens like to be recognised for?

Good horticulture Low impact resource use Engaging the community Equitable sources

Horticulture
Plant collection Encouraging the conservation of local species by demonstrating their value in landscaping and encouraging their use. Horticultural techniques Organic fertilisers Integrated pest management Peat free potting mixes Composting

Low impact resource use

water energy consumption waste disposal and recycling

What technologies are most appropriate and sustainable, in the long term?

Conservatories

National Botanic Garden, Wales

The biomass boiler ensures the Great Glasshouse, offices and shops are heated with carbon neutral woodchip fuel sourced locally as a by-product from forestry, sawmills and other processors.

Singapore Botanic Gardens Visitor Centre won the Energy Efficient Building Award under the Tropical Building category.
extensive use of vegetation for solar shading the strategic channeling of wind for natural cooling

What is the most sustainable form of transport for the botanic gardens director?!

Engaging the community

Effective interpretation

Environmental education programmes

Outreach programmes

Ecotourism

Equitable Sources
- sustainable sources

 equipment and food stuffs produced from: - fair trade sources

Key Performance Criteria Work Practices

Energy efficiency, conservation and management

all buildings have meters and each cost centre pays for their own electricity

energy efficiency is one of the criteria used to select equipment prior to purchase

Management of freshwater resources

all public toilets have been retro fitted with dual flush systems

garden beds are mulched or heavily composted a water wise garden has been developed and interpreted for the public

National and International Issues

Global Strategy for Plant Conservation

International Agenda for Botanic Gardens in Conservation

A childs vision of the future, for an Indonesian botanic garden.

To meet the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs