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Canberra Facing Severe Droughts: Water and Cash
CANBERRA, AUSTRALIA
5th November 2007
Canberra Botanic Garden is facing cuts in government funding, and is struggling to pay increasing water bills as drought afflicts the country. The gardens are the world’s largest living collection of Australian plants and contain about one-third of known Australian flowering plants. The gardens also jointly manage the National Herbarium and Centre for Plant Biodiversity Research with CSIRO and manage one of the largest seed banks of native species. There are concerns that the water allocation is being prioritised for aesthetic reasons and plants along walkways and in wedding abckdrop areas are being watered before important research and conservation collections. Water and electricity bills have soared as Australia has been facing several consecutive years of drought. There are concerns that rare plants – including a wollemi pine – are dying. The Australian Native Plant Society is so concerned about the future scientific and cultural role of the gardens and ‘‘its vital role in Australia’s living heritage’’ it has taken the unprecedented step of urging its 10,000 members – many of whom are leading scientists – to lobby politicians over the crisis. A Department of Environment and Water Resources spokeswoman said the department was reviewing the gardens’ role ‘‘in the light of climate change’’. A staff restructure is apparently underway, and a new plan aims to ‘‘switch focus’’ from growing and managing native plant collections to ‘‘national leadership in garden sustainability and water management’’. The Gardens' current mission statement is "to grow, study and promote Australia's flora." Read the full story on the Canberra Times Conservation and Sustainability for Human Well-beingPlants provide food, medicine, clothes, shelter and the raw materials from which innumerable other products are made. Thus plants are an essential resource for human existence. Their very importance to human well-being is putting many species are at risk, as levels of consumption rise. Funding Your Botanic GardenFunding is the most important thing to a botanic garden, without money there will be no plants. On this page is a list of some useful links that will provide an introduction to the complexities of trying to fund a botanic garden. Find Out MoreInternational Institute for Sustainable Development 3GBGC: Building a sustainable future - the role of botanic gardens |
Rain Gardens: Sustainable Rainwater Management for the Garden and Designed Landscape
 Filled with practical, manageable solutions for small and large-scale managed landscapes, and based on authorative research with case studies from all over the world, "Rain Gardens" is the first book on sustainable water management schemes suitable for students and professionals. More Enabling Botanic Gardens News 26th March 2008
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