Document ID: chunk:federal_register_of_legislation:F2022L00636:body:0:p3
Version: federal_register_of_legislation:F2022L00636
Segment Type: other
Provision Reference: 
Character Range: 5983–9152

includes conservation, propagation, horticulture, seed science, taxonomy, systematics, genetics and restoration ecology. Botanic gardens also provide learning experiences, including public education and linking plants and people.
In recent years the Australian National Botanic Gardens (ANBG) has placed greater emphasis on its scientific activities. As a national institution managed by the Australian Government, the ANBG has a responsibility to lead, build and share knowledge of our Australian flora. Additionally, the ANBG plays a key role in the development of plant information data systems to manage, monitor and disseminate data and information widely. This is increasingly important for evidence-based biodiversity policy and program development. This expansive data management infrastructure will be expected to accommodate the increasing diversity and scale of information emanating from the seed and horticulture research programs in future years.
Displaying the most comprehensive living collection of Australian native plant species in one location positions the ANBG to showcase best practice in the fields of conservation, taxonomy, horticulture and seed science.
With an aim to promote awareness, study and conservation of plant species diversity the ANBG has developed projects that target species threatened in the wild. At the time of preparing this plan, the Gardens hosts nearly 320 legislatively listed threatened species. This represents nearly a quarter of Australia's threatened taxa (as listed under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999) held ex situ, and places the ANBG in a strong position to study factors that may help mitigate diversity loss. Collaborating with other Australian botanic gardens will bring together a larger, coordinated ex situ collection and associated research.
The development of the new National Seed Bank will provide much-needed laboratory and seed storage space for the increasing range of seed biology research being undertaken. This world-class facility together with ANBG's seed science expertise will attract other collaborators, providing significant national and international conservation outcomes.
Horticultural actions are important elements of in situ and ex situ plant conservation in botanic gardens. The expertise and capability of the ANBG team is suited to horticulture research linked to conservation outcomes. In advancing propagation knowledge, we experiment with innovative ways of effectively bringing new native species into cultivation, and plan to expand that program commercially in future.

The diversity of species in the ANBG collection provides a valuable resource of plant ecological information such as phenological indications of climate change. For plant functional characteristics, this diversity provides a large set of species in which to study functional trade-offs between species traits and plant performance. This will not only assist in propagation investigations but also contribute to studies on the resilience of native plants to changing climate, an area of research the ANBG plans to increase during the next 10 years.

Communication and