Guided by the Botanic Gardens and State Herbarium Act 1978 – we undertake to science and research in botany, horticulture, biology, conservation of the natural environment and history.
In addition to our core business of managing collections and acting as an authority on botanical knowledge, we display and share our collections and deliver projects that focus on South Australia’s botanical diversity to ensure a resilient and sustainable future, based on a strong evidence base and by connecting people to the botanical world.
Our science program shares knowledge and resources with a goal to act as the knowledge hub for plant science in South Australia. We collaborate and partner to generate new knowledge on South Australian flora including the plants, fungi and algae found in the wild places of our state.
We also undertake to safeguard our collections for the future and make collections-based data freely and widely accessible.
Specimen collection in South Australian ecosystems
Our science, research and on ground actions provide the basis for identifying and conserving our threatened flora. We also identify new and problematic invasive species (weeds), and work as a trusted partner in species rescue and rehabilitation projects that contribute to the national Threatened Species Action Plan 2022-2032.
Through future-aware biodiversity science we will document and understand the evolutionary adaptations and likely future state of the Australian flora. Building publicly available resources documenting the variability of species traits including morphology, genetic diversity we aim to identify and support improved outcomes for a diverse range of native species, in particular their responses to impacts such as fire, disturbance, and drought.
We work with the botanic gardens' living collections team and natural resource managers to increase awareness of the risks to species within the Garden.
We aim to promote climate adaptation awareness and support the showcasing of climate resilient collections to the community.
We also identify strategic opportunities to share our preserved and living collections via programs, partnerships, exhibitions, displays, publications and online.
We promote our native flora, advocate nature conservation initiatives as a trusted voice, support improved environmental policy development and foster actions by the community for projects to amplify environmental outcomes.
Plant identification work by science staff
We also continue to work with Aboriginal Traditional Knowledge Holders to support their priorities and ensure their voice is heard and supported, and recognise that Aboriginal people were the First Peoples and Nations of the lands and waters we live and work upon. We work to ensure traditional knowledge is integrated respectfully with our work to improve awareness, and to support the development of stories and displays demonstrating our past, present and future landscapes.
