PlantNetwork > STRATEGIC PLAN > Advocacy and Public Policy
POLICY I: Advocacy and Public Policy
The aims and objectives of PlantNetwork are to:
- promote documented botanical collections in Britain and Ireland as a resource for research, conservation and education among all institutions involved with plants.
- Promote documented botanical collections in Britain and Ireland as a national resource for use by government in pursuance of international treaty commitments concerning biodiversity and climate change.
- facilitate networking among holders of plant collections through a programme of conferences, focus groups, training workshops a regular newsletter and a website to promote good practice and opportunity.
The Strategy Plan not only informs and encourages the participation of members in developing and delivering PlantNetwork’s policy programme and activities, but also, importantly, tells the wider community about PlantNetwork’s interests and work on behalf of plant-collection holders.
PlantNetwork aims to build public recognition of its collective purpose and status.
PlantNetwork has:
- held a number of conferences which address advocacy:
- Gardens as Visitor Attractions at the University of Wales, Bangor, and Portmeirion, in April 2003
- Design and Display of Plant Collections at the Royal Horticultural Society Rosemoor, 22-25 April 2002
- From 4 to 94. New Audiences for a New Century at Magdalen College, Oxford, in April 2001
- Topics for Modern Botanic Gardens at the National Botanic Garden of Wales, in April 1999
- held a conference on Friends of Botanic Gardens at the University of Leicester Botanic Garden in Sept 2000, and on Working with Friends and Volunteers at Ness Botanic Gardens in November 1995
- held a number of Forum Group meetings, including Growing and Displaying Tropical Plants at the Royal Botanic Gardens Kew, in September 2002, and Public Access in Arboreta at Dawyck Botanic Garden, in June 2001
- drawn attention, in the Newsletter, to opportunities of dates and anniversaries as well as events and opportunities for promoting documented plant collections as a national resource for research, conservation and education
To maintain these achievements, PlantNetwork will:
- submit its views, information and advice to national and regional government studies, surveys and projects concerned with conservation, plant collections, biodiversity issues, plant sciences, education and horticulture
- take part in local and national discussions and initiatives to ensure that the potential of documented plant collections and those who work with them is fully recognised
- promote news events and press releases about PlantNetwork policies, and publicise achievements and activities of member gardens
- be a national and regional information resource, for the media and others, on botanic gardens, arboreta and other documented plant collections
- be an advocate in defence of plant collections, but especially those in PlantNetwork membership, which may be under threat for some reason
- draw up a list of events and opportunities for promoting documented plant collections as a national resource for research, conservation and education
The following policies are also relevant in delivering on Advocacy and Public Policy:
