Diamond of Devonport
TAI's Madeleine Brooker has received a "Diamond of Devonport" award
The City of Devonport celebrated 2014 International Women's Day by acknowledging women who inspire others by their contribution to our community. At a special dinner 24 women of all ages and walks of life received praise for their generosity, community spirit, and dedication.
Madeleine's citation reads:
"Madeleine is tireless in her commitment to the Tasmanian Arboretum. On many days, rain, hail or shine, she quietly works away at thankless tasks such as weed control around the base of new plantings and never complains or seeks, or expects any reward."
Pictured (R) is Madeleine being presented with her certificate by Devonport Mayor, Ald Steve Martin.
BGCI thanks TAI
BGCI has thanked TAI for participating in the BGANZ Collections Assessment
They wrote:
"On behalf of BGCI, we would like to sincerely express our gratitude to Tasmanian Arboretum Inc for your contribution to our 2013 BGANZ Collections Assessment. We are happy to announce that we ended up with submissions from nearly 30% of the gardens in Australia and New Zealand and plenty of collections data to support our threatened species analysis!
We have recently finished the gap analysis in which we cross-checked all collections submitted with a compiled list of 1519 threatened taxa native to NZ and AU. We found that 56% of these threatened species are found in at least one collection in AU or NZ. This is good progress towards the Global Strategy for Plant Conservation’s target of 75% of threatened species in ex situ collections by 2020, but there is definitely still work to be done.
We found that your institution maintains 23 taxa that are threatened in Australia or New Zealand. Results of this region-wide gap analysis will also be presented at the 6th Annual Botanic Gardens Congress in Dunedin, New Zealand."
Level I Accreditation
The Tasmanian Arboretum Awarded Level I Accreditation
The Tasmanian Arboretum, Devonport, Australia has been awarded a Level I Accreditation through the ArbNet program. By achieving particular standards of professional practices deemed important for arboreta and botanic gardens, we are now recognized amongst other professional public gardens in the Morton Register of Arboreta.
ArbNet, the Morton Register and the Accreditation Program are coordinated by The Morton Arboretum as an international initiative to support the work of arboreta in saving and planting trees.
The Tasmanian Arboretum is an Incorporated Association, that is it is owned by its members. On the north facing coast of Tasmania in the hills behind Devonport it is on a limestone geology. Numbering over 4,600 living specimens, the plantings display the largest private collection of woody temperate flora in Australia. With an elevation of between 30 and 80 metres (100 and 250 ft) and containing slopes, flood plains and springs, they are able to grow a wide variety of plants in their USDA zone 7 climate. The property is also bounded by several large areas of local vegetation where with their fauna. It is situated on 66 hectares (155 acres) with remnant local vegetation on the limestone rock outcrops. The dominant tree on this geology is the white gum (Eucalyptus viminals) a tree that lives to about 200 years old.
The Arboretum was founded by members of the local community in 1984 for the purpose of collecting and displaying woody plants of the temperate world. The mission is evolving with a present focus on preservation of rare and endangered flora from high altitude forest along the East Coast of Australia. An education program is run to develop a appreciation of, and enlightenment about plants among school students. It also serves a scientific and educational purpose, currently demonstrating the breadth of flora that can grow in the Tasmanian climate through our displays. Since human activities are putting much of the world's flora at risk, the mission also includes preservation of the germplasm of endangered plants.
A major focus is the Southern Hemisphere flora, conifers, Nothofagus species and members of the Protea family. The Arboretum is recognized as containing one of the most complete living collections of Tasmanian woody flora. We also collect exotic species from heritage plantings as a means of providing a secure resource for landscape restoration. The Arboretum is a popular visitor attraction for its walks, its wildlife including resident platypus and for its peaceful ambience. Those interested in learning more about may take a guided walk, hire an audio tour or read the interpretation panels.
Approximately 20 ha [50 acres] of land is in varying degrees of biophysical naturalness, the most degraded undergoing active restoration. The goal is to restore the grassy woodland found on these limestone outcrops. Land along the edges of the 2 watercourses on the property is planted out to local vegetation including an area dedicated to capturing and sinking Carbon.
An OAM for Dick Burns
We warmly congratulate Dick Burns on his being awarded the Medal of the Order of Australia on 26 January 2013. At the time he received the honour Dick was the curator of the Arboretum's Tasmanian collection, a role he held for more than 10 years. The TAI gratefully acknowledges his contribution during this time. Dick is also an author, most recently of Pathfinders in Tasmanian Botany.