Newsletter of the Southern African Botanical Diversity - SANBI

Community support
• linked to an active local branch of the
Botanical Society of South Africa
• supported by the local community and
civil society
Services
• perennial river(s) flowing through the
property
• suitable water supply
• a reliable supply of electricity lines and
sewerage pipes
Horticultural potential
• with suitable areas of arable soil for the
landscaped portion of the garden
Landscape
• includes varying topography, slopes,
environmental conditions and microclimates
Accessibility
• NBI may allow, regulate or prohibit
access by the public to the national
botanical garden
• close to (within 20 km of) a major urban
centre
• within a 30 km catchment area of at
least 250,000 people
• easily accessible to staff and potential
visitors from major road routes
Biodiversity
• includes a large area of relatively undisturbed
natural habitats/vegetation
representative of at least some of the
main vegetation type(s) of the province
Land
• land should be available on a 99-year
lease to the NBI or be handed over to
the NBI/state
• current land owners should be willing
to lease or transfer the land
Education and research
• easily accessible to educational and
research institutions.
Financial implications
Infrastructure development and service
provision (R20,000,000)
Security (fencing of property)(R1,500,000)
Landscaping and development of demonstration
garden, including construction of
pathways (R5,000,000)
Control of alien invasive plants on estate
(R500,000 and annual provision of
R250,000)
Acquisition of vehicles and necessary
equipment (tractors, lawnmowers)
(R1,500,000)
Annual operational budget (R4,000,000)
Includes salaries, running costs, staff
clothing, housing subsidy, overtime,
administrative costs, electricity, postage,
refuse removal, outsourced security,
vehicle hire, subsistence and travel allowances,
field trips, repair and maintenance
of minor equipment, cleaning, vehicle
fuel, materials, advertising, marketing,
printing, signage, and computer costs,
amongst others.
Annual allocation of R250,000 for maintenance
of buildings, major equipment
and vehicles. Annual maintenance costs
should ideally be set at 1.5 percent of the
replacement value of buildings and infrastructure
on the property.
Initial costs
Design and planning: R1,500,000
Infrastructural development: R20,000,000
(could be phased over a few years)
Security fencing: R1,500,000
Landscape and garden development:
R5,000,000
Initial control of alien invasive plants:
R500,000
Vehicles and necessary equipment:
R1,500,000
Total per garden: R30,000,000 (excluding
cost of land acquisition)
Annual costs
Annual operating budget: R4,000,000
Maintenance: R250,000
Control of alien invasive plants: R250,000
Annual total per garden: R4,500,000
Personnel implications
• Curator
• 3 horticulturists (one dedicated outreach
horticulturist),
• Education officer,
• Interpretation officer,
• Marketing officer,
• Administrative officer, and
• 20 staff members.
Recommendations
For each proposed national botanical
garden, the process of development would
include the following activities:
1. Site Analysis/Feasibility Study (see
Wyse Jackson 2003)
2. Preliminary master plan (includes master
site plan for the layout of the garden,
management/organisational structure,
financial projections (funding needed
and available for establishment and
on-going maintenance), expenditure,
estimates of phased construction costs,
additional benefits, potential risks and
local and national benefits)(Wyse Jackson
2003)
3. Workshops with local community and
other stakeholders
4. Approval of overall concept for the
garden, required capital expenditure,
identified and committed financial
resources, and timetable for establishment
5. Acquisition of land
6. Project direction and staff appointed
7. Architectural & landscape design and
planning
Nursery with associated buildings
(potting facility, propagation beds and
shade houses, poison store, chemical
store, soil mixing and storage area)
workshop
visitors’ centre
plant sales nursery
administrative offices
herbarium and other scientific facilities
library with relevant botanical books
staff facilities
housing for selected staff (at least two
staff houses)
irrigation systems
photocopier
computers & cell phones
potable water
fire water supply
sewerage reticulation
2-way radios
telephones
fax machine
e-mail/Internet access
electricity supply
toilets for staff and public
parking area and associated lighting
fire-fighting equipment
pathway construction
tea garden/restaurant
venue for hosting functions
environmental education centre
interpretive signs and labelling
display glasshouse
8. Implementation
10 SABONET News Vol. 9 No. 1 September 2004