Annual Report 2010-2011 (PDF - 2.47 mb) - Royal Botanic Gardens ...
Annual Report 2010-2011 (PDF - 2.47 mb) - Royal Botanic Gardens ...
Annual Report 2010-2011 (PDF - 2.47 mb) - Royal Botanic Gardens ...
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Contents<br />
OUR achievements – Strategic Priority 3A<br />
Business Plan specific outcomes<br />
(and associated Corporate Plan actions)<br />
Progress against specific outcomes<br />
and actions<br />
Specific Outcome 55<br />
Continue implementation of the annual feral<br />
animal control program at RBG Cranbourne,<br />
including the control of foxes and rabbits.<br />
Specific Outcome 56<br />
Increase the <strong>Royal</strong> <strong>Botanic</strong> <strong>Gardens</strong>’ capacity<br />
to generate revenue to facilitate the development<br />
of new resource management initiatives by:<br />
a. continuing to develop new, and refine existing<br />
tourism products to meet the needs of the<br />
tourism market<br />
Feral animal control programs at RBG Cranbourne<br />
were successful, again resulting in major gains<br />
for biodiversity management.<br />
A focus on integrated rabbit control strategies in<br />
the Australian Garden included the operation of a<br />
multi-disciplinary rabbit control program utilising<br />
increased fence fortification, trapping, shooting,<br />
camera monitoring, and a netting and dogging<br />
program. Gates in the rabbit-proof fence<br />
surrounding the Australian Garden were signed,<br />
installed and monitored. These gates allow<br />
bandicoots to move through to the Australian<br />
Garden, while blocking entry by rabbits.<br />
Foxes took 18 poison baits across the site during<br />
the five poison baiting events. In addition, 76<br />
free-feed baits were taken during the continuing<br />
free-feed program. On-site, fox nu<strong>mb</strong>ers remained<br />
low, with a 14 per cent decrease in poison bait<br />
takes and a 37 per cent decrease in free-feed bait<br />
takes compared with 2009–10.<br />
Increased knowledge of predator control programs<br />
including predator-proof fencing and threatened<br />
animal protection programs was acquired by a<br />
me<strong>mb</strong>er of RBG Cranbourne’s Land Management<br />
and Infrastructure branch, with the support of an<br />
RBG Melbourne Friends’ scholarship. This<br />
scholarship enabled the staff me<strong>mb</strong>er to visit three<br />
conservation reserves specialising in predator<br />
control and threatened species management and<br />
gain a national perspective on the conservation<br />
measures used at each reserve.<br />
The <strong>Royal</strong> <strong>Botanic</strong> <strong>Gardens</strong> continued to work with<br />
key stakeholders, among them industry groups,<br />
philanthropic foundations and donors, to strengthen its<br />
revenue base and capacity to deliver new initiatives.<br />
a. The Marketing and Communications branch<br />
continued to bring advice and feedback from<br />
the tourism industry’s peak bodies into the<br />
planning process. The branch also worked<br />
with independent providers to develop concepts<br />
for new tourism products.<br />
<strong>Royal</strong> <strong>Botanic</strong> <strong>Gardens</strong> Board Victoria <strong>Annual</strong> <strong>Report</strong> <strong>2010</strong>–11 page 89