Plant Collection Permits

Permits to collect or remove specimens from the Royal Botanic Gardens

Introduction:

The Royal Botanic Gardens Melbourne (RBG) supplies plant material to individuals or institutions provided that the proposed use is consistent with the aims of the RBG and does not compromise research being conducted at the RBG.  Supply is on the basis of a signed agreement in which the proposed use of the material is described and the recipient agrees to use the material for that purpose exclusively and not pass the material on to a third party without the agreement of the RBG.

Where material is requested for use outside Australia, it is supplied in compliance with the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES) and the RBG follows the principles of the United Nations Convention on Biological Diversity. The latter affirms national sovereignty over genetic resources and establishes a framework for the fair and equitable sharing of benefits arising from the development of the world's genetic resources. It also provides that access to genetic resources be subject to prior informed consent on mutually agreed terms.  

Procedure:

Depending upon whether the material is required from South Yarra or Cranbourne, the applicant must forward a completed Application form and a signed Agreement for the Supply of Biological Material from the Royal Botanic Gardens either to:

Upon receipt of those documents the RBG will assess the availability of the material and provide an estimate of costs (if any) to the applicant.  When the applicant has indicated acceptance of the anticipated costs the request will be processed.  

Costs:  

Charges for the plant material may need to be negotiated depending on the purpose for which it will be used. Material supplied for the following uses normally will be free of charge:

• Ceremonial, promotion and display purposes where there is a clear benefit to Australia or the Royal Botanic Gardens.
• For the ‘Growing Friends' (part of the Friends of the Royal Botanic Gardens).
• For on-site educational activities run by the RBG Education Unit.
• For non-commercial off-site revegetation or conservation trials where the RBG is a participating organisation
• For use by organisations that have formal reciprocal arrangements with the RBG
• Material supplied for the following purposes will incur a charge to recover costs to the RBG (currently this is an hourly labour charge of $30 per hour):
• Research of a non-commercial nature that improves public knowledge of the Australian flora.
  
• Educational purposes where there is no resale of material and the educational institution does not charge tuition fees. In these circumstances the charge is based on cost recovery only.

Any commercial use of the material, including essentially derived material, will require an additional legal agreement and negotiation of fees or royalties.  

Phytosanitary expenses and other fees are the responsibility of the applicant.  Approval for export may also require a separate permit under the terms of the Wildlife Protection (Regulation of Exports and Imports) Act 1982.

Before completing these forms, please check the spelling of plant names. Online sources of plant name information are:

Australian Plant Name Index [APNI]   http://www.anbg.gov.au/cgi-bin/apninames
What's its Name? [WIN]   http://www.anbg.gov.au/win/