Concepts for improving success in urban remnant restoration

Background/Question/Methods The Botanic Gardens and Parks Authority (BGPA), Perth, Western Australia, are a government agency committed to restoring and enhancing biodiversity of the urban remnants under its care and of Western Australia's biodiverse ecosystems. This commitment is achieved through a multidisciplinary research and adaptive management approach. The first key feature of the approach represents outcomes of a multi-disciplinary team e.g. urban remnant restoration may involve conservation genetics, weed ecology, seed dormancy, cryo-storage and plant propagation research. The second key feature of the approach involves intimate links between BGPA science and operations staff; as well as industry and community groups, enabling timely application of practical research outcomes to conservation and restoration programs. Results/Conclusions To highlight an example, BGPA's science team is guiding management to enable ‘better-practice' restoration of a significant urban remnant within metropolitan Perth: Bold Park. BGPA is committed to restoring 60ha of this degraded remnant - currently representing one of the most significant and challenging urban remnant restoration projects being undertaken in Western Australia. To facilitate restoration success, several areas of intensive research were highlighted as being pivotal. As such, the research program involves integration of a gamut of BGPA science disciplines that have great bearing on ecological restoration, together with strong links between science, managerial, and operational staff, with the expected outcome being restoration of Bold Park to a more diverse and healthy ecosystem. The program has led to improved understanding of weed ecology and control, native seed collection boundaries for the maintenance of genetic diversity of key restoration species, seed dormancy breaking cues and seed storage guidelines for previously difficult to germinate species, macro and micro-propagation techniques, and in-situ restoration principles. Ideally located as a demonstration site, the urban remnant also serves as an excellent setting for education of the natural sciences. This presentation will provide an overview of program results to date.