HSBC and the Gardens

As a principal partner of the Botanic Gardens of Sydney, HSBC Bank Australia (HSBC) has made invaluable contributions to both the environment and the greater Sydney community throughout our twenty plus years of collaboration. This successful partnership is underpinned by a shared commitment to protect the natural environment, deliver real outcomes in response to environmental emergencies in Australia and around the world, and enhance our positions as global leaders in science knowledge and conservation.  

HSBC has supported the development of PlantBank through its longstanding commitment to our work in plant conservation and seed banking. This started by supporting the NSW Seedbank facility, which ultimately ran out of space, and led to building a state-of-the-art facility – Australia’s largest native seed bank. HSBC sponsored the seed vaults that form the core of the seed banking program, where the bank’s ‘gold’ is stored for potentially hundreds of years, in addition to being used for research, conservation, restoration, public displays, and education.  

This support has given us the capacity to work towards the seed banking of 100% of NSW threatened plant species in the future. As of 2021, the Australian Institute of Botanical Science has successfully banked over 70% of NSW threatened flora seeds. With 30% left to go and new opportunities for research and restoration, HSBC’s continued investment in our programs will allow both organisations to reach our shared commitment of finding innovative climate solutions and protecting biodiversity. 

1997 – Establishment of the Oriental Garden at the Royal Botanic Garden Sydney

2003 – Towards Sustainable Horticulture program established  

2005 – What’s the Big Idea Garden at the Australian Botanic Garden Mount Annan  

2009 – Became Gardens’ Principal Conservation Partner   

2011 – First trip overseas to Nui Ba National Park in Vietnam to aid in Asia Capacity Building  

2012 – 40% of NSW threatened flora seeds now kept at the Australian PlantBank   

2013 – Interactive Learning Program commenced  

2015 – Restore & Renew, Phase 1  

2016 – 50% of NSW threatened flora seeds now kept at the Australian PlantBank  

2017 –Safeguarding Plant Biodiversity, and continued support for Restore and Renew   

2018 – Became the Gardens’ Principal Environmental Partner  

2020 – Investigating Rainforest Resilience program commenced  

2021 – Over 70% of NSW threatened flora seeds now kept at the Australian PlantBank   

2021 – Australian Institute of Botanical Science launched  

2022 – National Herbarium of NSW relaunched at new location within Australian Botanic Garden Mount Annan.   

From 2017, the key focus has been on the following programs:  

Safeguarding Plant Biodiversity  

Beginning with a focus on the NSW Seedbank in 2009, the establishment of HSBC as a Principal Conservation Partner (and subsequently Principal Environmental Partner) has allowed the Trust to continue the important work of seed banking in alignment with HSBC’s global strategy to invest in environmental projects that benefit future generations. Throughout this program, our scientists have been able to bank rare, undescribed, and endangered plants that have allowed for a more robust understanding of Australian flora and how it responds to environmental challenges and disasters.  

As the collection and capacity of the Seedbank grew, it created a natural progression into the creation of the Safeguarding Plant Biodiversity program in 2010. This program builds off the seed banking work from years past with a vision to contribute to the resources required to research, collect and safeguard threatened plant biodiversity from local to global scales.  

Successful deliverables have included: the contribution of plant seed to the Millennium Seed Bank Partnership (reaching the 25% mark by 2020), collection and study of 2,000 of Australia’s rainforest species by 2020, and the Australian PlantBank’s global award for The Greatest Progress in Seed Conservation. Thanks to the contributions from HSBC that have allowed our scientists to progress in this space, the Trust has been established as the foremost rainforest conservation institution in Australasia.  

Through the Safeguarding Plant Biodiversity program, HSBC contributes directly to environmental research and projects that will benefit future generations. As of 2021, our scientists have banked over 70% of NSW threatened species at the Australian PlantBank.  

Timeline of significant achievements:  

2010: First year of support, funded a trip to Kosciusko National Park to collect high-risk alpine species. 12 alpine species were collected that were brand new to the NSW SeedBank. Across all collections for this year, 99 species were new to the NSW Seedbank and Millennium SeedBank, Kew.  

2011: The Trust helped bank 10% of the world’s plant species by contributing to the Millennium Seedbank   

2012: 40% of NSW threatened flora seeds kept at the Australian PlantBank  

2013: Formal opening of the new Australian PlantBank facility. HSBC sponsored the Seed Vault; a facility for storing seed in vacuum sealed packets in walk-in cold rooms.   

2015: 50% NSW threatened flora seed kept at the PlantBank   

2016: National Seed Science Forum at the Australian Botanic Garden, the Trust is now considered the foremost rainforest conservation institution in Australasia  

2021: Over 70% of NSW threatened flora seed kept at the Australian PlantBank  

Restore and Renew  

This project, newly established in 2017, aims to improve the success and long-term viability of restored landscapes by unlocking genetic data through DNA sequencing, translating this complex information into guidelines and maps, sharing this information with key stakeholders, and setting international standards for restoration research with a methodology that can be used worldwide. HSBC’s commitment to funding this important area of research has allowed for the collection of target species, including some of the most iconic Australian flora, gum trees. In 2019, funding from HSBC was used to create a Eucalypt Identification booklet.  

Eucalypts are a keystone species, which means they play a critical role within the ecosystem, and the loss of which could have dire implications. Funding from HSBC ensures that our scientists can conduct invaluable science that will influence land restoration strategies both in Australia and globally.  

The current strategic partnership between the Trust and HSBC outlines global contributions of Restore and Renew. This program will contribute to the Global Strategy of Plant Conservation and the Convention on Biological Diversity, once again demonstrating HSBC’s commitment as a leader in conservation and restoration research.  

Timeline of significant achievements:  

2017: Restore and Renew project creation  

2018: Within its first year, the Restore and Renew team were able to collect over 21,000 plant tissue samples from over 2,000 sites across NSW.  

2019: Species collection targets met, with sampling and sequencing exceeding targets. Eucalypt ID book published.  

2020: Multiple publications in leading scientific journals. 

Interactive Learning for Schools  

Also beginning during the 2013-2016 partnership, this project aims to increase the Trust’s reach through interactive school education programs that have engaged students through digital learning and virtual field trips. Since its inception, over 215,000 students aged 4-17 have participated in both interactive and in situ lessons. All lessons are closely aligned with the Australian Curriculum focusing on environmental biodiversity and conservation, plant biology and Aboriginal use of plants, and play a pivotal role in connecting young people with plants through digital technology.  

Timeline of significant achievements:  

November 2013: Program launch  

2014: Over 2,000 students visited the Australian PlantBank with complementary lessons. Six new lessons were created for Virtual Classroom, furthering reach to over 1,000 more students.   

2015: Interactive Learning Program extended to reach home schools, support units for children with special needs, and delivered a virtual lesson to children in Shenzhen, China. Lessons were delivered to almost 18,000 students and four new lessons were created.  A 500% (!!) increase.  

2017: Interactive Learning Program collaboration with the Australian National Maritime Museum, introduction of free lesson delivery to disadvantaged schools and expansion of Aboriginal content. Almost 30,000 students reached.  

2018: Four new lessons created, including Reconciliation and Harmony Day themed lessons. 29.5 thousand students reached, with an addition 1,984 engaged from disadvantaged schools.  

2019-2020: Almost 30,000 students were engaged during this period, despite challenges brought on by COVID-19 pandemic.   

2020 to present: Continued expansion of the program, serving over 110,000 students in 2020 and 2021. The Trust partnered with the Department of Education’s Learning Systems Unit and Situ 360 to further extend reach and enhance teaching and learning.  

Asia Capacity Building (2009 - 2017)  

HSBC significantly invested in the Trust’s conservation work through regional capacity building during the eight years that the Asia Capacity Building Program ran.  The Asia Capacity Building program built capacity and shared expertise among botanic gardens of the Asia-Pacific region. HSBC Australia was the exclusive sponsor of the Trust’s contribution to this program. The HSBC Oriental Garden in the Royal Botanic Garden, Sydney, has been the local manifestation of the Principal Conservation Partnership’s commitment to capacity building in the Asia-Pacific region. This theme garden, installed in 1997, showcases the immense regional biodiversity and highlights important conservation programs in the Asia-Pacific area.  

Timeline of significant achievements:  

2009 – Asia Capacity Building course established, International Certificate in Botanic Garden Management in the Asia Pacific Region. This course ran for two weeks at the Singapore Botanic Gardens, and HSBC funds allowed for two of our scientists to travel and deliver modules. 14 students attended, representing several Asian countries.  

2011 –  Key staff from the Trust were able to visit Vietnam in order to assist the director of Bidoup-Nuiba National Park with the development and preparation of a site master plan for a proposed botanic garden with sustainable conservation displays. Thanks to HSBC’s support for this trip, the Trust’s project team were able to assist with the development of the first network of botanic gardens associated with the Vietnamese National Parks system.    

2012 – HSBC funded travel for four representatives to travel from Vietnam’s Bidoup-Nuiba Nat’l Park. The representatives were invited to learn more about how our science, education and horticulture programs could complement their conservation programs.   

2016 – The National Seed Science Forum hosted at the Australian Plantbank. HSBC sponsored a Research Officer from the Genebank and Seed Centre, Malaysian Research and Development Institute to attend.   

This program made significant impact over the years, with the creation of botanic gardens in both Vietnam and Laos, and over 350 hours of conservation theory and technique training occurring alongside this work. HSBC’s support for this initiative was pivotal in allowing this work to occur.  

Towards Sustainable Horticulture (2005-2008)  

Significant Achievements:  

Eastern Water Dragons release around the Tropical Centre   

Twin Ponds Upgrade   

Interpretive signs installed  

Flower Bed Lawn developed into a sustainable display thanks to HSBC staff assistance  

International Turfgrass Research Conference – HSBC funded a horticulturist to attend  

Water catchment system installed at Lion Gate Lodge, Royal Botanic Garden Sydney  

What’s the Big Idea Garden? Installed at Australian Botanic Garden Mount Annan, with a reinvestment to continue the work. This project demonstrates conservation outcomes in the home garden through use of recycled materials and how to grow plants sustainably.  

The challenges faced during the devastating bushfires followed by COVID-19 have highlighted a need for not just solutions, but quick action and adaptability – two things underpinned by the qualities of resilience and leadership. With HSBC’s established reputation as a significant contributor to global sustainability goals, enhanced by its longstanding alignment with the Trust’s position as the foremost botanical science and conservation institution in Australia, we find ourselves at the precipice to reimagine the way we collaborate, research, lead, and connect.  

Investigating Rainforest Resilience  

This umbrella program consolidates the work of Safeguarding Plant Biodiversity and Restore & Renew to holistically deepen our knowledge of rainforest resilience in response to the bushfires of 2019/2020. This project, supported by HSBC, will collect seed and tissues from priority rainforest species impacted by fire and provide baseline information on current viability and representativeness of the Australian PlantBank seed collections. Once again, HSBC demonstrates their position as a strong environmental partner through their commitment to funding projects that will advance fundamental knowledge and safeguard biodiversity through nature-based solutions.  

Ultimately, combining both these programs allows for a ‘whole of ecosystem’ approach to target endangered ecological communities and build biodiversity resilience. This project is in alignment with HSBC’s goal to support nature-based solutions that have positive impacts on climate change adaptation, biodiversity, and people.  

Year 1: This program is on target with seed collections and target species, with a view to continue seed collection through the remainder of 2022.   

Feb 2022: 56% of seed collections have been complete, with 40% of target species represented.  

As a global leader in botanical science and conservation, the Australian Institute of Botanical Science drives the Trusts science, horticultural and education outcomes, with the notable addition of the National Herbarium of NSW helping to realise these goals on a local, national, and global level.  

HSBC’s funding contribution towards the establishment of the Australian Institute of Botanical Science has positioned HSBC alongside the Trust at the forefront of sustainability leadership. This positioning unlocks high-profile opportunities to promote our partnership and shared commitment to protecting the natural environment and finding resilient solutions to climate change.

HSBC’s Head of Sustainability plays an active role in the work of Australian Institute of Botanical Science, acting as a Corporate Ambassador and bridging the gap between science, corporates, and public citizens. As the Australian Institute of Botanical Science continues to pave the way as a world leader in plant science, bushfire recovery, climate change, and biodiversity research, HSBC’s partnership is critical in ensuring that our ability to discover, protect, restore, and engage can continue in perpetuity.