Living Collection Enquiry Form
Request for the release of material from the Botanic Gardens of Sydney.
Spanning our three Gardens, The Domain Sydney and The Australian PlantBank, our sites house an extraordinary Living Collection comprised of wild-sourced, thriving plant families and ecosystems that define the beauty of the Botanic Gardens of Sydney and serve as an invaluable resource for conservation, research, recreation and education.
The Botanic Gardens of Sydney (BGS) provides plant material and access to BGS resources to institutions, individuals and artists for their work. To access these resources the intended work must align with the BGS Living Collections Policy of BGS, including any legislative or cultural requirements that govern the use of plant material. Distribution is authorised by a signed Plant Sharing Agreement (link in the form below) that outlines the intended use of the material.
For requests involving use outside Australia, BGS supplies material in accordance with the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES). This means BGS can only provide CITES-listed specimens to institutions that are likewise registered under the facilitated scientific exchange network.
BGS also adheres to the principles of the United Nations Convention on Biological Diversity, which recognises national sovereignty over genetic resources and establishes guidelines for the fair and equitable sharing of benefits derived from their development. It requires that access to genetic resources be based on prior informed consent and mutually agreed terms.
The provision of material may also include a commitment to adhere to relevant Indigenous Cultural and Intellectual Property considerations.
Material supplied will generally be free, although BGS may impose a charge to recover costs if a request requires extensive staff hours or additional materials.
Any material or intellectual property that is sought for commercial purposes, including essentially derived material, may require additional legal agreement.
Phytosanitary related export fees and responsibilities (including necessary Permits under EPBC) and other fees are the responsibility of the applicant.
The applicant must complete the form below with sufficient detail to enable an assessment against BGS’s Living Collections Policy and provide supporting documentation where possible.
Once the completed application form is received, please allow a minimum of 21 days for the application to be processed. BGS will assess the availability of the material and provide an estimate of costs (if any) to the applicant.
