RBG Kew operational budget under threat

[David Humphries]

If your interested in the work that the scientists at Kew are involved in then perhaps give a couple of minutes of your time to look at this......

 

BBC News - Kew Gardens jobs to be axed in £5m shortfall

 

https://www.change.org/en-GB/petitions/globally-important-conservation-and-science-under-threat-at-royal-botanic-gardens-kew-due-to-uk-government-cuts-5m-deficit-will-lead-to-loss-of-over-120-posts?recruiter=88977540&utm_campaign=mailto_link&utm_medium=email&utm_source=share_petition

 

 

 

 

.

[David Humphries]

an update if anyone's interested.....

 

Horticulture Week are reporting that Owen Patterson (Defra secretary of state) as stating that "Kew must manage its own affairs" and has ruled out giving emergency payment to bale them out.

 

According to Defra the government already spends on average 27 million per annum helping to fund the botanic garden and does not want to open the door to other agencies asking for more budget.

 

The 125 jobs identified for redundancy will remain at risk unless Kew themselves finds a solution.

 

 

 

 

On a different note, but reported in the same article, Mr Patterson has said that he will look at stopping internet sales (by landscapers, garden designers etc...) of trees like Ash, Plane and Sweet Chestnut from being imported to try and block the current loophole in importation (where there is a ban on nurserys importing those species) due to bio security concerns.

 

 

.

[tommer9]

Signed.

[MrPaul]

Signed

[David Humphries]

Petition went to Downing Street today

 

3000 signatures short of 100,000

 

Intrigued to see if this type of campaign holds any clout

 

http://www.change.org/p/globally-important-conservation-and-science-under-threat-at-royal-botanic-gardens-kew-due-to-uk-government-cuts-5m-deficit-will-lead-to-loss-of-over-120-posts/u/53948b515cc4b77b1d012c0e?tk=wKAXyHhw-e9XXPJcBleVbWRwmUTGVF57MaqFYF63w_o&utm_source=petition_update&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=petition_update_email

.

[David Humphries]

I note in the recent Pro Arb maagazine that they report that Nick Clegg (at the recent State of Nature Conference) has announced that the goverment will continue to fund the research work at RBGK at current levels until April 2015.

 

Doesn't say anything about what happens after April 2015 ?

 

 

 

 

 

.

[josharb87]

Thanks for the updates David