Conservation genomics within government led conservation planning: an Australian case study exploring cost and benefit for threatened flora

Abstract

The importance of conserving plant genetic diversity has been recognized since the 1980s, but genetic research tools for improving conservation remain largely absent from standard planning. Using an Australian case study framework of the New South Wales government’s Saving our Species (SoS) programme, we outline the costs and benefits associated with conducting genomic analysis within a conservation strategy to inform, for example, taxonomic resolution, targeted monitoring, translocations and ex situ collections. Despite a reported sentiment that costs are prohibitive, our study identified that where genetics reports have been provided (32 to date), the cost of genetic sampling, analysis and advice is <10 % of the total government investment (SoS programme) and will continue decreasing proportionally throughout the years as other management occurs. We identified that the largest government investment was for maintenance and monitoring actions. On-ground practitioner feedback from the reports identified that the main reason for requesting genetics was to inform translocation or ex situ collection. However, from the total of 269 plant species with translocation or ex situ conservation actions planned, 75.4 % still do not have provisions for genomics, suggesting that knowledge of the utility of this practice is low among practitioners. Responsive feedback also demonstrated that 90 % of respondents seek additional learning, and thus there is merit in providing future genomics-focused workshops.