Santa Barbara Botanic Garden, Inc.

At 95 years old, our mission is more relevant and urgent than ever. This is especially true given the high rates of “nature deficit disorder" and “plant blindness," unprecedented drought, climate change, and continued development pressures on the California landscape.

In 2016, the Garden completed the work funded by the successful $14 million Seed-the-Future Comprehensive Campaign including opening the Pritzlaff Conservation Center and creating/renovating five new gardens. Most of the other objectives of the previous five-year strategic plan were also achieved. Over the next two years, we will learn how to best use and maintain this new and improved infrastructure. After the intense focus that was required to execute a major campaign, the Garden will now refocus, with our increased capacity, on delivering our three core programs: Education, Horticulture, and Conservation Research. For the most part, this two-year interim plan continues on the same path as the previous five-year strategic plan. In 2017, we will begin a robust and comprehensive strategic and business planning process to develop a five-year plan for 2019-2023.
Staff will develop annual work plans of specific activities with measurable desired outcomes for each strategy described below, to the extent possible.

GOALS 2019-2023
1. Conduct research to understand, protect, and restore California's native plants
2. Promote and demonstrate how native plants can be used to improve aesthetics and achieve sustainability goals
3. Be a leader in California native plant horticulture and ecological education to inspire action
4. Ensure the Garden's financial and organizational capacity to achieve our mission
5. Fully evaluate and assess our performance and effectiveness as an organization.

GOAL 1
A. Undertake biogeographical, taxonomic, and genetic studies to better understand the nature and evolution of California's plant diversity.
B. Perform monitoring, research, restoration, and germplasm banking to conserve and recover the Central Coast's most imperiled plants.
C. Improve techniques and tools for the conservation and restoration of Central Coast species, habitats, and food webs.
D. Research the use of native plants in planned landscapes and agriculture to provide ecosystem services.

GOAL 2
A. Continue to improve the aesthetics of Garden and demonstrate how native plants can be used to create remarkable planned landscapes.
B. Expand the range of landscape design styles exhibited on the grounds while preserving and highlighting the Garden's historic character and natural beauty.
C. Increase the diversity of California native taxa grown at the Garden.
D. Demonstrate sustainable practices in our gardens, facilities, and operations.
E. Collaborate with other organizations to stimulate the use of native plants in horticulture and increase their availability in the nursery trade.
F. Use outreach, interpretation, and education to promote the use of native plants in planned landscapes and partner with like-minded organizations to encourage sustainable gardening practices.
G. Work with various professionals to improve their application of native plants and sustainable practices in planned landscapes.

GOAL 3
A. Ensure a positive visitor experience of the aesthetic richness of the garden through beautiful, well-maintained gardens and ample opportunities for self-directed interpretative experiences that inspire further learning and a love of native plants.
B. Provide exceptional directed education opportunities, such as engaging classes and field trips, for all ages.
C. Utilize the Garden's collections to enhance understanding and appreciation of California native plants and landscape design.
D. Advocate at local, state, and national levels for the protection and restoration of native plants.
E. Utilize new and established communication methods to educate the public about the importance and utility of native plants.

GOAL 4
A. Grow the Garden's diverse revenue streams to provide reliable core support and build our endowment.
B. Attract and retain excellent staff by offering salaries and benefits that are aligned with other gardens in California and the nonprofit sector in Santa Barbara.
C. Recruit and retain engaged volunteers by offering quality training and positive work experiences.
D. Provide professional development and the tools necessary to attract and retain high-performing staff.

GOAL 5
A. Through the Museum Assessment Program of the IMLS, assess the Garden's strengths and weaknesses.
B. Renew our museum accreditation with the American Alliance of Museums.
C. Gather additional data that will help us prepare for our longer-term strategies.

The Garden's facilities include the LEED certified Pritzlaff Conservation Center, (housing the herbarium, seed bank, conservation offices and labs, and the plant genetics lab), library, horticultural facilities, gift shop, visitor facilities, and offices. The Garden's living collection represents 106 plant families spread over 78 acres and includes canyon, desert, arroyo, manzanita, meadow and redwood sections. A Waterwise Home Demonstration Garden shares water-saving collection, irrigation practices and plantings with the public.

The Garden's Conservation, Horticulture, Education and Administrative teams comprise a total of 35 employees and over 400 volunteers.

The completion of the Pritzlaff Conservation Center in 2016 has greatly expanded and updated the Garden's conservation program capabilities. The center includes a plant genetics lab, seed bank, herbarium collection, and lab space for plant identification, specimen preservation, and seed cleaning. Propagation facilities make it possible to grow thousands of seedlings for restoration efforts throughout the Central California Coast and the Channel Islands.

In 2018, rare plant conservation staff outplanted hundreds of rare adobe sanicle (Sanicula maritima) seedlings that were propagated by SBBG for a restoration project in San Luis Obispo County. We participated in the California Invasive Species Summit, a 2-day workshop at the Capitol in Sacramento to help craft legislation that eventually went into a bill that was passed and now has funding attached to it: AB2470. We also collaborated with new organizations including the Ojai Valley Land Conservancy and the Garden Street Academy, which helped us reach new audiences and extend our volunteer base to aid in our work.

The Garden has expanded its conservation work by hiring its first lichenologist and will continue its rare plant research and conservation work throughout the Central Coast, Channel Islands and Baja islands. In the Garden, we will be developing a childrens' outdoor space where kids can explore nature and its native flora in an unstructured way. The Garden is expanding its programming to attract more families and children to the Garden and will be enhancing its interpretation in the Garden. The Garden's new Strategic Plan sets a number of priorities for the next 5 years.