The conservation objective of the Australian Plants Society as stated in our constitution is :

"By any lawful means to foster, support and promote the preservation and conservation of Australian native plants."

Indigenous Australian plants have value as living organisms irrespective of their usefulness to humans or their value as habitat for other living things. Because all life forms in the Australian ecology are interdependent, the conservation of genetic diversity in plants requires a holistic approach that encompasses the preservation and conservation of all biological life forms and their habitats in all regions of Australia, on the land, in the air and in the waterways and seas.

The aim of plant conservation in biological terms is to maintain the capacity for species to be self perpetuating and to continue to evolve. Sufficient quantities of the plant species, the genetic diversity within them and vegetation communities must be conserved in order to provide sufficient habitat to sustain viable populations of other life forms.

Conservation should reflect the following principles:

		the principle of intergenerational equity which means that the present generation should ensure that the health, diversity and productivity of the environment is maintained or enhanced for the benefit of future generations.
		the principle of uncertainty which accepts that our knowledge of natural environment and the processes affecting it is incomplete, and that the full potential significance or value of natural environments remains unknown because of this uncertain state of knowledge.
		the precautionary principle which states that where there are threats or potential threats of serious or irreversible environmental damage, lack of full scientific certainty should not be used as a reason for postponing measures to prevent environmental degradation.
		removal of elements from the natural environment should be ecologically sustainable.
		the principle of minimum disturbance to all natural processes.
		knowledge of the natural environment gained through experience, study and research.

This policy was ratified after consultation with all members through a notice in the January, 2000 issue of Native Plants for NSW, with District Group Committees and endorsement by the New South Wales Council at the meeting on 21st February, 2000.