The IUCN Redlist of Threatened Species has cycads placed as the most threatened organism on the planet, ahead of reef forming corals and amphibians. Australia, with the greatest global diversity faces threats of increasing loss similar to other parts of the world due to rapidly changing climate conditions, urban and industrial expansion and illegal removal. Cycads have high research value and education potential, they are climate indicators given the length of time they have survived on the planet, and their cultural and medicinal value is yet to be fully realised. To begin measuring positive change for the Macrozamia genus the RBGV has developed a Macrozamia Conservation Collection Plan that actions on their conservation status. Conservation and risk assessments of Australian cycads are outdated and in many cases dating back to extensive field work undertaken by Dr Ken Hill in the 1990s. I will discuss Macrozamia elegans as a case study and discuss how the Royal Botanic Gardens Victoria is managing trying to achieve practical results for both scientific and conservation outcomes.
A brief discussion will touch on the 2026 International Conference on Cycad Biology, the first held in Australia 35 years and how botanic gardens can get involved.