Benson, L.A.SJohnson; taxonomist, ecologist, conservationist ... 
525 
to encouraging and advancing the study of systematic botany.' Whether this is too 
narrow a focus for the main scientific resources of the Royal Botanic Gardens over the 
longer term remains to be seen. With the increasing recognition of the importance of 
the conservation role of the Gardens and the evidence that Johnson was able to use 
ecological concepts and data to the benefit of his systematic studies, more emphasis 
on ecology may be an appropriate, and productive, future strategy. 
L.A.S. Johnson strongly supported the publication of scientific work and was actively 
involved in setting up the Royal Botanic Gardens ecological journal Cunninghamia. 
After being moved from Agriculture to the Premier's Department in 1979, and with the 
increased autonomy prcivided by establishment of the Trust in 1980, the Gardens was 
free to take a more active role in broader issues. Johnson encouraged the organisation 
to submit views on the major environmental issues of the day, such as the conservation 
of rainforests, better land management in the Western Division, or recommendations 
of specific areas to be conserved. Occasionally he had to support his staff when senior 
officers in other sections of government were displeased where these views were 
contrary to the often short-sighted developments proposed by other departments. 
Conservation issues 
L.A.S. Johnson has always been concerned with broader conservation issues and in 
particular with the need to curb population growth and to 'respect man but do not 
worship him or the gods he has made in his image to favour his expansion at the 
world's expense'fjohnson 1975). In response to the ecological and environmental 
dangers posed by the conventional belief in the absolute necessity of continued 
economic growth, he has taken an active interest in non-growth steady-state 
economics (e.g. as proposed by Herman Daly, Louisiana State University). 
'We need schools of economics freed of political preconceptions and antiquated ideas 
of left and right, which are now matters of minor import in our coming crisis. We need 
them to put their energies into seeking economic solutions that do not involve increasing 
or even maintaining GNP (gross national product).' (Johnson 1985b) 
We live in a time in public administration when the perceived importance of the 
administrator and manager, frequently overrides the importance of expertise and 
insight. While organisations say the right things in mission statements, they fail to 
deliver because of budgetary constraints, priorities set wrongly or lack of 
understanding of science and its significance and needs (by managers with primarily 
administrative training). The senior person who actually believes in the worth of an 
organisation and its commitment, is to be valued. The Royal Botanic Gardens, and 
the wider community, have been fortunate to have had among its succession of 
directors a figure such as L.A.S. Johnson. 
References 
Beadle, N.C.W. (1954) Soil phosphate and the delimination of plant communities in eastern Australia. 
Ecology 35: 370-375. 
Benson, D.H. & Keith, D.A. (1990) The natural vegetation of the Wallerawang map sheet. 
Cunninghamia 2; 305-335. 
Hill, K.D. & Johnson, L.A.S. (1991) Systematic studies in the eucalypts - 3: New taxa and 
combinations in Eucalyptus (Myrtaceae). Telopea 4: 223-267. 
Johnson, L.A.S. (1975) Preface, in Rotherham, E.R., Blaxell, D.F., Briggs, B.G. & Carolin, R.C. (1975) 
Floivers and plants of Nno South Wales and southern Queensland (A.H. & A.W. Reed: Sydney). 
Johnson, L.A.S. (1982) Notes on Casuarinaceae II. Journal of the Adelaide Botanic Cardens 6: lSr-%7. 
