SA’s capacity to conserve threatened plant species and safeguard the state’s unique biodiversity has been bolstered through a $1.35 million funding boost to the South Australian Seed Conservation Centre.
As part of the Malinauskas Government’s $15 million Adelaide Park Lands Nature Positive Package, the Seed Conservation Centre at the Adelaide Botanic Gardens and State Herbarium will be upgraded to support vital plant conservation work and increase opportunities for community participation.
Through working closely with Conservation Council SA, Invasive Species Council and Trees for Life SA, the State Government has developed a range of Nature Positive initiatives from river restoration to species rewilding and community grants from $2,000 to $200,000 to help local people get involved.
These measures are in addition to the at least 3,770 trees which will be planted in the Park Lands as part of the Adelaide Circuit Redevelopment Project, all of which will be mature plantings of between 45 and 200 litres.
Established in 2002, the Seed Conservation Centre helps protect South Australia’s threatened plant species from extinction and supports on-ground restoration.
Wild seeds from plants indigenous to South Australia have been collected from across the state and safeguarded in long-term storage at subzero temperatures at the Centre’s on-site Seed Bank.
There are over 2,000 of the 3,500 individual species of the state’s plants represented in the Seed Bank, including seeds from over 85 per cent of the state’s threatened flora.
Key improvements will include the relocation of the centre to the State Herbarium building within the Adelaide Botanic Gardens, providing a purpose-designed environment that supports the long-term preservation, research and management of nationally significant seed collections.
The investment will deliver secure, long-term storage for threatened species seeds and provide specialised equipment to help assess, monitor and protect valuable seed collections for future conservation and restoration efforts.
Additionally, the on-site Threatened Species Seed Orchard will be expanded to include shading for plants in summer, and longer-term beds for shrubs and trees needing multi-year growth.
This work will see increased opportunities for community engagement, raising awareness of how seed banking helps secure the future of native flora, and the Seed Conservation Centre’s role in research and restoration programs.
Quotes attributable to Emily Bourke, Minister for Climate, Environment and Water
The Malinauskas Government is proud to support the South Australian Seed Conservation Centre through our $15 million Adelaide Park Lands Nature Positive Package.
This investment will support the invaluable work and research being carried out by the dedicated team at the Seed Conservation Centre, helping to protect our state’s unique flora, seed by seed, species by species.
Importantly, this investment will also help bolster opportunities for the community to get involved so everyone can play a part in conserving South Australia’s plant life for future generations.
Our Nature Positive Package is the result of working closely with Conservation Council SA, who strongly advocated for environmental projects that will deliver a lasting legacy for all South Australians.
The measures in the Nature Positive Package are in addition to the at least 3,770 trees which will be planted in the Park Lands as part of the Adelaide Circuit Redevelopment Project, all of which will be mature plantings of between 45 and 200 litres.
Quotes attributable Michelle Waycott, Chief Botanist and Head of Science and Conservation, Botanic Gardens and State Herbarium
This funding will play a critical role in protecting more than 2,000 native South Australian plant species by securing them in the South Australian Seed Conservation Centre seed bank.
Quotes attributable to Judy Potter, Presiding Member, Board of the Botanic Gardens and State Herbarium
The important work our seed centre team does is vital for future biodiversity.
This funding will help us protect more species, improve how we store and assess collections, and connect more people with the important role seed conservation plays in safeguarding South Australia's native flora.
