1000 Species Project

Field work has led to rediscoveries of species thought to be extinct. This was the case with the Showy Violet in South Australia (Viola betonicifolia ssp betonicifolia) Photo: South Australian Seed Conservation Centre

Bringing together our expertise across the country, our Partners are collecting and storing seed from native plant species valued for their endemic, endangered or economic significance.

This project is targeting 1000 species not currently secured in Australia’s conservation seed banks. During the 2012/2013 collecting season, our Partners are collecting seed across a diverse range of regions, including South Australia’s Eyre Peninsula, wheatbelt regions of Western Australia and Norfolk Island, and habitats, including alpine and sub-alpine, rainforest and heathland areas.

The second phase of this project will involve improving the genetic diversity of species collected and banked during the first phase by collecting from more populations of the same plant species.

The new seed collections will become an insurance policy safeguarding Australia’s native flora, provide a resource to build knowledge and understanding about Australian flora and can be used to propagate plants and re-establish populations if needed in the future.

The Royal Botanic Gardens Kew’s Millennium Seed Bank has provided us with financial assistance for three years to administer a fieldwork fund to supplement resources needed for seed collecting under our 1000 Species Project.  Our Partners are eligible to apply for a small grant to support their field work.  These applications are assessed by an independent committee of scientific experts to ensure the allocation of these funds is efficient and transparent.