Recently, a group of dedicated volunteers came together for one of the most important and often overlooked steps in our Climate Ready Revegetation (CRR) program: seed sorting. The seeds prepared on the day are now being sown in our community Landcare nurseries in Yass, Murrumbateman, and Bowning/Bookham, as well as at the Alexander Maconochie Centre (AMC), where they will be grown into seedlings and returned for planting in autumn.
This activity sits at the very heart of our mission to grow climate-ready plants. Seeds for each species are carefully sourced from multiple provenances to maximise genetic diversity. With genetic diversity, we are equipping future generations of plants with the capacity to adapt to a changing climate, ensuring the long-term success of local revegetation projects.
On the day, a cheerful team of volunteers combined seeds from an average of 7 sources for each of the 40 local native species on our Climate Ready nursery list. Thousands upon thousands of seeds were checked, sorted, and measured into tiny pots, each pot containing the beginnings of a future tree, shrub, or grass that will help restore and protect our landscapes. Labels were carefully triple-checked, records updated, and everything prepared with precision so that our nurseries can sow with confidence.
Seed sorting is just one stage in the CRR process, which begins with species selection by the CRR team, followed by seed collection from geographically diverse suppliers. Each seed lot is tested by volunteers for germination to ensure viability before mixing. Together, these steps ensure the plants we raise are strong, healthy, and genetically diverse, giving our revegetation projects the best possible chance to thrive and adapt for decades to come.
A huge thank you goes out to all the volunteers who contributed their time, care, and attention to detail at the seed sorting day. These efforts are essential to the success of the program and will continue through the growing and planting stages in the months ahead.
If you’d like to get involved, each of our nurseries runs volunteer sowing days and seasonal activities, and next year, you can help plant these climate-ready seedlings into the ground. Together, we’re growing a resilient future for our landscapes.
Find out more about the Climate Ready Revegetation
Written by Sarah McGrath, YAN Local Coordinator
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The Climate Ready Revegetation Project has been assisted by the NSW Government through its Environmental Trust. Landcare Australia Michael King grants enable us to purchase seed from diverse provenances.