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Western Everlasting: A Seed Conservation Collaboration between the WA Dept of Conservation & Land Management, Kings Park & Botanic Gardens, Greening Australia (WA) and the RBG Kew Millennium Seed Bank Project

Western Australia: the largest State in the country and home to one of the finest global plant diversity hotspots

In 2001, RBG Kew and the Western Australian government negotiated a nine-year partnership to support and accelerate Western Australia’s existing seed conservation efforts at the Department of Conservation and Land Management (CALM) and Kings Park and Botanic Garden (Botanic Garden and Parks Authority) (KPBG). The partnership is based on a legally binding Access and Benefit Sharing Agreement. The Project is now in its second phase and includes a component to support seed collecting activities with Greening Australia (WA) Inc. This partnership is one of seven Australian partnerships in the Millennium Seed Bank Project (MSBP).

The Purpose of the project is to:

 “Ensure that seeds of 60% of the 2514 Declared Rare and Priority plant taxa for Western Australia are collected and held within ex situ germplasm facilities both in Western Australia and the UK within the next decade and ensure that these genetic materials can become the basis for the translocation of threatened plant species and the restoration of threatened ecological communities.”

Significant outputs:

* Collections from >1,500 species based on existing State listings of conservation species and the identification of keystone species of the mainly cleared wheat belt agricultural zone.

* Strengthening and integration of ex situ seed collection and conservation program in Western Australia

* Increased capacity to collect and conserve seed of important endemic flora

* Raised profile of seed conservation activities

* Scientific and technical cooperation both within Western Australia and internationally

* Critical foundation for improved on-ground native vegetation management

* Seed available for recovery and restoration

* Seed accessible for germination, dormancy and storage research

Project targets include: Seed collections from c. 2,200 species new to the seed bank; one post-doctoral programme; one PhD programme (supervision only); four technical attachments; and the upgrade of facilities at Kings Park and Threatened Flora Seed Centre.

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