Seeds for Life (Qld): a Seed Conservation Partnership between the QSEED Consortium and the RBG Kew Millennium Seed Bank Project
From arid bush to tropical rainforest, the State of Queensland affords an excellent opportunity for securing seed from a diversity of habitats
An ambitious seed collection and research program for Queensland.
This partnership is one of seven Australian partnerships in the Millennium Seed Bank Project (MSBP). Over 6 years, the 'Seeds for Life' programme will collect seeds, herbarium specimens, and other associated information from 1,000 Queensland plant species. These seeds will be stored as duplicate collections in Queensland and the UK, and used in research undertaken by Griffith University and the University of Queensland, as well as the Millennium Seed Bank Project (MSBP) in the United Kingdom. Similar work will be undertaken in all other states as part of other MSBP partnerships.
The three 'Seeds For Life' themes are: 1) Endangered species and ecosystems; 2) Landscape rehabilitation; and 3) Training and extension.
The MSBP will contribute considerable direct funding ($1,590,000) and in-kind support to the Seeds For Life Project. The QSeed Partnership will also contribute significant funds, together with in-kind contributions. Financial support from the Australian mining industry has enabled a more comprehensive program.
The Queensland Seeds for Life Project is a collaboration between the Millennium Seed Bank Project at the Royal Botanic Gardens in Kew, United Kingdom, and Queensland research, non-government organisations and Government bodies collectively called the QSeed Partnership.
Project targets include: 1,000 species new to MSB; two PhD studentships, three technical training attachments and one post-doctoral programme.
Project Team
Project Leader: Pearce, Tim
Seed Conservation Department
Tim Pearce
Project Partners and Collaborators
Australia
University of Queensland
Griffith University
Brisbane Botanic Garden
Greening Australia (Qld) Inc.
Australian Centre for Mining Environmental Research
Environmental Protection Agency (Qld)
Queensland State Herbarium
Funders
UK
Millennium Commission
Annex Material
Annex 1: Seeds for Life Project Synopsis (Annex to Access & Benefit Sharing Agreement) (Word document)
Annex 2: Seeds for Life Newsletter, May 2005 (Pdf file)
Annex 3: Seeds for Life launch press release (Pdf file)