Big Scrub Rainforest Conservancy is one of Australia’s leading not-for-profit community conservation organisations.
Founded in 1993, and with more than 600 members, Big Scrub Rainforest Conservancy connects community and uses world-leading scientific approaches to help save lowland subtropical rainforest. The Science Saving Rainforests project aims to restore the genetic diversity of key Big Scrub tree species to avoid inbreeding and future proof them from emerging threats, such as disease, pests and climate change.
Together with Australia’s leading rainforest geneticists at the Research Centre for Ecosystem Resilience, Botanic Gardens of Sydney, Big Scrub Rainforest Conservancy is working to reverse the lack of genetic diversity in small, isolated populations of many species threatened with extinction or crucial to the structure of the Big Scrub but are no longer self-sustaining. Unless something is done they are at risk of extinction.
Methodology
- DNA sequencing is being conducted on more than 10,000 leaf samples collected across the population ranges of 60 threatened and structural species. Genome analyses of the DNA sequences of each species will identify 20 to 30 populations that collectively have the optimal genetic diversity to avoid inbreeding and provide resilience to other threats to the survival of lowland subtropical rainforest.
- Cuttings, juveniles or seed will be collected from each of 20 to 30 populations of each species and propagated into planting stock that will be used in developing a living
seed bank plantation to produce genetically optimal seed for use in restoration plantings. - The genetically optimal planting stock will be planted at restoration sites as well as distributed throughout the remnants where possible, re-introducing the genetic diversity lost through generations of fragmentation and isolation and helping to avoid the extinction of the Big Scrub.
- Selected genetically-optimal restoration plantings will provide sustainable habitat for cost-effective translocation recovery plantings of discrete populations of the threatened plant species, each with optimal genetic diversity to help ensure their long term sustainability and survival.
Learn more at bigscrubrainforest.org.
