About us
Founding members of the North Coast Regional Seed Bank network
- Local Land Services
- The Friends of the North Coast Regional Botanic Garden
- North Coast Regional Landcare Network and founding Network hubs
Goals of the North Coast Regional Seed Bank network
- To improve the availability of native plant seed for revegetation, carbon sequestration and habitat restoration projects.
- To enhance the genetic diversity of supplied seed to grow healthy plants for revegetation projects through implementing best practices in seed collecting and testing with good record keeping.
- To foster information sharing, training and collaboration in the NSW north coast region to support the supply of native plant seed for the benefit of the community.
The North Coast Regional Seed Bank Network began in 2023 with a pilot project funded by NSW Local Land Services to commission a discussion paper into best practices for a regional seed bank, as well as the organisation of workshops to establish a seed bank network in partnership with Landcare and the Friends of the North Coast Regional Botanic Garden.
The Seed Bank network was launched on 28 th February 2024 in Coffs Harbour with general agreement on shared goals and adopted a [Flowchart] of the key steps in the Standard Operating Procedures for the network based on the Florabank Guidelines. The network also adopted a target list of 100 native plant species for seed collecting.
The Seed Bank storage and testing facility at the botanic garden was upgraded for the expanded seed banking role with assistance from Local Land Services and the Friends of the Botanic Garden and a regional seed banking database began operation.
In March 2025, the founding members of the seed bank network signed a Governance MoU to appoint a Steering Committee, guide how to grow and manage the network, codify the standard operating procedures and facilitate compliance to licencing and government regulations affecting seed collecting. A 2024-25 North Coast Seed Bank Enhancement Project was funded by NSW LLS and NSW DCCEEW to develop training resources, conduct training workshops and developing the seed bank database and related services.
How to Join the Seed Bank Network
Eligibility
- Membership in the North Coast Regional Seed Bank is open to organisations (either incorporated or unincorporated) or individuals who collect, store, and supply native plant propagation material for land restoration programs in the NSW North Coast region.
- Potential members are eligible to collect, process and store seed (i.e., ‘pick, possess, and deal’) under the NSW Scientific Licence requirements of the Seed Bank.
- The commercial trade of seeds (buying and selling) or collecting from Protected Species under the NSW Biodiversity Conservation Act 2016 is not eligible under the NSW Scientific Licence requirements for the Seed Bank and must be undertaken under an alternative license arrangement.
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