Save the macadamia: The battle to preserve our plant heritage

Australian scientists are battling to preserve the macadamia nut and other native plants from global warming and deforestation. VICTORIA KARALIS reports

By VICTORIA KARALIS

As the threat of global warming and deforestation continues to rise, Australian scientists and conservationists are racing to preserve native plants and seeds.

Scientists have started to bank species of seeds from native rainforests in seed banks to prevent extinction. However, traditional methods of drying or freezing are ineffective for Australia's most important nut, the macadamia.

Researchers have found that the oily nut can germinate even at -196 degrees C.

Australian National Botanic Gardens National Seed Bank manager Tom North said we had the potential to restore the ecosystem by understanding and conserving seed ecology.

“Seed banks are an efficient means of storing vast amounts of plant germplasm material within a limited space,” he said.

Scientists prefer to focus on banking seeds from their own country, but there are hopes to begin to work with countries such as Papua New Guinea.

Mr North said the South Pacific islands had a diverse ecosystem and conservation efforts in these areas could be important.

“Island flora can teach us a lot about how species are able to evolve and adapt, and an understanding of viable population size will help conservation efforts," he said.

“Fragmentation of remnant vegetation patches into smaller reserves is the biggest threat to rainforest diversity.”

More than 80 per cent of the macadamia's natural habitat has been destroyed, making it an endangered species.

Macadamia Conservation Trust executive officer Denise Bond said the macadamia tended to grow in tropical climates, such as Northern NSW and Queensland, that were attractive for people to live in, so its usual habitat was being lost.

She said it was important to conserve the macadamia as it was one of the only native nuts Australia had, and also exported.

“It is considered our contribution to the rest of the world,” she said.

Ms Bond said the macadamia and all plants needed protection.

“Any one of these species could potentially result in a cure for cancer."