SEEDS a project about keeping the environmental torch burning and preparing the next generation to take it.

South Australia has about 3500 endemic vascular species of plant, of which 801 (almost 25%) are listed as threatened. SEEDS is about saving them from extinction. More importantly it is about engaging and educating young people in this process and empowering them to take action as environmental custodians and scientists.

In 2014, 14 schools across metropolitan, regional, primary, secondary, government, independent and catholic school sites will trial the seeds project. Scientists from the Seed Conservation Centre at the Adelaide Botanic Garden will provide to schools the seed of a local registered threatened species and show students how to propagate them. The students will then grow on the plants and plant them in the school. With support from local scientist students will also revegetate a place in their community. Later they will collect seed with a view to teaching next year’s group how to repeat the process.

Effectively the school, students and community will become environmental custodians of their endangered species, helping to maintain a living and viable source of the seed.