By I. Hansana, Jadetimes News
Pioneering Project to Bolster Rainforest Resilience Amid Climate Change in Northern New South Wales
A landmark initiative, the Science Saving Rainforests project, is underway in northern New South Wales to enhance the resilience of rainforests against climate change. This project has amassed over 10,000 leaves from 60 plant species spanning from Far North Queensland to southern New South Wales, aiming to boost genetic diversity within rainforest ecosystems.
Enhancing Genetic Diversity
By increasing genetic diversity, much like zoos breed animals from various locations to mitigate health risks, this project seeks to make rainforest plants more resilient to diseases, pests, and climate change. Evolutionary ecologist Robert Kooyman emphasized the critical role of genetic diversity in enabling plant species to adapt and thrive under changing environmental conditions.
Climate Change Threats
Rainforests, which depend on high rainfall and warm temperatures, are increasingly threatened by climate change. The 2019 ,2020 fire season saw parts of the ancient Big Scrub rainforest, which once covered 75,000 hectares in the Byron Bay hinterland but now is reduced to less than 1%, burn for the first time. This event pushed endangered species like the Nightcap Oak closer to extinction.
Conceptualization and Implementation
Tony Parkes, co founder of the Big Scrub Rainforest Conservancy, conceptualized the idea of leveraging the genetics of trees from ecosystems already enduring warmer temperatures. This sparked the extensive leaf collection project, sourcing samples from rainforests between Noosa and Gympie, which tolerate conditions anticipated for northern New South Wales by 2070. Each sample's genome was analyzed to identify the greatest genetic diversity.
Recent Advancements
This week, the project advanced significantly as the Conservancy acquired a 37 hectare rural property at McLeans Ridges near Lismore. Concurrently, cuttings from selected trees are being cultivated for planting in spring 2025, with the goal of transforming the property into a diverse plantation within a decade.
Future Goals
The seeds produced by these trees are expected to be resilient to higher temperatures, and the project plans to distribute plants from these seeds for future rainforest regeneration efforts. Mark Dunphy, rainforest nursery owner and president of the Conservancy, acknowledged the challenges in propagating cuttings from wild plants but expressed optimism about the process beginning in earnest in the warmer months.
Global Significance
Dr. Kooyman highlighted the global significance of the project, noting that rainforests worldwide face similar threats from climate change and deforestation. The project aims to deepen understanding of genetic diversity across landscapes to better plan for the future.