Banking against time
James Wood
A seed head of Taraxacum aristum (Mountain Dandelion), a rare alpine plant in Tasmania.
Globally, there are not enough protected areas to conserve all plant species. Most are fragmented and vulnerable to threats such as climate change, introduced species, natural disasters and political instability. Seed banking stores seeds for the future, offering some insurance against extinction.
Seed banking has occurred for over 13,500 years, however ‘conservation seed banking’ of wild species is a more recent response to the decline of plant biodiversity. The Tasmanian Seed Conservation Centre at the Royal Tasmanian Botanical Gardens is committed to holding 75% of the Tasmanian threatened flora by 2020. For more info visit – https://gardens.rtbg.tas.gov.au/tscc/
BEAKER STREET SCIENCE PHOTOGRAPHY PRIZE
This photograph was a finalist in Beaker Street’s annual Science Photography Prize. This highly-respected prize invites amateur and professional photographers to showcase the wonders of our extraordinary part of the world — which is teeming with science and scientists. Finalist images are displayed at the Tasmanian Museum and Art Gallery during Beaker Street Festival each August, with great prizes on offer for Judges’ and People’s Choice winners.
The Beaker Street Science Photography Prize is sponsored by Pennicott Foundation — thank you crew! It would not be possible without the support of Full Gamut, Tasmania’s premier fine art printers, as well as the wonderful Tasmanian businesses who donate prizes.
