Benefits of improved seed

Careful selection of seed is important to ensure good growth, survival and economic return.

Benefits of improved seed

The benefits of better selection of seed can be achieved through:

• choice of appropriate species for particular planting environments and end uses
• use of natural seed from optimal provenances (a provenance is the natural geographic source of the seed)
• use of seed that is not inbred (for example, we do not use seed from isolated trees or street trees)
• use of suitable improved seed where available.

An internationally important seed collection

Australian trees are being planted on a large scale around Australia and in other warm temperate and tropical regions of the world.

They currently play a role, and have potential for a continuing role, in addressing the global issues of energy security, climate change and food security.

Bioenergy in general and wood energy in particular are the dominant sources of energy for about half of the world’s population.

A significant proportion of the world’s tropical forestry plantations use species of Australian origin and they are increasingly being planted in the warm, temperate regions particularly species suited to drier sites.

Australian Tree Seed Centre (ATSC) is the only organisation currently storing and conserving such a wide range of these important taxa. They provide raw materials for industrial and domestic use and play a significant role in environmental protection.

Desertification now affects about two thirds of the earth’s surface and more than one billion people with devastating consequences on livelihoods and food security.

Forestation and reforestation, within an appropriate landscape approach, are among the most effective ways to counteract it.

Information on tree species

For more information on some on other services and the popular tree species that the ATSC keeps, visit the links to other pages below:

• Order seed 
• Seed quality and orchards 
• Shipping 
• Germination standards.