The critical role of seed banks in biodiversity, reforestation and carbon projects

Why Nativ Carbon Provides Seed Bank Services

Seed availability is a critical factor in the success of carbon and biodiversity projects. Many of our clients, including carbon developers and resource companies, require large volumes of native seed to meet their project commitments. However, native seed isn’t always readily available in commercial markets, particularly for projects in remote or degraded landscapes.

David Lullfitz, Nativ Carbon’s Director and an expert in seed collection and management, explains: ‘It’s not about Nativ Carbon simply having a seed bank, but rather providing a dedicated service that helps our clients secure the right seed for their projects, both now and in the future.’

By offering seed banking as a service, we help clients take a long-term, strategic approach to securing the right species in the right quantities. This foresight removes the uncertainty of waiting for seed availability in commercial markets and ensures our clients can progress with their projects without compromise or costly delays.

For example, when working with projects in marginal farmland or remote areas, there is often a lack of remnant bush or natural trees from which to collect seed. In these situations, native seed may be scarce, and demand for specific species can spike. Without a dedicated seed bank, projects may face delays or forced compromises on biodiversity, potentially impacting the success of reforestation efforts. Our seed bank service eliminates this risk, giving clients the confidence to plan and execute their projects effectively.

Developing and Maintaining a Seed Bank

Our approach to seed banking is both proactive and strategic. We begin by closely examining our clients’ plans to determine the likely locations of future projects. From there, we identify key plant species needed for successful revegetation and source seeds accordingly.

‘We sit down with clients and strategise about which regions they’ll be working in and which species will be critical for their projects. From there, we target the necessary plant species through multiple collection events across different seasons,’ says David. ‘This means we’re always one step ahead, ensuring the right seeds are ready when needed.’

Our dedicated seed collection team, which consists of full-time experts, gathers and processes native seeds from targeted regions, ensuring provenance and biodiversity are maintained. Provenance is crucial as it guarantees that the seed collected is from the right geographical area, making it the best fit for local conditions and supporting the broader ecosystem.

Once collected, the seed is stored in a climate-controlled facility, regulated at optimal temperature and humidity levels for long-term storage. This method ensures seed longevity, enabling us to provide seeds for clients years down the track. ‘With the right storage conditions, seeds can remain viable for a decade or more, ensuring they’re ready for future projects,’ says David.

We also track seed stock levels, turning these quantities into actionable insights for our clients. For example, we can inform them how many seedlings can be produced from a given volume of seed and how many hectares of restoration those seedlings can support. This level of detail helps our clients incorporate seed availability into their broader project timelines, minimising unexpected delays.

The Importance of Seed Banks For Sustainability and Scale 

A well-managed seed bank is a key enabler of large-scale restoration and biodiversity projects. By securing seed in advance, clients can avoid delays, maintain species diversity and support more resilient ecosystems. Without a seed bank, projects may be forced to compromise on biodiversity or face shortages that delay implementation.

With a seed bank, clients are not scrambling to procure seed at the last minute and compromising on their species mix. This is particularly important when it comes to biodiversity. For example, some projects may plant just one or two species of tree, but these are often monocultures, which don’t support local wildlife or contribute to meaningful ecosystem restoration. By having access to a seed bank, we ensure that the species used in planting projects are native to the region and provide essential habitat, food sources and shelter for a wide range of species.

This is why our clients, whether they are carbon developers, energy companies or environmental consultants, place such importance on having access to a comprehensive seed bank. It ensures that they can meet biodiversity goals and adapt to shifting environmental standards, making their projects more future-proof.

Seed banks also allow for greater flexibility in responding to emerging biodiversity markets. As environmental standards evolve, clients may need to adjust their plant mix to meet new requirements. A well-maintained seed bank offers the necessary resources to make these adjustments quickly and efficiently without jeopardising the project’s integrity.

Delivering Long-term Value Through Seed Banking

Our seed bank service is an integral part of Nativ Carbon’s broader approach to environmental solutions. By proactively securing and storing native seed, we ensure that our clients are never held back by supply constraints.

For one of our clients, the availability of a seed bank is essential to maintaining project timelines. As David explains, ‘Having a seed bank allows us to be more proactive and complement our clients’ needs faster. If they need to plant 6,000 hectares in 2026, for example, we can begin procuring seed now, ensuring they have what they need when the time comes.’

For energy clients, who require a steady supply of native seed for large-scale projects, the seed bank is invaluable in helping them maintain the biodiversity integrity of their projects, no matter how large the scale.

Whether it’s carbon sequestration, land rehabilitation, or biodiversity enhancement, our seed bank service supports the long-term success and sustainability of environmental restoration projects.

By offering seed banking as part of our end-to-end environmental solutions, Nativ Carbon ensures that native seed is never a limiting factor in the success of your project. Our approach removes supply risks, allowing clients to move forward knowing that they have the right resources in place to meet their sustainability and carbon goals.