An inspiring evening of science, storytelling and community unfolded at Cape Byron Distillery as Big Scrub Rainforest Conservancy hosted Science in the Distillery: How Genetic Science is Future-Proofing the Big Scrub Rainforest. The event highlighted why genetic science must be central to ecosystem restoration, not an afterthought and this is precisely what the Conservancy’s Science Saving Rainforests program is putting into practice.
The evening featured presentations from Professor Maurizio Rossetto, Head of the Research Centre for Ecosystem Resilience at the Botanic Gardens of Sydney; evolutionary ecologist Dr Robert Kooyman; Mark Dunphy, President of Big Scrub Rainforest Conservancy and owner of Firewheel Rainforest Nursery; and Michelle Chapman, of Seedtree Maps and Project Manager for the Big Scrub Buffers Project. Together, the speakers explored the evolutionary history of the Big Scrub, the importance of genetic diversity, the science underpinning the Conservancy’s Science Saving Rainforests program, and the landscape-scale restoration work happening across the region.
More than trees
A central message of the evening was that successful ecosystem restoration must look beyond simply increasing tree cover, or returning vegetation to the landscape. Genetic diversity is fundamental to the health, resilience and long-term survival of plant populations. Without careful consideration of genetic variation, connectivity and the capacity of species to adapt to changing conditions, restoration efforts risk rebuilding ecosystems that remain vulnerable to disease, environmental pressures and future climate change. These considerations are critical not only for rainforest restoration, but for ecosystem restoration more broadly.
♦ Babette Weatherell is the communications officer for Big Scrub Rainforest Conservancy.
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