Throughout Australia, landscapes are in need of restoration and rehabilitation, to support healthy bushland for animals, plants and people. Restore & Renew is an ambitious and important project that responds to the need for bush regenerators to incorporate the latest science into their toolkit, restoring healthy ecosystems that are diverse, resilient and adaptable.

The Royal Botanic Garden Sydney is Australia’s oldest scientific institution. Restore & Renew is one of Australia's most future focused research projects, applying the very latest genetic technology to conservation in a way that could revolutionise bush regeneration practices.

The Restore & Renew team have already started collecting thousands of plant specimens from hundreds of species across New South Wales, for genetic analysis. This information will be used to create a publicly available online resource where plants can be selected to suit specific sites. The recommended species will be genetically-appropriate and suited to the user’s location and conditions. Climate modelling will also allow practitioners to plant according to future forecasts, increasing the likelihood that the species will cope with a changing climate.

The four main goals of Restore & Renew are:

• Provide maps showing where genetically suitable seed can be collected for ecological restoration projects.

• Give information about how to create genetically diverse plantings for maximum health and longevity.

• Help habitats to be adaptable to climate change.

• Support creation of seed production areas that can be harvested for use in bush regeneration

This project has been assisted by HSBC and the New South Wales Government through its Environmental Trust.