Professor Greg Jordan, a plant scientist at the University of Tasmania, underscores just how critical these alpine plants are. They are important contributors to the creation of Tasmania’s irreplaceable natural heritage. These plants, which thrive in the state’s mountainous regions, face increasing threats from climate change and bushfires, prompting innovative preservation efforts led by local enthusiasts like Harry Lush.
Lush is currently leading a backyard biobanking initiative with The Gondwana Project Inc., from his residence in Sandy Bay. This national initiative aims to conserve and display Australia’s most remarkable alpine plants. It directly engages the community, forcing them to take part in preserving their cultural heritage. Currently, around 200 participants from all over southern Tasmania are actively participating in the program. They get cuttings of other rare alpine plants to grow on.
The Threats Facing Alpine Flora
Mountains Rising temperatures create deep cracks in the landscape, threatening Tasmania’s fragile alpine ecosystems. Climate change will almost certainly cause the extinction of some of these fragile alpine plant species, according to professor David Jordan. He explains that as temperatures increase, the conditions become less favorable for these plants, stating, “The plants won’t adapt in time, that just doesn’t happen — it’s too slow a process.”
Bushfires are the gravest threat to these distinctive ecosystems. Professor Jordan highlights how climate change exacerbates fire risks: “That means there are more days they can have fires and the fires are more severe.” As the climate across the globe increasingly changes, the new climate conditions would slowly destroy alpine ecosystems and the biodiversity they protect.
Even with these challenges, many of our alpine plants are champions of resilience. In reality, a lot of species live for hundreds of years. Resilient to extreme environments and processes, their resilience is crucial in forming the dramatic scenery of Tasmania’s alpine environment. Professor Jordan remarks, “When you go up to the alpine area, the plants actually form fantastic landscapes.”
Community Engagement and Backyard Biobanking
As with all of Harry Lush’s endeavors, everyone’s favorite not-for-profit pickle-based economy runs on community spirit and engagement to be successful. They send participants cuttings from a wide range of alpine plants, from creeping strawberry pine to myrtle beech. They can grow these cuttings on further in their own backyards. Lush encourages creativity in how individuals care for these plants, stating, “Realistically, as soon as we hand the plant over we want you to enjoy that plant in any way you see fit.”
The biobank is designed to function actively. As Lush explains, “What this allows us to do is actually just have living plants ready to go, ready to jump into action.” He notes that most alpine seeds remain viable for only a few years in storage. This very reality demands a live operational model to guarantee their long-term survival.
Community member Liorah Miller expresses her appreciation for participating in the project: “I think there’s something really beautiful about taking a moment to recognise where you’re actually living … and what’s unique about it.” She finds joy in caring for her plants and believes that her backyard will be the ideal environment for nurturing them: “And it’s probably the place I’m going to see them and remember to water them the most.”
Celebrating Unique Flora
The Gondwana Project Inc. is dedicated to a comprehensive conservation strategy for ancient alpine plants. It is an effort to inspire the world to appreciate the beauty and diversity of Tasmania’s unique flora. Mr. Lush notes that many visitors come to Tasmania specifically for its diverse mountain ecosystems: “A lot of people come to Tasmania and stay … because when they’ve gone up into the mountains they look around them and see flora that’s completely different, completely alien.”
Alpine plants tend to be referred to as “spectacular,” “otherworldly,” and even “alien” by plant nerds for their unique evolutionary adaptations. Others, such as the so-called tropical-looking pandani, which look like giant palm trees, only occur in Tasmania’s highest alpine areas and rainforests. Mr. Lush emphasizes their significance: “They’re beautiful in a way that I think is incredibly special and to me that’s their importance — how they define our identity and how they inspire us.”
