Project duration: March 14, 2025 - December 15, 2034, Acronym: Genetic Conservation II

Project goals

• Safeguarding genetic diversity: By collecting and storing autochthonous seeds, the genetic diversity of extensive grassland stands is preserved.
• Provision of regional seeds: Regional seeds should be available for nature conservation, agriculture and renaturation projects.
• Support for the biodiversity strategy: The project fulfills national and international obligations for biodiversity conservation.

Why ex-situ preservation?

Unlike traditional conservation projects that protect individual threatened species, ex-situ conservation preserves the genetic diversity of an entire habitat. This is particularly important to counteract the threats posed by genetic drift, climate change, and habitat loss.

By storing genetic resources in the "grassland gene bank", they can be secured for decades and used for research, agriculture and renaturation as needed.

Workflow

1. Collection and storage: By 2032, genetic samples from at least 50 plants per species and location are to be collected. The accessions will be dried, described, and stored in the freezers of the HBLFA and AGES Linz.
2. Reproduction: Propagation takes place on experimental plots or in polytunnels to obtain sufficient seed material for large-scale propagation.
3. Quality control: Regular germination tests ensure that the seeds are still usable even after decades.
4. Documentation: All information is recorded in a gene bank database and in accordance with EURISCO standards to facilitate the international exchange of genetic resources.

Natural and sustainable use

The collected material is used for various applications:

• Breeding of forage crop mixtures: Development of ecological and productive seed mixtures.
• Restoration: Provision of regional wild plants for nature conservation projects and landscaping.
• Biodiversity areas: Use in ecological programs such as ÖPUL.

Practical relevance

The project offers diverse practical applications:

• Agriculture: Regional and adaptable seed mixtures promote the ecological stability and productivity of grassland areas.
• Nature conservation: The provision of regional, autochthonous seeds supports the restoration of endangered habitats and species.
• Climate adaptation: By conserving genetic resources, resilient plant populations can be established that are better adapted to extreme weather events.
• Education and research: The project provides valuable data and materials for scientific studies and contributes to raising awareness of biodiversity conservation.

Innovations of the project

• Expansion of genetic collections: Inclusion of new accessions and sites to ensure greater diversity and resilience.
• Climate adaptation: Identification and conservation of plants that are better adapted to extreme weather conditions.
• Agricultural resilience: Promoting disease-resistant plants for more sustainable farming methods.
• Innovative use of wild plants: consideration of medical, ecological and scientific applications.
• Technological advances: Use of modern techniques in gene bank management to improve resource quality.
• Education and public relations: Use as an educational tool to raise awareness of biodiversity and sustainable development.

Future prospects

The project runs until 2034 and aims to sustainably preserve the genetic diversity of Austria's extensive grasslands. It makes an important contribution to maintaining our biodiversity and adapting to changing environmental conditions.

Together with local partners and farmers, a foundation is being created that is of inestimable value not only for agriculture, but also for nature conservation and research.