Introducing Southwest Environmental Alliance's regional seed bank project
In our latest round of grants, distributed in July 2025, we awarded $62,295 to the Southwest Environmental Alliance to undertake the planning, feasibility and discovery phase of a new regional seed bank.
Based in Portland, the Southwest Environmental Alliance (SEA) aims to restore and rewild urban habitats by establishing a local seed bank and nursery focused on indigenous plant species.
Establishing a seedbank and nursery would ensure a reliable and cost-effective supply of local indigenous plants, boost community involvement, benefit partners, and would contribute significantly to effective, sustainable habitat restoration in Glenelg.
The grant funding from the Trust will enable SEA to complete a comprehensive feasibility study for the seedbank and nursery, which will assess community needs, identify market gaps, seedbank viability and potential partnerships, as well as determine preliminary costings. This phase of the project is expected to occur over the next six to eight months.
Pending the success of the feasibility study, SEA anticipates establishing the seedbank and nursery over the next two to four years. The organisation anticipates that this initiative, once developed, will enhance biodiversity, improve wildlife corridors, reconnect fragmented landscapes and contribute to carbon sequestration.
To learn more about SEA, visit their website.
