Establishing a sustainable source of native seeds
Saoirse O’Neill, Field Research Technician at Teagasc, Dr. Colin Kelleher, Keeper of the National Herbarium at the National Botanic Gardens, and Dr. Dheeraj Singh Rathore, Tree Improvement Research Officer at Teagasc, discuss the new NATSEED project and explore its potential applications for Ireland’s native tree species.
Launched in April 2025, NATSEED is a one-year project developing seed sourcing strategies for Ireland’s native forestry species. The project is led by the National Botanic Gardens of Ireland, in collaboration with Teagasc and funded by the DAFM. Stakeholders include Coillte, NoneSo-Hardy (Forestry) Ltd, and Woodlands of Ireland, among others.
The project focuses on high-priority species such as alder, downy birch, silver birch, sessile oak, pedunculate oak, and Scots pine, with hazel and holly as medium- to low-priority species. Drawing on the knowledge of species biology, geographical distribution, and genetic diversity, the project will develop practical seed-sourcing strategies aligned with national forestry targets.
Alongside stakeholder engagement, seed quality tests and data collation are ongoing. The final output will be a policy document summarising seed quality results, seed sources, knowledge gaps, and recommended sourcing strategies for each target species.
Long-term Seed Storage
One strand of the project examines the impact of long-term storage on birch and alder seeds. Material from Teagasc’s indoor seed orchard and from NoneSo-Hardy Ltd has been stored for between one and 15 years. Tests will evaluate whether current storage conditions are suitable for maintaining viability over time. If effective, long-term storage could help secure a reliable supply of seed to support afforestation efforts.
Meeting Afforestation Targets
All target species are included in the DAFM Afforestation Scheme 2023-2027, which is expected to increase demand for Forest Reproductive Materials (FRM). In most years, seed availability often exceeds immediate demand. Developing effective sourcing and storage strategies will allow these peaks in seed supply to be harnessed more efficiently.
Through this work, NATSEED will equip the forestry sector with a framework to meet planting targets while safeguarding native genetic diversity.