Australia cannot restore what it cannot seed. Building a restoration economy requires investment in the people, knowledge, infrastructure and cultural authority that make restoration possible.   ·   Australia cannot restore what it cannot seed. Building a restoration economy requires investment in the people, knowledge, infrastructure and cultural authority that make restoration possible.   ·Australia cannot restore what it cannot seed. Building a restoration economy requires investment in the people, knowledge, infrastructure and cultural authority that make restoration possible.   ·   Australia cannot restore what it cannot seed. Building a restoration economy requires investment in the people, knowledge, infrastructure and cultural authority that make restoration possible.   ·
SeedKeepers
Core to SeedKeepers§ Permits, Permissions & Cultural Authority

Collecting seed is about more than access.

Native seed collection occurs within a complex landscape of legislation, land tenure, cultural authority and environmental responsibility.

Successful seed collection begins with relationships and permissions — not collection equipment.

Sample Australian Government seed collection permit on a wooden surface

§ Before seed is collected

Consideration should be given to:

  • 01

    Land tenure and ownership

  • 02

    Native Title rights and interests

  • 03

    Protected area regulations

  • 04

    Cultural authority and Traditional Owner permissions

  • 05

    Environmental approvals

  • 06

    Collection permits and licences

  • 07

    Threatened species requirements

  • 08

    Access agreements

  • 09

    Benefit-sharing obligations

§ Start With Country

The first question should not be what most projects ask. It should be a different question entirely.

The common question

"Can we collect seed here?"

The first question

"Who speaks for this Country?"

Understanding cultural authority and engaging Traditional Owners early helps reduce risk, strengthen relationships and improve restoration outcomes. Many restoration projects engage Traditional Owners after collection plans have already been developed. SeedKeepers encourages the opposite approach.

Engagement should occur at the beginning of the process, not at the end.

§ Understanding the Regulatory Landscape

Approval pathways vary by location and species.

Requirements vary significantly between jurisdictions and land tenures. Early planning is essential.

  • 01

    State and Territory permits

  • 02

    National park permits

  • 03

    Vegetation management requirements

  • 04

    Threatened species approvals

  • 05

    Indigenous Land Use Agreements

  • 06

    Native Title considerations

  • 07

    Landholder permissions

  • 08

    Commercial access agreements

§ Beyond Compliance

Meeting legal requirements is important. But compliance alone does not create trust.

The strongest seed collection programs are built on:

  • 01

    Respectful engagement

  • 02

    Clear communication

  • 03

    Transparency

  • 04

    Shared benefits

  • 05

    Long-term relationships

  • 06

    Stewardship responsibilities

Legal

Permits may grant legal access.

Social

Relationships create social licence.

Both matter.

§ Seed Collection Readiness

Before collecting seed, ask:

  1. 01

    Who are the Traditional Owners?

  2. 02

    Has cultural authority been recognised?

  3. 03

    Who owns or manages the land?

  4. 04

    Are permits required?

  5. 05

    Are there Native Title considerations?

  6. 06

    Are there threatened species restrictions?

  7. 07

    Have benefits and responsibilities been discussed?

  8. 08

    How will collection information be recorded and managed?

  9. 09

    Who will have access to the data?

  10. 10

    What happens after collection?

If these questions remain unanswered, the project may not yet be collection ready.

§ Next

We help projects work through permits, permissions and cultural authority — before any seed is collected.

Talk to us about collection readiness

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