Threats and Challenges

A large challenge that these species present in regard to their conservation is their growth and reproduction habits. For seed banking, you need seeds that can be stored for long periods of time, and unfortunately for both of our Nothofagus species, their seeds need to be germinated roughly within a year of harvest, as germination rates will drop dramatically each following year. Additionally, Nothofagus species have mast years (lots of seed production every few years, with minimal in between). Furthermore, almost all of our relict species have slow rates of growth, which means that reforestation efforts need to be planned years in advance if they aim to respond quickly to land disturbance.

A changing climate also means that as time passes, the land where these relict species currently grow will become less and less habitable. This may mean that we need to selectively breed these species for heat and drought tolerance to keep them where they are, or become extremely active in the management of them and the land where they grow.