Conservation Projects
Many plant species across the world face loss of natural habitat due to a range of threatening processes including land clearing, invasive weeds and urban development.
The Botanic Gardens play an important role in raising awareness of the importance of biodiversity and the value that plant species hold.
Endangered Macadamia
The Bundaberg Botanic Gardens take an active role in the conservation and preservation of a number of species including through plantings of the endangered macadamia Macadamia jansenii also known as the Bulburin Nut.
The Bulburin Nut is only found in Bulburin National Park in Queensland, with only 60 individual species having been recorded. The species has been planted in the Bundaberg Botanic Gardens with the plants doing very well.
The Bulburin Nut is one of 4 macadamia species. Of the 4 species, 2 of them, Macadamia tetraphylla and Macadamia integrifolia are used for the production of nuts in Australia which has become a billion dollar industry.
As the entire macadamia industry is based on these 2 species, it is vitally important to have wild stock in the event of disease or fire wiping out industry plantations. Plantings in the Bundaberg Botanic Gardens of these species can help improve traits in wild plants including disease resistance, size and climate adaptability.
Visitors can also find the fourth species Macadamia ternifolia known as the Gympie Nut in the Rare Fruit Tree orchard.