The Ecological Restoration Alliance-India (ERA-I) is releasing a first-of-its-kind seed germination database on April 16, 2025. The database, which is a free-access platform, contains over 1,000 germination techniques for 465 native plant species in India. This initiative aims to enhance the success rate of native plant growth in nurseries and promote ecological restoration in the country. The database is a result of collaboration between 23 experts from 11 institutions, including Auroville Botanical Gardens and the Nature Conservation Foundation.
The database is expected to benefit restoration practitioners, nursery managers, and native plant enthusiasts. According to Paul Blanchflower, director of Auroville Botanical Gardens, creating a native plant nursery requires knowledge of germination protocols. The ERA-I’s database provides this knowledge base to effectively establish native plant nurseries.
India has pledged to restore 26 million hectares of degraded land under the Bonn Challenge, a global initiative to restore 350 million hectares of degraded lands by 2030. Native plants play a crucial role in ecological restoration as they have adapted to local soil and climate conditions, reducing the need for external support like watering and fertilizers.
The ERA-I database contains 465 native plant species, including Aegle marmelos (wood apple) and Ficus benghalensis (banyan). The database ensures that each seed counts in restoring degraded landscapes, where the right conditions are essential for successful germination.
According to Divya Mudappa, a senior scientist at the Nature Conservation Foundation, people have relied on trial and error to establish native plant nurseries. The ERA-I’s database offers a wealth of learning and information to assist both new and experienced nurseries in growing native species.
The ERA-I’s seed germination database is expected to improve the success rate of native plant growth in nurseries and support India’s pledge to restore degraded lands.