FloraSearch project
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Summary
The FloraSearch project (2002-2014) was a research initiative implemented in the broader southern Australia, aimed at identifying native woody plant species that could be grown as commercial crops in low to medium rainfall areas. This initiative focused on production-driven revegetation with clear economic returns.
This page will help you:
- understand the aims and outcomes of the FloraSearch project
- access reports generated by the project, which help inform production-driven revegetation programs.
FloraSearch aims and outcomes
The FloraSearch project aimed to:
- identify native plant species suitable for growing in areas with 250-650 mm of annual rainfall
- identify native plants suitable for specific markets (e.g. bioenergy, wood fibres, eucalyptus oil and fodder)
- provide carbon sequestration data and estimate for native species.
This project reviewed a comprehensive of a range of native plants species suitable for development as commercial woody crops (including wood fibres, eucalyptus oil, bioenergy, fodder shrubs and carbon crops). It also undertook a regional industry potential analysis to identify regions within southern Australia with the greatest potential for developing new woody crops.
Key project outcomes include:
- a shortlist of suitable native species for specific markets (see reports below)
- plant growth data which has contributed to the calibration of the Full Carbon Accounting (FullCam) model.
FloraSearch reports
The information and data generated from this project has been used in many modern carbon farming projects in South Australia.
A series of research reports detailing the outcomes of this joint venture agroforestry program are available for free download:
- Evaluating agroforestry species and industries for lower rainfall regions of South-Eastern Australia - Bennell et al. (2008)
- Agroforestry species profiles for lower rainfall regions of South-eastern Australia - Hobbs and Bennell (2008)
- Review of wood products, tannins and exotic species for agroforestry in lower rainfall regions of Southern Australia - Hobbs (Ed.) (2008).
- Potential agroforestry species and regional industries for lower rainfall Southern Australia - Hobbs et al. (2008)
- Developing species for woody biomass crops in lower rainfall Southern Australia - Hobbs et al. (Ed.) (2009)
- Reviews of high priority species for woody biomass crops in lower rainfall Southern Australia - Hobbs et al. (Ed.) (2009)
- Regional industry potential for woody biomass crops in lower rainfall Southern Australia - Hobbs (Ed.) (2009)
- Performance of native plant species in South Australian woody crop trials - DEWNR
Find out more:
- FloraSearch– Developing broadscale commercial revegetation industries in low rainfall regions of southern Australia (conference paper) – Neumann et al. (2006)
- Perennial forage shrubs providing profitable and sustainable grazing: key practical findings from the Enrich project (report) – Future Farm Industries CRC
Page Updated: April 2026:
