Sleeping Seeds May Be at Risk as a Result of Climate Change
Researchers for the Millennium Seed Bank Partnership coordinated by the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, UK, say climate change may be affecting seed dormancy for many UK tree species and, consequently, the regeneration of forests.
“Seed dormancy ensures that seeds do not germinate even when environmental conditions like water availability, light and temperature might seem right. Instead, the seed waits until those conditions are reliably good for growth, preventing seeds from sprouting in winter or during short warm spells where the long-term conditions would be too harsh for a seedling to survive,” they write.
In the UK trees like black alder, birch and Scots pine depend on a chilling period during winter to break seed dormancy and prepare for spring germination. As temperatures rise these seeds may either fail to break dormancy, delaying or preventing germination, or they may germinate too early, exposing seedlings to frost.
The researchers are studying how different tree species’ seeds respond to various environmental conditions. By testing seeds collected across the UK under varying temperatures, scientists are modelling how future climates will impact germination.
This research helps identify which tree populations are most at risk and informs conservation strategies for climate-resilient forests. It can also be applied to support tree nurseries in successfully producing more seedlings, faster, to help both conservation and forestry efforts. Read the Kew article.
Trends to Watch Reshaping the Future of Cities and Urban Living
Credit: Gensler. Fleet Street Quarter Public Realm Strategy, London.
Global leaders of Gensler’s Cities & Urban Design practice, based in the US and UK, discuss opportunities and challenges for cities undergoing significant transformation in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic.
To attract and retain a sustainable population and local economy, CBDs and downtown areas would benefit from adopting centralised models that support new patterns of living, working and mobility, say Andre Brumfield, Ian Mulcahey and Christopher Rzomp.
“The era of rigid zonal segregation is over. No longer can a city be simply divided into a series of discrete places: the place where I work, the place where I live, and the place where I want to spend my leisure time. This simplistic planning notion is about to change,” said Ian Mulcahey, Cities & Urban Design Leader, Strategy Director, Principal.
Remote and hybrid work cause people to spend more time in their neighbourhoods, increasing demand for local services, green spaces and social infrastructure. To compete, traditional office districts need to evolve into live-work-play destinations, blending residential, commercial and cultural functions.
Green and open spaces will play a key role in dense urban areas in improving wellbeing and climate resilience, they say. These public spaces should be flexible, serving multiple functions from recreation to social gatherings, while being adaptable to climate challenges.
Read the Gensler article for their take on trending resilient, localised and adaptable urban environments.
Street Furniture Australia’s entire product range and manufacturing operation has received carbon neutral certification through Climate Active™. Achieving carbon neutral certification marks a significant milestone in our operation and the culmination of a four year long process of detailed measurement and analysis. Climate Active™ is the only Australian government-backed carbon neutral certification programme for businesses to measure, reduce, and offsets their carbon emissions. It is one of the most rigorous carbon-neutral programs in the world. An approved Emissions Reduction Strategy (ERS) is central to achieving certification through Climate Active. Street Furniture Australia has elected to use SBTi validated science-based targets to ensure their ERS is meaningful and aligns with the 2015 Paris Agreement – to limit global temperature rises to 1.5℃ above pre-industrial levels. For those emissions that can’t be …
Linea Bin is the newest addition to Street Furniture Australia’s minimalist Linea range. Built from stainless steel for strength, durability and a refined aesthetic, it has been thoughtfully designed with input from landscape architects and waste managers to deliver hygiene, accessibility and sustainability in the public realm. Built to LastA robust stainless steel frame and panel system ensures Linea Bin performs in high-traffic environments. A full-height stainless steel 316 piano hinge and splash tray provide exceptional strength, hygiene and corrosion resistance, withstanding daily impacts from trolleys and cleaning equipment. “Durability was paramount,” says Pearson Bulmer, Senior Industrial Designer at Street Furniture Australia. “Every detail needed to perform in the public realm for years to come – but also be designed for disassembly so parts can be repaired, replaced or recycled …
With the look and feel of natural timber, backed by 12 months of performance testing for the public realm, engineered wood joins Street Furniture Australia’s selection of batten materials. Designers and place custodians can now choose from three batten options to achieve a timber look: natural Spotted Gum hardwood, low maintenance aluminium Wood Without Worry, and engineered wood known as Onewood HRT. See our Engineered Wood: Onewood HRT brochure or book a presentation. What is engineered wood?Onewood HRT (Homogeneous Reconstituted Timber) is a solid engineered timber, made from fast-growing FSC certified poplar and eucalyptus fibres that are compressed under heat and pressure with a resin binder. It is solid throughout with an organic grain and, like real hardwood, can be sanded to refresh. Street Furniture Australia partners with a Singapore-based …
