‘A purpose-built treasure trove’: TERN’s soil collections

Soils are dynamic, living systems that play a central role in the most fundamental processes on Earth. They cycle nutrients, store carbon, filter water, and underpin the health of nearly every terrestrial ecosystem on the planet. Yet despite their global importance, soils are not fully understood. This knowledge gap is compounded by the fact that soils are complex and highly variable, so their properties and ecological roles differ from one ecosystem to another. As soils come under increasing threat from habitat degradation and climate change, understanding them has never been more urgent.

To address this, the TERN Australia Soil and Herbarium Collection facility houses tens of thousands of soil samples from diverse ecosystems across the Australian continent. This state-of-the-art repository is contributing to important research critical to solving real-world problems, particularly in the areas of climate science, earth observation, conservation, and sustainability.