Farmers in southern NSW, science teachers and scientists now have better access to information on how to best revegetate cleared land through an online initiative launched by Charles Sturt University.

The South-West Slopes Online Revegetation Guide is an Internet website that provides landholders and community groups with the latest information on over 80 plant species used to revegetate properties throughout southern NSW and North East Victoria.

The online guide was developed by staff from the CSU Herbarium at its Albury-Wodonga Campus. Herbarium Officer Kylie Kent said the guide brings a wealth of plant information to everyone with access to the Net.

"The guide combines high-quality images of plant specimens from CSU's new Herbarium with detailed descriptions of each species. The guide will be gradually expanded with images and information on as many plants in the region as possible," Ms Kent said.

Detailed information is provided for each plant species, including its distribution, habitat, growth forms and flowering times, hints for seed collection and propagation, plus its suitability for use as shade, livestock and wildlife shelter, land protection and in gardens.

The online guide is based on The South West Slopes Revegetation Guide, a book published in 1998 by the Murray Catchment Management Committee and the NSW Department of Land and Water Conservation.

According to Carla Miles, Native Vegetation Project Officer with the Murray Nature Conservation Working Group, the revegetation website illustrates the close collaboration between CSU, government agencies and community groups.

"The database gives community groups the best local information on plant propagation, site preferences, plant uses and ecology: 24 hours a day, seven days a week, at no cost," Ms Miles said.

Ms Kent said the Herbarium aims to place all its collection online, providing an online encyclopaedia of native plants and unwanted weeds found in the Murray and Murrumbidgee catchments.

Click here to see CSU's Virtual Herbarium and the Online Revegetation Guide.