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The text you shared describes the vital work of Ellyn and Kevin at the National Botanical Garden of Wales, where they collect and store native wild seeds to create a seed bank that preserves genetic diversity and aids ecosystem restoration. Here’s a summary highlighting the key points:
– **Purpose of the Seed Bank:** The seed bank preserves native wild seeds as a genetic library to restore Wales’ ecosystem after disasters such as floods or droughts, or from local extinctions.
– **Challenges:**
– Seeds are collected during a very short window when plants release seeds, sometimes just a few days.
– Only about 11% of Wales’ estimated 15,000 species have been banked so far.
– Locating viable populations of rare plants with good seed production is difficult.
– Climate change increases the urgency and difficulty.
– **Importance for Conservation and Society:**
– Wales has about 60 endemic (found nowhere else) plant species.
– One-sixth of plants in Wales are threatened with extinction.
– Loss of plant species reduces ecosystem resilience, affects pollinators, crop yields, soil health, and local economies.
– Preserving genetic diversity, including wild relatives of crops, is essential for adapting to pests, pathogens, and changing environments.
– **Examples and Impact:**
– Seeds have been used to restore species wiped out locally, like the Shore Dock, which disappeared from one location after a landslide.
– The seed bank acts as a last line of defense against extinction.
– **Operations:**
– Seeds are collected, sorted, dried, sealed in airtight bags, and stored in freezers.
– Samples are tested for germination viability every 10 years.
These efforts by Ellyn and Kevin and collaborating botanists are critical to conserving plant diversity and securing Wales’ natural heritage against environmental threats.
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Read the full article from The BBC here: Read More
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