Britain's seed bank, the only one in the world aiming to collect all of the planet's wild plant species, has reached its goal of banking 10 percent by 2010.
Britain
's
seed
bank
,
the
only
one
in
the
world
aiming
to
collect
all
of
the
planet
's
wild
plant
species
,
has
reached
its
goal
of
banking
10
percent
by
2010
.
The Millennium Seed Bank Project, run by Kew Gardens--one of the oldest botanical gardens--will officially place the 24,200th species on Thursday, a pink, wild banana from China.
The
Millennium
Seed
Bank
Project
,
run
by
Kew
Gardens
--
one
of
the
oldest
botanical
gardens
--
will
officially
place
the
24,200th
species
on
Thursday
,
a
pink
,
wild
banana
from
China
.
More than 50 countries are now on board with Kew's giant task but vast places of the globe, including India and Brazil, still need to join in and donate seeds, director Paul Smith said.
More
than
50
countries
are
now
on
board
with
Kew
's
giant
task
but
vast
places
of
the
globe
,
including
India
and
Brazil
,
still
need
to
join
in
and
donate
seeds
,
director
Paul
Smith
said
.
The seed bank is one of the largest and most diverse in the world with more than 1.5 billion seeds.
The
seed
bank
is
one
of
the
largest
and
most
diverse
in
the
world
with
more
than
1.5
billion
seeds
.
Its goal is to help protect the planet's bio-diversity during a time of climate change.
Its
goal
is
to
help
protect
the
planet
's
bio-diversity
during
a
time
of
climate
change
.
The wild banana seed is under threat of extinction in southwest China from agricultural development.
The
wild
banana
seed
is
under
threat
of
extinction
in
southwest
China
from
agricultural
development
.
It is a vital food source for Asian elephants and important for growing bananas for human eating.
It
is
a
vital
food
source
for
Asian
elephants
and
important
for
growing
bananas
for
human
eating
.
Stored at minus-20 degrees centigrade, so they can last for thousands of years, the seeds await the day that scientists hope never comes--when the species no longer exist in the wild.
Stored
at
minus-20
degrees
centigrade
,
so
they
can
last
for
thousands
of
years
,
the
seeds
await
the
day
that
scientists
hope
never
comes
--
when
the
species
no
longer
exist
in
the
wild
.
It is a race against time, Smith said, because in the last ten years alone, 20 plants held in the bank have already been wiped out in the wild.
It
is
a
race
against
time
,
Smith
said
,
because
in
the
last
ten
years
alone
,
20
plants
held
in
the
bank
have
already
been
wiped
out
in
the
wild
.
He estimates that between a third and a quarter will become extinct this century.
He
estimates
that
between
a
third
and
a
quarter
will
become
extinct
this
century
.
"It is pressing and it is happening now.
``
It
is
pressing
and
it
is
happening
now
.
An area, the size of England, is cleared of primary vegetation every year."
An
area
,
the
size
of
England
,
is
cleared
of
primary
vegetation
every
year
.
''
Smith said.
Smith
said
.
Because most of the world's food and medicines come from nature, protecting wild plant species is quite important, scientists say.
Because
most
of
the
world
's
food
and
medicines
come
from
nature
,
protecting
wild
plant
species
is
quite
important
,
scientists
say
.
There are already many other seed banks safeguarding food crops, which only account for 0.6 percent of plant diversity.
There
are
already
many
other
seed
banks
safeguarding
food
crops
,
which
only
account
for
0.6
percent
of
plant
diversity
.
For Kew's next goal--to collect a quarter of wild varieties by 2020--the botanists need 10 million pounds a year, or a further 100 million pounds on top of the 40 million they have already been granted.
For
Kew
's
next
goal
--
to
collect
a
quarter
of
wild
varieties
by
2020
--
the
botanists
need
10
million
pounds
a
year
,
or
a
further
100
million
pounds
on
top
of
the
40
million
they
have
already
been
granted
.
Britain's seed bank, the only one in the world aiming to collect all of the planet's wild plant species, has reached its goal of banking 10 percent by 2010.  The Millennium Seed Bank Project, run by Kew Gardens--one of the oldest botanical gardens--will officially place the 24,200th species on Thursday, a pink, wild banana from China.  More than 50 countries are now on board with Kew's giant task but vast places of the globe, including India and Brazil, still need to join in and donate seeds, director Paul Smith said.  The seed bank is one of the largest and most diverse in the world with more than 1.5 billion seeds. Its goal is to help protect the planet's bio-diversity during a time of climate change.  The wild banana seed is under threat of extinction in southwest China from agricultural development. It is a vital food source for Asian elephants and important for growing bananas for human eating.  Stored at minus-20 degrees centigrade, so they can last for thousands of years, the seeds await the day that scientists hope never comes--when the species no longer exist in the wild.  It is a race against time, Smith said, because in the last ten years alone, 20 plants held in the bank have already been wiped out in the wild. He estimates that between a third and a quarter will become extinct this century.  "It is pressing and it is happening now. An area, the size of England, is cleared of primary vegetation every year." Smith said.  Because most of the world's food and medicines come from nature, protecting wild plant species is quite important, scientists say. There are already many other seed banks safeguarding food crops, which only account for 0.6 percent of plant diversity.  For Kew's next goal--to collect a quarter of wild varieties by 2020--the botanists need 10 million pounds a year, or a further 100 million pounds on top of the 40 million they have already been granted.