More than 120,000 seeds have been sent to the ‘Doomsday vault’ in the Antarctic in a bid to ensure the future of plant species on earth.
The Svalbard Global Seed Vault on the Norwegian island of Svalbard opened in 2008 and now contains 1.25 million seed samples from nearly every country.
Late last month, the latest delivery arrived on the icy island, taking the number of seeds stored there to over 1 million.
The seed vault serves as a ‘last resport’ safeguard for the earth’s agricultural biodiversity.
The facility is carved into the side of a mountain and houses seed samples from nearly every country, ensuring the conservation of vital crops against threats like climate change, war and natural disasters.
The latest deposit is a ‘pivotal moment’ in safeguarding the future of native tree species, Éliane Ubalijoro, CEO the The Center for International Forestry Research and World Agroforestry said.
‘By conserving the seeds of these mighty trees, we are not only protecting biodiversity but also strengthening the resilience of landscapes and communities against a changing climate,’ she added.
New additions to the vault include the African baobab, known as the ‘Tree of Life’ for the essential food, medicine and economic benefits to millions.
Other species added play essential roles in restoring soil health, sequestering carbon and supporting sustainable agroforestry practices.
Everything you need to know about the Global Seed Vault
- The seeds are stored in airtight aluminium bags, and on average each bag contains approximately 500 seeds
- The Norwegian government entirely funded the Seed Vault’s approximately 45 million kr (US $8.8 million in 2008) construction cost
- The seed vault officially opened on 26 February 2008 but the first seeds came in January 2008
- There are no permanent staff on-site in the vault
In 2020, King Charles sent rare seeds from one of his estates to the vault. The wild plant seeds were from meadows at Highgrove residence.
Charles said at the time: ‘Ever since I first arrived at Highgrove 40 years ago this year, I have battled to preserve and protect the crucially important diversity of flora and fauna that ultimately sustains our survival on this planet.’
The plants, hand-picked from the pasture, were species disappearing from the UK landscape.
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