Threatened Biodiversity Hotspots Programme

A rocky outcrop covered with many different plant species — A diverse flora on a rocky outcrop at Serra Choa, Manica Province, Mozambique. (Photo: Jo Osborne).

Background and Rationale

The Threatened Biodiversity Hotspots Programme delivered through the Millennium Seed Bank Partnership is a targeted programme of work to support and develop partner seed banks to safeguard rare and threatened species, particularly those which are endemic. The programme focuses on extremely biodiverse regions in Indonesia, Thailand, Mozambique, South Africa and the Caucasus, each of which faces different challenges and has differing levels of existing conservation capacity. By working closely with in-country partner organisations, we will ensure that each of the five regions has a highly focussed seed conservation facility, working to international standards which is able to support a variety of plant conservation and research initiatives nationally. This will involve the delivery of training as well as supporting the upgrade of essential seed banking infrastructure where necessary.

Aims

Working alongside in-country partner organisations this programme aims to conserve 3,500 – 5,000 species from five biodiverse hotspots through seed banking to ensure their long-term conservation and provide seeds for research, reintroduction and use by future generations.

Regional and Country Projects

The Caucasus

Working with partners at the Institute of Botany of the National Academy of Sciences Armenia, the Genetic Research Institute of the National Academy of Sciences Azerbaijan, the Institute of Botany of the National Academy of Sciences Azerbaijan, the Institute of Botany, Ilia University Georgia and the National Botanic Gardens of Georgia, this project aims to bank the seeds of 600 priority species from the region.

Project Officer - Ian Willey

For more information please visit our project page.

Indonesia

Working with partners at the Research Center for Plant Conservation and Botanic Gardens along with Botanic Gardens within the Indonesian Institute for Science, this project seeks to bank the seeds of 1,011 species as well as undertake conservation assessments of the tree flora of Indonesia.

Project Officer - Ian Willey

For more information please visit our project page.

Mozambique

Working with partners at the Instituto de Investigação Agrária de Moçambique (IIAM) this project aims to bank seeds of over 770 species and establish a long-term seed storage and research facility for the ex situ conservation of Mozambique's diverse flora.

Project Officer - Jo Osborne

For more information on this project please visit ourproject page.

Thailand

Working with partners at the Bangkok Forest Herbarium, this project aims to bank the seeds of 320 herbaceous species, prioritising those which are endemic and endangered, as well as to complete IUCN plant conservation assessments for 400 herbaceous species.

Project Officer - Kate Hardwick

South Africa

Working with partners at the South Africa National Biodiversity Institute (SANBI) this project aims to bank the seeds of 1,134 species and to provide seeds for plant conservation and habitat restoration initiatives throughout South Africa.

Project Officer - Jo Osborne

For more information please visit our project page.

Programme Funding

This programme is generously funded by Arcadia - a charitable fund of Lisbet Rausing and Peter Baldwin.

For further information please contact Elinor Breman, Senior Research Leader, Seed Conservation, at the MSB.