Plant Diversity Conservation Challenges and Prospects—The Perspective of Botanic Gardens and the Millennium Seed Bank

Botanic gardens and seed banks, particularly those affiliated with Botanic Gardens Conservation International and the Millennium Seed Bank at Kew, play a pivotal role in conserving plant diversity and addressing global challenges. These institutions leverage living collections and seed banks to support wild plant conservation, agriculture, food security, restoration, and local livelihoods. The study highlights that while both approaches offer distinct advantages, they also have limitations that necessitate additional research, such as cryopreservation for 'exceptional species.' It emphasizes the importance of global networks in sharing data and plant material, enabling integrated conservation efforts that bridge in situ and ex situ strategies.

Breman, E., Ballesteros, D., Castillo-Lorenzo, E., Cockel, C., Dickie, J., Faruk, A., O’Donnell, K., Offord, C. A., Pironon, S., Sharrock, S., & Ulian, T. (2021). Plant Diversity Conservation Challenges and Prospects—The Perspective of Botanic Gardens and the Millennium Seed Bank. Plants, 10(11), 2371. https://doi.org/10.3390/plants10112371