The contribution of botanic gardens to ex situ conservation through seed banking

Botanic gardens make a significant contribution to ex situ conservation of wild species with more than a third of plant species (including PGRFA) represented in botanic gardens collections. This study suggests that institutions are increasingly conserving plant species (including PGRFA) via seed banking. However the majority of species in collections that have a conservation assessment are not threatened with extinction. This disjunction between species that are threatened and those conserved in seed banks needs to be addressed. Data from BGCI's databases can be used to enable prioritisation of threatened plant species (including PGRFA) for collection and conservation in seed banks. Further recommendations for botanic gardens involved in seed conservation are presented.