Seed banks as conservation tool for endangered wild plant species in ecozones of Nigeria

Abstract

Seed banks have played the largest role in the conservation of endangered wild plant species in the world. The potential role of seed in the regeneration of plant species is threatened by a rapid decline in the longevity and viability of the seeds in their natural habitats. This study addresses the key role of seed banks in the conservation of floristic diversity. The increasing popularity of the seed bank as a tool in the conservation of wild plant species can be attributed to different significance, including; provision of immediate access to plant samples, allowing researchers and conservation biologists to evaluate them for properties such as new sources of medicines, nutrition, and genes. Also, wild plant seeds conserved in seed banks are immune to habitat destruction, diseases, and predators. The stored seeds can be used to reinstate species into existing, suitable habitats where they were once present, or to augment the diversity of small, genetically depleted populations. Conservation efforts, as sources for population reintroduction and restoration, have been cited as an important justification for seed banks. Thus, it is recommended that seed banks with state-of-the-art storage facilities should be established at the national and local levels; and all of such banks should be networked so that materials, knowledge, and expertise on particular wild plant species is available on a global scale.

Key words: Conservation, Endangered, Floristic diversity, Plant species, Seeds bank, Storage