Billions of seeds from wild plant species are safely stored in seed banks worldwide, preserving genetic diversity for future use. However, a new study has found that the potential of these seed collections is largely unrealised. According to a survey of over 100 seed banks across 34 countries by Fiona White and colleagues, only about 70% of seed banks had ever used their seed collections for reintroducing species to the wild, with an average of just 12 reintroductions per seed bank. The study, published in the journal Biological Conservation, highlights how limited resources and funding are preventing seed banks from fully leveraging their collections to support reforestation and restore plant communities.

Plant reintroductions from seed bank collections are a vital tool for conserving biodiversity. Seed banks exploit the fact that, for many plants, seeds are a long-term survival capsule, capable of surviving much harsher conditions than the adult plant. Reducing the temperature and humidity of storage allows seed banks to preserve plants with much more ease than setting up maintained botanic gardens.