NUEBG: Pioneering Seed Conservation in the Philippines

In 2018, the Northwestern University Ecological Park and Botanic Gardens (NUEBG) became the first botanical institution in the Philippines to receive a fully funded training course at the Millennium Seed Bank (MSB) in Sussex, United Kingdom. Sponsored by the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, this month-long intensive program equipped NUEBG with advanced seed conservation techniques, strengthening its role in safeguarding plant diversity.

The Millennium Seed Bank, the world`s largest and most diverse plant conservation facility, houses an underground vault storing seeds from across the globe. Its mission is to secure plant diversity for future generations, ensuring the survival of threatened species and ecosystems. In 2013, NUEBG contributed to this global effort by depositing a portion of its seed collection at MSB, providing an essential backup for its living plant collections.

To further its conservation impact, NUEBG is establishing a dedicated seed bank within its Ecological Park and Botanic Gardens. This facility will serve as repository for endemic, endangered plant species and wild crop relatives from Northwestern Luzon, reinforcing its commitment to biodiversity preservation, ecological restoration, and sustainable research.

Objectives of the NUEBG-MSBP Partnership Seed Banking & Conservation- secure at least 20% of all orthodox species endemic to Northwestern  Luzon including wild crop relatives, prioritizing typhoon-prone ecosystems, critical habitats, and key biodiversity areas by 2035.

Urgency for Seed Bank

The rapid decline of endemic species and wild crop relatives in Northwestern Luzon underscores the urgent need for a dedicated seed bank. This facility will serve as critical resources for species conservation, ecological restoration, research, and education, ensuring the survival of threatened forest ecosystems. With its capacity to send duplicates to the Millennium Seed Bank and other international seed banks, NUEBG plays a key role in global plant conservation efforts.