What is Ireland's 'Noah's Ark' for plants?

It refers to Ireland's native seed bank, established to preserve plant genetic diversity for future recovery after ecological disasters.

Who is managing Ireland's native seed project?

Conservation ecologist Darren Reidy has been leading the research, gathering, and banking of native Irish seeds since 2022.

How many native Irish plant species are in the seed bank?

The goal is to bank all 900 native species, with a matchbox capable of holding seeds from every single one.

Home / Environment / Ireland's Plant Ark: Seeds Saved for Future Disasters

Ireland's Plant Ark: Seeds Saved for Future Disasters

21 Dec

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Summary

Conservation ecologist Darren Reidy leads Ireland's native seed banking initiative.
The seed bank aims to preserve genetic diversity for future ecological recovery.
A matchbox can hold seeds of all 900 native Irish plant species.

Ireland's Plant Ark: Seeds Saved for Future Disasters

Conservation ecologist Darren Reidy is leading Ireland's ambitious native seed banking project, established in 2019 and active since 2022. This initiative, likened to 'Noah's Ark,' aims to preserve the genetic diversity of Irish flora for future ecological recovery. Reidy's office at the National Botanic Gardens in Dublin houses the seed bank, remarkably storing seeds of all 900 native species, with a matchbox serving as a testament to its compact nature.

The process involves meticulously collecting, cleaning, drying, and freezing seeds at minus 20C, ensuring viability for up to 200 years. For species like orchids and oaks, cryopreservation is employed. Reidy has focused on endangered plants, successfully banking 137 species to date, including 34 from Ireland's red-listed flora, highlighting the urgency of 21st-century biodiversity loss.