Using stored seeds for plant translocation: the seed bank perspective
F.J. WHITE, A. ENSSLIN, S. GODEFROID, A. FARUK, T. ABELI, G. ROSSI, A. MONDONI
University of Pavia, Department of Earth and Environmental Science, Via Sant'Epifanio 14, Pavia, 27100, Italy

Billions of wild species’ seeds are stored in hundreds of conservation seed banks globally. Plant translocation from these seeds is a key target of the UN’s Global Strategy for Plant Conservation. How seeds are used for plant translocation and the obstacles seed banks encounter has not been investigated. We circulated a questionnaire across international networks, complemented with a literature review on plant translocation from stored seeds. 104 seed banks from 34 countries responded. Over 70% had used their collections for plant translocation, with a median of 12 translocations per bank. The main limitations were “funding” and “resources”, with a lack of seeds and expertise also mentioned. Only 11 banks had no constraints on performing plant translocation. With 96% of respondents wishing to carry out future translocations, there is a willingness by seed banks to use their collections, but a lack of funding and resource is limiting the full potential. The literature review identified 12 articles that used seed bank stored seeds for plant translocation, suggesting translocations from ex situ seeds are rarely published in the scientific literature. Our results indicate that if nations are to achieve their international conservation targets, funding and resources for using banked seeds should be prioritised.