Important species and habitats
Field Cow-Wheat (Melampyrum arvense) found in only four locations in the UK.
At present the MSBP is focussing its efforts on drylands, but is receiving seed collections from around the world, from Alaska to Antarctica, as part of a donations program.
In all the countries in which the MSBP works, target species for collecting are set by partners, according to national and institutional needs, objectives and interests. Once the broad objectives for collecting have been defined the MSBP helps partners to identify exact species for conservation and to locate and monitor populations for collecting.
Many partners choose to focus collecting on those species which are endangered in the wild and/or which are endemic to their country or region, or are of economic use to people. These are commonly referred to as "the Three E's".
Red data list for Southern Africa.
Other partners have specifically tailored their collecting programme to focus on species which are useful for restoration - this usually includes species which are widespread.
Seed banking relies on drying and cooling seeds, and so is only suitable for seeds from species able to withstand these processes. These are known as orthodox seeds.