Building a global network - Kew's work across the Caribbean and Atlantic Ocean

Kew's Millennium Seed Bank partnership - Our projects in the South Atlantic Ocean

19 Nov 2009

Kew's Millennium Seed Bank partnership is helping to save plant life in the Falkland Islands, St Helena and Ascension Islands for our future. Our focus is on plant life at risk and of most use in the future. Many plant species found on these islands are not found anywhere else on earth.

UK Overseas Territories - a collaboration between Kew’s Millennium Seed Bank partnership, Kew's UKOTs science team and local conservation partners

There are over 270,000 plant species on this planet. One quarter of those plants now face the threat of extinction. Our mission is to protect the seeds of as many of those plants as possible. From sub-Antarctic heath to various kinds of tropical forest, the United Kingdom Overseas Territories (UKOTs) are home to a diverse range of habitats facing various challenges. Our teams of scientists are working in some of the most remote places on earth to document and collect plants before species disappear forever.

Kew's Millennium Seed Bank project – St Helena

Seeds collected from threatened plant species on St Helena are stored at Kew’s Millennium Seed Bank. They make a valuable contribution to our goal of securing the safe storage of 25% of the world’s plants by 2020. The main priority is those species and regions most at risk from climate change and the ever-increasing impact of human activities.

Kew's projects across the Caribbean and North Atlantic Ocean

21 Sep 2009

Kew's teams are working closely with local communities to protect the region's most threatened habitats.

Kew's Millennium Seed Bank partnership – Other UK Overseas Territories

Kew’s Millennium Seed Bank holds collections of threatened and endemic plants from several other UK Overseas Territories.

Kew's Millennium Seed Bank partnership – Turks and Caicos Islands

Plant species are becoming extinct more than ever before and at an increasing rate. A real threat to plant life is habitat loss, often due to human activities, which is a problem on the Turks and Caicos Islands. In order to protect plants we need to collect and store seeds. These seeds can be germinated and planted in the wild when and where they are most needed.

Kew's Millennium Seed Bank partnership – Montserrat

Kew's Millennium Seed Bank collection contains 26 seeds from precious and vulnerable plant species found in Montserrat. We now have the option to grow these seeds into plants and reintroduce them in the wild.

Kew's Millennium Seed Bank partnership – Falkland Islands

Kew’s Millennium Seed Bank partnership is participating in vital conservation work in the Falkland Islands. Plants are under threat from invasive species and land-use. By collecting and storing seeds we can safeguard endangered plant species for future generations.

Kew's Millennium Seed Bank partnership – Ascension Island

By collecting seeds from plants on Ascension Island and preserving them at Kew’s Millennium Seed Bank, we are providing an insurance against their loss in the wild. Seeds can be grown into plants and re-introduced in their native habitats.