Kew's Millennium Seed Bank partnership - Bulgaria

View on map: Bulgaria,

Plant species around the world are becoming extinct more than ever before and at an increasing rate. Kew's Millennium Seed Bank partnership in Bulgaria is working against the clock to safeguard valuable plant species that are at risk from habitat loss and over exploitation.

Collecting seeds in Strouma River Valley, Bulgaria (Image: Yulia Bosseva)

From 2005-08 we collected and donated 9.4% of the Bulgarian flora to the Millennium Seed Bank partnership. Ninety four of these are included in the Bulgarian Red List, 146 are of economic importance and 66 are endemic plant species.

Yulia Bosseva, Partner

Plant life in Bulgaria is under threat

Bulgaria is undergoing rapid development and habitat is being lost at a fast rate due to land conversion into holiday resorts, golf courses, ski tracks and timber extraction. Coastal, steppe, forest and alpine habitats are at particular risk. Of the flora, 574 of 3572 species are protected by Bulgarian law.

Saving seeds for the future in Bulgaria

Working together to help conserve Bulgarian flora are Kew’s Millennium Seed Bank and The Institute of Biodiversity and Ecosystems Research, Bulgarian Academy of Sciences. Already, the team has made great progress in collecting seed from species native to Bulgaria, in particular those of great conservation and economic importance.

During the period 2005-2009, 25 expeditions were carried out, resulting in the collection of over 300 species. These species have been dried, frozen and safely stored at Kew’s Millennium Seed Bank.

Portions of some of these collections are also held at the Institute of Biodiversity and Ecosystems Research where they are used for research, ultimately allowing conservation in the wild.