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Millennium Seed Bank Project in Jordan

Khaled Abulaila from NCARTT collecting Colutea istria in Shaubak, southern Jordan.

The collaboration with the National Center for Agricultural research and Technology Transfer (NCARTT) was formalised in 2001, for a 10-year period. RBG Kew and NCARTT agreed to work together with the purpose of complementing existing in situ conservation in Jordan by supporting the collection, study and ex situ conservation of wild species of the Jordanian flora. This purpose is met through the following objectives: the establishment of a verified and well-documented seed collection of wild plant species indigenous to Jordan, and by the establishment of a mutually beneficial conservation training, research and educational programme.

 The Project Purpose will be addressed through the delivery of the following outputs:

1.      Establishment of a secure, vouchered, long-term seed collection of Jordanian endemic, threatened and otherwise significant plant species that is available and utilised for research and possible species recovery activities; the project aims to collect around 35 species new to the MSB each year.

2.      Increased knowledge and capacity to collect and conserve seed within staff of NCARTT. This is aided by the production in 2005 of a Collection Guide to rare and endangered species of Jordan by Kew’s GIS unit.

3.      Bringing about an understanding within government and the broader community of the critical role of seed collections in an integrated approach to species and community conservation and restoration.

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