Imagine a modern-day Noah, tasked with an ambitious mission to safeguard Ireland's botanical heritage. Dr. Darren Reidy, a conservation ecologist, has taken on the role of preserving the genetic diversity of Ireland's flora, a project he likens to building 'Noah's Ark' for plants.
Since 2022, Dr. Reidy has been meticulously researching, gathering, and storing native Irish seeds, a complex process that involves much more than simply collecting and storing.
For each species, ideally, 10,000 seeds are required, but when dealing with endangered plants, the process becomes even more delicate. An assessment of all populations on the island is crucial to decide if it is safe to collect and bank the seeds. If given the green light, only 10% of the fruit can be taken, a challenging task when dealing with critically endangered species like the whitebeam trees, which grow exclusively in Ireland and have a mere five individuals left on the entire island.
"We have one tree producing fruit, and I travelled to Killarney to collect just four fruits, each containing a single viable seed. It's a delicate dance, but a necessary one to ensure the survival of these species," Dr. Reidy explained.
The decision to establish a seed bank in Ireland was made in 2019, following the declaration of a climate and biodiversity emergency. However, the pandemic delayed progress until 2022 when Dr. Reidy was appointed. His office at the National Botanic Gardens in Dublin is a hub of activity, equipped with plant encyclopaedias, microscopes, storage bags, incubators, and a freezer housing Ireland's seed bank.
"Space is not an issue. I can show you a matchbox that holds a single seed of all 900 native species in Ireland. We have just three big seed species - the oaks and hazel - the rest are tiny, especially the orchid seeds, which are like dust," he added.
The collected seeds are carefully cleaned and dried to a relative humidity of 15%, suitable for most species. They are then frozen at -20°C for up to three months, and a subset is tested for germination. If successful, the seeds are frozen again and can remain viable for up to 200 years, depending on the species. Orchid and oak seeds, which do not tolerate drying, require cryopreservation, and the necessary equipment is being acquired.
"The real challenge is finding skilled personnel. You need experts in plant identification, and the seed processing is a slow and meticulous process. But it's a challenge we must embrace, and it is achievable," Dr. Reidy emphasized.
He gave the example of the oyster plant, a coastal species vulnerable to extinction in Ireland, which has already gone extinct in England and Wales. The cold ocean water washing the seeds onto the shore breaks their dormancy, allowing germination. In Ireland, it is found only on the Antrim and Donegal coasts, and Dr. Reidy has focused on collecting seeds from every viable population, ensuring the species' survival.
So far, he has gathered 137 different species, equivalent to 13% of Ireland's native and archaeophyte flora, with a focus on endangered plants. He has banked 34 species of Ireland's threatened and near-threatened flora, equating to 15% of red-listed species.
"Seed banking is a form of conservation inspired by the biblical story of Noah, where we take species from the wild and preserve them, ensuring their survival should the worst happen and we lose them from the wild. It's crucial in the face of 21st-century biodiversity loss, as we are witnessing an ever-increasing loss of plant diversity," Dr. Reidy said.
Currently, more than 100 of the 1,100 species native to the island of Ireland are threatened with extinction, with a further 100 near threatened. The aim is to replant these species in their natural habitats once they are ecologically restored.
Dr. Reidy cited two success stories: the club sedge, which grew at Lough Neagh in Northern Ireland before its extinction, and the sea cottonweed, which was reduced to just 14 plants at Lady's Island Lake in Co Wexford. Both species were collected, propagated, and reintroduced thanks to the efforts of dedicated botanists.
However, Dr. Reidy warns that seed banking alone is not enough to prevent plant extinctions, and attempts to reintroduce plants can fail.
"We must also consider how we manage our landscapes, natural resources, and habitats in Ireland. Seed banking is just one cog in the wheel of conservation, but a vital one to ensure the survival of our precious botanical heritage."
What are your thoughts on this ambitious project? Do you think seed banking is a crucial step in preserving biodiversity, or is it just a temporary solution? Share your thoughts in the comments below!
