Genbank Bayern Arche – Genbank für Wildpflanzensaatgut

Biodiversity’s greatest threats in Central Europe are changing land use, eutrophication, emissions and the unpredictable influence of climate change. This calls for action in order to preserve species’ diversity and species’ genetic variation. In this context the Free State of Bavaria (Germany) initiated a seed genebank especially for rare and endangered wild plant species at the University of Regensburg. The objective of this project is to collect plant seeds from natural habitats in Bavaria and to maintain their viability through long-term storage at -18°C. High levels of genetic variation within all collections are intended to make sure that species can adapt to their continuously changing environment. Through cooperation with the Botanical Garden of Regensburg the public gains access to a growing number of rare and endangered plants.