African Tree Seed Preservation
Svalbard Global Seed Vault
CIFOR-ICRAF Seed DepositO
n February 25, 2025, the Center for International Forestry Research and World Agroforestry (CIFOR-ICRAF) deposited 120,000 seeds from 13 native African tree species into the Svalbard Global Seed Vault in Norway. This significant contribution brings CIFOR-ICRAF’s total deposits to over 1.1 million seeds, encompassing 177 African species. The recent deposit includes the iconic baobab (Adansonia digitata), known for its nutritional and medicinal properties, and Faidherbia albida, valued for its nitrogen-fixing abilities that enhance soil fertility. Dr. Éliane Ubalijoro, CEO of CIFOR-ICRAF, emphasized that these seeds symbolize hope and resilience, particularly for communities recovering from conflict. The Svalbard Global Seed Vault serves as a safeguard for global crop diversity, providing insurance against both incremental and catastrophic loss of plant genetic resources.
