Looking back to look ahead: the temporal dimension of conservation seed bank collections

• DOI: 10.1111/nph.70187
• Publication Date: 2025-05-07T06:50:01Z
• Authors: Efisio Mattana; Sandrine Godefroid; Stephanie Miles; Angelino Carta; Andreas Ensslin; Ted Chapman; Juan Viruel
• Keywords: Leverage (statistics); Reforestation; Limiting

Summary A wealth of plant material and data is stored globally in conservation seed banks. This represents not only a repository genetic resources but also an asset for nature‐based solutions (NbS), such as ecological restoration reforestation, research science. Here, we explore the temporal spatial dimensions collections challenges limiting their use NbS research, while highlighting how they could be source adaptation evolution studies. However, existing lots originally collected purposes will sufficient to support on own. We propose long‐term experimental approach that, together with new targeted collecting programmes, can leverage dimension by carrying out repeated sampling from same population. At time, stress these approaches benefit dedicated holding seeds each maternal line separately. By moving towards bidimensional (space time) approach, banks go beyond per se transform into dynamic repositories capable addressing pressing ecological, evolutionary, questions help understand shape communities future.