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Targets and priorities

The need to conserve global plant diversity is urgent.

Our collection priorities are driven by national and international targets. We focus on collecting species most at risk of extinction and curate our collections to international gene bank standards. 

Which plants do we think need to be 'banked' first?

We work with our colleagues in the Office of Environment & Heritage and National Parks and Wildlife Service targeting species listed as threatened and endangered. We also target species being affected by a threatening process - such as species likely to be affected by Myrtle Rust (Austropuccinia psidii) and Phytophthora - and vegetation groups affected by land clearing or climate change such as rainforests. 

The Rainforest Seed Conservation Project at the Australian PlantBank contributes to the Global Strategy for Plant Conservation and conservation planning for threatened species. Recognising the conservation role that ex situ seedbanking can provide, the Global Strategy for Plant Conservation has a target of 75 per cent of threatened plant species in accessible ex situ collections, preferably in the country of origin, and 20 per cent of them included in recovery and restoration programs by 2020.

Our ex situ (off site) seed and plant collections provide an 'insurance policy' against loss of plant diversity and contribute to global conservation and sustainability targets. 

Without plants, there is no life. The functioning of the planet, and our survival, depends upon plants. 
Global Strategy for Plant Conservation

Global targets

Global Strategy for Plant Conservation, Targets 2011-2020 Target 8: At least 75 per cent of threatened plant species in ex situ collections, preferably in the country of origin, and at least 20 per cent available for recovery and restoration programmes. 
United Nations Sustainable Development Goals Goal 13: Take urgent action to combat climate change and its impacts.
Goal 15: Sustainably manage forests, combat desertification, halt and reverse land degradation, halt biodiversity loss.
Millennium Seed Bank Partnership By 2020, the Partnership's aim is to secure the safe storage of seed from 25% of the world’s bankable plants. Priorities include endangered and endemic species, forestry and tree species, and wild crop relatives. 

State and National targets

Saving our Species (SoS) program of the NSW Office of Environment and Heritage The Australian PlantBank provides seed collection, storage and research for threatened species to complement in situ (on-site) conservation measures.
Australia's Biodiversity Conservation Strategy PlantBank contributes to biodiversity conservation, education and outreach.