Seed Banking to Protect the Environment And Native Plants That Face Extinction

What is meant by seed banking? Well, there are a couple of definitions. One is that seeds are secured from certain plants, usually rare or threatened plants, and kept viable until they are needed for revegetation or study. This method of preserving plants is extremely important and vital to protect native plants that might otherwise be in danger of becoming extinct from an area.

Of course, some seeds cannot be stored for a long period of time, so other methods of keeping the seeds alive is necessary. This could include keeping them in an airtight container to keep bacteria, fungus or other detrimental particles from destroying them. Banking special seeds is also a good way to preserve plants that might have benefits to people, such as containing properties that can be used for medicines and pharmaceuticals. If plants are allowed to go extinct through human carelessness, we might be missing out on natural remedies and treatments.

The other type of seed banking is to make sure there is an ample supply of seeds within the soil itself. This is generally done during construction or grading projects when the land is cleared of brush and soil. This could be for building projects like homes or businesses, or even for road expansions or additions. The problem biologists are faced with when land is cleared, is that invasive or undesirable plants often move in quickly when soil is disturbed.

This is a major problem because native plants then have a very difficult time getting established. Some invasive weeds or plants are not all that harmful to the environment, but others can completely eliminate natives. This is potentially devastating to the environment because many animals and insects depend on the native plants for shelter and food, and they are not adapted to the invasive plants. If the area fauna are suddenly faced with a drastic change like that, they will die off. This can alter the entire food chain of an ecosystem.

Therefore, construction and clearing projects must be monitored carefully and the topsoil, or the top few inches of soil, needs to be preserved. Once the project is complete, the topsoil can be spread back over the site and the native seed within the soil will have a chance to grow again. Since the soil has been disturbed, the invasive weeds will still have an excellent opportunity to take root, but with care, the natives will have a better fighting chance. It's very important to maintain an ecosystem and conserve the plants and animals that make up that ecosystem.