What: A major seed deposit at the Svalbard Global Seed Vault by CIFOR-ICRAF, bringing its total deposits to over 1.1 million seeds from 177 species. This latest addition includes 120,000 seeds from 19 native African tree species, such as the iconic baobab, also known as the “Tree of Life,” to safeguard biodiversity and support climate resilience.
Who: CIFOR-ICRAF CEO Éliane Ubalijoro will deliver the seeds, reinforcing the organization’s long-standing commitment to tree conservation.
When: Tuesday, 25 February 2025, 5 PM CET
Where: Svalbard Global Seed Vault, Longyearbyen, Norway
Why: With 38% of the world’s trees at risk of extinction, securing native species is critical for biodiversity, climate adaptation, and sustainable agroforestry. CIFOR-ICRAF has been depositing seeds at the vault since 2008, supporting global reforestation and food security efforts.
Media opportunities:
- Photos of the seed deposit, including Éliane Ubalijoro at the vault
- Interviews with CIFOR-ICRAF scientists and experts on tree biodiversity and conservation
For more information or to request interviews and photos, contact: Azzura Lalani – [email protected]
More details: https://www.cifor-icraf.org/
About CIFOR-ICRAF
The Center for International Forestry Research and World Agroforestry (CIFOR-ICRAF) harnesses the power of trees, forests and agroforestry landscapes to address the most pressing global challenges of our time – biodiversity loss, climate change, food security, livelihoods and inequity.
About the Svalbard Global Seed Vault
The Svalbard Global Seed Vault provides insurance against both incremental and catastrophic loss of crop diversity held in traditional genebanks around the world. It is owned and administered by the Ministry of Agriculture and Food on behalf of the Kingdom of Norway and is established as a service to the world community. The Crop Trust provides support for the ongoing operations of the Seed Vault, as well as funding for the preparation and shipment of seeds from developing countries to the facility. The Nordic Genetic Resources Center (NordGen) operates the facility and maintains a public online database of samples stored in the Seed Vault. An international advisory council oversees the management and operations of the Seed Vault.
