CIFOR-ICRAF surpasses one million seeds in historic Svalbard vault deposit
CIFOR-ICRAF reaches new milestone in global tree conservation
CIFOR-ICRAF has reached a significant milestone in its efforts to safeguard global tree biodiversity, surpassing 1.1 million seeds deposited in the Svalbard Global Seed Vault. The latest contribution, made on 25 February 2025, included 120,000 seeds from 19 native African tree species, including the iconic baobab, known as the “Tree of Life.” Éliane Ubalijoro, CEO of CIFOR-ICRAF, personally delivered the seeds to the vault in Longyearbyen, Norway. The deposit underscores the organisation’s long-standing commitment to preserving forest genetic resources and supporting climate resilience.
With 38% of the world’s tree species at risk of extinction, securing native species is seen as vital for maintaining biodiversity, strengthening climate adaptation, and ensuring the sustainability of agroforestry systems. CIFOR-ICRAF has been depositing seeds at the vault since 2008 as part of its broader mission to support global reforestation and food security.
For more details and photos of the seed deposit, visit CIFOR-ICRAF’s website: https://www.cifor-icraf.org/svalbard-global-seed-vault/
