Ascension : Conservation Weekly
Submitted by The Islander (Conservation Office) 07.06.2012 (Article Archived on 09.08.2012)

I went over to the UK with members of the Conservation Team, Jolene Sim, Liza White and Catherine Supple for training at the Royal Botanical Gardens, Kew.

 Millennium Seed Bank

Contributed by Dane Wade

 
Dane putting seeds into agar at the Millennium Seed Bank

I went over to the UK with members of the Conservation Team, Jolene Sim, Liza White and Catherine Supple for training at the Royal Botanical Gardens, Kew. We covered areas on propagating, micro-propagation, seed collecting and pest and diseases.  

The Millennium Seed Bank has over 24,000 plants species from around the world that are against extinction. The millennium seed bank works under cold, dry conditions of a seed bank. Seeds can survive for hundreds, possible thousands of years depending on the species. Each batch of seeds that arrive is carefully dried and cleaned before going into storage at -20°C. After banking, the viability of seed collections is monitored periodically by germination tests. Germination testing is carried out in an agar solution.

There are 60,000 seeds stored from all over the world in the Millennium Seed Bank.

I would like to thank OTEP for funding this training opportunity for us. AIG for allowing me to go and a big Thank you to the people at the Millennium Seed Bank and at the Royal Botanical Gardens, Kew for training the conservation team.

 Turtles

Turtle Tours are now finished for the season.

Thank you for your support.

Please be advised that due to on-going field work the Conservation Office will open from 7.30am -10am during week days. We open as normal on Saturdays, 10am-12noon, signs will be posted on the door when the office is closed.

Sorry for any inconvenience this may cause.

Volunteers welcome. Please contact Natasha Williams or Jolene Sim, Ascension Island Conservation Department, Georgetown.

Tel: 6359.

Email:  natasha.williams@ascension.gov.ac  or jolene.sim@ascension.gov.ac