Seed conservation actions for the preservation of plant diversity: the case of the Sardinian Germplasm Bank (BG-SAR)

The Sardinian Germplasm Bank (BG-SAR) is a facility of the Hortus Botanicus Karalitanus (HBK), which belongs to the University of Cagliari (Italy). Its main objective is the conservation, study and management of the germplasm of Sardinian endemic, threatened and policy species (i.e., species inserted in the Habitat Directive 92/43/EEC, CITES and Bern convention), taxa from insular territories of the Mediterranean region, as well as Crop Wild Relatives (CWR), landraces, useful plants and plant remains. A summary of the procedures implemented by BG-SAR for the ex situ conservation, some international scientific results achieved, and some research projects at regional, national and international level in which the bank is involved, are reported in this work, with the main aim to highlight how a germplasm bank can be considered an important tool for the preservation of plant biodiversity. This paper allows to make a reflection about the importance of the germplasm banks, as well as their staff members, who constantly and daily work in order to preserve and conserve the planet's biodiversity.