The irony of seed banks is that they were developed to preserve heritage plants that have been phased out by big food and monoculture. The idea is to both diversify plants in nature and in what we eat and drink, but also that the diversity and resilience will become more important as the planet warms, current food crops in particular, begin to struggle.
It's hard to know where the coral from these biobanks will be planted as the seas inevitably warm and the coral loses habitat, but perhaps it is further toward Antarctica. The concept has been developed by Great Barrier Reef Legacy Project and is now in its second project stage.
The team has already secured seed funding and a land grant to build the facility. Next stage includes collecting about 200 species of hard coral, appointing lead staff, partnerships and networked biobank hubs. You can get involved and donate at Coral Biobank.
Great Barrier Reef Legacy is a not-for-profit organisation created to address the urgent need to secure the long-term survival of the Great Barrier Reef and coral reefs world-wide. Through public, private and corporate funding, Great Barrier Reef Legacy brings together the best scientific minds, talented educators and inspired multimedia specialists to create positive and lasting outcomes for our environment.