Native Seed Gene Bank

In 2000, CRES initiated a seed banking program dedicated to the conservation of endangered plants in the Southern California region. The CRES Native Seed Gene Bank serves as a key resource for the Education departments of the San Diego Zoo and Wild Animal Park, with more than 500 visitors annually. The main facility is a seed bank comprised of straw bale construction which, due to its high insulation value, requires no air conditioning and very little supplemental heat. The facility measures 880 square fee (82 square meters) and contains a working laboratory to hold microscopes, a seed separator, seed grinder, dehumidification chamber, sieves, and cleaning equipment. A storage room holds three large freezer units, one large refrigerator, and dry storage containers, and there is an office for computer data entry, analysis, and record-keeping.

The primary purpose of the seed bank is to collect, inventory, and store seeds from key locations throughout San Diego County for propagation and revegetation efforts. Additional functions include establishment of an invaluable research collection for botanists wishing to study genetics and seed morphology of our unique flora, and provision of a safety net against extinction of highly endangered plant species. An adjacent structure is used to process and store the dormant form of the federally endangered Riverside fairy shrimp, native to Southern California’s disappearing vernal pools. The third component of the Native Seed Gene Bank is a native plant propagation and revegetation demonstration area. Plants such as black sage, California poppies, monkey flower, and native milkweeds create a beautiful, fragrant, butterfly-friendly, drought tolerant garden that demonstrates an attractive and functional alternative to water-demanding lawns and landscaping.