A significant advancement in China’s ecological conservation infrastructure has been achieved with the structural completion of the National Facility Preservation Bank for Forestry and Grassland Germplasm Resources in Xiong’an New Area. This state-of-the-art facility, projected to become operational by 2028, represents a groundbreaking initiative in preserving the nation’s botanical biodiversity against escalating environmental threats.
Professor Wang Jun, deputy director of the facility’s operation center at Beijing Forestry University, characterizes the project as a comprehensive biological insurance system. “This facility functions as a secure repository for forest and grass genetic materials,” Wang explained. “When plant species face extinction from climate change, pathogens, or other ecological disasters, we maintain the capability to restore them using preserved germplasm resources.”
The Xiong’an preservation bank serves as the central node within a national network comprising one primary facility and six subsidiary banks. Jointly developed by the National Forestry and Grassland Administration and the Ministry of Education, with operational management delegated to Beijing Forestry University, the institution will coordinate nationwide conservation efforts for critical plant genetic materials.
Engineering the facility presented extraordinary technical challenges due to the immense diversity of plant biological characteristics. “Preservation requirements vary tremendously across species,” Wang noted. “Genetic materials range from seed specimens comparable to sports balls in size to those resembling fine sand particles. Certain species produce no seeds whatsoever, necessitating alternative preservation methods including dormant buds, DNA archives, and in-vitro plant cultures.”
Innovative architectural solutions address these complexities through specialized functional zones equipped with advanced preservation technologies. The facility incorporates cryogenic storage units, DNA banking systems, and intelligent greenhouse environments capable of maintaining optimal conditions for diverse plant species.
The Xiong’an bank pioneers systematic germplasm collection based on geographical variations within species—a critical innovation given China’s complex ecosystems. “Long-term evolutionary adaptation has created distinct genetic variations across different regions,” Wang emphasized. “A southern seed variety may lack drought resistance necessary for northern climates, while high-altitude plants could perish in low-altitude environments. Our collection strategy captures this essential genetic diversity through comprehensive geographical sampling.”
Advanced technologies including big data analytics and artificial intelligence will enhance the facility’s operations, enabling field researchers to accurately identify species and their unique variants. Upon completion, the institution will implement intelligent sensing and automated preservation systems, establishing complete informational management throughout the germplasm collection, preservation, and distribution processes.
This national biodiversity safeguard system will ultimately provide resilient ecological restoration capabilities across China’s varied landscapes, ensuring appropriate genetic resources are available for ecosystem rehabilitation anywhere in the country.