Groundbreaking ceremony for National Facility Preservation Bank for Forestry and Grassland Germplasm Resources (Xiong'an). [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]
The National Facility Preservation Bank for Forestry and Grassland Germplasm Resources, the world's largest repository of its kind, broke ground on Jan 25, 2025 in Xiong'an New Area, China. With completion anticipated in 2028, the facility aims to collect and preserve 1.8 million critical forest and grassland germplasm specimens, solidifying China's role in global biodiversity conservation.
Jointly established by the National Forestry and Grassland Administration and the Ministry of Education, the facility is constructed and managed by Beijing Forestry University. As China's main Facility Preservation Bank for Forestry and Grassland Germplasm Resources, it will systematically preserve 1.8 million globally significant germplasm resources, encompassing both wild tree and grass species and artificially cultivated varieties.
Rendering of National Facility Preservation Bank for Forestry and Grassland Germplasm Resources (Xiong'an). [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]
Equipped with advanced smart sensor systems and automated preservation technologies, the facility will realize comprehensive digital management of germplasm resources from collection, preservation to distribution and utilization, establishing a global benchmark for intelligent germplasm management.
According to the construction plan, the Xiong'an main bank will work in coordination with six sub-banks located across China, forming a unified network. Jointly, they will shoulder pivotal duties such as the collection, long-term strategic preservation, genetic evaluation, functional gene research, resource distribution and international scientific cooperation of important forestry and grass germplasm resources.
Forest and grassland germplasm resources are strategically crucial for national ecological security and sustainable development. The construction of the bank marks the establishment of China's comprehensive germplasm preservation system. It not only significantly enhances the protection and utilization level of China's forestry and grassland germplasm resources and the overall level of the forestry and grass industry, but also makes a significant contribution to global green development and biodiversity conservation.
Currently under construction and adhering to domestically leading and globally world-class standards, the bank will integrate expertise from top-tier Chinese research institutions, including Beijing Forestry University, the Chinese Academy of Forestry and the Chinese Academy of Sciences. This collaboration aims to build a full-chain innovation system for germplasm resources, reinforcing China's strategic scientific capabilities in ecological conservation.
