The San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance, a nonprofit conservation organisation, has revealed plans to biobank every endangered species by 2075.
To achieve this, the organisation is working to establish a global network of biobanks.
These facilities collect, process, store and manage biological samples for wildlife conservation purposes, such as breeding programmes for endangered species.
The San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance, which operates the San Diego Zoo, is calling on conservation organisations and global partners to join its initiative.
"Advances in science and technology bring us hope and these innovations have brought us here today," said Nadine Lamberski, San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance's chief conservation and wildlife health officer.
"We have a call to action – to biobank all endangered species worldwide by 2075. And we can't do this alone. Our delegation has one clear message: join us in this commitment.
Building a global network of biobanks
"Together, we can drive a movement to save wildlife and the ecosystems we depend on, and raise awareness about the critical tool we can use to accomplish this: biodiversity biobanking."
The San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance's initiative is starting with pilot sites in four biodiversity hotspots – Kenya, Vietnam, Hawaii and Peru.
Each location has different needs, and varying degrees of existing infrastructure that can support biobanking, the organisation said in a press release.
It is supporting these locations through network building and organisation, knowledge exchange and training, and physical resources and facilities.
"The world has reached a pivotal moment. Nature is in crisis. The loss of biodiversity is occurring at a speed and scale that is outpacing our ability to get out in front and halt the decline of species," Lamberski added.
"The health of wildlife, people, and the ecosystems we depend on are at risk. We must take bold steps to save the health of our planet."
Images courtesy of the San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance
