Department of Tourism. (2016). It’s More Fun in the Philippines! - Benguet. Retrieved from https://philippines.travel/destinations/benguet

 

The earth’s future vegetation and floral life depends on our capability to safeguard these living treasures against extinction should there be a direct or indirect threat like fire, wars, or climate change that may affect the germination of food crops and plant survival, especially those that are vulnerable to the impending loom of  extinction (Sklogund, 1992). Storing seeds in seed banks for future generations allows faster vegetation recovery should there be pest or pathogenic infestations that may possibly wipe out an entire plant species. Seed banks likewise act as a preventive precaution against the possible threat of plant extinction as stored seeds can once again be germinated once natural disasters such as fire or flood, and man-made disasters such as wars eradicate plant life in the Philippines or anywhere in the world. Without us knowing, seed banks may act as important life vaults that may save us in the future. 

 

Skoglund, J. (1992). The role of seed banks in vegetation dynamics and restoration of dry tropical ecosystems. Journal of Vegetation Science, 3(3), 357–360. https://doi.org/10.2307/3235760

 

Thompson, K. (2008). Seeds and Seed Banks. New Phytologist, 106, 23–34. doi:10.1111/j.1469-8137.1987.tb04680.x 

In truth, there are so many plants that the Philippines is able to grow. However, out of all of these, we have chosen 10 crop plants that can be grown in our area--many of them are even exotic! The value of storing the seeds of these crops lies in that they are a popular food source of Filipinos and that they are plants whose variants are always a subject of interest for agricultural development.

Though, we have chosen these 10 plants, they are not the only ones you can choose from. How about reading this article to learn of the wild fruits that can be found in the Cordillera?

 

The Philippine is a biodiversity hotspot with one of the highest species richness not only in terms of animals but of plants as well (Gaither & Rocha, 2013). We are known for our high species endemism and richness which are prone to the effects of climate change and other natural forces (Suarez & Sajise, 2010).  With this, there is a greater call for the Philippine Department of Agriculture and Department of Environment and Natural Resources to spearhead a more expanded and unified seed bank in the Philippines to combine the efforts of the different community-based seed banks to reach the common goal of achieving a systemic national seed storage.

 

 

Ashraf, N., Karlan, D., & Yin, W. (2010). Female empowerment: Impact of a commitment savings product in the Philippines. World development, 38(3), 333-344.

Gaither, M. R., & Rocha, L. A. (2013). Origins of species richness in the Indo‐Malay‐Philippine biodiversity hotspot: Evidence for the centre of overlap hypothesis. Journal of biogeography, 40(9), 1638-1648.

Suarez, R. K., & Sajise, P. E. (2010). Deforestation, swidden agriculture and Philippine biodiversity. Philippine Science Letters, 3(1), 91-99.

Vernooy, R., Shrestha, P., & Sthapit, B.. (2015). Community seed banks: Origins, evolution and prospects. Routledge.

Vernooy, R. (2012). In the hands of many: a review of community gene/seed banks around the world. Community Seed Banks in Nepal: Past, Present, Future, 3-15.