Besides climatic change, there are numerous other threats to the flora of Northern Africa (farming modernization, urban expansion, transformation of coastal areas into agricultural or tourist zones, extension of Cannabis culture, etc.), while germplasm banks and their associated activities constitute the most important tools for the ex situ conservation (in some cases, they are the last defence against massive extinction).

This phase of the project is aimed at the organisation of expeditions through Morocco and Tunisia for the collection of endemic species, often also threatened in these countries, with the purpose of conservation in seed banks. Egypt, another partner of the Project, by means of the Mansoura University, will organise their plant collections in close cooperation with Partner 7 from Crete (MAICh). Furthermore, partnership training and exchange of experiences will also be carried out within this phase, as well as the establishment of a seed bank in Rabat. Seven other partners will actively participate in this phase under the coordination of partner 2 (IJBB).

Institut Scientique of Rabat

Action 3.1 : Seed collection and banking

Three expeditions in Morocco and one or two in Tunisia (as well as a further expedition in Egypt, if possible) are planned for the collection of native plant material and their conservation in their own seed banks. For example, in the case of Morocco the aim is to collect and conserve 10 to 20% of the endemic plant species (100-200 species) throughout the project. Regarding the Egyptian partner, the collection of seed will be focused on wild medicinal plants.

Action 3.2 : Training

During the expeditions, the partners with expertise will take advantage of their presence in the centres of Morocco and Tunisia in order to offer training to the local staff concerning the activities of collection and conservation. During the general meetings to be held in Murcia and Athens, the partners from the Southern side of the Mediterranean will be invited by the European partners and will have the opportunity to share their experiences with the rest of the participants in the Project.

Action 3.3 : Germination experiments

Seed collected will be tested to evaluate their germinability whenever possible (depending on the seed amount available). For this purpose, the European partners will actively collaborate with their counterparts from the South and will even use their own facilities to conduct these germination trials, if necessary.

Action 3.4 : Establishment of a seed bank

The European partners will financially assist the setting-up of a seed bank in Morocco. Materials required for seed conservation will then be purchased, and consumables will also be brought (or sent) during the expeditions through Northern Africa (Morocco, Tunisia and Egypt).

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