The University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa Harold L. Lyon Arboretum Seed Conservation Laboratory has been internationally recognized for its critical work in preserving Hawaiʻi’s most endangered plant species.
The lab, represented by manager Nate Kingsley, received top honors at the 8th Global Botanic Garden Congress in Singapore for conserving the greatest proportion of threatened species. Working with partners including the Hawaiʻi Plant Extinction Prevention Program and the Division of Forestry and Wildlife, the laboratory has banked more than 33 million seeds representing more than 300 threatened and endangered plant taxa across 55 families.
Back from extinction
Of particular significance recognized by the award was the lab’s work with Cyanea pinnatifida, an endemic plant species declared extinct in the wild in 2001. The wild population had been reduced to a single individual in the Waiʻanae Mountains before seeds were brought into the lab. Through meticulous seed collection and preservation efforts, researchers have banked more than 40,000 seeds between 2007 and 2022. These efforts have enabled collaborative restoration projects that have reintroduced and established plants in multiple protected sites on Oʻahu. Despite ongoing challenges from invasive species and climate change, some sites are showing signs of natural regeneration.
“This international recognition underscores the critical importance of preserving Hawaiʻi’s extraordinary and fragile native plant biodiversity, which represents some of the most unique and endangered flora on Earth,” said Lyon Arboretum Interim Director Donald Drake. “By banking seeds of species like Cyanea pinnatifida and working closely with conservation partners, we are not just protecting plants, but safeguarding the ecological heritage that defines our islands and sustains the delicate environmental balance that makes Hawaiʻi home.”
The Seed Conservation Lab is one of three storage and propagation facilities that are part of Lyon’s Hawaiian Rare Plant Program (HRPP). Since 1992, HRPP has focused on the rescue and recovery of Hawaiʻi’s most critically endangered native plants.
The Seed Conservation Lab is currently undergoing a complete renovation, which will significantly increase its capacity to conserve native Hawaiian plants. For more information, visit Lyon’s website.
