SuperForest

“To inspire and deliver science-based plant conservation worldwide,
enhancing the quality of life.”

Dr. Paul Smith is the head of the Millennium Seed Bank. His job is to preserve as much of the Earth’s plant species as possible, and store them safely in a specially built vault. Once properly stored, the seeds can last for hundreds of years, giving us time to rebuild and renew habitats and land, before reintroducing the plants.

Dr. Paul Smith: The mopane seed. It is just over an inch long, flat and kidney shaped with a strong smell of nutmeg. It grows into an enormous tree that lives in Africa and provides local people with medicines, dyes and fuelwood.

SF: Where did the MSB start?

PS: The MSB started as a small seed store that Kew used for research purposes. It was situated in the disused chapel of the 16th century mansion at Wakehurst Place. The MSB itself was only completed in 2000.

SF: If the MSB had an official sound track, what songs would you like to see on the track list?

PS: I might start with a protest song or two because of the way we continue to abuse this planet and all who live on it – Blowin’ in the wind by Bob Dylan would be appropriate given the fact that it’s seeds we’re talking about. However, I’m an optimist and a believer in human ingenuity so it would have to be followed by Bob Marley’s Three little birds, with perhaps Coldplay’s Viva la vida to remind us of what we are about.

SF: How many people are currently working with the MSB worldwide?

PS: About half of them (only joking). Many hundreds of people in more than 120 partner institutions in more than 50 countries.

SF: What countries have the most seeds catalogued to date (and how many)?

PS: Australia (approaching 6,000 species).

Australian seeds.

SF: Other than supporting the SASC/MSB and spreading awareness, what else can readers do to contribute to the cause?

PS: Grow local plant species in your garden. Plant trees. Teach your children the value of all living things. Inspire others. Write a book! Two books that have inspired me are ‘The Education of Little Tree’ by Forrest Carter and ‘The man who planted trees’ by Jean Giono.

SF: If you could ask a seed a question what would it be?

PS: We have a seed that was collected in 1803. I would ask it about everything it had seen from the day it was first collected near Capetown in South Africa to its journey to Europe in a wooden warship to its time in the Tower of London to its arrival at the Millennium Seed Bank.

SF: Do you have any suggestions for someone who might collect seeds on their own? Maybe to plant in a different season. Or in a couple of years from now. Or to leave to their children and grandchildren. What sorts of conditions are necessary to allow seeds to keep their magic?

PS: 80-90% of plant species produce ‘orthodox’ seeds, which keep well if you dry them. In fact, for every percentage point you reduce their moisture content, you double their life. So, the best way to keep most seeds for a long time is to keep them cool and dry. You can dry them in a sealed container with silica gel or grains of rice. Alternatively, you can buy a mini-seed bank with everything in it you need from www.kewbooks.com. Non-orthodox or ‘recalcitrant’ seeds include chestnuts and acorns. These seeds die when you dry them and are predisposed to germinate more or less straight away. Keeping these for long periods is difficult without a laboratory! The MSB’s Seed Information Database will tell you if your plant is orthodox or recalcitrant.

SF: If one didn’t have a guidebook, or didn’t know about plants, how could someone go about identifying a plant species?

PS: We work, wherever we can, with local experts. The best way to learn about plant identification is from an enthusiast! Alternatively, you can cut off a piece of your plant (preferably with a fruit or flower attached), press and dry it in a book or plant press then take it along to your nearest herbarium (at the local university or museum). You can then compare it against the reference collections held there – hopefully with the help of the curator.

SF: How busy does your work with the Millennium Seed Bank keep you? Is there time for love and family? Also, do you have any pets?

PS: This job keeps me very busy, but I don’t mind because it is never dull! I am constantly being updated with our programs all over the world, and there is usually an exciting story. Last week, one of our teams in South Africa re-discovered and collected seed from Erica greyii, not seen for over a hundred years. From time to time I still get to go seed collecting myself. The rest of my time is taken up with planning, management, administration and raising awareness about what we do. Despite my passion for plants and this job, family comes first, and yes, we do have pets. Every time I go overseas, a new quadruped appears… we currently have three rabbits, one guinea pig, two cats and two horses!

SF: How close is the MSB to accomplishing its goal of 10 percent of dryland plant species by 2010?

PS: We have about 2500 species to go, so expect to achieve the overall target later this year.

SF: What drew you to a life of working to preserve and protect?

PS: Love of nature. I grew up in rural Africa, and enjoyed the outdoor life running about in the bush with my friends. When I was older, I worked in a game park in Zambia as a safari guide and learnt all about the animals and birds. However, I soon realised that not nearly so much was known about the plants, despite the fact that the animals and birds all rely on the plants for their food and shelter. That got me interested in the plants of central Africa, which then got me a job doing vegetation survey work in another park. They gave me a rifle, a vehicle and an assistant and I walked the park for the next two years collecting plants and avoiding elephants. The plant collections I made eventually took me to Kew in London, and ultimately a job at the Millennium Seed Bank.

SF: When you find yourself frustrated or running up against obstacles, how do you keep yourself centered?

PS: I enjoy problem solving, and finding practical solutions to problems. People problems are more challenging of course but I am lucky enough to work with a great team here at the MSB. So for every setback there are usually a couple of other things to celebrate.

SF: Who/what inspires you?

PS: I am inspired by the places I have seen and the people I have met around the world. And it’s the quiet places and people who inspire me the most.

SF: If the MSB had unlimited funds, what’s the first thing you’d like to see accomplished?

PS: I’d like to see at least one seed collection from every kind of plant stored in the MSB or partner’s seed banks.

SF: What’s the scariest MSB-related situation you’ve ever found yourself in? What’s the happiest?

PS: In my life before the MSB I have been chased by elephants and hippos, and have come up against heavily armed poachers. However, none of that was as scary as meeting Gordon Brown at Downing Street to tell him about the MSB.

There have been many happy days. Finding and collecting seeds from a very rare plant is probably the best feeling. I remember when I was with our seed collecting team in Botswana, and we found the Tsodilo daisy, known only to occur in the Tsodilo hills – a sacred site to the bushmen. That was a real thrill, especially as it was in seed.

Thank you, Dr. Smith, for taking the time to answer our questions so thoughtfully.

Here is the Millennium Seed Bank site.

Here are the adventures of the Save-A-Seed Coalition, a group of bloggers who are working to spread the word about Dr. Smith and the MSB.

A huge debt of gratitude is owed to Mr. Rob Yates of the MSB, who has been very kind to SuperForest and who kindly arranged this interview. Cheers, Rob!

(all images courtesey of Rob Yates, naturalart.be, and daylife.com)