Cooperation Agreement Between RAED and the Benban Solar Energy Investors Association as Part of the Small Initiatives Program (PPI-OSCAN) to Implement the “Nile Valley Seed Bank Project.”
As part of the launch of the North African Civil Society Small Initiatives Program (PPI-OSCAN) and the partnership between the Arab Network for Environment and Development (RAED) and the IUCN Centre for Mediterranean Cooperation, RAED signed a cooperation agreement with the Benban Solar Energy Investors Association to implement the “Nile Valley Seed Bank Project.”
This initiative aims to support species survival and reduce the risk of extinction for certain wild plant species, thereby preserving biodiversity and promoting sustainable development through active civil society engagement in conservation efforts
In collaboration with the Southern Region Protected Areas and RAED, the Benban Solar Energy Investors Association took the first steps in implementing the Nile Valley Seed Bank Project by conducting a training workshop on “Wild Plant Seed Collection and Preservation.” The session was led by Prof. Dr. Mustafa Sabri El-Hakim, an emeritus professor at the Desert Research Center’s Environmental and Dryland Agriculture Division, and trained 20 participants, including protected area researchers and agricultural educators from various educational levels.
The training aimed to build participants’ skills in:
- Understanding the importance of seed banks in preserving biodiversity, supporting species survival, and reducing extinction risks.
- Developing techniques for seed collection and cleaning.
- Mastering effective seed preservation methods.
The workshop concluded with a video presentation on the Millennium Seed Bank at the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, in the United Kingdom.
