‘Seeds are life': How a seed bank in the Mojave Desert is preserving an ancient ecosystem under threat

Inside a Mojave aster flower, a bee takes refuge during the night and emerges in the morning. In southern California’s Mojave Desert, the Mojave Desert Land Trust is working to preserve the region’s ecosystem through its seed bank. The seed bank project aims to protect the genetic diversity of plants in the desert and make them available for restoration in case of emergencies. The seed bank currently holds over 5 million seeds from nearly 250 species. With the increasing challenges posed by climate change, preserving genetic diversity becomes critical for the Mojave Desert’s future.