The National Forest and Grass Germplasm Resource Facility Preservation Bank (Xiong'an) is projected to be completed by the end of this year and will become operational in 2028. The facility is planned to collect and provide long-term preservation for 1.8 million important forest and grass germplasm resources.
The National Forest and Grass Germplasm Bank Management and Operation Center at Beijing Forestry University has announced a new development early this year. The first batch of voucher specimens for forest and grass germplasm has been successfully collected and is currently stored in the university's museum. These specimens will be fully transferred into the Xiong'an facility upon its completion.
Located within the Beijing Forestry University Xiong'an campus, the Xiong'an facility spans a total area of approximately 33,300 square meters, with a total construction area of 25,600 square meters. It includes a low-temperature preservation bank utilizing automated three-dimensional storage technology, an ultra-low temperature preservation bank, a test-tube plantlet preservation bank, a genetic material (DNA) preservation bank, and a germplasm identification and evaluation testing area.
The main building structure, which has already been topped out, will be equipped with an "intelligent brain." For instance, the application of smart sensing and automatic control preservation technologies will enable full-process informatized management for the collection, preservation, distribution, and utilization of germplasm resources.
The first batch of "collections" holds significant importance, including important rare and endangered plants such as Rhododendron aganniphum, Stewartia sinensis, and Tapiscia sinensis. From 2024 to 2025, Beijing Forestry University formed multiple teams comprising faculty and students from relevant disciplines. These teams carried out germplasm resource investigation and collection missions in Hebei Province, Shanxi Province, Jiangxi Province, the Tibet Autonomous Region, and other areas, successfully gathering this precious set of voucher specimens.
The development of the Xiong'an facility's "smart functions" is also proceeding intensively. Beijing Forestry University is supporting several key technology research projects through a "unveiling the list and appointing the best" mechanism. Research groups will utilize these specimens to conduct scientific research and tackle challenges in areas such as the development of portable field collection equipment for forest and grass germplasm resources, rapid species identification technology, ultra-low temperature preservation technology, and rapid seed viability detection technology, thereby supporting the construction of the Xiong'an facility.
In addition to the Xiong'an facility, China is also constructing six subsidiary banks in locations such as Shandong, Xinjiang, and Hunan. Together, they will undertake the tasks of collecting important forest and grass germplasm resources, providing long-term strategic preservation, conducting identification and evaluation, mining functional genes, facilitating distribution and utilization, and engaging in international exchange and cooperation, all serving the high-quality development of the forestry and grassland sector.