'Noah's Ark' seed vault unveiled
An artist's impression of the Svalbard International Seed Vault
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Friday, 09, Feb 2007 10:08
The Norwegian government has pulled back the curtain on the architectural design of a doomsday arctic seed vault intended to outlast cataclysmic rises in global sea levels and temperature.
Situated on an island close to the North Pole, the Svalbard International Seed Vault will be carved into frozen rock to safely house three million seed samples of nearly every crop known to man.
The designers of the project, which is being co-funded by the Global Crop Diversity Trust, say that the vault will "gleam like a gem in the midnight sun" as it preserves the "agricultural heritage of humankind".
Construction on the vault will begin next month and is expected to be completed in September before being officially opened in winter 2008.
Terje Riis-Johansen, Norwegian minister of agriculture and food, said: "By investing in a global permafrost safety facility for seeds, the Norwegian government hopes to contribute to combating the loss of biological diversity, to reduce our vulnerability to climatic changes, and to enhance our ability to secure future food production."
Located 130m above sea level in order to protect itself from the "worst-case scenarios" of global warming, the vault will feature a 120m entry tunnel through the permafrost, reinforced doors, a video monitoring system and rock walls sprayed with concrete.
But Mr Riis-Johansen insisted that the project is not a high-security government secret but rather one of vital importance for people all over the world.
"From a global perspective the emphasis is on assisting developing countries by offering a safe haven for their valuable biological material," he said.
"I also hope that the interest that is shown in the Svalbard Arctic Seed Vault will create increased awareness for the need for conservation and sustainable use of our genetic resources."
Dr Carry Fowler, executive director of the Global Crop Diversity Trust, added: "Every day that passes we lose crop biodiversity. We must conserve the seeds that will allow agriculture to adapt to challenges such as climate change and crop disease.
"This design is as awesome physically as it is attractive aesthetically, and both are fitting tributes to the importance of the biological treasure to be stored there."