In-situ Conservation

Our conservation efforts can be broken down into two categories:
in-situ and ex-situ conservation.
In-situ Conservation
Rare variety demonstrations: here, selected farmers are given seeds of rare indigenous varieties for cultivation. These seeds are then collected and distributed for other interested farmers to grow in their own fields. Collected seeds are also stored in Community Seed Banks as repositories for future use.


Individual seed savers: certain members of the community are encouraged to grow and conserve seeds on their farms. They often become resource persons within the community, as they provide seeds to those who may need them as well as to seed banks.
Ex-situ conservation

Community Seed Banks (CSBs): these are community-managed sites where indigenous variety seeds are stored. They provide the community with free and easy access to seeds with the exception that a farmer must return twice the number of seeds he or she borrowed.
Gene bank: GREEN also maintains a gene bank where over 100 rare varieties are stored. Seeds cultivated each year in rare variety demonstrations are stored here for future use.