The Frozenark

The Frozen Ark is in the process of setting up a global Expert Group for the cryopreservation of genetic material from Coral species. At a recent meeting in Copenhagen it was decided that the only way to save many species will be to freeze their somatic cells in such a way that they can be revived in the future. It is pleasing to see that London Zoo plans to become the storage centre for corals in the UK.

The freezing of the samples will ensure that the important genetic information is retained for the future and may allow the reintroduction of certain Coral species once the climate has stabilised.

Coral Reef Crisis Meeting

Coral reef survival is balancing on a knife edge. At a Coral Reef Crisis Meeting held at The Royal Society in London on 6 July 2009, a stark warning was given that reefs are being seriously damaged by the effects of global warming and ocean acidification. Corals are on a path to extinction within a matter of decades.

Trustee and co-founder of The Frozen Ark Project, Dr Ann Clarke, was invited to be a member of the Technical Working Group formed to address the threat. It included over 30 climate scientists, marine biologists, conservationists and ecologists from around the world. A position document about what needs to be done to prevent the irreversible decline and collapse of this major ecosystem was agreed and signed by all. This document will be presented to the United Nations, Framework Convention on Climate Change to be held in Copenhagen this December. The meeting was followed by a public presentation by Professor J.E.N. Veron, former Chief Scientist of the Australian Institute of Marine Science, on the major threat to the great barrier reef.

In July 2008, the Frozen Ark joined the World Association of Zoos and Aquariums (WAZA). WAZA's mission is to guide, encourage and support the zoo, aquariums, and like-minded organisations of the world involved in animal care and welfare, environmental education and global conservation.

We are pleased to welcome Coldgene from Norway which is establishing a Biobank to preserve the genetic resources from all Norwegian red listed species. Large scale collecting began this summer. This collaboration between the Museum of Natural History and Archaeology in Trondheim (Norwegian University of Science and Technology) and the HUNT biobank, They are developing the project with other University and Museums in Norway and the Svalbard Global Seed Vault who will be storing seeds from red listed plants.