Hawaii Biobanking Initiative Expands to Safeguard Global Endangered Species by 2075

Hawaii is establishing itself as a central hub in an ambitious global project aimed at securing the genetic blueprints of all endangered species by the target year of 2075. This significant undertaking focuses on expanding biobanking, the detailed collection and preservation of biological samples and associated data, which is now considered a crucial element in modern biodiversity defense strategies.

The Bishop Museum in Honolulu is forming a major alliance with the San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance to substantially increase preservation capabilities across the Pacific region. This collaboration was officially announced during the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) World Conservation Congress in Abu Dhabi, marking a united front against extinction. The partnership strategically combines the Bishop Museum’s established expertise in Pacific collections with the San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance’s extensive Frozen Zoo biobank.

This synergy extends beyond mere storage; a key objective involves training local conservation practitioners to ensure the stewardship of these genetic resources remains regionally based. Immediate priorities include protecting irreplaceable native life forms, such as rare endemic forest birds and critically vulnerable Hawaiian land snails that face severe threats in their natural environments. The Bishop Museum’s existing Waihona Ola Pacific Biobank currently serves as a vital repository, holding more than 95,000 distinct samples representing the Pacific’s biological diversity.

Future development plans are comprehensive, intending to incorporate living cell lines, tissues, and reproductive materials—essential components for any potential future reintroduction or restoration efforts. Beyond the scientific goals, the collaboration is intentionally linked to preserving Hawaiʻi’s cultural heritage, acknowledging the deep connection between the islands’ life forms and the history of its people. The expansion is also expected to integrate advanced genomic sequencing technologies to map the genetic health of these populations with greater detail, offering insight into which lineages possess the resilience needed for future environmental changes.