Report on the Cryopreservation of *Gossia gonoclada* and its Alignment with Sustainable Development Goals

1.0 Introduction: Conservation of a Critically Endangered Species

A scientific initiative in Australia is underway to conserve the critically endangered angle-stemmed myrtle (*Gossia gonoclada*) through cryopreservation. This report details the project’s methodology, objectives, and significant alignment with several United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly SDG 15 (Life on Land) and SDG 13 (Climate Action).

• Species: Angle-stemmed myrtle (*Gossia gonoclada*)
• Conservation Status: Critically endangered, with only 380 specimens remaining in the wild.
• Geographic Concentration: Approximately 300 individuals are located in the City of Logan area, southeast Queensland.
• Project Goal: To deep-freeze shoot tips, preserving the species’ genetic diversity as a safeguard against extinction and enabling potential future regeneration.

2.0 Addressing SDG 15: Life on Land

This project is a direct intervention to meet the targets of SDG 15, which aims to protect, restore, and promote sustainable use of terrestrial ecosystems and halt biodiversity loss.

2.1 Threats to the Species

The decline of *Gossia gonoclada* is attributed to several factors that contravene the objectives of SDG 15:

1. Habitat Loss: Ongoing loss of the species’ native dry rainforest habitat is a primary driver of its decline, directly impacting terrestrial biodiversity (violates Target 15.5).
2. Invasive Alien Species: The exotic fungal disease myrtle rust (*Austropuccinia psidii*) attacks new growth, stunting the plants and reducing fertility. This aligns with the threat addressed in Target 15.8, which calls for measures to prevent the introduction and reduce the impact of invasive alien species.
3. Biodiversity Loss: With a critically low population, the species is on the verge of extinction, representing a significant loss of biodiversity.

2.2 Conservation Strategy

The cryopreservation technique serves as a critical tool for achieving Target 15.5 (take urgent and significant action to reduce the degradation of natural habitats, halt the loss of biodiversity and, by 2020, protect and prevent the extinction of threatened species).

• Genetic Backup: Cryobanking provides a secure, long-term storage solution for the species’ genetic material, acting as an insurance policy against total extinction.
• Preserving Diversity: The primary objective is to capture the remaining genetic diversity within the species, which is essential for the long-term viability and resilience of any future resurrected population.
• Basis for Restoration: The preserved genetic material can provide a foundation for future breeding and reintroduction programs.

3.0 Contribution to SDG 13: Climate Action

The conservation effort also addresses the impacts of climate change, a key component of SDG 13 (Take urgent action to combat climate change and its impacts).

• Climate Change as a Threat: Rising temperatures are cited as a significant factor contributing to the species’ decline, highlighting the vulnerability of ecosystems to climate-related hazards.
• Building Resilience: By preserving a wide range of genetic material, scientists hope to capture any natural tolerance to changing climate conditions that may exist within the population. This supports efforts to strengthen the resilience and adaptive capacity of ecosystems to climate change (Target 13.1).

4.0 Innovation and Partnerships (SDG 9 & SDG 17)

The project exemplifies the application of scientific innovation (SDG 9) through collaborative partnerships (SDG 17) to solve pressing environmental challenges.

4.1 Cryopreservation Methodology

The process is a form of advanced scientific research and innovation (Target 9.5):

1. Sterile shoots are cultivated in a laboratory environment.
2. The uppermost, actively growing shoot tips are harvested.
3. The tips are treated with a cryoprotective solution, which prevents the formation of damaging ice crystals by turning intracellular water “glassy.”
4. The prepared tips are frozen and stored in liquid nitrogen at -196°C (-321°F).

This method has already achieved a 100% survival and regrowth rate with the closely related sweet myrtle (*Gossia fragrantissima*), demonstrating its viability.

5.0 Broader Implications and Future Outlook

The initiative for the angle-stemmed myrtle underscores a broader global need for conservation technologies that support multiple SDGs, including SDG 2 (Zero Hunger).

• Global Need for Cryobanks: The project highlights the necessity for Australia and other nations to establish cryobanks to safeguard the genetic diversity of all endangered plants.
• Protecting Future Food Sources: This conservation model is essential for banking the diversity of food crops and their wild relatives, directly supporting SDG Target 2.5, which calls for maintaining the genetic diversity of seeds and plants for food and agriculture.
• Ensuring Future Ecological Stability: By preserving keystone and endangered species, such initiatives contribute to the long-term stability of ecosystems, which provide essential services for human well-being.

Analysis of the Article in Relation to Sustainable Development Goals

1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?

• SDG 15: Life on Land

  This is the most prominent SDG in the article. The entire focus is on protecting a critically endangered terrestrial plant species, the angle-stemmed myrtle (Gossia gonoclada), from extinction. The article discusses threats like habitat loss and the decline of a specific species, which are central to SDG 15’s mission to “protect, restore and promote sustainable use of terrestrial ecosystems… and halt biodiversity loss.” The scientific effort to cryopreserve the tree’s DNA is a direct action towards this goal.

• SDG 13: Climate Action

  The article explicitly mentions “rising temperatures” and “changing climate conditions” as threats contributing to the decline of the angle-stemmed myrtle. The conservation project is, in part, a response to the impacts of climate change on biodiversity. By preserving genetic material, scientists are creating a safeguard against future climate-related losses, which aligns with the goal of strengthening resilience and adaptive capacity to climate-related hazards.

• SDG 2: Zero Hunger

  While the primary focus is on a non-food plant, the article broadens the scope of the conservation technology by stating, “We need Australia and the world to implement cryobanks to ensure we can bank the diversity of … foods and endangered plants for future generations.” This directly connects the cryopreservation method to the preservation of genetic diversity for food and agriculture, which is a key component of achieving long-term food security under SDG 2.

2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?

1. SDG 15: Life on Land

   • Target 15.5: “Take urgent and significant action to reduce the degradation of natural habitats, halt the loss of biodiversity and, by 2020, protect and prevent the extinction of threatened species.” The article is a case study of this target in action. The angle-stemmed myrtle is described as “critically endangered,” with “Only 380 specimens…remain in the wild.” The cryopreservation project is an urgent action designed to “prevent the extinction” of this threatened species.
   • Target 15.8: “By 2020, introduce measures to prevent the introduction and significantly reduce the impact of invasive alien species on land and water ecosystems…” The article identifies a “deadly fungal disease called myrtle rust” caused by the “exotic fungus Austropuccinia psidii” as a primary reason for the tree’s decline. This fungus is an invasive alien species, and the conservation effort is a measure to mitigate its devastating impact.

2. SDG 13: Climate Action

   • Target 13.1: “Strengthen resilience and adaptive capacity to climate-related hazards and natural disasters in all countries.” The article mentions that scientists are searching for “natural tolerance to…changing climate conditions” within the tree’s genetic diversity. The cryobank itself serves as a tool to strengthen the species’ resilience by providing a “back up storage device” against climate-related threats like rising temperatures.

3. SDG 2: Zero Hunger

   • Target 2.5: “By 2020, maintain the genetic diversity of seeds, cultivated plants and farmed and domesticated animals and their related wild species, including through soundly managed and diversified seed and plant banks…” The project to “cryopreserve a diverse collection of genes” of a wild plant species is a direct example of this target. The concluding statement calling for global implementation of “cryobanks to ensure we can bank the diversity of … foods and endangered plants” reinforces this connection.

3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?

• Indicators for SDG 15 (Life on Land)

  The article implies indicators related to Target 15.5. An indicator for the status of the species is the number of remaining individuals, which the article quantifies: “Only 380 specimens of the angle-stemmed myrtle (Gossia gonoclada) remain in the wild.” This number serves as a baseline to measure the continuing decline or potential recovery of the species, which is related to the Red List Index (Indicator 15.5.1).

• Indicators for SDG 2 (Zero Hunger)

  For Target 2.5, the article implies an indicator related to the conservation of genetic resources (Indicator 2.5.1). Progress can be measured by the number of genetically diverse samples successfully preserved. The article mentions the goal is to “capture and keeping alive the remaining diversity of this species in cryobanks.” The success rate of the cryopreservation technique, noted as “a 100% survival rate” for a related species, is a direct measure of the effectiveness of this conservation method.

4. Summary Table of SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

Source: livescience.com