“The Global Genome Initiative (GGI) is a collaborative effort to create a solid foundation for genomic research through a global network of biorepositories and research organizations. The GGI will preserve and study genomic diversity and increase access to genomic information from the key branches of the Tree of Life––expanding our contribution to the preservation and knowledge of life on our planet.
Goals:

• Collect and barcode a synoptic sample of Earth’s genomic diversity along the major branches of the Tree of Life.
• Cryo-preserve 50% of the diversity of life in the next five years and make these collections available for research, with appropriate access and benefit sharing (ABS).
• Increase the computational support and technological capacity to sequence genomes.
• Train the next generation of genomics researchers in biodiversity science.
• See also this article – Scientists rush to freeze plant DNA before ‘sixth extinction’ – By Jane O’Brien BBC News, Washington:  “Everything that is alive and living in a natural habitat is now being threatened by degradation of those habitats primarily because of what we’re doing as humans.” He [John Kress, interim Under Secretary for Science at the Smithsonian Institution] says it’s difficult to measure the rate of plant extinction but some scientists have estimated that all species of life are becoming extinct 100 times faster than normal.”