Why it matters
Separation can help a collection survive a local disruption. A useful duplicate also needs trustworthy identity records, suitable storage, and workable arrangements for retrieval or restoration.
A practical example
Imagine a facility becomes inaccessible after a regional emergency. A duplicate held elsewhere could support recovery if the material is viable and the receiving institution knows which accessions it holds.
An important distinction
Two copies are not independent protection when the same event can disable both. Nor does a duplicate automatically preserve every feature of the original collection. The preservation method, representation of diversity, and custody arrangements still matter.
Sources and further reading
- PRIMARY SOURCE FAO: Genebank Standards for Plant Genetic Resources
The example above is hypothetical. Related cases provide context; they do not imply that every case involved this mechanism.