"To maintain the integrity of our ecosystems, we have to conserve the animals that play integral roles in those ecosystems, " said Dr. George Fenwick, president of the American Bird Conservancy.

CNN: STORY HIGHLIGHTS

Collectively, CGIAR centres maintain 600, 000 plant varieties in crop genebanks in a global effort to conserve agricultural biodiversity.

BBC: Seeds destined for the 'doomsday' vault (Image: IITA)