Biobanking for Wildlife Conservation: Advances,Challenges,and Future Directions in Preserving Caatinga’s Vertebrate Germplasm

Abstract

The Brazilian Caatinga biome, a hotspot of unique biodiversity, faces escalating threats from habitat loss and climate change. Over the past two decades, significant progress has been made in developing reproductive biotechnologies to preserve the genetic diversity of native species through germplasm biobanking. This review synthesizes pioneering work by the Laboratory of Animal Germplasm Conservation, Federal University of the Semiarid Region, detailing standardized protocols for cryopreserving sperm, ovarian follicles, and gonadal tissues from key Caatinga species, including collared peccaries, agoutis, cavies, jaguars, and rheas. We critically evaluate the successes and limitations of the current biobanking initiatives, emphasizing species-specific challenges in gamete and tissue preservation. Furthermore, we address systemic barriers, such as fragmented public policies, logistical constraints, and the urgent need for scalable infrastructure, to expanding biobanking efforts across this understudied biome. Finally, we propose suggestions for integrating biobanks with assisted reproductive technologies and global conservation networks, highlighting their role as a genetic safeguard for endangered fauna.