Russian property developers are preparing to turn the site into holiday homes. The land which belongs to Vavilov Horticultural Research Institute, is home to more than 4,000 varieties of fruits and berries, some of which have become extinct in their natural environments.
Vavilov Horticultural Research Institute lost the land after losing an appeal against a decree of the Russian Ministry for Economic Development in Moscow's Arbitration Court earlier this week, reports the St Petersburg Times.
According to experts the Pavlosk Research station, comprising 910,000 square meters, is the largest genetic field bank in Europe. Just one of the plots of land at the site contains more than 5,000 samples of rare plants from all over the globe.
The institute's acting director at the facility, Fyodor Mikhovich, said the task of transferring the specimen would be impossible, even if they were given three years instead of the three months that they have been granted for the task. He reckons it would take as long as 15 years to do the job properly.
The institute has stressed that the research conducted at the facility is of great use in research into the treatment of chronic illnesses, such as diabetes and cardiovascular diseases.
An other appeal has been filed but the chances don't look good, the hearing is scheduled for August 11
Researchers and environmentalists alike are campaigning around the globe, urging influential organizations such as the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organisation, to intervene at the highest level and halt the destruction of the Pavlosk collection.
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