True / False / Not Given
Decide whether the statement is True, False, or Not Given.
The Svalbard Global Seed Vault, built into a mountain on a remote Arctic island, stores duplicate samples of seeds held in gene banks worldwide. Its purpose is to safeguard crop diversity against disasters such as war, equipment failure, or funding shortfalls. The vault is kept cold naturally by the surrounding permafrost, although mechanical refrigeration provides additional cooling. Countries that deposit seeds retain full ownership and may withdraw their samples at any time; the vault itself never claims them. In 2015, researchers made the first withdrawal in order to restore collections damaged during the conflict in Syria.
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