The project “Upgrading international coconut genebanks and evaluating accessions”, was funded by the global Crop Diversity Trust and implemented by Bioversity International. Ex situ coconut conservation is facing an emergency situation. Presently 24 genebanks are conserving 725 unique populations with 1374 living accessions. 447 of these accessions, collected during the 1980s, are becoming very tall without being rejuvenated. It becomes increasingly dangerous and costly to make the controlled pollinations requested for their regeneration. At least 16 genebanks, including three out of the five international genebanks, do not have sufficient capability, laboratories, equipment, manpower and/or budget needed to make reliable controlled pollinations. There is a huge need of capacity building. A large project should be launched to safeguard this germplasm. As written guidelines for controlled pollination proved to be insufficient, video guidelines are more likely to provide effective guidance. The process for updating the global conservation strategy was initiated. One of the main concerns is the selecting best combination of conservation approaches. Databases, comprehensive lists of germplasm, and guidelines regarding coconut nomenclature where made available on line on the COGENT website.