UNEP
GLOBAL ENVIRONMENT FACILITY (GEF) PROPOSAL
FOR A PDF BLOCK B GRANT
Project Title: Conservation and sustainable use of cultivated and wild tropical fruit
diversity: promoting sustainable livelihoods, food security and ecosystem services
Implementing Agency: United Nations Environment Programme
Executing Agencies:
International Plant Genetic Resources Institute (IPGRI), Italy
India: Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR), KABII,
New Delhi
Indonesia: Research Institute for Fruits (IFRURI), Solok,
West Sumatra
Malaysia: Malaysian Agricultural Research and
Development Institute, (MARDI), Kuala Lumpur
Thailand: Department of Agriculture (DOA), Chatuchak,
Bangkok
Requesting countries:
India, Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand
GEF Focal Area:
Biodiversity
GEF Operational
Programme:
Agricultural Biodiversity (OP#13)
Total Cost of PDF B:
US$ 721,000
PDF-B Funding Requested from GEF:
US$ 326,000
PDF-B Co-funding:
India:
Indonesia:
Malaysia
Thailand
IPGRI
TOTAL
Block A grant awarded:
Estimated Starting Date of PDF B:
Estimated Duration of PDF B:
Estimated Starting Date of Full Project:
Estimated Total Costs of Full Project:
Estimated Co-funding for Full Project:
Full Project Duration:
Did not apply
June 2004
12 months
September 2005
US$ 8,000,000
US$ 4,500,000
5 years
$ 62,000
$ 35,000
$ 38,000
$ 35,000
$225,000
$395,000
ACRONYMS/ABBREVIATIONS
ACIAR
ADB
AFGRN
APO
CBD
CGIAR
COGENT
DGIS
DOA
FRIM
GEF
GIS
ICAR
IDRC
IFAD
IPGRI
MARDI
NATP
NGO
NRCC
PDF-B
PGR
SC
SDC
UNEP
UPM
WTLCP
TFNet
UNDP
UTFANET
Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research
Asian Development Bank
Asian Fruit Genetic Resources Network
Asia, the Pacific and Oceania
Convention on Biological Diversity
Consultative Group on International Agricultural Research
International Coconut Genetic Resources Network (IPGRI)
Directoraat Generaal Internationale Samenweking ( Netherlands)
Department of Agriculture (Thailand)
Forest Research Institute of Malaysia
Global Environment Facility
Geographic Information Systems
Indian Council of Agricultural Research
International Development and Research Centre (Canada)
International Fund for Agricultural Development
International Plant Genetic Resources Institute
Malaysian Agricultural Research and Development Institute (Malaysia)
National Agriculture Technology Project (India)
Non-Governmental Organization
National Research Centre for Citrus (India)
Project Development Fund-B
Plant Genetic Resources
Steering Committee
Swiss Development Corporation
United Nations Environment Programme
Universiti Putra Malaysia
Western Terai Landscape Complex Project
International Tropical Fruit Network
United Nations Development Programme
Underutilized Tropical Fruits in Asia Network
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I. BACKGROUND AND CONTEXT (BASELINE COURSE OF ACTION)
Significance of the Tropical Fruit Genetic Resources in Asia
1. Tropical fruits are important for the well-being of the populations of Asia as sources of
supplemental food, nutritionally balanced diets and enhancing both household incomes and
national revenues. More than 400 edible tropical fruit species are found in Asia. The total
annual production in 2002 was 83.9 million tons, accounting for about 60% of production
worldwide. Some species also have specific medicinal uses, while others are used for
timber, fuel wood and livestock feed. Tropical Asian countries are the centres of origin and
diversity for many globally important tropical fruit tree species. However, many of these
species are only slightly domesticated, and the wild and domesticated forms, which can
possess very large amounts of genetic diversity, are important both for local communities
as fruits as well as other products such as for specific medicinal uses, timber, fuelwood and
livestock feed.
2. In forest areas, the rich diversity of fruit species plays an important role as a source of
food and shelter to other species of plants and animals, providing stability in complex
natural ecosystems. In agricultural areas, tropical fruit trees are important components of
multi-crop systems such as home gardens, a characteristic feature in many Asian rural
landscapes. Small farms and home gardens are rich in tropical fruit tree species diversity
and have a number of economic, social, cultural, aesthetic and ecological functions
important to livelihoods (Trinh et al. 2003). In India, more than 120 plant species have
been recorded in home gardens, and a survey of Kohima and Mon town markets in
Nagaland found that 40 of 68 plant products were harvested from home gardens. Increasing
diversity of fruits in home gardens is a sustainable way to ensure quality food, dietary
diversity and nutrition, particularly for vulnerable groups such as children, women and the
elderly. From the conservation standpoint, home gardens can serve as buffer zones around
protected forests or community forests. An example is in Meghalaya, India, where
deforestation is eroding Citrus wild diversity while a number of the species are maintained
in home gardens (Singh et al. 2001).
3. Most tree species, including the tropical fruits, can be grown in marginal conditions
(Verheij and Coronel, 1991). They are therefore important to improved agricultural
production in cases where farmers cannot afford inputs such as fertilizer and irrigation.
They can also serve as a form of savings, as their products can be "cashed in" during
emergencies such as illness or the need to pay school fees. Intensification of tree crop
cultivation in home gardens and fallow lands is one response to decreasing land holdings.
When even this intensification is insufficient to meet subsistence needs, off-farm
employment may be sought and the land placed under low-input perennial tree crops.
Tropical fruits, therefore, serve in many instances as major sources either of income or as a
source of income stability for farmers living in marginal rural environments
4. Tropical fruit species, being mostly perennial species and components of natural forest
ecosystem diversity, are also known to contribute to ecosystem services such as carbon
sequestration, protection from soil erosion, soil formation, nutrient cycling, hydrologic
regimes and biotic regulation in the form of pollination ecology, food web and trophic level
relationships (Okey, 1996; Soemarwoto and Soemarwoto, 1984).
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5. Studies on the occurrence of the wild relatives of the target species in natural ecosystems
are limited. There has been little research on their population sizes, how they are
maintained in natural ecosystems and community uses of uncultivated fruits. However,
there are indications that Mangifera species constitute a fairly large component of several
natural forests in Malaysia, Thailand and Indonesia (Mukherjee 1985; Bompard and
Schaffer 1993; Bompard 1988; Bompard 1995). A similar situation is expected with the
other target species, for example, for Citrus species in northeast India and for rambutan and
mangosteen in the tropical forests of Southeast Asia. Further, drawing inferences from
other tree species, it is believed that tropical fruit species are an important part of stable
ecosystems in the Asian region, serving as a source of shelter for both plants and animals
and playing an important role in the interdependency amongst pollinating, seed dispersing
and other ecological functions. Breeding and selection for improving cultivated fruit trees
need basic knowledge of the reproductive biology and breeding system of the wild species
as well (Soepadmo 1979). There are desired characteristics of wild relatives of cultivated
tropical fruit species that could be selected for domestication and commercial production.
For example, in Java, Indonesia the common guava Eugenia jambos is grafted onto
rootstocks of the wild relative E. densiflora (Saw 1991). Improvement in crops depends on
the availability of wild stock of the related cultivated species. To maintain these stocks,
breeding populations of such species have to be maintained under natural conditions so that
trees can continue to cross with each other and in the long-term continue to evolve new
races.
6. Wild fruit trees perform an important ecosystem function as habitat components for
pollinators, which include a wide range of insects, birds, bats and other animals (Soepadmo
1989). Reports (Baker and Baker 1983, Proctor and Yeo 1973; Faegri and Van Der Pijl
1979) have indicated that there exist intricate but harmonious interrelationships between
floral cues and foraging as well as feeding behaviour of pollinators. Hence, certain wild
fruit trees provide critical food resources for animals during periods of food scarcity, which
may cause extinction of those species that depend on them. Reduced food resources may
impact animal abundance and foraging behaviour which, in turn, could have an effect on
forest regeneration (Terborgh 1986; Whitmore 1990).
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Threats to Tropical Fruit Genetic Resources
7. Wild and cultivated fruit species diversity in Asia are being threatened by rapid genetic
erosion due to natural habitat destruction and other economic and cultural pressures. All the
countries have indicated the same threats such as 1) habitat destruction, 2) extension of
agriculture, 3) filling up of wetlands, 4) conversion of biodiversity rich sites for human
settlement and industrial development and 5) uncontrolled commercial exploitation. Over
the last century, deforestation and land use conversion have put external pressure on wild
fruit tree resources in the Asia region, with consequent high levels of deforestation and loss
of target fruit wild relative. In Malaysia, the deforestation rate from 1990 to 2000 was 1.2%
per annum. In 2000, the forest area in India was 21.6% of the land area. In 1966, forest
covered 144 million hectares (75%) of Indonesia’s land area. By 1998, the number had
dropped to 53 million, or 37% of the land area. Annual rate of deforestation rate in
Indonesia from 1990 to 2000 was 1.2% annum. From 1961 to1993, Thai forest cover
decreased from 53% to 26%. Thailand had a deforestation rate of 0.7% from the year 1990
to 2000 per annum. (www.wrm.org.uy/deforestation/ and FAO, 2003).
8. Land-use conversion results in significant loss of diversity, especially of woody species
including wild fruits. In northeastern India, for example, the local tribal people practice
shifting cultivation. Large-scale clearing of forests is done during winter months and
burning is done during the summer. In India and Nepal, traditional mango varieties are
maintained in communal lands in the Terai. Mango diversity in such habitats is
disappearing fast because these trees are often grown in communal land, and are harvested
for quick income from alternate uses such as for fuel wood for the increasing number of
brick factories.
9. A number of factors related to use and management of tropical fruit tree species have
placed additional pressure on the resource. Commercialization has increased the land area
under a single variety and reduced species diversity in recent years (Trinh et al. 2003).
Propagation of orchards from single scion for monocultural commercial farming has
increased uniformity and concurrently vulnerability to pests and diseases. These modern
commercial cultivars tend to replace the traditional farmers’ varieties, reducing available
diversity and the many associated values. One result is loss of options to farmers for coping
with change. An extreme example comes from India, where a survey undertaken under the
National Agriculture Technology Project (NATP) on Plant Diversity by the National
Research Centre for Citrus (NRCC), Nagpur, found that the “Mosaimbi” cultivar of sweet
orange was completely replaced by the cash crop sugarcane in Ahmednagar area of
Maharashtra State. Commercialization of home gardens has also increased the focus on
preferred fruit trees while diminishing diversity of both species and cultivars.
10. Many tropical fruits are underutilized even though they are important sources of
livelihood for large segments of the population. A number of these species occur in the
wild or are sparsely grown; others are cultivated in medium to large-scale plantations or in
home gardens. In addition, many are underutilized even though they are important
livelihood assets for large segments of the population. Fruit trees often need long-term
investment and security of tenure to merit investment in their maintenance. For example,
reluctance to grow mango and mangosteen derives primarily from the fact that economic
returns require a long-term investment. Coupled with the fact that older fruit trees are a
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good source of income as timber and fuel wood, this source of diversity is rapidly
disappearing (IPGRI 2003).
Conservation Management of Tropical Fruit Trees at Global Level
11. The effective conservation of tropical fruit tree species presents particular problems and
satisfactory methods have not as yet been developed. Ex situ conservation is extremely
costly and requires field genebanks because the species are generally characterized by
possessing recalcitrant seeds that cannot be stored. These genebanks suffer steady losses of
material from disease and other causes and need constant replenishment. The development
of in situ methods for these types of materials is in its infancy and needs sustained attention
so as to ensure that satisfactory procedures of wide general applicability that are sustainable
and economically viable are available. There is an urgent need to develop and upscale
successful strategies to conserve both cultivated and wild relatives of tropical fruit species
in Asia for economic, cultural, and ecological reasons.
12. To date, tools and methods that support the assessment and adaptive management of
crop diversity in production systems have focused mainly on annual crops. Most of the
work on long-lived tree species has focused primarily on timber species. An exception is an
IPGRI effort underway in Central Asia to promote conservation and sustainable
management of temperate fruit species. The “In Situ/On-farm Conservation of
Agrobiodiversity (Horticultural Crops and Wild Fruit Species) in Central Asia” project,
now at the planning stage and funded through a UNEP/GEF PDF-B grant, complements the
proposed project. Other examples are “In-situ Conservation of Genetic Diversity”, a
GEF/World Bank project initiated in Turkey in 1993 and the GEF/UNDP project “In Situ
Conservation of Native Landraces and Their Wild Relatives in Vietnam” (see Section VI –
Linkages). Additional projects have built upon the information gathered from the Turkey
project, including collaborative initiatives with IPGRI. Similarly, the GEF/UNDP project
“In Situ Conservation of Native Landraces and Their Wild Relatives in Vietnam” will
target conservation of some perennial tropical fruit tree species such as citrus, litchi and
longan by mitigating the threats to the agrobiodiversity of the target sites and preserving
their genetic diversity. Conservation of tropical fruit genetic resources must, therefore,
build on lessons learned in projects applied more generally to crop genetic diversity and
adapt those to the science and culture relevant to tropical fruit species.
13. Since natural habitats for wild relatives of tropical fruit tree species are increasingly
under threat, a portfolio of micro-environments and appropriate strategies are needed to
conserve both wild relatives and cultivars. Food security for farming and surrounding
communities does not rely solely on small farms and home gardens. It is also derived from
uncultivated sources in and around natural ecosystems. It is estimated that more than 55%
of the Asian fruit species are gathered by tribal and other people living in close proximity
to forests and other common lands for supplementary income and nutrition. This highlights
an important interdependence between home gardens, community forests and other natural
areas, including protected areas and their buffer zones. Increasingly these elements are
viewed as components within a network of microenvironments that help preserve function
and resilience of the larger agroecosystem. The IPGRI project “Contribution of Home
Gardens to In situ Conservation of Plant Genetic Resources in Farming Systems” describes
how new cultivars are introduced in home gardens as a result of exchanges, and wild
species are introduced for cultivation. Frequently the wild species are transferred to home
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gardens when their natural habitat is threatened. In other cases, fruit germplasm is collected
by farmers living near protected areas and introduced into their home gardens. On-farm
management in tandem with in situ conservation of related wild species1 in natural habitats
is, therefore, an important mix for conserving tropical fruit diversity – part of an overall
strategy of complementary conservation, increasingly recognized as the appropriate overall
framework for effective maintenance and use of diversity.
14. This mixed approach must then be combined with those elements proven effective in
other experiences related to conservation of crop genetic diversity. The central elements of
such an approach have been tested separately in other initiatives and will be brought
together in this project. The first step toward management of genetic diversity is to
increase knowledge on the extent and distribution of diversity in the target species and the
second is to determine current germplasm conservation efforts (location, collection,
conservation and use). Most countries in the region have invested in collection and
maintenance of fruit species diversity in field genebanks. Ex situ field genebanks hold the
key for characterization and evaluation and for their utilization in fruit improvement
programmes. Collecting and characterization of germplasm in key genepools has been the
primary focus of the project “Conservation and Use of Native Tropical Fruit Species
Biodiversity in Asia” (funded by the ADB, hereafter referred to as “the ADB project”).
This work has taken place in 10 countries, including the four that will be involved in the
project proposed here (for further information, see Section VI). Conservation using
traditional ex situ approaches has proved unsatisfactory, failing to address problems of loss
of wild diversity or meet the needs of rural communities.
15. Sustainable on-farm and in situ conservation is possible only when farmers,
communities and national institutions perceive benefits in terms of genetic, economic,
social and ecological aspects. These benefits accrue in terms of private utility benefits (to
the individual farmer or user) and/or public benefits (to society). In Nepal, the project
“Enhancing Contribution of Home Gardens to On-farm Management of Plant Genetic
Resources and to Improve Livelihoods of Nepalese Farmers” has increased areas producing
socio-culturally important crops (for example, Anadi rice and taro cultivars). This has been
achieved through value addition of products and links to markets (Sthapit et al. 2003a).
16. Another important element to improved sustainable use is market access and value
addition. While it is true that, in general, the market forces tend to "homogenize" or reduce
diversity due to preference for certain products which is of economic value and, therefore,
favors the growing of those species and varieties that are producing these products, there is
increasing evidence from IPGRI's work that these same market forces can be used to
conserve agrobiodiversity. There is vast potential for improving the production and
marketing systems for tropical fruits and innovative approaches in this area have already
been tested for buckwheat and coconut. For example, a case study of buckwheat genetic
diversity and sustainable livelihood in China commissioned by IPGRI-APO indicated that,
if there are diverse buckwheat products that will be of economic value in the market, this
influences farmers decision-making to grow a diversity of landraces of buckwheat. The
case study indicated that there are specific landraces of buckwheat, which are good for
noodle making, for wine making, baked products, and for medicinal purposes. The market
1 It
is well recognized that the total genetic diversity in any species consists of cultivated types, wild types and their wild
relatives, composed of primary, secondary and tertiary genepools (sensu Harlan 1971)
7
has recognized all of these products and the technology for their processing is readily
available. An optimal organizational set-up combines small-scale farmers as producers, the
private sector as processors and marketing channels, and the scientists to determine the
right genetic materials for the right kinds of purpose. This combination of the private sector
production and marketing arms and the research/scientist public sector have enhanced
linkages which promoted value addition and income but at the same time the promotion
and growing of a diversity of landraces of buckwheat by the local farmers. A similar
experience is also demonstrated by IPGRI’s work in coconut with the International
Coconut Genetic Resources Network (COGENT) of IPGRI. The greater income generation
which benefited small and poor coconut farmers is through the use of the various products
from coconut: coconut water, coconut shell for handicraft, coconut stem for wood products,
coconut frond for handicrafts, coconut coir for fiber and handicraft and coconut oil for
cooking, cosmetics and medicinal uses. The economic value of these various products can
increase the income of coconut farmers by 5-6 times more than just the income derived
from dried coconut meat. These coconut products are also linked to the market. However,
just like buckwheat, this market pull enhances the conservation and use of various coconut
landraces by farmers because these variety of coconut products are linked to the different
kinds of coconut varieties. For example, large-shelled coconut variety is good for
handicraft products while large-husked varieties are good for products derived from
coconut fibres such as doormats, rope and others. This has provided an incentive for
farmers to conserve those varieties that are suited for such products, as well as to introduce
new, high-value varieties. The seedlings for these varieties are conserved in, and sold
through, community-managed nurseries. With good marketing linkages, entire communities
are now engaged in producing coco fibre ropes and geotextiles, providing incomes up to five
times what they earn from coconut oil and copra (COGENT 2003). Value addition of local
fruits has also been successfully carried out by the Agricultural Housewife Group of several
villages in Thailand, and marketed by several agencies including Thai Airways
(http://www.thaitambon.com/PromoProducts/ProcessedFood/Fruits1.htm). This project is a
component of His Majesty the King's Vision, Leadership and Commitment on Sustainable
Land Development Activities. Initial assessment of project fruit market potential is
provided in Annex 1.
National and Regional Policies that Provide Support to the Project2
17. India’s National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan, now in draft form, considers
the importance of home gardens, participatory approaches, and use of traditional
knowledge to in situ conservation of crop species. In India, collecting and conserving
mango genetic resources focuses primarily on quality of fruits and, to date, more than 1000
accessions with different horticultural traits have been collected and conserved at different
locations in field genebanks. The crop-based institutes on mango and citrus have the
mandate to address biodiversity conservation issues, and the Vision 2020 document of
these institutions focuses the work to be done in this area. [The Indian Council of
Agricultural Research-(ICAR) institutes involved in this exercise are the Central Institute
for Subtropical Fruits, Lucknow; the Indian Institute of Horticultural Research, Bangalore;
and the National Research Centre for Citrus, Nagpur.] The national symposium “Plant
Genetic Resources Management: Advances and Challenges” recommended that national
clonal repositories be established for horticultural crops..
2
See Annex 4 for a list of related and complementary national reports, polices and frameworks.
8
18. The Biodiversity Action Plan for Indonesia promotes incentives “to farmers to conserve
and cultivate local varieties of food crops” and “to encourage diversification of food and
tree crops appropriate to local soil conditions”. Indonesia’s focus of research on rambutan
and mango will support implementation of the proposed project. Collection of superior
genetic varieties, their evaluation, conservation, documentation, breeding and improvement
of various species are the chief objectives of this research. The Indonesian Fruits Research
Institute includes a technical task force unit responsible for the national strategy on fruits
conservation. The unit works at both national and provincial levels, enabling it to look at
overall policy and exploration, collection, and conservation of germplasm. Backed by
Indonesian law, which regulates plant cultivation and protects plant varieties, the Institute
helps conserve plant genetic resources both in situ and ex situ in response to increasing
deforestation and shifting agricultural cultivation systems. It is anticipated that the draft law
on conservation and utilization of genetic resources will soon come into force.
19. Malaysia’s National Policy on Biological Diversity (Ministry of Science 1998) includes
objectives to optimize economic benefits from sustainable utilization of the components of
biological diversity and ensure long-term food security for the nation. The Eighth Malaysia
Plan (2001 – 2005) specifies actions to achieve these objectives in the context of managing
fruits and vegetables, a priority given their high development potential. Sustainable forest
management practices will be expanded. Malaysia’s Third National Agricultural Policy
(1998-2010) calls for conservation and utilization of natural resources on a sustainable
basis, supports enhancement of research and conservation, capacity building, and access to
genetic resources. In Malaysia, work is focused mainly on rambutan and mango. Major
areas of research are collection of germplasm, evaluation, documentation, conservation,
breeding, and improvement. The Malaysian Agricultural Research and Development
Institute (MARDI) holds the largest fruit germplasm collection in the country, with about
4000 accessions. Other institutions that are involved in conservation include the
Department of Agriculture at Kuala Lumpur, Sabah and Sarawak, the Forest Research
Institute of Malaysia (FRIM), the Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM) and Non-Governmental
Organizations (NGOs) that are involved in a number of related activities (e.g., maintaining
fruit trees in school compounds). Malaysia became a member of the FAO Commission on
Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture in 1993.
20. The aim of Thailand’s Policy on Natural and Cultural Environments (Thailand’s
National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan) is to protect, preserve, conserve, and
rehabilitate the natural and cultural environment to maintain the natural and cultural
heritage of the country. In addition, Thailand’s National Policy on Natural Resources
(1997-2016) combines scientific, management and awareness aspects. It focuses on:
efficiency, coordination and sustainability of natural resource uses; building knowledge
through research and information management; enhancement of natural resource
management through decentralization, public-private linkages and community
participation, and adoption of supportive legal and regulatory frameworks; and application
of resource economics. Mango, rambutan and lychee are the main species investigated in
Thailand. Collection of germplasm, evaluation, conservation, breeding and improvement
are the target areas of research. Tropical Fruit Industry development is a priority in
Thailand’s National Development Plan.
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21. Malaysia, Indonesia and Thailand are active members of IPGRI network- Regional
Cooperation on Plant Genetic Resources (RECSEA-PGR) and India is a member of South
Asia Network for PGR (SANPGR). These countries also work together in the AFGRN- the
Asia Fruit Genetic Resources Network (http://www.afgrn.net/). All the countries are
members of the Asia Pacific Association of Agricultural Research Institutes (APAARI) and
the Asia Pacific Association of Forest Research Institutes (APAFRI), with whom IPGRI
works closely.
22. Working through these networks, partners in the region have become more open to
share resources, expertise and in some instances genetic resources. The good practices
developed in one country or a subregional network are quickly followed up or piloted in
another country or subregion. For example, the agreement between East Asia Plant
Genetic Resources Network (EAPGR) partners to carry out multilocation evaluation of
adzuki genetic resources, that resulted in the exchange of about 50 accessions between the
member countries, has been taken up the SANPGR members and plans for multilocation
testing of common species has been planned and preliminary work is underway to select
the germplasm to be exchanged. Similarly, based on the successful establishment of a
Regional Germplasm Centre under the International Coconut Genetic Resources Network
(COGENT) of IPGRI, where regional partners share the responsibilities to reduce costs of
conservation and share genetic resources, a similar initiative is being discussed for tropical
fruit trees. These regional initiatives, in addition to avoiding work duplication, promote
South-South cooperation in Plant Genetic Resources research and development.
II SUMMARY: PROJECT OBJECTIVES AND DESCRIPTION
23. Conservation and sustainable use of cultivated and wild tropical fruit diversity:
promoting sustainable livelihoods, food security and ecosystem health aims to develop
appropriate conservation procedures for tropical fruit tree species that focus on
management and use of diversity by local farmers, communities and institutions. It seeks to
provide an effective long-term basis for maintaining the genetic diversity and ecosystem
function of both the cultivated and wild members of this group of species.
24. The overall development goal of the project is to strengthen sustainable livelihoods
through improved management and utilization of tropical fruit genetic diversity. The
project objective is to improve the conservation and use of tropical fruit genetic diversity in
Asia by strengthening the capacity of farmers, local communities and institutions.
10
25. The project will build on methodologies and practices proven effective for conservation
of crop genetic diversity, adapt their use for tropical fruit tree species, and test their
relevance with farmers, local communities and user groups. The project design considers
several factors relevant to conservation of tropical fruit genetic diversity, including its
prevalence in home gardens, uses of the wild resources and underutilization of some
species due to market forces. It will also look at what varieties, genotypes, or characters are
unique to home gardens and how such information can be translated into development
efforts. Domestication of economically important fruit diversity from the forests, or using
some of the wild relatives for rootstock, and sharing such knowledge and skills with the
local community will add value to the project.
26. The project will focus around promoting practices that are "diversity-rich" and are
beneficial to agrobiodiversity. However, it is recognized that if a market develops for
mangoes or particular variety, for example, there is the risk of most farmers growing
mangoes or the particular variety of mango leading to loss of mango genetic diversity.
Farmers are driven by economics and will respond to market opportunities if it means
higher income, regardless of the impact on diversity. This would be very true in high
productivity areas and with farmers who can afford additional inputs needed. However, it
should also be recognized that urban markets are only one factor that determine farmers’
preferences. Local markets, need for diversity of products, adaptation of the crop or variety
to particular environments, pest and diseases, annual and seasonal changes in temperature
and available precipitation, and cultural beliefs, promote cultivation of diverse species and
types. For example, cultural and religious beliefs can become a very strong force to favor
certain varieties and products. For example, the belief that golden coconut has medicinal
value in Sri Lanka tends to favor decision of farmers to grow this variety for fresh nuts sold
in the market. The growing of certain rice varieties in the highlands of the Philippines,
Vietnam and Laos is for religious reasons as these rice varieties are used for wine making
used in religious rituals. Economic gain of a variety may also be tied up with the quality of
products from processing of a variety. IRRI has found evidence that growing rice of
different varieties in the same place at the same time can reduce use of pesticides. In
addition, most farmers practice risk-avoidance, especially with perennial species. Unlike
annual species or even banana which is planted annually, growing perennial species like
target fruits is a long-term commitment and the changes will not occur soon; these can take
a couple of decades or more. The proposed project will explore this issue carefully and
develop a strategy that is agile enough to deal with changing market forces while providing
incentives to farmers to continue to grow diverse species. This will include promoting
consumer awareness for diversity of food and products that will act as an incentive to
farmers.
27. To balance environmental and development goals, the project will assure that economic
benefits to farmers provide the incentives necessary for them to conserve and sustainably
use the target species and genepools during the life of the project and beyond. This process
is illustrated as follows.
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Steps Toward Strengthening Community-Based, On-Farm
Conservation of Tropical Fruit Diversity in Agroecosystems
Develop understanding of local context and local fruit diversity
Sensitize farming communities and key stakeholders
Improve access to materials and knowledge
Locate, characterize and assess diversity
Manage community biodiversity information systems
for monitoring diversity
Develop options for adding benefits to the community
Increase consumer demand for rare, threatened and
traditional fruit species and food culture
Improve the materials and create new opportunities for livelihoods
28. The proposed project focuses on four tropical fruit species with high diversity levels
in the region: citrus, mango, mangosteen, and rambutan. All are perennial species,
indigenous to the region and are common to the national partners, with some level of
variance in the level of importance to South Asia (mango and citrus - India) and Southeast
Asia (rambutan and mangosteen – Indonesia, Malaysia and Thailand). Choice of project
crops reflects a series of regional consultations and surveys, carried out over the past
decade, during which priorities for tropical fruit tree species conservation have been
identified by national partners (IPGRI 2003).
29. The criteria used in the choice of these priority species are: 1) that they are native to the
counties participating in the project, 2) that they are important to enhancing livelihood
options and food culture for local community, 3) their level of production and consumption
at national level, 4) the presence of large unexploited genetic diversity especially for
adaptability to diverse environmental conditions, 5) the threat of genetic erosion, 6) their
potential as commodity crops for global market, 7) their importance in providing ecosystem
services, and 8) the capacity of fruit research institutions in the countries. In addition these
four species provide significant sources of vitamins and minerals, income (with potential
for increases) and diversity important to their sustainable management and development.
The species have medicinal and cultural values as well. Details are provided in Annex 1.
30. The stakeholder groups include farmers and farmer organizations, user groups, NGOs
and Community Based Organizations, agricultural extension workers, universities and
research stations, scientists, and local and national policy makers. Initially, a systematic
institutional analysis may be required to identify key stakeholders, their interests and
capacity. Multidisciplinary groups representing government agency and NGO thematic
scientists and development workers will be formed at the national level to carry out
participatory diagnosis of local contexts, build understanding of traditional knowledge and
local genetic resources, identify opportunities and gaps for sustainable livelihoods, and
conduct targeted research and capacity enhancement. The national groups will serve as
12
“think tanks” to guide the project and influence policy makers by sharing research outputs,
organising travelling seminars and disseminating policy briefs.
31. To project objectives will be addressed in three components. These are described
below.
32. Component 1: Assessment of farmer/user knowledge and practices with regards to
tropical fruit tree species. During the PDF-B phase, site selection criteria will be refined
and candidate sites selected in each of the four countries using applicable Geographic
Information Systems (GIS) tools. Final determination of project sites will be made during
the first year of the full project. The project will use a comprehensive framework of
analysis that uses a participatory approach to assess the selected project sites, i.e., home
gardens adjacent to protected areas, agricultural farms mixed with home gardens and
communities in forest margins. The sites will span different types of setting where tropical
fruit species are grown to ensure diverse insights on economic, ecological and cultural
factors that determine their conservation and use. Using selected sites as a testing ground,
project partners will facilitate the process of building knowledge about the systems and
diversity at those sites. To understand the scientific basis of on-farm tropical fruit genetic
resource use and conservation, current farmer and community practices will be examined in
the following context of questions:
I. What is the amount and distribution of the genetic diversity of tropical fruit species
maintained by farmers over space and over time?
II. What are the processes used to maintain the genetic diversity on-farm?
III. Who maintains genetic diversity within the farming communities (men, women,
young, old, rich, poor, certain ethnic groups, nodal farmers)?
IV. What factors (market, non-market, social, environmental) influence farmer
decisions on maintaining traditional cultivars?
33. These questions will be complemented by a second set related to knowledge and
utilization of tropical fruit genetic diversity in situ:
I.
II.
III.
IV.
V.
VI.
Are wild tropical fruit resources available in the area?
Are they found only in the periphery or deeper within the forest?
Does the local community exploit these resources?
If so, how, and are these uses sustainable?
What is the contribution of such exploitation to household economy?
Are there efforts to sustain this diversity in the wild?
34. Documentation of this information will provide the knowledge needed to: 1) support
local germplasm propagation and supply systems, 2) improve participatory mother plant
selection programmes; 3) develop markets for traditional fruit crops and cultivars, 4) develop
in situ conservation and sustainable utilization measures, 5) promote appropriate biodiversity
conservation values, 6) create methodologies for integrating locally adapted fruit crop
cultivars and farmer preferences into development and extension projects, 7) identify good
practices for domesticating or using wild fruit genetic resources for community benefits, and
8) advise on appropriate policies that support the management and use of tropical fruit crop
diversity in managed agroecosystems and in natural ecosystems.
13
35. Component 2: Identification and testing of methodologies and good practices 3 for
management of tropical fruit tree species diversity. This is a core component of the
project. Methods and approaches will range from scientific exploration to
outreach/extension activities. Examples include identification and management of
traditional fruit varieties maintained by farmers, fostering stakeholder involvement, and
linking farmers with markets.
Identifying and managing tropical fruit genetic diversity
36. Methodology identification and testing will be carried out at the farm/agroecosystem
level for target fruit crops, and at the ecosystem level for wild fruit species. The project
focuses on traditional local fruit crop varieties that are maintained by farmers, and their
wild relatives, and on the enhancement of farmers’ capacity (e.g. grafting nursery skills
training to custodians of mother plants of target taxa) to propagate locally adapted materials
and deploy diversity on-farm. Different kinds of information (morphological, molecular,
and farmers’ assessment and knowledge) will be used for identifying the most diverse
genetic resources for propagation and deployment. In the case of wild relatives, viable
population sizes and associations will determine the conservation management practices.
Fostering stakeholder involvement
37. Most problems, issues and opportunities of agrobiodiversity management are complex,
with many interactions, side-effects and implications. Therefore, achieving the desired
benefits requires participation of both research and development institutions. The project
will bring the necessary expertise and stakeholders from research and development sectors,
together with local communities. This will be based on participatory institutional analysis,
which also identifies and subsequently facilitates the handling of the “non-performing”
stakeholders in a transparent manner.
Linking farmers with markets
38. Experience shows that on-farm conservation of crop genetic diversity is enhanced when
farmers and communities benefit through sustainable yields and increased income. There
are two approaches to enhancing these benefits: 1) ensure that use of local crop diversity is
competitive as an income-producer, and 2) increase demand (locally, regionally and
globally) for the target fruits. The project will also look at unrealized market potential for
the fruit crops and partners with marketing expertise (private companies, farmer
cooperatives, women’s organizations and appropriate NGO’s)4 who will be tapped to assist
in developing the links between producer groups and promising markets. The population in
the Asian region is increasing at a fast rate. The demand for fruits and fruit products is,
therefore, growing. And while fruits like citrus, mango, mangosteen and rambutan are
already exported from the Asian region (mainly India, Thailand, Malaysia and the
Philippines) to markets in other countries, there is still vast scope for export of tropical
fruits and fruit products to earn the much-needed foreign exchange. To do this, efforts are
needed to place the right form (product development) of the fruit in the right market at the
right time (season). It is also well recognized that the cultivars (or genetic resources) differ
3
Good practice is a system, organization or process, which, over time maintains, enhances and creates crop genetic
diversity, and ensures its availability to and from farmers and other actors for improved livelihoods on a sustainable basis.
(Sthapit et al. 2003a).
4
Relevant institutions and expertise will be identified during the process of institutional analysis.
14
in their quality, and specific types would be suitable for specific products thus linking the
genetic diversity to product development.
39. An analysis of the changing markets in order to identify major consumer preferences
will help identify particular types of diversity and promote their cultivation in better
production environments. It will also ensure that the development of such varieties takes
into account using local material in the process of crop improvement. Thus, even if some
loss of genotypes occurs, the genetic diversity will be maintained. For example in
Indonesia, breeding on taste and inflorescence of zalacca flower through participatory
breeding is in progress. The material for this programme was prepared in IFRURI, but
selection of superior varieties will be based on local agricultural agribusiness orientation as
done by stakeholders, such as Tazagawa Foundation in Tanjung Pinang regency, Riau
provinces also Pariaman regency in West Sumatra. This activity is attempting to develop
utilization of products and also in situ conservation.
40. IPGRI has recently initiated a project to develop “commodification” techniques.
Working within the framework of the commodity chain – production, processing,
marketing, consumption, the technique aims to exploit both products and markets to their
full potential. The idea is to upscale underutilized species, elevating them from subsistence
to commercial use and increasing their value to farmers as a resource to manage. The
proposed project will be among the first to pilot commodification models. The farmers'
experiences in growing, processing and storage of fruit crop products will be studied and
that information will be disseminated. Potential for new and expanded markets will be
assessed, and the methods for linking them to local communities determined. Good
practices determined to be effective will be documented; the models will then be promoted
to the decision-makers positioned to help replicate them throughout the project countries
and beyond.
Good practices strengthen local capacity to manage on-farm conservation through
sustainable utilization.
41. To be effective, good practices must be practical, cost-effective, sustainable, and have
potential for scaling up to wider geographic, institutional and socio-cultural contexts.
Project partners have developed and piloted a number of good practices to support diversity
management, stakeholder involvement and market access. Methodologies and good
practices that have been piloted in other circumstances, and will be piloted for the first time
in the context of tropical fruit species management, will be identified in two stages.
Preliminary review of the options will be undertaken at a workshop during the first
Steering Committee (SC) meeting of the PDF-B phase. At the start of the full project, a
second workshop will identify those methods and good practice models to be tested in the
project. Projects in which piloting of these practices has been undertaken are described in
more detail in Section VI.
42. Good practices will be applied at several levels:
I. Working modality for strengthening partnerships between formal and informal
institutional and farming communities, multi-institutional and interdisciplinary
teams, and rapport building with local communities;
II. Identifying, managing and monitoring genetic diversity;
III. Enhancing benefits to local communities;
15
IV. Strengthening local seed and planting materials systems (growing, processing and
exchange systems);
V. Community/user management of fruit trees in the wild;
VI. Communications and capacity-building to disseminate and integrate proven
methodologies into relevant communities and farmer networks;
VII. Marketing initiatives to expand income potential and provide incentives for crop
diversity use and management.
43. Some examples of good practices are as below. The validity of each will depend on
local circumstances and the available biodiversity base:
I. Participatory variety selection (PVS) allows farmers to test new materials from
other regions or from the formal sector and engages them fully in the selection
process (Joshi and Witcombe 1996; Soleri and Cleveland 2000; 2001; Witcombe et
al. 2001);
II. Participatory plant breeding (PPB) programmes allow farmers to select the
materials that are most appropriate to their production environments and are likely
to enhance the diversity present (Sthapit et al. 1996; Castello et al. 2000; Ceccarelli
and Grando 2000; Weltzien et al. 1998; Bellon et al. 1999; Witcombe et al. 1996);
III. Social seed and planting materials networks support informal exchange of seedlings
and rootstocks to strengthen community germplasm networks and nodal farmers’
roles in searching for new diversity, selecting, maintaining and exchanging the
germplasm and building knowledge within and outside the community (Subedi et
al. 2003);
IV. Diversity fairs provide a simple and low-cost approach for locating fruit varietal
diversity and custodians, acquiring traditional knowledge, and sensitizing
communities (Sthapit et al. 2003c);
V. Community biodiversity registers document local fruit diversity in the wild and onfarm, together with associated knowledge, in order to monitor minimum population
size over a five-year time frame (Sthapit et al. 2003c).
44. These and other good practices will be explored in the context of application to tropical
fruit species at the two workshops described above. Those that have potential for the
selected sites will be incorporated into project implementation for piloting. The details of
each of these approaches, tools, and their field applications in on-farm conservation
research are described in Sthapit et al. (2001, 2003 a,b) and Subedi et al. (2003).
45. In order to identify best practices to enhance the equal benefit sharing of TFT genetic
resources, problems and barriers will be identified. The problems and barriers themselves
will be site specific, whereas the protocols and methods for identifying these problems and
barriers will be widely applicable in nature and developed through the PDF-B phase.
46. Component 3: Capacity building of different stakeholder groups to apply
methodologies and practices identified and tested. The diversity of the stakeholder
group suggests that a systematic and well-planned capacity-building component is needed.
Individual participants and institutions must have full understanding of the role they play,
the capacity to play it, and the structures to ensure communication among the scientific,
management and social elements.
16
47. Capacity building and training will include national and local institutions, government
agencies, NGOs and the private sector. Training will focus on creating ownership of
biodiversity-based knowledge:
I. Local institutions (participatory methods, genetic analysis, molecular markers);
II. Farmers, farmer organizations, user groups, extension workers (identifying,
exchanging and managing diversity; managing and sustaining in situ diversity,
where applicable);
III. Local communities and agencies, national commerce facilities/agencies (market
identification and exploitation);
IV. Local and national policy-makers (economic and environmental benefits of project
methods, identification of relevant policy and law).
48. In-service training will be provided to staff at national institutions involved in
implementing the project. By training professionals in methods for implementing in situ
conservation of tropical fruit diversity, national expertise will be enhanced. Such training
might be linked to IPGRI’s Centres of Excellence5, which have strengthened the capacity
of national partners in key areas. Capacity-building strategies will be employed to ensure
that community and national stakeholders are positioned to carry out activities beyond the
life of the project. These will be defined and a strategy for their implementation designed
during the PDF-B phase.
49. The models that result from the activities under the above-described project
components will benefit local communities, while providing global benefits in the form of
replicable models and conservation of tropical fruit genetic diversity. At the completion of
the full project, the following outputs are expected to be achieved:
I. Knowledge about farmer/community decision-making regarding use and
maintenance of cultivated and wild tropical fruit diversity are documented and
shared;
II. Methods and approaches of in situ conservation for tropical fruit species and their
wild relative species are developed or adopted, tested and disseminated;
III. Good practices that benefit global conservation and local communities are
identified, piloted and promoted;
IV. Capacity of national and local agencies and institutions, particularly farmer
organizations and user groups (for wild diversity), and informal systems to
conserve and use cultivated and wild fruit species diversity in natural habitats
and on-farm is enhanced.
III. SYNCHRONICITY WITH STRATEGIC PRIORITIES IN BIODIVERSITY
The proposed project is consistent with Strategic Priorities Two and Four in Biodiversity
for GEF Phase III.
50. The project aims to support mainstreaming of agrobiodiversity conservation and a
sustainable use of tropical fruit genetic resources through applying a multi-disciplinary
5
Centres of Excellence in Asia, the Pacific and Oceania region use partnerships and networking to develop and
implement training courses by identifying and assisting key institutions in the region to provide sustained training.
17
approach. A wide range of stakeholders, including farmers and farmer organizations, user
groups, NGOs, agricultural extension workers, scientists, and local and national policy
makers, will work together to achieve economic and biodiversity conservation targets
simultaneously, with each reinforcing the others.
51. Further, the project will assist countries to identify, assess and test good practices and
globally replicable models for conservation and sustainable use of tropical fruit genetic
diversity. The project will also assess the unrealized market potential for the tropical fruit
tree species and will demonstrate options for commercial use to farmers, which will
contribute to alleviating poverty in rural communities. It will test the approach of
enhancing conservation through use.
IV. ELIGIBILITY
52. The participating countries ratified the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) on
the following dates: India, 18/02/94; Indonesia, 23/08/94; Malaysia, 24/06/94. Thailand has
signed the CBD and is expected to ratify on 20/01/04.
53. The project implements objectives of the GEF OP#13, Conservation and sustainable
use of biological diversity important to agriculture: to promote the positive and mitigate
the negative impacts of agricultural systems and practices on biological diversity in agroecosystems and their interface with natural ecosystems; and to promote the conservation
and sustainable use of genetic resources of actual and potential value for food and
agriculture (paragraph 1, decision III/11). In addition, the project integrates strategies
described in the CBD Agricultural Biodiversity Work Programme, specifically to identify
and promote “adaptive-management practices, technologies, policies and incentives” and
“the conservation and sustainable use of genetic resources that are of actual or potential
value for food and agriculture.”
54. The national biodiversity strategic action plans of the participating countries support
these objectives. India’s draft National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan recommends
enhancing conservation of traditional crop varieties. The Biodiversity Action Plan for
Indonesia promotes incentives for encouraging cultivation of local crop varieties and
diversifying food and tree crops. Malaysia’s National Policy on Biodiversity calls to
optimise economic benefits through sustainable use of biological diversity and to ensure
long-term food security. These objectives are supported through Malaysia’s Third National
Agricultural Policy (1998-2010) and the Eighth Malaysia Plan (2001 – 2005). Thailand’s
National Biodiversity Strategy Action Plan recommends promoting management of
biodiversity in urban, rural and traditional cultural environment, improve incentives for
conservation at the local level, and ensure protection and sustainable use of biodiversity.
V. INCREMENTAL COSTS
Baseline scenario
55. It is known that farmers choose the varieties they plant to enhance yields and reduce
pest and disease losses, employing both formal and informal management and seed
exchange systems. These choices and practices have been documented for a number of
annual crops. Systems to manage perennial species are also in use. However,
18
documentation of these systems have not been formalized, nor has this information along
with the local fruit tree genetic resources themselves been used in a systematic way to
improve farmer’s livelihoods, degraded landscapes, and ecosystem and human health. In
the absence of the GEF intervention, an opportunity will to codify, pilot and apply this
local knowledge and good practices to conserve and sustainably use agrobiodiversity will
be lost.
Alternative scenario
56. It is known that farmers choose the varieties they plant to enhance yields and reduce
pest and disease losses, employing both formal and informal management and seed
exchange systems. These practices have been documented for a number of annual crops
and, in a growing number of cases, more formalized systems are being developed and
implemented. These cases include application of “good practices”, as described in this
proposal. Such actions conserve genetic diversity and enhance crop sustainability year after
year, and begin to counter genetic erosion that results from use of monocultures. Systems
to manage perennial species, in this case tropical fruit tree species, are also in use.
However, the good practices proposed here have not yet been piloted for tropical fruit
species, nor has the potential for widespread application been assessed.
57. At the global level, two major benefits will result. The first is piloting of good practices
that lead to conservation and sustainable use of tropical fruit tree species and varieties, and
their subsequent replication with fruit tree species management throughout the tropics. The
second is conservation of crop genetic diversity for a group of species rich in biological,
cultural, aesthetic, ecological and economic value. GEF funding will be used to support the
process of good practice systemization: identifying the sites and good practices that will be
piloted for tropical fruit tree species; implementing the piloting process; documenting the
results; developing and implementing mechanisms for upscaling the pilot strategies; and
disseminating the information at national and global levels.
58. Local level and baseline action support is fundamental to the success of the project. The
four participating countries all have a strong record of work in the proposed area and have
shown commitment by funding and prioritising crop research at relevant agencies and
research institutions. Commitments extend through and beyond the life of this project (for
example, India’s Vision 2020 strategy). Potential co-financing for the full project begins
with the second phase of the ADB project. The ADB has responded positively to the
outcome of phase one, and has indicated willingness to replenish funding for the second
phase. As the project proposed here nests within the framework of the ADB project, and
the two projects share objectives, anticipated ADB funding will form an important cofinancing resource. Further investigation of potential sources of co-financing is underway,
and will be pursued as part of the PDF-B phase.
VI. LINKAGES WITH OTHER GEF and NON-GEF INTERVENTIONS
59. IPGRI operates and supports a number of national, regional and global projects in
tandem with national agencies and international organizations. Several of these projects,
some of which are funded by UNEP-GEF, are complementary to the project now proposed
and/or will provide important inputs in the form of lessons learned and good practices.
19
60. Now completing its first phase, “Sustainable Conservation and Utilization of Tropical
Fruit Genetic Resources in Asia”, funded by the ADB (the ADB project), operates in 10
countries of Asia, including India, Indonesia, Malaysia, and Thailand. The first phase has
focused on assessment of genetic diversity and ex situ conservation responses, the first step
and an important complement to the in situ work proposed here. The project is beginning
the transition to its second phase, and will apply the knowledge gained from the first-phase
ex situ work to practical application on-farm. There will be significant opportunities for
managing aspects of both projects in tandem, sharing costs and creating effective
economies of scale including identification of project sites with strong complementarity. It
is anticipated that the ADB project will provide co-financing for the full GEF project.
61. Since 1995, IPGRI’s project “Strengthening the Scientific Basis of In situ Conservation
of Agricultural Biodiversity On-Farm” has tested and applied methodologies proposed
here, in particular the “good practices” that will now be tested in the context of tropical
fruit species for the first time. In Nepal, the project “Enhancing Contribution of Home
Gardens to On-farm Management of Plant Genetic Resources and to Improve Livelihoods
of Nepalese Farmers”, in its third and final year, is analysing the effects of ecological and
social factors on the dynamics of Nepalese home gardens, and examining the dynamics
behind strategies for conservation of plant genetic resources in these gardens. During the
PDF-B phase of this project, lessons drawn from the Nepal project will be assessed for
relevance to home gardens and fruit trees in India, Indonesia, Malaysia, and Thailand. In
Tanzania and Uganda, IPGRI is looking at the dynamics behind farmer decisions to use or
discard banana diversity, methods of information exchange amongst farmers and ways to
address genetic erosion. This project contributes to knowledge of underlying principles
behind farmer management of crop genetic diversity.
62. In Mali and Zimbabwe, on-farm conservation activities are directed towards mitigating
the effects of drought in marginal areas through a project funded by International Fund for
Agricultural Development (IFAD). Through a combination of participatory surveys, use of
GIS and morphological, biochemical and molecular characterization, the project aims to
gain a better understanding of farmers’ practices and their impact on diversity. The project
has also identified the major reasons that farmers maintain diversity. Findings of this
project are directly applicable as “lessons learned” for the proposed project.
63. “In situ/On-farm Conservation of Agricultural Biodiversity (Horticulture Crops and
Wild Fruit Species) in Central Asia”, now in the planning stage and supported by a
UNEP/GEF PDF-B grant, applies a similar approach to temperate fruit tree species in
Central Asia. The project is the first to look at adaptive management and good practice as
they apply to perennial species. The project proposed here will draw from the lessons
learned as the Central Asia project progresses. The UNEP/GEF project “In Situ
Conservation of Crop Wild Relatives Through Enhanced Information Management and
Field Application”, approved by GEF Council as a full project in 2002, will develop
approaches to in situ crop wild relative management with applicability to this project.
64. “In-situ Conservation of Genetic Diversity”, a five-year project initiated in Turkey in
1993 with funding from the GEF/World Bank, aimed to manage genetic diversity of forest
tree species. The project established criteria to identify gene management zones and
developed information systems to support project and ongoing management. The lessons
learned on genetic diversity management for forest tree species is particularly valuable to
20
the project proposed here. A project that is being supported by UNDP/GEF in Vietnam
(VIE/01/G35), “In situ Conservation of Native Landraces and their Wild Relatives in
Vietnam”, for which IPGRI is a mentor, also aims to conserve globally significant
perennial fruit species such as litchi, longan and citrus. Project findings may be piloted in
the proposed project (see http://www.undp.org.vn/undp/prog/profile/eng/vie01g35.htm).
65. “Western Terai Landscape Complex Project” (WTLCP)(NEP/02/013), supported by
GEF/UNDP and in which IPGRI is a partner, includes a component to upscale good
practices of agrobiodiversity management, an approach based on IPGRI-supported work in
Nepal6.
66. IPGRI’s APO Cyber Plant Conservation Project builds awareness about the value of
tropical fruit tree conservation. Students follow the life of a specific tree, learning about its
genetic and other values and tracking its “progress” for the tree’s lifetime. Information
about individual trees is recorded and shared through the Internet. Where appropriate, this
project approach will be applied at community level, contributing to the information
management potential and engaging as wide an audience as possible in project objectives.
67. The project “Collection, Conservation and Characterization for Fruit Crops”, funded by
the government of Indonesia, lays the groundwork in Indonesia for the proposed project.
68. Projects in Malaysia managed by MARDI will provide support to and benefit from the
proposed project: 1) Collection, Conservation, and Exploitation of Agrobiological
Resources, funded by the Research and Development Fund; 2) On-farm conservation of
tropical fruit genetic resources, funded by the International Tropical Fruit Network
(TFNet); 3) Conservation and genetic diversity of pulasan (Nephelium ramboutan-ake) and
kuini (Mangifera odorata) funded by the ADB project, in collaboration with IPGRI. These
two fruits are rare and underexploited, and fetch higher price than the related commercial
mango or pulasan.
69. The Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia project “Conservation Genetics of Nephelium and
Citrus”, funded by the Intensification of Research in Priority Areas (IRPA) Programme,
Government of Malaysia, will draw genetic information on citrus. Finally, the Forest
Research Institute of Malaysia (FRIM) has proposed a project to fully document and collect
all wild fruit plants in Peninsular Malaysia. This project and the ADB project will support
each other. Genetic and other species information are relevant to the proposed project.
6 The
Nepal country component runs several IPGRI supported projects: 1) DGIS (1997-2001) and IDRC (2002-2004)
funded “Strengthening scientific basis of in situ conservation of agrobiodiversity in Nepal”, 2) DGIS and IDRC funded
“Genetic Resources Policy Initiative” project, 3) SDC funded home gardens project and 4) IFAD funded “Enhancing the
Contribution of Nutritious but Neglected Crops to Food Security and to Incomes of the Rural Poor: Asia Component –
Nutritious Millets”.
21
VII. NATIONAL AND REGIONAL LEVEL SUPPORT
70. A framework for cooperation on fruit tree conservation and sustainable management
has been established between IPGRI and project partners in the context of the ADB project.
This cooperation has led to agreement for the proposed project, which was formalized in
March 2003 at the annual meeting of ADB project partners held in Chongqing, People’s
Republic of China.
71. Through the ADB project, project partners have established networks of experts on
genetic diversity in each of the four countries. In addition, several IPGRI National partners
have formed the Asia Fruit Genetic Resources Network (AFGRN). An IPGRI – UTFANET
(Underutilized Tropical Fruits in Asia Network) MOU defines mutually supportive roles
with IPGRI leading activities on genetic resources, and UTFANET focusing on production,
processing, economics and marketing of tropical fruits. The countries that will be involved
in this work are covered through three sub-regional networks: SANPGR (South Asia Plant
Genetic Resources Network); EA-PGR (East Asia PGR Network); and RECSEA-PGR
(Regional Cooperation in Southeast Asia for Plant Genetic Resources).
72. The national partners and IPGRI have initiated discussions about the project with
several organizations in each country. Initially, discussions took place with key partners
present during the 3rd Annual Project meeting of the ADB project in Chongqing, China.
This was followed up with visits to the Indian Council of Agricultural Research, New
Delhi, India and its key PGR and fruit crop-based research institutes: Indian Institute of
Horticultural Research, Bangalore; Central Institute of Subtropical Horticulture, Lucknow;
National Research Centre for Citrus, Nagpur; National Bureau of Plant Genetic Resources,
New Delhi; and Indian Agriculture Research Institute, New Delhi. In Malaysia, discussions
have been held with the Department of Agriculture, Ministry of Agriculture, and Forest
Research Institute of Malaysia. Further discussions are being initiated with the Agricultural
Research and Development Agency in Indonesia and its research institutes. In Thailand,
preliminary discussions have also been held with staff of the Forest Genetics and Genetic
Engineering group under whose jurisdiction the national parks and reserves is expected to
fall after the current re-organization in Thailand.
73. In addition, IPGRI is currently working with several national programmes in the 4
countries on policies that are more supportive of conservation efforts. For example,
Thailand, Indonesia and Malaysia have identified tropical fruits as a priority component of
their present agricultural development plan. Specifically, Malaysia has put a high priority
in their current economic development plan on agricultural crop diversification involving
the development of agroforestry systems where tropical fruits play a major role. During the
PDF-B a thorough analysis of the current enabling environment (policy and institutional
level) will be conducted.
VIII. SUSTAINABILITY (including financial) AND REPLICATION
74. Long-term sustainability of project objectives requires that all participants are fully
engaged and that partnerships and institutional linkages are solid. Building the stakeholder
networks for the full project will take place primarily during the PDF-B planning phase.
22
The process will continue throughout the full project to establish permanence and to create
opportunities for project replication.
75. Sustainability is considered at three levels: 1) farmers, local communities and user
groups; 2) national and regional policy; 3) global agreements and objectives. Sustainability
of project practices will be achieved at the farmer and user group level if these groups
derive clear benefits when applying them. As the project objective for farmers and user
groups is to improve yields and farmer income, this result in itself provides a motivation to
continue managing their crop genetic diversity in a sustainable way. Increased incomes at
farm level are shown to sustain conservation and management practices. This requires an
“exit strategy” of the project intervention from the outset by involving local institutions in
decision-making process. Ownership of the project in terms of strategies and approaches
will ensure that local and national institutions will be taking up the needed institutional
support for upscaling the successful project experiences at the national and even regional
levels.
76. IPGRI has experience in bringing together diverse stakeholder groups to implement
national Plant Genetic Resources activities (for example, in Bangladesh, China, Indonesia,
Mongolia, Nepal, North Korea, Sri Lanka, and Vietnam). In addition, IPGRI's experiences
in Nepal and Vietnam projects, where both local and national participatory networks were
built to support community-based activities, will be applied to developing stakeholder
groups for this project. In this project, local groups will be formed based upon the existing
roles, responsibilities and social networks. Inclusion of nodal farmers7 will be a key
element, as these farmers maintain a high level of diversity on their farms and in their
orchards.
77. At the national and regional levels, economic enhancements that result from
implementation of project practices are an important incentive for continuing to support the
training and institutional development that are integral to the project. During the life of the
project, the practices will be integrated into the day-to-day business of research and policy
institutes. National commitment will result if the project proves its worth not only in
economic terms but also by contributing to implementation of each participating country’s
obligations to the Convention on Biological Diversity. While the project is being
implemented, the national partners have agreed to make efforts to integrate the proposed
efforts into national activities. The staff trained during the project tenure would be
available to continue such future activities. More importantly, poverty reduction is a
significant issue for the four partner countries. Projects that demonstrate successful poverty
reduction, along with improvement to environmental conditions and services, will attract
future support. Even when national resources cannot be provided, the implementation of
models developed through the proposed project could become the basis for developing
proposals for soft loans and proposals for external support. On the other hand, since
tropical fruits are a priority in the agricultural and economic development agenda of the
collaborating countries, the continuation of the project through upscaling of successful
practices can be easily integrated into the national budget for sustained implementation.
7 Nodal
farmers select, maintain and exchange fruit cultivars. In this case they were identified by using criteria such as:
frequency of mention of their names as source of seed in the community, their links with other individuals in obtaining
genetic materials for themselves from within or outside the community, maintaining relatively high diversity, and
perceived source of knowledge. (Subedi et al. 2003).
23
78. At the global level, proven practices for improving nutrition and enhancing yield and
income, while concurrently conserving important genetic diversity, will motivate donors to
provide support, especially in terms of replication of the practices.
79. These arguments for sustainability rely on documentation and dissemination of results.
There must be clear proof that investment in these practices results in high return on
investment. This will lay the groundwork for continued use of domestic resources. As the
stakeholder groups will be involved from the early planning stages, they will contribute to
the documentation process and development of an exit strategy. At the community level,
community actions such as biodiversity fairs and rural radio will help to scale up local
successes while at the institutional and national levels ways of sharing and learning good
practices need to be developed. In the home garden project of Nepal, forty research farmers
were identified. Each one in turn identified at least 10 fellow community farmers for
horizontal scaling-up as a social responsibility within the dissemination strategy. For
vertical scaling-up, a modality needs to be developed during the stakeholder workshop.
80. During the PDF-B stage, a replication and knowledge-transfer strategy, specific to the
situation of each country, will be developed taking into consideration what could be shortterm practices as opposed to those that would require longer periods to implement and
show results.
81. It should be taken into account, however, that evaluation of good practices for perennial
species will take time given the nature of the species. Perennial species have longer
gestation periods for fruiting and thus the time required for deriving benefits and
demonstrating the desired impacts would take longer than it would be in the case of annual
species.
82. The underlying principles that inform IPGRI’s replication approach are to: (1)
implement actions that support publications and information diffusion through, local,
national and international media; (2) identify among the good practices developed those
that require short-term, medium-term and long term interventions; (3) provide improved
extension packages the promote diversity rich solutions to agricultural development sectors
based the best practices developed; (4) develop diversity demonstration fields to expose
stored plant material to farmers to bridge genebanks and the farming communities links; (5)
move from capacity development to capacity mobilization to mobilize trained people with
the capacity to act as trainers in the area of seed systems/genetic conservation, biodiversity
management and sustainable agriculture; (6) contribute to the systematization of available
information on propagation material banking/storage at community, village or higher
levels; (7) assist national programmes to generate the resources needed to upscale the
models developed; and (8) promote legislations and policies that support, strengthen and do
not constrain informal seed/propagation material systems for tropical fruit trees.
IX. PROJECT MANAGEMENT
83. IPGRI will be the executing agency (EA) for the project. The proposed project will be
based at its regional office for Asia, the Pacific and Oceania (IPGRI-APO), together with
the IPGRI-APO coordinating office in Delhi, which is included in the APO Regional
Group. IPGRI will appoint a project coordinator, directly reporting to the Regional Director
of IPGRI-APO, who will supervise the implementation of the project and to coordinate
24
IPGRI staff efforts. In addition, an internationally recruited consultant will be hired to
assist in the implementation and development of the full project proposal.
84. At the regional level, IPGRI has established working relationships with organizations
concerned with fruit tree genetic resources in the four participating countries that have been
funded by ADB. In order to implement the project with these countries, a Steering
Committee (SC) will be set up with a member from each participating country and IPGRI.
Each country has already identified focal points for the proposed project who will be
Country Coordinators and members of the SC. The Country Coordinators will elect, by
consensus, the Chair of the SC for the project duration. The SC will work with IPGRI and
execute the agreed programme in consultation with the country coordinators. IPGRI will
appoint a project coordinator who will be an ex-officio member of the SC. Other
collaborating organizations including, for example, UTFANET/International Centre for
Underutilized Crops (ICUC), Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research
(ACIAR), Tropical Fruits Network, Malaysia (TFNet), and The World Conservation Union
(IUCN) will be invited to participate as observers using their own funds. Representatives of
the regional and sub-regional genetic resources networks will also be invited to attend the
SC meetings.
85. At the country level, the Coordinators will take charge of national level meetings and
stakeholder consultation. The inception meeting will set priorities, discuss the work plans,
and make detailed implementation arrangements, including reporting and monitoring
mechanisms. Different types of stakeholders (e.g., national programmes, universities,
NGOs) will be invited to participate in this meeting. Accountabilities for achievements and
annual milestones for the outputs will be determined. The allocation of budgets to carry out
specific activities to achieve the outputs will be decided.
86. Under the general supervision of the Regional Director of IPGRI-APO, the Project
Coordinator will provide overall coordination and management of the project. He/She will
serve to support and link the work of the national programmes as they carry out nationallevel planning activities. Results of national planning meetings will be shared amongst all
partners, ensuring that emerging ideas and lessons are shared, and that project design is
compatible from country to country while providing sufficient flexibility to adapt to local
conditions. In close consultations with national programmes and IPGRI staff, the Project
Coordinator will be responsible for developing the full project proposal and for managing
the project budget.
87. Descriptions of each of the five agencies directly involved in the project are found in
Annex II.
X. DESCRIPTION OF PDF B ACTIVITIES
.
88. Activities for the PDF-B planning phase of the project are grouped into three
categories: project planning and management structure; technical components, and full
project design.
89. Establish the planning and management structure. This grouping comprises both global
and national level planning and management activities. The project SC will coordinate
25
project development, ensuring coordination and compatibility between national-level
activities. The projects will be implemented in each country though the Departments of
Agriculture in each partner country. The national Steering Committees will be established
and key representatives from Ministry of Environment, Ministry of Industry, Ministry of
Planning and other relevant government ministries will be members of SCs to oversee the
implementation of the project. The national planning processes will support adaptation of
the project design to national needs and conditions, and will build representative
stakeholder groups. PDF-B planning and management activities include:
90. Activity 1: Establish Project Steering Committee (SC), Collaboration, Coordination
and Management. The project SC will provide oversight and coordination of the project. It
will include representation from each of the national and international partners and UNEP,
and will meet twice during the PDF-B phase. The first meeting will take place early in the
project year to bring all national and other partners together, develop a project logical
framework, plan for comprehensive coverage of stakeholder groups and project expertise
and agree on procedures for completing the planning phase. In conjunction with this first
meeting, a technical workshop will be held to identify methodologies and good practices
relevant to this project (see Activity 3) and endorse site selection criteria (see Activity 4).
The second SC meeting will take place later in the project year. It will focus on ensuring
that the national planning processes are in harmony with the full project and review the full
project design. The PDF-B Project Coordinator will lead the project development and
design process consistent with Terms of Reference developed by IPGRI and UNEP/GEF.
The project coordinator will be responsible for project planning and management structure;
technical components, and full project design as described in the description of PDF-B
activities. She/he will be assisted by an internationally recruited consultant to coordinate
and implement PDF-B activities with inputs from the international SC, facilitate
communication and linkages at regional and national levels in order to provide successful
and participatory development of full project proposal and reporting to UNEP/GEF. During
the PDF-B, the involvement and collaboration with the private sector also will be defined
and agreed, noting that market development will be only one of a portfolio of options of
diversity rich practices that improve farmer’s livelihoods, and are relevant in the context of
commercialization of certain fruit species. The private sector will be involved, as they will
need to be convinced that there is a market for diversity and not just for single types.
91. Activity 2: Initiate national planning processes. Each national partner will coordinate
an in-country process that brings together farmer organizations, local communities, NGOs,
user groups, agricultural extension programmes, scientific institutes, and government
ministries. Key stakeholders will be identified using participatory institutional network
analysis. Expertise in botany, horticulture, forestry, agro-ecology, participatory
management and agricultural extension activities, and marketing will be included. All
project partners have extensive experience in developing networks of diverse stakeholders,
as demonstrated by those built in the context of the ADB project. The partner in India
organized communities for the conservation of a citrus species in a ‘gene sanctuary’ in the
Garo Hills of Nagaland. The Indonesian partner worked with mangosteen farmers to
develop home-based processed mangosteen products. Closely working with growers and
home garden owners, the Malaysian partner studied the impact of supply and demand for
fruits like local mango and rambutan and also has enumerated useful fruit species in
Malaysian forests, working closely with forest dwellers and those that live on forest
fringes.
26
92. To enhance the sustainability of the project and achieve the ownership of the project by
different stakeholders, participatory approaches such as Rapid Rural Appraisal,
Participatory Ranking and Participatory Project Planning will be used in the project to
involve multiple stakeholder groups. Through this approach, the upscaling process during
the later stages will also be enhanced to achieve greater impact at the national and regional
levels.
93. It is anticipated that each national partner will hold two planning meetings. The first
meeting will concentrate on three aspects of project development:
I. Carry out a systematic institutional analysis to identify key stakeholders, their
interests and capacity and build the stakeholder network (review representation,
identify gaps and how to fill them);
II. Develop a detailed plan for technical components (build background
information on existing knowledge, methodologies and good practices, and
define the site selection process and methods) This will also include discussions
on baseline indicators to be used for monitoring and evaluation of the project
and the system by which this can be installed and made operational on a more
sustainable basis. At the local level, this system will consider participatory
monitoring and evaluation where the farmers themselves participate in deciding
the parameters to be used and where the local level governance system can be a
part of the whole monitoring and evaluation system.
III. Carry out a market analysis for the selected fruits and options to enhance the
value of sustainable produced fruits, based on contacts with both public and
private sector institutions and analyze of their future involvement during full
project period.
IV. Create a national-level logical framework.
94. The second national meeting will focus on the full project implementation strategy,
including identification of capacity and human resource needs. This second meeting should
take place prior to the second SC meeting to ensure that the national planning process is
fully incorporated into the project implementation strategy and full proposal.
95. Address Technical Components. There are two aspects to technical planning during the
PDF-B phase. The first is to ensure that existing experience and knowledge are considered
in project planning and development. The second focuses more specifically on the
technical criteria and selection process and methods for project sites.
96. Activity 3: Compile existing background information. At the global level, a review of
existing knowledge, primarily through bibliographic review, methodologies for
conservation of tropical fruit species, and good practices will be carried out. Review of
methodologies and good practices will begin with a workshop held during the first SC
meeting. Reviews at the national level will focus on existing knowledge amongst farmers
and local communities, results of locally based past and existing projects and bibliographic
review of local literature. Compilation and analysis of the full suite of resulting information
will serve as a basis for designing the implementation strategy and full proposal. This
analysis should include a problem tree analysis where cause and effect relationship are
provided so that interventions are identified based on the cause of the problem instead of
27
the impact. The results will be presented at the second SC meeting to provide all project
partners with a comprehensive view of the information gathered.
97. Activity 4: Refine criteria for project site selection. During the PDF-B phase, site
selection criteria will be refined and candidate sites selected in each of the four countries
using applicable Geographic Information Systems (GIS) tools. Initial use and value surveys
will be completed during the PDF-B phase; general criteria for site selection established at
the beginning of the PDF-B phase will be refined using the information gathered during the
conduct of Participatory Rural Appraisal (PRA) and specifically designed surveys. Final
determination of project sites will be made at the beginning of the full project.
During the PDF-B phase, a workshop will be held (in conjunction with the first SC
meeting) to review the following potential site selection criteria and how they will be
applied to the site selection process:
I. Environment – magnitude of diversity, agroecological variables;
II. Crop – intraspecific diversity, local adaptation, main component of the system
at the site;
III. Farmers and communities – farmer knowledge of tropical fruit management and
cultivars, socio-culture and diversity, livelihoods diversity, market
opportunities, location of protected areas;
IV. Partners – community cooperation, conservation interventions, institutional
capacity, on-site expertise on tropical fruit management;
V. Logistics – year-round access, resource availability, availability of experimental
stations;
VI. Existing markets – outlets and accessibility.
98. At the national level, preliminary analysis of information gathered on genepools within
the ADB project will be undertaken. These will be reviewed during the national planning
meetings. GIS tools such as DIVA and Floramap, using the combined criteria that will
locate biodiversity and socio-economic parameters to enhance utilization of tropical fruits,
will be used to locate potential sites for the project. Training will then be conducted with
national partners to enable them to use this tool in locating potential sites for the project.
The same method can be used to upscale the project at the national level if this will prove
to be applicable.
Full project design. PDF-B project design activities include:
99. Activity 5: Agree to implementation, monitoring and evaluation and replication
strategies. Based on technical component activity results, the full project design will be
drafted by the project coordinator in consultation with SC members (email and phone), and
an advanced draft discussed at the second SC meeting. The implementation strategy will
clarify capacity needs for project implementation (staff and consultants, scientific, training
and administrative), the timeline for carrying out the project, and methods for partner
cooperation and management.
100. The Monitoring and Evaluation plan for the full project including agreement on
indicators to be measured for baseline establishment will be designed during PDF B phase.
Some of the baseline data at all hierarchical levels will be obtained during site selection
28
process. This baseline data will consist of both secondary as well as primary data. At the
country and provincial levels, this will rely on secondary baseline data and primary data
will be obtained only at the pilot community level. Operational costs and sustainability of
the Monitoring and Evaluation System will be considered and the project will attempt to
link this with existing systems especially with those of the local governments and through a
participatory process at the community level.
101. Activity 6: Define information and communications strategy. This activity will identify
key elements for information and communications strategies at global and national levels,
including internal (project participants) and external (project target audiences) components.
The need for information management will be assessed globally and locally, and in
consideration of the variety of information types that will be gathered and managed (e.g.,
bibliographic references and local crop variety information).
102. Activity 7: Develop full GEF project proposal, including co-financing sources. The
implementation, information and communication strategies will be the core of the full
proposal, and will include a monitoring and evaluation component based on the logical
framework. The co-financing process will comprise two aspects. First, in-kind and cash
contributions from the partners will be assessed. Second, potential external donors will be
identified and contacted to determine feasibility of funding support and, where appropriate,
the application process will be initiated. The SC will have oversight responsibility for
proposal development and co-financing activities
.
XI. PDF BLOCK B OUTPUTS
103. Outputs for the PDF-B phase include:
o Management structure for full project (project and national levels): The global SC
and national planning teams will be established and functioning;
o Bibliography of background information: Activity 3 will produce an extensive
bibliography of literature related to all project activities;
o Assessment of applicable methodologies and good practices: Compilation and
analysis of methodologies and good practices as they relate to this project will be
documented and integrated into the implementation strategy. The analysis will
include assessment of relevance of potential effectiveness of each methodology and
good practice for this project, with careful consideration of local conditions;
o Annotated lists of:
o Stakeholders at all levels, with roles defined for each;
o Site selection criteria, analysis and potential project sites;
o Co-financing sources for the full project.
o Implementation, information and communications strategies: These will document
results of information gathering, stakeholder views and analyses as they influenced
the final project design;
o Full GEF project proposal.
29
XII. RESPONSE TO REVIEWS
In addition to comments that have been sent in response to GEFSEC and WB Reviews,
please note the following changed paragraphs:
Cover page. Slight increase in PDF B budget to support national planning activities added
in response to GEFSEC review suggestions.
Endorsements. Attached, Thailand letter is expected.
Para 7. Common threats.
Para 21, 22. Information on existing regional initiatives and added value of regional
approach.
Para 45. Benefit sharing.
Para 55, 93, and 96. Baseline scenario
Para 16, 26, 39, 90, 93. Marketing issues.
Para 73, Annex 4. National planning and policy frameworks.
Para 80-82. Sustainability, replication strategies, and knowledge transfer.
Para 89, 90, 93. National government participation, private sector engagement and
stakeholder analysis, and additional national activities for analysis of enabling
environment.
Para 93, 100, 102. Monitoring and evaluation.
Annex 3. List of Related Projects by Country.
Annex 4. Country NBSAPs, Planning Documents and Projects Relevant to
Conservation and Sustainable Use of Agrobiodiversity and the Focus of the
Proposed Project.
Annex 5. Project Linkage with UNEP’s Programme of Work and UNEP’s mandate
in GEF.
30
XII. ITEMS TO BE FINANCED BY THE PDF-B ACTIVITIES
COSTS TABLE - FRAMEWORK BUDGET BY ACTIVITY
Activities
Government
contributions
(US$)
GEF
(US$)
Activity1: SC Formation/
Collaboration, Coordination
and Management
Activity 2: National planning
Other
co-funders
(US$)
TOTAL
(US$)
30,000
10,000
25,000
65,000
141,000
90,000
85,000
316,000
Activity 3: Background
information
Activity 4: Site selection
criteria and GIS training
Activity 5: Implementation,
monitoring and evaluation
strategy
Activity 6: Information and
communications strategy
40,000
20,000
15,000
75,000
40,000
25,000
45,000
110,000
22,500
10,000
27,000
59,500
22,500
7,500
10,000
40,000
Activity 7: Proposal and cofinancing
30,000
7,500
18,000
55,500
$ 326,000
$ 170,000
$ 225,000
$ 721,000
TOTAL COSTS
PRELIMINARY DRAFT WORKPLAN AND TIMETABLE
Calendar Year
Activities
2004
Activity 1: SC
Formation/
Collaboration,
Coordination and
Management
Activity 2:
National team
meetings
Activity 3:
Background
information
Activity 4: Project
sites Selection and
Training
Activity 5:
Implementation,
monitoring &
evaluation
strategy
Jun
XX
July
XX
Aug
XX
Sept
XX
Oct
XX
Nov
XX
Dec
XX
Jan
XX
Feb
XX
XX
XX
XX
XX
XX
Mar
XX
Apr
XX
May
XX
XX
XX
XX
XX
XX
XX
XX
XX
XX
XX
XX
XX
XX
XX
XX
XX
XX
XX
XX
XX
31
XX
Activity 6:
Information and
communication
strategy
Activity 7: Full
project and cofinancing
XX
XX
XX
XX
XX
XX
XX
XX
XX
XX
XX
XX
XX
XX
XX
XX
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34
Annex 1.
Tropical Fruits UNEP/GEF PDF-B Project
Values of Project Fruits
CITRUS
Nutritional value: Citrus contains organic acids, amino acids, ascorbic acid and minerals, and small quantities of flavonoids, carotenoids, volatiles
and lipids. Citrus fruits are low in protein and fats but are a good source of pectin and roughage. Ascorbic acid, folic acid, potassium and Vitamin B
are known to be an important part of a balanced diet.
Nutrient composition per 100 gm edible portion (Pareek et al. 1998)
Fruit
Water Calories Protein
(g) (Kcal)
(g)
Citrus
83-89
aurantium L.
C. grandis
84-91
(L.) Osbeck
C. medica L. 87.1
37-66 0.6-1.0
Fat
(g)
Carbohydrates
(g)
0.1 9.7-15.2
Fibre Calcium Phos(g)
(mg) phorus
(mg)
0.4
18-50
12
25-58 0.5-0.74 0.20-0.56 6.3-12.4 0.3-0.82
-
0.08
0.04
-
1.1
21.30
36.5
Iron Vitamin Thiamin Riboflavin Niacin
(mg)
A
e (mg)
(mg)
(mg)
(IU)
0.2
200
0.1
0.4
0.3
20-27 0.3-0.5
16.0
0.55
Ascorbic Waste
Acid
(%)
(mg)
45-90
-
20-49
0.04-0.07
0.02
0.3-0.4
30-44
-
15
0.052
0.029
0.125
368
-
Medicinal value: Citrus maxima (Pumello) rind is effective for dyspepsia, colic and cough, and its seed envelopes contain pectin, which is a
haemostatic. The seeds, stripped of their envelope and charred, are applied externally for impetigo. The fresh leaves of C. maxima, in combination
with leaves from other aromatic plants, are used to treat coryza, influenza and headache. Heated young leaves are effective for treating bruises
(Prajapati et al, 2003). C. limon (Lemon) fruits are useful in dyspepsia, flatulence, colic, constipation, anorexia, helminthiasis, scabies, fatigue,
halitosis, vomiting, trembling of the limbs, hemicrania, cough, bronchitis and heartburn (Prajapati et al. 2003). C. medica (Buddha’s finger) are useful
in pharyngodynia, cough, asthma, hiccough, hyperdipsia, otalgia, anorexia, vomiting, hepatopathy, flatulence, haemorrhoids, haemoptysis,
amenorrhoea, dysmenorrhoea, dysentery, leprosy and skin diseases. The seeds are stimulant, anti-inflammatory, emmenagogue and tonic, and treat
inflammations, skin diseases, amenorrhoea, dysmenorrhoea and haemorrhoids. The leaves are anodyne (Prajapati et al. 2003). The juice of C.
aurantium L., mixed with coconut or castor oil, is used as a laxative. The new leaves are used to treat abdominal pain. The bark of leaves are boiled
and taken to treat urinary tract infections. (Prajapati et al. 2003)
Other uses: The pulp or the macerated leaves of citrus are used for washing hair in Guam, Samoa and Fiji (Walter and Chanel, 2002). C. nobilis
(Mandarin orange) symbolizes good luck for the Chinese community and it is usually given as a gift in the lunar New Year. C. maxima (Pumello) is
used as a salad vegetable in Asia and is eaten by dipping it in chilli-hot sauce (Inglis 1996). Citrus limon (Lemon) makes a nutritious fruit juice (Chin
and Yong 1980). C. limon oil is also employed in perfumes, toilet waters, eau de cologne and soaps. The oil is also used to prepare terpeneless oil and
‘concentrated oils’ which are more stable on storage and have a better solubility in dilute alcohol (Shiva et al. 2002). C. hystrix (Wild lime) is used to
flavour Asian foods. Citrus medica is used for fruit arrangements (Chin and Yong 1980). C. microcarpa gives the sour taste for “sambal” and various
noodles (Aman 1999). Citrus aurantifolia is used for flavouring soft drinks, especially cola and lemon-lime types, ice-cream, candy, baked goods,
gelatines, puddings, chewing gum and condiments.
Market value: The potential to broaden and improve citrus germplasm and to increase production and income in Asian countries is significant. Most
Citrus breeding programmes, separated for scions and rootstocks, occur outside of Asia. The diversity within primary genepools in Asia (Citrus genus)
has great potential to improve the various fruit quality traits (rich colour, higher total soluble solids and seedlessness), to diversify maturing for
expanding the marketing season, and to improve the fruit structure and storability to expand the distribution potential. Production figures for citrus are
as follows (figures in metric tons):
India:
Indonesia:
Malaysia:
Thailand
4,580,000 (2002)*
411,000 (2002)*
27,391 (2002)*
1,081,800 (2002) *
36
MANGO
Nutritional value: Mangoes are rich in vitamin A and C and have been demonstrated to have a better food value than apples (Chin and Yong 1980).
Mangoes are an important component of the diet in many less developed countries in the subtropics and tropics. In regions of the world that have low
living standards and serious nutritional deficiencies, their attractiveness and flavour have also enhanced the quality of life. No part of the fruit is
wasted. Even the seed is used for extraction of starch ‘amchur’ and the peels (skin) have been used as a source of anacardic acid (Mukherjee 1997).
Nutrient composition per 100 gm edible portion (Pareek et al. 1998)
Fruit
Mangifera
indica
Mangifera
caesia Jack
Mangifera
foetida
Lour.
Mangifera
odorata
Griff.
Water Calories Protein Fat Carbo- Fibre Calcium Phosphorus Iron Vitamin Thiamine Riboflavin Niacin Ascorbic
Waste
(g)
(Kcal)
(g)
(g) hydrates (g)
(mg)
(mg)
(mg)
A
(mg)
(mg)
(mg)
Acid (mg)
(%)
(g)
(IU)
81.71
65
0.51 0.27
17.00
1.8
10
11
0.13
3894
0.058
0.057
0.058
27.7
NA
86.5
47.8
1.0
72.5
-
1.4
80.0
69.3
0.9
0.2
11.9
(inc.fibre)
25.4
0.1
18.5
(inc.fibre)
-
-
-
-
8.3
0.08
-
-
58
-
-
21
15
-
363
0.03
-
-
56
-
-
-
-
-
600
0.04
0.06
0.7
13
-
Medicinal value: Mango is known to have a number of medicinal properties: antiviral; antiparasitic; antiseptic; antitussive; antiasthmatic; ascaricide;
expectorant; cardiotonic; contraceptive; hypotensive; laxative; parasiticide; stomachic; and vermifuge. When the mango fruit is detached from its stem, a
thin fluid 'Am ki Chep' exudes from it. Mango "chep" is popularly regarded as a cure for scabies and other cutaneous infections. Recent investigations of
mango "chep" have led to the isolation of alkylgallates, amino acids, sugars, biflavones, and saponins (Khan et al. 1993). In Suriname's traditional
medicine, an infusion of the leaves or bark guards against hypertension and promotes blood circulation. A drink made from boiled unripe mango with salt
is a remedy for heat stroke. Mango juice is restorative tonic. Mango bark, dried leaf powder and stones are used for medicinal purposes.
Other uses: Mango is a popular dessert fruit; the fruits are eaten in salads or with savoury or chilli-hot dips. Unripe mangoes are used to make various
pickles and chutney. In Thailand and Philippines, the mango slices are served with sweet sticky rice mixed with coconut cream. Mangoes are the base
of ice creams, yoghurts and soufflés (Inglis 1996). Young mangoes, which are sour, can be substituted for tamarind in cooking (Aman 1999). The fruit
leather and frozen pulp is used as flavouring for baked goods, ice cream, and yoghurt.
37
Market potential: Mango is recognized by fruit qualities and in some cases on the adaptation to specific growing conditions. Prospects for wider uses
and improvement of mango are excellent. Action is needed to locate the most useful variation in the genepool, to collect and evaluate it efficiently, and
subsequently to exploit the most useful diversity both directly under cultivation as well as through hybridization. In the context of the ADB project,
work on collection and characterization has been completed. Production figures for mango are as follows:
India:
Indonesia:
Malaysia:
Thailand
11,400,000 (2002)*
44,229 (2002)*
19,570 (2002)*
1,700,000 (2002)*
38
MANGOSTEEN
Nutritional value: Mangosteen contains high contents of carbohydrates, calcium and phosphorus.
Nutrient composition per 100 gm edible portion (Pareek et al. 1998)
Fruit
Garcinia
mangostana
L.
Water
(g)
Calorie Protein Fat
Carbo- Fibre Calcium Phosphorus Iron Vitamin Thiamine Riboflavin Niacin Ascorbic Waste
s
(g)
(g) hydrates (g)
(mg)
(mg)
(mg)
A
(mg)
(mg)
(mg)
Acid
(%)
(Kcal)
(g)
(IU)
(mg)
80.2-85.0 60-63 0.5-0.6 0.1-0.6 14.3-19.8 0.3-5.1 0.01-11
0.02-17.0 0.20-0.90
14
0.03
1.0-66
70
Medicinal value: Mangosteen is used in folk medicine. The bark and skin of the tree treats diarrhoea and in Indonesia it is used to control high fever
(Inglis 1996). The dried fruit rind, which contains tannin and xanthones, is used as an anti-inflammatory and anti-diarrhoea medicine and for treatment
of dysentery.
Other uses: Mangosteen is known as the ‘Queen of the tropical fruits”. Its aril is consumed as a dessert fruit. In Tanna, the men eat Garcinia
pseudoguttifera Seemann while they are out hunting (Walter and Chanel, 2002). The flesh is consumed fresh or made into juice or jam. The fruit of G.
atroviridis is dried and used to spice dishes while the young leaves are eaten fresh. Fruits of G. schomburgkiana are used to make preserves. Gum
resin of G. hanburyii is a potent purgative and for colouring. Young shoots and the mature fruit of G. xanthochymus are eaten as vegetables and edible
fruits (Yapwattanaphun et al. 2002).
Market potential: Although mangosteen is apomictic, variations in the fruit quality have been observed. Therefore evaluation and selection for
superior fruit quality is of utmost importance, including selection for shorter juvenility traits. Production figures for mangosteen are as follows:
India:
Indonesia:
Malaysia:
Thailand
Unknown
Unknown
17,400 tons (2001)
177,000 (2000)***
39
RAMBUTAN
Nutritional value: Rambutan is rich in carbohydrates, fibres, calcium and phosphorus.
Nutrient composition per 100 gm edible portion. (Pareek et al. 1998)
Fruit
Water Calories Protein
(g)
(Kcal)
(g)
Nephelium 82-82.9
lappaceum
L.
Nephelium 84.5-90.8
mutabile
Blume
Fat
(g)
63-64 0.46-0.9 0.1
- 0.82
0.55
Carbo- Fibre
Calcium Phosphorus Iron Vitamin Thiami Riboflavin Niacin Ascorbic Waste
hydrat
(g)
(mg)
(mg)
(mg)
A
ne (mg)
(mg)
(mg)
Acid
(%)
es
(IU)
(mg)
(g)
14-16
0.24-1.1 10.6-20
12.9 1.9-3.0 4
20.45-31 61
12.86
0.14
0.01-0.05
-
0.02 -
-
-
-
-
-
Medicinal value: Rambutan roots are used to treat fever. The fruits treat digestive problems and the leaves are made into poultices to treat headache
(Leakey and Newton 1994). The Malays use the roots to treating fever, the leaves for poultice and the bark as an astringent for tongue diseases.
Other uses: Rambutan fruits are depulped, canned and marketed as processed fruit (Pareek et al 1998). Fruits with sour sarcotesta are used for making
jam. These sour fruits can also be pickled. The seeds can produce oil suitable for manufacture of soap and candles (Georgi 1922). Seeds of pulasan contain
29% fat which can make sweet smell edible oil (Georgi 1922). Seeds can be boiled or roasted for the preparation of a drink like cacao (Burkhill 1966).
Market potential: Collection of rambutan for characters such as precocity, dwarfness, resistance to diseases, and adaptation to harsh environments are high
priorities. Exploration of post harvest technologies to improve fruit storage and fruit quality is also needed. Production figures for rambutan are as follows:
India:
Unknown
Indonesia:
273,000 (1992)**
Malaysia:
40,100 (2001)
Thailand
673,700 (2000)***
* Source : http://apps.fao.org
**Source: http://www.marketag.com
40
***Source : DOAE Website
41
Annex 1 References:
Aman R. 1999. Buah-buahan Malaysia. Dewan Bahasa dan Pustaka, Malaysia.
Burkhill, I.H. 1966. A dictionary of the economic products of the Malay Peninsula. Kuala
Lumpur. Min. Agric. Cooperative.
Chin H F and H S Yong. 1980. Malaysian Fruits in Colour. Tropical Press, Kuala Lumpur.
Georgi. 1922. Malay Agriculture Journal 10: 227
Inglis, Kim. 1996. Tropical Fruits of Malaysia and Singapore. Periplus Editions (HK) Ltd.,
Singapore.
Khan M.N., et al. 1993. New saponins from Mangifera indica. Journal of Natural Products.
Leakey, R.R.B. and A.C. Newton, Eds. 1994. Domestication of Tropical Trees for Timber
and Non-timber Products. MAB Digest 17, UNESCO, Paris.
Mukherjee S.K. 1997. Introduction: Botany and Importance. Pp. 1-20 In: The MangoBotany, Production and Uses. (R.E. Litz, ed.). CAB International, UK.
Pareek O.P., Suneel Sharma and R.K. Arora. (1998) Underutilized Edible Fruits and Nuts:
An Inventory of Genetic Resources in Their Regions of Diversity. IPGRI Office for South
Asia, New Delhi, India. Pgs 191-206
Prajapati N.D., S.S. Purohit, A.K. Sharma and T. Kumar. 2003. A Handbook of Medicinal
Plants. Agrobios (India), India.
Shiva M.P., A. Lehri and A. Shiva. 2002. Aromatic and Medicinal Plants. International Book
Distributors, India.
Walter, A. and S. Chanel. 2002. Fruits of Oceania. ACIAR Monograph No 85. Canberra.
Yapwattanaphun, C., S. Subhadrabandhu, A. Suguira, K. Yonemori and N. Utsunomiya.
2002. Utilization of some Garcinia species in Thailand. Acta Horticulturae (ISHS) 575:563570.
Annex 2.
Brief descriptions of institutions involved
International Plant Genetic Resources Institute (IPGRI), Italy
IPGRI, a Centre of the Consultative Group on International Agricultural Research (CGIAR),
is mandated to manage, conserve and use plant genetic resources for the benefit of present
and future generations. It has provided global leadership on plant genetic resources for more
than two decades. IPGRI has helped to organize and manage a number of crop networks to
ensure better conservation and wider use of under-exploited germplasm, provide support to
crop improvement programmes, and strengthen links among and between developed and
developing countries. IPGRI has established working relationships with organizations
concerned with fruit tree genetic resources in the ten countries participating in the ADB
project. It has proven its ability to successfully implement ADB technical assistance grants
to the International Coconut Genetic Resources Network (COGENT) for Asia-Pacific from
its regional office for Asia, the Pacific and Oceania (APO) based in Kuala Lumpur,
Malaysia. Through its research, IPGRI has contributed to a better understanding of genetic
diversity and to major advances in conservation strategies and methods. Many underutilized
crops that are of local importance in the region show very great diversity at the species and
genetic level. The same is true for tropical fruit species. Studies indicate that the
conservation and use of crop genetic resources can pay significant dividends. It is only
through conservation and use of such resources that we can guarantee the continued
availability of the genetic material that is essential to ensure future advances in plant
breeding. Thus, conservation and use of plant genetic resources is a major concern of
humankind and IPGRI is assisting countries in the region to better assess and manage their
own genetic resources through improved methods of conservation and use and benefit from
them.
India: Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR), KABII, New Delhi
ICAR acts as a repository of information and provides consultancy on agriculture,
horticulture, resource management, animal sciences, agricultural engineering, fisheries,
agricultural extension, agricultural education, home science and agricultural communication.
The mandate of ICAR is:
1. to plan, undertake, aid, promote and co-ordinate education, research and its applications in
agriculture, agroforestry, animal husbandry, fisheries, home science and allied sciences
2. to act as a clearing house of research and general information relating to agriculture,
animal husbandry, home science and allied sciences and fisheries through its publications and
information system, and instituting and promoting transfer of technology programmes
3. to provide, undertake and promote consultancy services in the fields of education, research,
training and dissemination of information in agriculture, agroforestry, animal husbandry,
fisheries, home science and allied sciences
4. to look into the problems relating to broader areas of rural development concerning
agriculture, including post-harvest technology by developing co-operative programmes with
other organizations.
ICAR co-ordinates agricultural research and development programmes and linkages at
national and international level with related organisations to enhance the quality of life of the
farming community. ICAR has established various research institutes/centres in order to meet
the agricultural research and education needs of the country. It is actively pursuing human
resource development in the field of agricultural sciences by setting up numerous agricultural
43
universities spanning the entire country. Eight national research institutes/research centres
and four India coordinated projects deal with research, development and testing exclusively
of fruit crop species. ICAR was also an active participant in the ADB project.
Indonesia: Research Institute for Fruits (IFRURI), Solok, West Sumatra
The Indonesian Fruit Research Institute is one of the institutes under the Central Research
Institute for Horticulture under the overall umbrella of the Agency for Agricultural Research
and Development (AARD). The institute was established in 1985 has the major mandate for
the research and development programmes on fruit crops in Indonesia. The major research
areas include: 1. plant breeding and germplasm, 2. ecophysiology, 3. pests and diseases, 4.
post-harvest physiology. The division of fruit plant germplasm conservation is responsible for
exploration, identification as well as collection activities for the purpose of conservation.
Activities in the laboratory, such as tissue culture and seed preservation have been
undertaken, as well as fruit germplasm collection. This will enable identification of new plant
materials (superior cultivars) and well as for conventional breeding from parent stocks in the
germplasm collection. The institute has 140 staff (70 researchers, 30 technicians and 40
administrative staff) and has three experimental sites, 1. Sumani Experimental Farm at Solok,
West Sumatra, 2. Aripan Experimental Farm, Solok and 3. Brastagi Experimental Farm in
North Sumatra. The major fruit crops dealt with are mango, rambutan, mangosteen, banana,
papaya, melon, pineapple, salacca, loquat, passion fruit and avocado. IFRURI was also one of
the institutes involved in the ADB project where work was done on rambutan and
mangosteen.
Malaysia: Malaysian Agricultural Research and Development Institute (MARDI), Kuala
Lumpur
MARDI is a statutory body and undertakes research and development (R&D) in food and
tropical agriculture. Research and development efforts for over more than two decades have
contributed to the development of new crop varieties/clones. MARDI conducts scientific,
technical, economic and sociological research, with respect to the production, utilisation and
processing of all crops (except rubber and oil palm) and livestock. Horticultural crops
include fruits, vegetables, ornamental plants and flowers. Fruits and vegetables are important
dietary supplements. Research on strategy development, the environment and natural
resources is focused on strategic and frontier science and technology aimed at generating
new leads that would enhance the productivity, sustainability and competitiveness of the
local agro-industry. MARDI serves as a centre for the collection and dissemination of
information and advice on scientific, technical and economic matters concerning the
agricultural industry, including the publication of reports, periodicals and relevant
professional journals and papers. It maintains liaison with other organisations, both public
and private, indigenous and foreign. Collaboration of MARDI with IPGRI on various plant
genetic resources-related activities has been going on for a long time. The most recent such
project was the ADB project.
Thailand: Department of Agriculture (DOA), Chatuchak, Bangkok
The Department of Agriculture under the Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperative is
responsible for crop research and development studies, sericulture, farm mechanization,
transfer of technology to government agencies, private sector, the general public and farmers.
It also provides training and analytical services on production inputs. DOA also provides
consultation services on production and product development. The six major roles of the
DOA are 1. research and development, 2. seed and silkworm multiplication, 3. service, 4.
44
legal affairs, 5. technology transfer, 6. consultation services. The DOA has set priorities
responding to the policies formulated by the Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives, which
visualizes that future directions of agricultural development will be emphasized on the restructuring of agricultural system which includes efficient management of natural and human
resources. The Horticulture Research Institute of DOA has been actively involved in the
ADB project on conservation of TFT as well as an on-going ACIAR-funded project on
developing new technologies for conservation of tropical fruit species. This is because the
DOA recognizes the need for a regional cooperation as valuable to the exchange of
technologies, knowledge, and foster goodwill among other agricultural institutions
worldwide.
45
Annex 3
List of Related Projects by Country
Related and complementary initiatives operating within the four participating
countries are extensive. Determining how they might be linked to the project will be
explored during the PDF B phase. Initiatives identified to date:
India:
 Sustainable Conservation and Utilization of Tropical Fruit Genetic Resources in
Asia, ADB.
 Germplasm management and improvement of mango, funded by the Indian
Council of Agricultural Research, ICAR.
 Germplasm management and improvement of guava funded by the Indian
Council of Agricultural Research, ICAR
 National Agriculture Technology Project on conservation of agro-biodiversity –
mango, guava, World bank
 National Agriculture Technology Project on collection, evaluation and
maintenance of citrus germplasm, World Bank
 DNA Finger printing and characterization of mango cultivars and development of
STMS markers in mango, ICAR
 Sustainable management of fruit and medicinal plant genetic resources, ICAR
 Morphological characterization of guava, mango and sapota, ICAR
 Collection and maintenance of exotic and less known indigenous fruit crops,
ICAR
 Collection, evaluation and improvement of minor fruits at Crop and Horticulture
Experiment Station, Chetthalli, ICAR
 Collection, evaluation, identification and multiplication of varieties/ hybrids/
genotypes of fruit crops at CHES, Bhubaneshwar, ICAR
Indonesia:
 Sustainable Conservation and Utilization of Tropical Fruit Genetic Resources in
Asia, ADB.
 Collection, Conservation and Characterization for Fruit Crops, Indonesian Government
 Collaboration among institutions for development of citrus health integrated
orchard management in 4 Provinces such as in North Sumatra, West Sumatra,
Center of Java and South Sulawesi.
 Exploration of Banana in Halmahera islands, Maluku province, INIBAP
 International Musa Testing Programme (IMTP) Phase II (2000-2002), INIBAP
 Exploration of Banana in Papua islands, Irian Jaya province, INIBAP
 International Musa Testing Programme (IMTP) Phase III (2002-2005), INIBAP.
 Banana for production and pests and diseases resistant test, Phase III (20022005), INIBAP.
Malaysia:
 Conservation Genetics of Nephelium and Citrus, Universiti Kebangsaan
Malaysia/IRPA
 Wild Fruit Plants in Peninsular Malaysia, FRIM (2002 – 2007)
 Collection, Conservation, and Exploitation of Agrobiological Resources, MARDI
46





On-farm conservation of tropical fruit genetic resources, International Tropical
Fruit Network, TFNet
Conservation and genetic diversity of pulasan (Nephelium ramboutan-ake) and
kuini (Mangifera odorata), MARDI
IPGRI’s APO Cyber Plant Conservation Project, ENSEARCH
Development of advanced technologies for germplasm conservation of tropical
fruit species, ACIAR. (2003 – 2005)
Sustainable Conservation and Utilization of Tropical Fruit Genetic Resources in
Asia, ADB.
Thailand:
 Development of advanced technologies for germplasm conservation of tropical
fruit species, ACIAR. (2003 – 2005)
 Sustainable Conservation and Utilization of Tropical Fruit Genetic Resources in
Asia, ADB
Relevant GEF projects outside the participating countries:
 In Nepal, the project “Enhancing Contribution of Home Gardens to On-farm
Management of Plant Genetic Resources and to Improve Livelihoods of
Nepalese Farmers”, (Nepal), GEF/UNDP
 In situ/On-farm Conservation of Agricultural Biodiversity (Horticulture
Crops and Wild Fruit Species) Central Asia”, (Central Asia), UNEP/GEF
 In Situ Conservation of Crop Wild Relatives Through Enhanced Information
Management and Field Application, UNEP/GEF
 In-situ Conservation of Genetic Diversity (Turkey), GEF/World Bank
 In situ Conservation of Native Landraces and their Wild Relatives in Vietnam
(Vietnam), UNDP/GEF
 Western Terai Landscape Complex Project (Nepal), GEF/UNDP
47
Annex 4.
Country NBSAPs, Planning Documents and Projects Relevant to
Conservation and Sustainable Use of Agrobiodiversity and the Focus of the
Proposed Project
India
National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan
It is now in draft form and considers the importance of home gardens, participatory
approaches, and use of traditional knowledge to in situ conservation of crop species.
In India, collecting and conserving mango genetic resources focuses primarily on
quality of fruits and, to date, more than 1000 accessions with different horticultural
traits have been collected and conserved at different locations in field genebanks.
The crop-based institutes on mango and citrus have the mandate to address
biodiversity conservation issues, and the Vision 2020 document of these institutions
focuses the work to be done in this area. [The Indian Council of Agricultural
Research-(ICAR) institutes involved in this exercise are the Central Institute for
Subtropical Fruits, Lucknow; the Indian Institute of Horticultural Research,
Bangalore; and the National Research Centre for Citrus, Nagpur] The national
symposium “Plant Genetic Resources Management: Advances and Challenges”
recommended that national clonal repositories be established for horticultural crops.
India’s Vision 2020 strategy
Limited scope for horizontal expansion and need for increased crop intensity and
productivity dictate sustainability of agricultural production through judicious
exploitation of available agrobiodiversity.
Hence germplasm collection,
conservation, optimum utilization, and germplasm enhancement have to receive
greater attention. Globalization and commercialization of economy may hasten
process of monocropping and spread of improved varieties of a few major food and
cash crops, resulting in the replacement of the traditional indigenous germplasm.
This may lead to faster erosion of biodiversity and loss of traditional knowledge.
Therefore, a national action plan in a mission-mode approach is required to collect,
evaluate, characterize, conserve and utilize plant genetic resources of indigenous and
exotic origins. The efforts would also help in conservation of biodiversity,
bioprospecting of wild species and valuable germplasm for bio-modules, and genes
for commercialization. DNA fingerprinting is needed to establish ownership of
indigenous materials, and IPR issues will have to receive priority.
PVP Act
A Plant Varieties & Farmers' Rights Protection (PVP) Authority will be established
which will undertake registration of extant and new plant varieties through the Plant
Varieties Registry on the basis of varietal characteristics. Registration of all plant
genera or species as notified by the Authority will be done in a phased manner. The
PVP Authority will develop characterisation and documentation of plant varieties
registered under the PVP Act and cataloguing facilities for all varieties of plants.
The rights of farmers to save, use, exchange, share or sell farm produce of all
varieties will be protected, with the proviso that farmers shall not be entitled to sell
branded seed of a protected variety under the brand name.
48
National Gene Fund
A National Gene Fund will be established for implementation of the benefit sharing
arrangement, and payment of compensation to village communities for their
contribution to the development and conservation of plant genetic resources and also
to promote conservation and sustainable use of genetic resources. Suitable systems
will be worked out to identify the contributions from traditional knowledge and
heritage.
Indonesia
National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan
Promotes incentives “to farmers to conserve and cultivate local varieties of food
crops” and “to encourage diversification of food and tree crops appropriate to local
soil conditions” This strategy on national bio diversity is implemented from Plant
Variety Protection law, that the utilization and development of fruit superior varieties
have been protecting by law that be based on agribusiness
Collection, Conservation and Characterization for Fruit Crops
This project is funded by the government of Indonesia and lays the groundwork for
the proposed project. These project activities have been applied on fruits priority
commodities such as banana, mangosteen, mango, citrus, zalacca, papaya and
rambutan. Exploration on banana was priority to got wild species that shown
character resistant or tolerant to Fusarium wilt disease. Exploration also was done on
Zalacca to collect and evaluate genetic resources in indigenous plant and superior
local cultivated varieties. On papaya exploration was focused on collection,
evaluation for breeding programme to get materials that has good performance and
productivity. So that, in 2002 was released 2 varieties of papayas that has specific
character as short time on fruit initiation namely Sarirona and Sarigading papaya c.v.
IFRURI breeding programme activities
There is an activity to cover germplasm on fruits and conservation, also responsible
to the utilization of fruit genetic resources. It had been running since 1997, especially
on germplasm collection management. Within 5 years, IFRURI has released several
important fruit superior varieties, such as 7 superior varieties of citrus, 2 lanciums
(duku, Ind.), 2 avocados, 5 mangos, 2 mangosteens, 5 rambutans, and 2 bananas.
This cultivated fruits material is a reflection of the germplasm or fruit genetic
resources utilization, rehabilitation and implementation of IFRURI breeding
programme
National Commission on Plant Genetic Resources
Department of Agriculture developed some rules to protect genetic resources: 1).No 12/1994
about Plant Cultivation; 2)No 16/1996 about Biodiversity Protection; 3).No 29/2000 about
Plant Variety Protection
Malaysia
Malaysia’s National Policy on Biological Diversity (1998)
This policy is coordinated by the Ministry of Science (1998) and includes objectives
to optimize economic benefits from sustainable utilization of the components of
biological diversity and ensure long-term food security for the nation. The policy
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also aimed at maintaining and improving environmental stability for proper
functioning of ecological systems as well as ensuring preservation of the biological
heritage for the benefit of the present and future generations.
The Eighth Malaysia Plan (2001 – 2005)
Specifies actions in the context of managing fruits and vegetables, a priority given
their high development potential. Sustainable forest management practices will be
expanded.
Malaysia’s Third National Agricultural Policy (1998-2010)
Malaysia’s Third National Agricultural Policy (1998-2010) calls for conservation
and utilization of natural resources on a sustainable basis, supports enhancement of
research and conservation, capacity building, and access to genetic resources.
Agricultural development policies are guided by the National Agricultural Policy
(NAP) aimed for market-led, commercialised, efficient, competitive and dynamic
agricultural sector within the context of sustainable development. The NAP
encourages a more efficient use of the present agricultural land to increase
productivity rates, as opposed to clearing of new lands.
Thailand
Policy on Natural and Cultural Environments (Thailand’s National Biodiversity
Strategy and Action Plan)
The aim of Thailand’s Policy on Natural and Cultural Environments (Thailand’s
National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan) is to protect, preserve, conserve, and
rehabilitate the natural and cultural environment to maintain the natural and cultural
heritage of the country
National Policy on Natural Resources (1997-2016)
This policy combines scientific, management and awareness aspects. It focuses on:
efficiency, coordination and sustainability of natural resource uses; building
knowledge through research and information management; enhancement of natural
resource management through decentralization, public-private linkages and
community participation, and adoption of supportive legal and regulatory
frameworks; and application of resource economics
Thailand’s National Development Plan
Collection of germplasm, evaluation, conservation, breeding and improvement are
the target areas of research. Tropical Fruit Industry development is a priority in this
plan.
National Policies Measures and Plans
This policy is considered a national strategy for implementation of the convention
and direct response to actions called for by Article 6 of the Convention. A large scale
implementation of the strategy on conservation and sustainable use of national
resources will be assisted by a number of legislations and administration measures as
the following: 1) Plant Varieties Act; 2) Plant Quarantine Act; 3)Community forest
Act; 4) Coastal and Fishery Resources Management; 5) Transparence Zoning of
Forests and Urban Land; 6) Participatory designation of economic Zone for
agricultural production; 7) Reduction of chemical usage in agricultural practices; 8)
Promotion of public participation in natural resources management; 9) Promoting
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sustainable agriculture; 10) National Park Act; 11) Wildlife Protection and
Preservation Act; 12) Forest Act; 13) Plant Varieties Protection Act.This policy will
cover strategies that emphasize upon increasing roles and participation of local
population, enhancing knowledge of biological roles and participation of local
population, enhancing knowledge of biological resources and monitoring and
controlling effects from human activities to integrity of biodiversity
DOA Regulation 1992
Conservation of biodiversity in Thailand has been enhanced by the enactment of this
regulation on the collection and conservation of plant species in-situ, ex-situ and in
genebank. The regulation has provided common procedures for systematic collection
and conservation of plant species in the country and from overseas. To date a
number of plant varieties, species and accessions have been collected in research
stations, research centers and botanic gardens throughout the country. Most of these
centers and stations are operated under the Ministry of Agriculture and cooperatives
and contain a collection of main varieties of agricultural and forestry importance.
The activities for achieving sustainable management of plant genetic resources may
be concentrated on the categories as the following 1) Conservation aspects; 2)
Monitoring aspects; 3) Capacity building; 4) Utilization aspect
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Annex 5.
Project Linkage with UNEP’s Programme of Work and UNEP’s mandate in GEF
BACKGROUND
1. From the outset in 1972, UNEP's land-related activities have focused on medium- to longterm solutions for desertification. UNEP contributed significantly to the implementation of
the United Nations Plan of Action to Combat Desertification (UNPACD), which
subsequently led to the ratification of the United Nations Convention to Combat
Desertification (UNCCD). Since then UNEP’s role has gradually changed from global coordination of UNPACD to supporting the implementation of the UNCCD. This is most
visible in UNEP's mandate as the Task Manager for the Chapter 12 of Agenda 21.
2. In the 1980s, UNEP developed the World Soils Policy which recognised the fact that soil
is a finite resource, and that continuously increasing demands are being placed on this
resource to feed, clothe, house and provide energy for a growing world population and to
provide ecological balance. Governments agreed in the World Soils Policy that the use of
soils should be based on the sound principals of resource management in order to enhance
soil productivity, to prevent soil erosion and degradation, and to reduce the loss of good
farmland to non-farm purposes.
3. In co-operation with the UN Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO), UNEP
contributed to the World Soil Charter and assisted developing countries to formulate their
national soil policies. On the international level, those instruments have contributed to raising
the profile of soil conservation as a major international environmental issue. Also during the
1980s, UNEP started to examine the integration of climate change impact and of issues
related to land management.
4. UNEP, in co-operation with international partners, carried out global and regional
assessments in the early 1990s in order to gain fast and reliable data on the global status of
human-induced soil degradation. These assessments currently serve as the main reference on
the global extent of land degradation.
OBJECTIVES
5. UNEP’s ultimate mandate is to contribute to sustainable development and poverty
reduction by focussing on specific environmental dimensions. Based on UNEP’s expertise
and its renewed mandate as in the Nairobi Declaration, UNEP’s five primary objectives with
regard to land use management and soil conservation are identified as follows:
a) Ecosystem approach for land use management and soil conservation applied and
interlinkages and synergies within and across relevant sectors developed;
b) Global land cover monitoring process and assessment of the state of land resources in
partnership with other UN organisations and partners developed and implemented;
c) Environment focused and development orientated policies on sustainable land use
management and soil conservation developed and implemented through capacity
building, information management and public participation, response to
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environmental emergencies, development of legal instruments, and regional cooperation;
d) Co-operation with scientific centres of excellence extended in order to strengthen
science-policy interaction and knowledge systems through partnerships with
governments and civil society;
e) Further support to the implementation of the UN Convention to Combat
Desertification and specific support to Africa in regard to land degradation through
the NEPAD Environment Initiative.
GEF PROJECT LINKAGE WITH OBJECTIVES OF UNEP’S LAND USE POLICY
AND BEST PRACTICES NETWORK
6. The proposed project “Conservation and sustainable use of cultivated and wild tropical fruit
diversity: promoting sustainable livelihoods, food security and ecosystem services ” complements
UNEP’s objectives and global programmes in sustainable land management.
7. Improved science-policy interaction is required in order to strengthen and extend
knowledge systems as outlined in the WSSD Plan of Implementation and WEHAB
framework for action. UNEP achieves this by strengthening and extending its partnerships
with scientific centres of excellence in the area of land use management and soil
conservation. Continued compilation and dissemination of information on best practises in
land use management, including the development of databases, is another important
component in supporting policy implementation. UNEP has recently established the Best
Practices and Success Stories Global Network (BSGN). BSGN is UNEP's one-stop-shop for
environmental Best Practices and Success Stories (www.unep.org/bsgn/). BSGN seeks to
enhance the visibility of and raise awareness about environmentally sound practices and
about the successful implementation of environmental initiatives of the global community in
general, and UNEP in particular. It is a network of partners that will help to encourage
knowledge sharing and promote replication of successful practices wherever possible. BSGN
is a UNEP-wide service showcasing the impacts of its work, that of its collaborators, and the
global public towards poverty alleviation, sustainable development, and environmental
protection. The mission of the BSGN is to enable people throughout the world to improve
the quality of life, by sharing knowledge and creating partnerships in caring for the
environment. The network seeks to empower people through the provision of information on
environmentally sound practices. BSGN's operations and services are aimed at providing
information and advisory services on environmental management, with a bias on the key
areas of institution-building. As such, BSGN seeks to grow a network of partners dedicated to
sharing information on innovative practices and the application of lessons learned. These
partners serve as regional as well as thematic resource centers ensuring geographic coverage
and providing specialised, technical, and substantive support to the provision of information
on key sectoral and crosscutting environmental issues. BSGN, by way of this website, also
acts as a clearing-house for her partners in the collection of best practice and success story
submissions for various schemes. These services are extended to include storage, vetting and
evaluation, submission to award schemes, and specialised information management
requirements, as deemed necessary but the partners. BSGN's services also include Content
Syndication to disseminate data from our repository, or in association with our partners, from
other specialized sources, to other websites or Internet-based destinations. These services will
soon be extended to cater off-line requirements. Tools and methods of the proposed project
will be disseminated via BSGN in addition to the mechanisms identified in the PDF B.
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8. UNEP is working in a variety of ways to support international efforts to maintain or
increase agricultural productivity. UNEP hosts the Sustainable Agri-food Production and
Consumption Forum (www.agrifood-forum.net) which provides access to information on key
issues such as agrobiodiversity, water, energy, climate change, chemicals, desertification,
consumption, trade and poverty. The Forum’s purpose is to help users understand the
environmental implications of various agri-food production and consumption issues so that
they can respond appropriately. Experience gained during the proposed project will be
disseminated via the Forum.
PROJECT LINKAGE WITH UNEP’S MANDATE IN GEF
10. The proposed project is consistent with the following areas of UNEP’s mandate in the
GEF, as identified in the UNEP Action Plan on Complementarity, approved by the May 1999
GEF council meeting:



UNEP contributes to the ability of the GEF and of countries to make informed
strategic and operational decisions on scientific and technical issues in programs and
project design, implementation and evaluation, through scientific and technical
analyses. These will include assessments, targeted research, methodology
development and testing and structured programme learning projects;
UNEP's projects promote regional and multi-country cooperation to achieve
global environmental benefits, focusing on diagnostic analyses and cooperative
mechanisms, and associated institutional strengthening; and
UNEP implements projects to promote specific technologies and demonstrate
methodologies and policy tools that could be replicated on a larger scale by other
partners.
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