Towards a coherent in situ conservation framework
Ehsan Dulloo, Leader Conservation and Availability Programme, Bioversity International
IFAD NUS III Second Steering Committee
22 July 2013, New Delhi, India
Content
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Bioversity’s strategy on in situ conservation
Central concepts of in situ conservation
Participatory monitoring of diversity
Global Strategy for in situ/on farm
Links to Consortium Research Programmes
Concluding thoughts
Recall Bioversity’s Strategic Goals
Use of biodiversity by smallholder farmers
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Demonstrate how smallholder farming communities can
significantly improve their livelihood and nutrition, and ensure
more sustainable and resilient agricultural systems through the
improved use of biodiversity; with the potential to benefit 320
million people.
Conservation and availability of plant diversity
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(a) Support the development of an innovative operational global
programme of in situ conservation of plant diversity, tested and
applied on at least 30 crops and their wild relatives, and 100
priority forest tree species on three continents.
(b) Significantly improve the availability of plant genetic
resources through conservation, information management and a
supporting policy environment.
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Conserving plant diversity
where it is found on farms
and in the wild, and
improving the availability
of plant genetic resources
so that the global
community can use it to
provide sustainable farming
solutions
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What are we trying to achieve?
Agricultural biodiversity of importance to
smallholder farmers (in particular Crop
Landraces, Neglected and Underutilised Species
and their Crop Wild Relatives) is prioritised,
better valued, better understood and better
conserved on farm and in the wild, in the most
cost effective way.
And that they are accessible and available for
use.
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Central concepts
In situ conservation ensures continuing evolution and
adaptation to changing conditions, on farms and in the wild,
for crops, trees and crop wild relatives; but knowledge and
implementation of these practices falls short of what is
needed.
1. Potential of molecular methods for assessing useful
diversity patterns and supporting conservation decision
making is insufficiently known.
2. Conservation of crops and other useful plant species on
smallholder farms yields direct and indirect benefits
3. In situ conservation, in the wild, of crop wild relatives
and trees requires new management practices,
monitoring methods and policies as well as local,
national and international collaboration
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In situ conservation sensu stricto
v/s on farm conservation
Two distinctive approaches which requires
two distinctive solutions
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In Situ Conservation of Agricultural Biodiversity
On farm & in the wild: Key Objectives
In situ conservation of crop wild relatives
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To support and enable effective and efficient local, national and global in situ
conservation and use strategies of targeted crop wild relatives to be implemented
in priority sites through the participatory involvement and strengthening of local
institutions and stakeholders.
On-farm management of agricultural biodiversity
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To gain a better understanding of the interactions between genetic and crop
diversity on-farm, in household diets and of diversity in markets so as to support
sustainable food production and ecosystem service provision, as well as
improved food security, dietary diversity (nutrition and health), income generation
and poverty alleviation.
Economics of agricultural biodiversity conservation
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To identify, develop and test global public good valuation methods, economic
decision-support tools and incentive mechanisms for improving the in situ
conservation of CWRs and the on-farm management of agrobiodiversity.
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Agricultural biodiversity assessment on farm
To gain a better
understanding of the
interactions between genetic
and crop diversity on-farm,
in household diets and of
diversity in markets so as to
support sustainable food
production and ecosystem
service provision, as well as
improved food security,
dietary diversity (nutrition
and health), income
generation and poverty
alleviation.
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Indicator Development and Integrated Participatory
Monitoring
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“You can’t manage
what you don’t measure”
(Peter Drucker)
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There is no global, harmonized observation system for delivering regular,
timely data on agrobiodiversity change
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Different organizations and projects adopt diverse measurements, with
some important biodiversity dimensions, such as genetic diversity, often
missing
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Only limited information available regarding actual threat status.
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Conventional monitoring efforts, where they exist at all:
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subject to ad hoc approaches that lack rigorous survey and sampling approaches
do not systematically involve the participation of local-level actors
usually based on collections instead of direct observations in the field.
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Key aspect to monitor
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Use of target variety/species in order
to map out the accrual of its benefits
to people,
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the maintenance of associated
knowledge and traditions associated
to it
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document possible drops in their use
below a certain threshold, beyond
which the variety/species would no
longer provide the expected benefit to
the community as a whole
This will allow us to assess current trends and possible decline of its
cultivation over time and ensure that local crop diversity is used in
most sustainable way
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Expert Planning Workshop
Development of Systematic ABD Monitoring Approaches
Lima and Huancayo (Peru), 4-8 November 2013
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Review state of the art regarding documentation and
monitoring of ABD;
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Identify approaches, methods and tools for the
development of a common framework for the
documentation and monitoring of ABD, including a red
Listing system for wild and cultivated species;
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Identify stakeholders, capacity building needs and scaling
up options, with a special focus on women and students
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Explore policy options
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Expert Meeting in Huancayo and High level event in Lima
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Convention on Biological Diversity, 1992
Aimed at conservation
and sustainable use of
biological diversity, fair
and equitable sharing
of the benefits arising
out of their use,
including access -----www.cbd.int
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Global Plan of Action for the Conservation and
Sustainable Use of PGRFA (1996 FAO)
ensure the conservation of plant genetic resources for
food and agriculture as the basis of food security,
promote sustainable use of plant genetic resources to
foster development and reduce hunger and poverty,
promote the fair and equitable sharing of the benefits
arising from the use of plant genetic resources,
assist countries and institutions to identify priorities
for action,
strengthen existing programmes and enhance
institutional capacity.
www.globalplanofaction.org
The International Treaty on
Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture, 2001
•The conservation and
sustainable use of plant genetic
resources for food and
agriculture
•The fair and equitable sharing of
benefits derived from their use,
in harmony with the Convention
on Biological Diversity, for
sustainable agriculture and food
security
www.planttreaty.org
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Flagship Project: In situ
conservation of wild
relatives of root tuber
and bananas
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In situ conservation methodologies
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Prioritization of hotspot areas for in
situ conservation of targeted crops
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Threat assessment- determining
status and trends
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Development of Red list system for
cultivated plants
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Creation of genetic reserves for
wild relatives within protected areas
and outside protected areas-
(Consortium Research programme – RTB)
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Bridging agriculture and
Conservation
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Create a visionary global and multiyear
initiative to link biodiversity conservation
and agricultural production in the fight of
poverty
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Forge a deep debate in conservation and
agriculture agenda
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Synthesize scientific evidence for
conservation and sustainable food
production
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Lead a cutting edge research programme
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Offer new knowledge ad tools to
conservation and development actors
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Develop practical partnership with farming
and conservation community
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Key Event – Meeting of Thought Leaders
and Global Influencers
12th July 2013, Rio de Janeiro
Botanical Garden
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Engage a coalition of visionary leaders
from both the private and public spheres
to provide intellectual, influential and
financial capital for the initiative
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Harness shared commitment perspective
and networks of significant global players
in conservation, sustainable
development, smallholder agriculture
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To learn together how to enshrine
sustainable use and conservation
objectives in to commercial food
production and distribution systems
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Global Network on
in situ conservation
and on farm
management of
PGRFA
The 13th Regular Session of the Commission on
Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture requested
FAO:
“to elaborate on the means and opportunities for
establishing a global network for in situ
conservation and on-farm management of
PGRFA, avoiding duplication of efforts.”
CGRFA-13/11/ report, paragraph 41
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Scientific approach to CWR conservation
Global CWR conservation strategy
Selected crops: banana/plantain, barley, broad beans, cassava,
cowpea, finger millet, maize, pearl millet, potato, rice, sorghum,
sugar beet, sweet potato and wheat
FAO – Global Network of CWR Genetic Reserves
(Maxted and Kell, 2009)
www.fao.org/docrep/013/i1500e/i1500e18a.pdf
Survey on ‘on farm management’
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Carried out a world wide survey on ‘on farm
management’ targeting both policy makers and on
farm practitioners ;
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1168respondents
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Global network supporting OFM?
95%
86%
Yes
No
14%
5%
OFM practitioners
PGRFA managers and policy-makers
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Frequency of collaboration between on-farm
management practitioners, and managers and policymakers
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Global network: what type of services?
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For farmers and organizations:
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Enhance utilization and economic benefits
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Knowledge-sharing and tools for capacity development
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Financial support and funding opportunities
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Recognition of farmers, crops and diversity-rich sites
For national PGRFA programmes
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Financial support and funding opportunities
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Knowledge-sharing and tools for capacity development
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Building partnerships
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Enhance utilization and economic benefits
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Policy, legal and institutional support
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FAO Technical Workshop – November 2012
• Organised as a side event to the 6th
Intergovernmental Technical Working Group on
PGRFA
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Purpose is to identify options, ways and means
for establishing a global network.
The workshop was attended by technical experts,
National PGRFA Focal Points (NFPs), international
organizations (CBD, the International Treaty, Bioversity
International and others).
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Main conclusions
Discussion points
Main conclusions
Benefits of global
network
• Stimulate financial support
• building partnerships
• knowledge-sharing, capacity development and
technology transfer
• Promote awareness raising
• Policy, legal and institutional support
Type of global
network
• Network of networks linking farmers' organizations
and CBOs to global network ;
• National approach, building upon national structures
Management of global • Ownership by the associated actors/stakeholders
network
• Joint partnership of a consortium of key players
including farmers, farmers' organizations and CBOs,
CSOs,
Single or dual network • Separate networks for OFM and CWR
• Work under a broader umbrella of PGRFA
management
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Recommendation from 14th Regular Session
CGRFA
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Concept note on the structure, functions and
financial implications of the establishment of either
a global network for in situ conservation and onfarm management or two networks separately
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Should also consider means of improving and
strengthening national and regional networks and
means of avoiding duplication of efforts
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Stressed importance of genetic reserves for CWR
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Some concluding
thoughts
National Strategic Plan on in situ
conservation of crop diversity
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An integrated approach that brings
together work on different stakeholders
working on crop diversity
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Muliti-discriplinary approach that
combine research on genetic, biological,
agronomical, socio-cultural, market and
economic aspects.
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Development of national plans focusing
on NUS, landraces and CWR
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Assessment of the status and trendsindicators.
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Conclusion
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Diversity is critical for sustainable agricultural production and
food security
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Understanding extent, distribution and functions of genetic
diversity for enhancing better use
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Global monitoring system is needed to track the trends in
crop genetic diversity- national inputs
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Holistic approach to conservation is needed
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Enhanced use is as important as conservation—through use
comes sustainability; conservation should not be
undermined.
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4th International Genetic Resource Symposium
To be held during the 29th International Horticultural Congress
Brisbane, Australia, 17-22 August 2014
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Germplasm conservation strategies and technologies.
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Diversity for sustaining livelihoods.
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Harnessing the diversity of crop wild relatives.
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Sustainable access to planting material and seed supplies
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Utilization of plant genetic resources
Call for abstract is already opened and will close on 1 November
2013.
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Thank you
www.bioversityinternational.org