Integration of Conservation Strategies of Plant Genetic ... - Genres

have historically been one of the few social groups committed with long term management
constraints. For them, the challenge of global change is meaningful. They are well organised, with
an numerous and skilled staff, and their contribution can prove very efficient.
Legal persons having no direct interest in biodiversity
In this loosely defined category, we find the army, and the railway and highway companies. They
will often have no precise opinion in favor or against biodiversity, but their management practices
may have very negative consequences. There is room for finding and implementing ecologically
sound management techniques, as those companies may be interested in improving their image in
society by participating to a noble cause. In particular, the extension of the transportation system
creates large areas of "common nature" which can no longer be forgotten in a global strategy.
Other categories are local communities, and the commons.
Private owners
Agriculture is by large the main kind of land use, and its influence on biodiversity is essential. But
it is particularly difficult to establish a long term conservation policy for agricultural lands, because
of the complex and indirect effects of agricultural policies, and the fact that we need to rely on the
willingness of particular farmers to follow recommended practices. More attention should be paid
to policies of subsidies and taxes, because slight changes may have broad effects.
Conclusion
An in situ conservation strategy appears to be much more than a scientific field of activity. That
is why it has not developed as rapidly as we wish. As scientists, we are confronted to a new
challenge : we need not only to establish the scientific base for action, but above all to promote
dialogue between many different social groups, and organise them.
One of the most crucial issues is to link genetic resources groups, which have been historically
agriculture oriented, with nature conservation agencies, which are environment oriented.
Fortunately, the integration of both perspectives is now being done under the flag of biodiversity.
This offers fascinating possibilities. If our primary interest is the conservation of wild relatives of
crop plants, we must have in mind that, due to the great number of researchers in crop biology,
any achievement in this field may act as a good model for the great many living beings which share
much smaller interest in public opinion and funding agencies.
As an exemple of what can be done, I put as an annex some information about the working group
supported by the Council of Europe. The results will be soon made available to the conservation
community, and we hope it will help promoting a network of concrete actions.
Only through dialogue will it be possible to reach an agreement and combine different objectives.
IPGRI, EUCARPIA, Biodiversitas
IUCN, WWF, MAB-UNESCO