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

Report of Working Group on:
Complementary contribution of Nature Conservation (i.e. Biosphere Reserves)
and Genebanks in conservation of plant genetic resources
Rapporteur: F. BEGEMANN
The group discussed numerous aspects that influence collaboration between genebanks and
institutions engaged in nature conservation. Areas of common interest were identified and
participants agreed that conservation in the wider sense would also imply the necessity to monitor
diversity at various levels and to utilize plant genetic resources as a means to continuing
conservation.
The need to improve the cost efficiency of on-going activities lead to a detailed discussion on
collaborative research work and opportunities that will evolve from combined communication
systems. Participants welcomed the offer made by a representative of the German Committee of
the Man and Biosphere Programme (MAB) to use the existing instrument of biosphere reserves
for conservation and management of plant genetic resources.
The group agreed on a list of concrete activities at a national level to be executed as soon as
possible:
1 As a first step, the participants of the symposium will clarify existing instruments in the area
of nature conservation that would be useful for conservation and management of plant genetic
resources in their respective countries; biosphere reserves or other categories of protected
landscape were mentioned.
2 The participants of the symposium will develop a list of ecotypes and areas worthwhile for
protection; diversity of wild progenitors and wild relatives of crop plants to be of particular
importance.
3 Representatives of the genebanks will draft lists of species to be considered for monitoring
systems that already exist in protected areas; in addition, lists of descriptors of different
species for the monitoring will be developed.
4 It was agreed to develop a list of crops that a re suitable for on-farm or in-situ conservation
in protected areas (i.e. biosphere reserves).
5 It was emphasized that a communication system between genebanks (in a wider sense) and
the national MAB-secretariats and other relevant authorities is needed and should be
established as soon as possible. Participants obtained addresses of their respective national
MAB-secretariats. The lists to be developed (see 2, 3 and 4) will be communicated to the
relevant national authorities and the MAB-secretariats in particular.
6 To support European cooperation it was agreed to send the lists (see 2,3 and 4) to the
ECP/GR-Coordinator who will forward the lists to the European MAB-secretariat in Poland.
7 The following research needs were mentioned with respect to opportunities arising from the
in-situ / ex-situ collaboration:
- Evaluation of genetic variance of polymorphisms and molecular variance;
- Crop evolution studies;
- Species identification;
- Identification of marginal populations;
- Establishment of core collections;
- Comparison of genetic resources under in-situ and ex-situ conservation practices.