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

[MELCHIOR ET AL., 1989].
Ex-situ and in-situ conservation of plant genetic resources in Germany
Besides the forest research institutes, numerous arboreta safeguard forest resources. A complete
documentation of the existing activities is, however, yet to be provided as numerous documentation
systems will have to be compiled for an easy retrieval.
3.1.3 Wild Species
In-situ conservation of wild species in Germany is mainly in the responsability of the States but, at the
Federal level, coordinated by the Federal Office for Nature Conservation (BfN) in Bonn. BfN is charged
with the monitoring of biological diversity and the compilation of the red data books listing the most
endangered species. BfN compiles reports of the wild flora and maintains an updated database of the
German flora.
With respect to the genetic resources requirements it is noteworthy to state that BfN has begun to
develop a concept to work not only at the species level but also at the level of populations of species.
The information arising from these efforts will be compiled in a central database as soon as the concept
will be implemented [BFANL, 1992].
3.2 Informal Sector
Apart from scattered fruit tree plantations or fruit tree allees alongside roads, part of the in-situ
conservation activities are being implemented by individuals or private groups. Some groups focus on
living collections at their own farms (see under ex-situ conservation, 2.2) while other groups aim at the
protection of entire ecosystems. There are a number of NGO´s of particular importance, just to mention
the following three:
- World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF, Germany), Frankfurt
- Bund für Umwelt und Naturschutz Deutschland (BUND), Bonn
- Landschaftsförderverein Nuthe-Nieplitz-Niederung, Zauchwitz
There is, however, no complete picture of the plant genetic resources that are being taken care of by the
different groups.
4. Cooperation between the different Parties
4.1 Legal Framework
The legal framework that is relevant to conservation of plant genetic resources is very comprehensive
and sophisticated. It is even more complex than in some other countries because of the Federal system
of Germany where the responsability for the conservation itself stays with the States and the Federal
government is in charge of the coordination and foreign relations. Table 4 shows an excerpt of laws that
are most relevant to the work in Germany.