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

Plant genetic resources activities in Italy
The Working Group, founded in 1981 by the CNR in collaboration with Universities and other
institutions, for conservation of fruit trees, in addition to the "ex situ" activity has played an important
role also for "in situ" conservation. In fact the Group has suggested to protect areas particularly rich in
genetic variability, already identified and from which experts are still collecting materials for making field
collections ( Scaramuzzi, 1988 ; Agabbio, 1992 ). As a result of this activity the national Group, in
collaboration with technical agricultural schools, amateurs, botanic gardens, farmers, etc. has defined,
for 10 fruit crops, at least 84 stations, throughout the peninsula, where 8,861 traditional cultivars have
been identified and are actually protected by 24 different institutions ( Tab. 6; Fig. 2 ). The importance
of the role played by amateurs and farmers for "in situ" and or "on farm" conservation of old varieties
of fruit crops has been mentioned by several authors (Perna and Della Ragione, 1992).
3.2 Forest and perennial species
In 1988, all over the world, more than 3,500 protected areas were counted, distributed in 125 countries,
for a total of 4,300,000 sq km. Several species have been preserved. For example, in the Caucasian
mountains, the wild relatives of wheat and fruit trees have been protected; on the east coast of the
Caspian Sea, the wild pistachio, apricot and almond trees and several wild forages; in Ethiopia the wild
species of coffee. At present, in the Ivory Coast, over 28 parks and reserves preserve about 5,000 sq Km
of tropical forest; in Tanzania there are parks for 12% of the total surface, in Botswana for 18%.
In Italy the total surface covered by forest trees is of ca. 87,000 sq Km, which represents the 29 % of
the total surface of the peninsula . Unfortunately until 1985 only 7% of the total forestry surface under
bonds, that is ca. 6,000 sq Km, was submitted to naturalistic bond, like parks, reserves, oasis, etc. ( Tab.
7 ).
3.3 National parks
Today, as far as the national parks are concerned, the situation is slightly improved. In fact, at present,
there are 18 national parks for a total surface of 9,430 sq Km ( Tab. 8; Fig. 3 ). In these areas, several
species find an adequate preservation. However experts suggest that, if the objective is protection and
conservation of existing species, in these areas human activities should be continued, exerting the same
influence as in the past.
The limits of this kind of conservation are represented by the high costs, unavailability of large surfaces,
and the impossibility to carry it out in all the parts of the world.
3.4 Biosphere reserves
This type of protected area is especially suitable for conserving wild relatives. The aims of a biosphere
reserve are to conserve genetic resources and representative samples of the world's ecosystems;
whatever is the aim, education and training are priorities.
Unesco's Man and the Biosphere Program ( MAB ) started the idea of biosphere reserves in 1974 and,
since then, some 269 protected areas in 70 countries around the world have entered into the Unesco list
and are part of the MAB network.
In Italy, in 1977 three biosphere reserves ( Tab. 8; Fig. 3 ) have been designeted: Miramare ( Trieste