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

1.3 Botanic gardens
Plant genetic resources activities in Spain
The botanic gardens in Spain have traditionally played an important role in the conservation of the plant
biodiversity and together with the Botanic Department of the Universities, are the most important
centers of basic botanic researchs.
But, in the last ten years, Botanic Gardens as well as the Botanic Department of some Universities have
been improving its capacity forming a new generation of seed banks that depend on them.
They are small banks that only work in wild species using the more sofisticated method of conservations.
They care on the conservations of endemisms and species soon to become extint.
These new seeds are:
- Seed bank of Botanic Garden of Sóller (Mallorca)
- Seed bank of Botanic Garden of Marimurtra (Gerona)
- Seed bank of Botanic Garden of Córdoba
- Seed bank of Botanic Garden "Viera y Clavijo" (Canarias)
- Seed bank of Real Jardín Botánico (Madrid)
- Seed bank of Vegetal Biology Dep. Escuela Técnica Superior de Ingenieros Agrónomos de Madrid
The relation between the Botanic Gardens and its seed banks and the above indicated agronomic seed
banks network is improving close through the exchanges of conservation methods and technologies. But
the most important potential relationship between seedbanks, botanic gardens and breeders is in the
search for genes of resistances in wild species useful in agricultural research through biotechnology
methods.
NGO Activities
In Spain there are some NGO working in Plant Genetic Resources and the coordination between them
and the public Program could be very useful.
The relations between these NGO and Public Centers are not yet well established.
To promote a good coordination it is necessary to organize meetings to develop the future cooperation.
2. In-Situ Conservation
The in-situ conservation in Spain is carried out most of all through the National Parks but also by other
national protected spaces.
The law 4/89 (1989-March-27) has control on the protection of natural resources in our country. This
rule created the National Parks network, where each park is a representative pattern of the biodiversity
of the different Spanish environment. There are nine National Parks in Spain.
Here the conservation is nearly natural with few human inferences, except the necessary regulation to
avoid dangerous or undesirable consequences of human activity.
At the moment the studies performed in these locations are principally theoretical and basic researches