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INTRODUCTION
The Pakistan
covers a land area of 796,095 km, almost all of which might
be consider part of watershed of River Indus, with its dramatic
geological history, broad latitudinal spread and immense attitudinal
range, Pakistan span a remarkable number of the world's broad
ecological regions. According to various classification system
(UNEP 1995) Pakistan include example of three of the world
eight bio-geographic 'Realms' (The Indo-Malayan Realm, Palaearctic
Realm and Aficatropicul Realm), four of the world's ten biomes
(the desert biome, temperate grass land biome, tropical seasonal
forest biome and mountain biome) and three of the world four
'domains'.
The ecological
trend of greatest concern in Pakistan today is the continuing
loss, fragmentation and degradation of natural and modified
habitat: the forest area, already greatly reduced and fragmented,
is suffering further loss and degradation; similarly most
rangelands are suffering further degradation same impact is
visiblion crop biodiversity.
IN-SITU
CONSERVATION AND DEVELOPMENT
The Government
of Pakistan is very serious about the conservation of its
genetic resources. The in-situ conservation and Development
activities are more pronounced in the forest sector. The majority
of protected areas were created in the 1970s and paid insufficient
attention to ecological criteria and requirements of local
communities. Today may of the protected areas are too small
and isolated to be effective. The Biodiversity Action Plan
(BAP) has been prepared for approval of Government of Pakistan.
The main recommendations are as under:
- Strengthen
the protected areas system in Pakistan and its contribution
to biodiversity conservation.
- Conserve
biodiversity outside protected areas.
The project
proposal under preparation for appropriate funding from the
international agencies. The financial support is highly essential
for institute conservation activities.
EX-SITU
CONSERVATION
The Plant
Genetic Resources activities were started in early seventies
and programme was strengthened and upgraded as Plant Genetic
Resources Institute (PGRI) in 1993. Since the adoption of
Global Plan of action (GPA) on genetic resources in 1995.
The PGRI undertook eleven - plant collecting expedition and
able to add 1402 accessions of several crops. The entire (16000)
accessions of all crop were rejuvenated and stored in the
new genebank. Since the establishment of PGRI, the Project
was partially funded by Japan International Cooperation Agency
(JICA) as Project Type Technical Cooperation (PTTC) initially
for five years which terminated in May, 1998.
Under
the present economic condition there is a need for additional
funding for optional operation of PGRI. There are several
areas in the country which require to be collected for several
species. At the same time there is a need for exploration
and collection of neglected/under utilized crops and medicinal
plants. The activities could be undertaken in collaboration
with IPGRI/WANA, office or other international agencies located
in Pakistan or abroad. There is a need to create special funds
to strengthen Plant Genetic Resources (PGR) activities in
the developing countries.
The PGRI
provided 19,009 accessions of wheat, rice, sorghum, maize,
millet, food legumes, oilseed crops and other crops germplasm
to different research organization within the country and
abroad to promote sustainable utilization of crop germplasm.
The breeder from different crop commodity programme were able
to develop suitable crop varieties for different agro-ecological
region of the country. The germplasm especially chickpea,
lentil, wheat, barley, oat, rice was enormously used in crop
breeding. The PGRI Lab. also screened various crop germplasm
against abiotic and biotic stresses. The same information
were published in the respective crop catalogues for dissemination
and expeditious utilization. A plant germplasm catalogues
has been published and circulated. The PGRI trained 13 scientists
and three technical assistant on different aspect of Plant
Genetic Resources and maintenance of research facilities respectively
in Japan over the period of five years. But there is a strong
need to train our documentation staff as this field was neglected
during the human resource development.
The areas
such as developing appropriate monitoring and early warning
system for the loss of PGRFA, comprehensive information system,
expanding and improving education/training and public awareness
need further attention for promotion PGRFA.
- The
national programme on Plant Genetic Resources for Food and
agriculture was established in early 1997 and ultimately
upgraded to Plant Genetic Resources Institute (PGRI) in
1993. Mr. Rashid Anwar, Director (PGRI), National Agricultural
Research Centre was declared as National Coordinator in
1994 by Ministry of Food & Agriculture, Islamabad.
- The
National Committee on PGRFA was established in 1996 under
the Chairman of Director General (NARC). The first meeting
of the committee took place during September, 1996. Later
on it was advised to consolidate and restructure the committee
which is under process.
- The
PGRI organized a international seminar on "Plant Genetic
Resources for Food Security in South and West Asia" from
3-6 November, 1997 (copy of the abstract attached).
- PGRI
is collaborating with the department of Forest, Ministry
of Environment for conservation of forest tree seeds and
monitoring of protected areas through IUCN. The conservation
activities on Animal Genetic Resources are at a very primitive
stage. The activities are being looked after by the Animal
Research Institute, NARC, Islamabad.
- As
indicated in section II that national committee on PGRFA
is under consolidation and restructuring, therefore, was
not consulted for the preparation of present report.
- The
national committee on PGRFA is represented by Plant Breeder,
Policy makers, and University member, but unfortunately
NGO, Farmer and Private sector is not involved. It is planned
that IUCN (NGO) be included in the National Committee.
- Since
1995 there is a move to change and formulate National Policy
and legislation in the areas of Conservation. The issues
particularly Access to Genetic resources and benefit sharing,
Biodiversity Act, Breeder's right, Intellectual property
right in relation to WTO rules and regulation has been formulated/updated
for the further discussion and approval by Government.
In addition,
the National Biodiversity Action Plan has been drafted in
consultation with relevant scientist in the country, which
cover all most all aspect of Plant Genetic Resources for Food
and Agriculture. The BAP draft has been submitted for approval
of Government of Pakistan.
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