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Global Plan of Action 241.
Assessment: Networks are important platforms
for scientific exchange, information sharing, technology transfer,
research collaboration, and for the determination and sharing
of responsibilities for such activities as collecting, conservation,
distribution, evaluation, and genetic enhancement. By
establishing links between those involved in the conservation,
management, development and utilization of plant genetic resources
for food and agriculture, networks can promote exchange of
materials on the basis of mutually agreed terms and enhance
the utilization of germplasm. In
addition, they can serve to help set priorities for action,
develop policy, and provide means whereby cropspecific and
regional views can be conveyed to various organizations and
institutions. 242.
Currently, a number of regional and cropbased networks are
operating. Some
networks, especially certain crop networks, are not fully
functional. These
are in need of strengthening. A
number of new networks need to be organized in order to ensure
that all regions benefit from the existence of active networks
covering the crops / plants of importance to the region. The
participation of countries with limited national capacity
in plant genetic resources for food and agriculture (inter
alia many of the least developed countries and small island
states) is particularly important, as it gives them access
to information, technology and materials. 243.
Longterm objectives: To ensure that all countries
are served by active regional and international networks and
an appropriate complement of cropbased, thematic and in situ
oriented networks. 244.
As a matter of high priority, promote scientific exchange
and cooperation, and to promote coordination, planning, and
priority setting at the regional level, as a means to avoid
duplication, to strengthen and make more efficient existing
work in plant genetic resources for food and agriculture,
and to minimize costs of conservation and utilization. 245.
To facilitate the setting of regional goals and priorities
and the implementation of these through existing national
and regional institutions. 246.
To facilitate consideration of integrated, ecoregional approaches
to conservation of plant genetic resources for food and agriculture,
including wild relatives of crops. 247.
Intermediate objectives: To strengthen existing
regional, crop and thematic networks. 248.
To establish active regional networks in areas not currently
covered by such. To
establish and strengthen 5 to 15 international crop and thematicallyoriented
networks, including in situ conservation networks, with broad
participation, open to any country. 249.
To facilitate and promote the participation of countries in
these networks. 250.
Policy/strategy: Governments should as a matter
of policy support the active participation of public and private
institutions in regional, crop and thematic networks. Cost
of such networks should be met by participants in the networks
according to their ability, complemented, as appropriate,
by support from governments and other sources. Participation
should be seen as benefiting the country and as a means for
pooling efforts among countries faced with similar challenges
and for promoting the sharing of benefits with other countries.
Both
cash and inkind contributions by governments to the networks
should be considered as meeting these obligations and contributing
to the implementation of the Global Plan of Action. Countries
should have appropriate oversight over the activities carried
out under the aegis of the networks. 251.
Governments, national research institutions, international
agricultural research centres, in particular IPGRI, and/or
cropspecific scientific organizations, may convene existing
and/or new crop or thematically oriented networks and/or facilitate
their work. Networks
may cooperate closely with, offering guidance as appropriate,
to international agricultural research centres and regional
institutions and efforts in order to ensure higher levels
of communication, accountability, and synergy. 252.
Networks should identify the opportunities for working with
nongovernmental organizations, and develop concrete actions,
particularly in the areas of training, access to reproductive
material, coordination of local initiatives, information,
and public awareness. 253.
Capacity: The building of networks requires
not only technical expertise, but substantial communication
and organization skills. It
is first and foremost a problem of organizing, coordinating
and facilitating. Resources
should be provided for such activities as: planning; communication,
including travel; meetings; network publications such as newsletters
and reports of meetings; servicing and strengthening of the
network. 254.
For regional networks, priority should be given to strengthening
existing networks or integrating countries not presently served
into them, and to establishing new networks in the following
regions: (a)
Pacific (b)
Caribbean (c)
CIS states of Central Asia (d)
West and Central Africa (e)
East Africa (f)
Indian Ocean Islands (g)
Black Sea, or Caucasus and other regions, when necessary.
255.
Research/technology: Networks provide a vehicle
for implementing collaborative research in mutually agreed
priority areas. As
appropriate and feasible, research, training and technology
transfer should be planned and/or implemented in collaboration
with the networks. 256.
Coordination/administration: Resources should
be made available to continue to service existing networks
as appropriate and to organize and facilitate the development
of new regional and cropbased networks. 257.
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