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Global Plan of Action 129.
Assessment: The diversity of many species of
plants cannot be conserved conveniently or effectively as
seed. Some
species are vegetatively propagated and others have "recalcitrant''
seed. A
number of major staple food crops, tropical fruits, and export
crops, fall into these categories. Due
to technical difficulties, the conservation of genetic resources
of such plants is often not given appropriate attention. 130.
Many plants of local importance for food and agriculture have
been virtually neglected by traditional genebanks. Collections
are ad hoc and no coordinated efforts have been made to ensure
that adequate germplasm samples are maintained for conservation
and further development. 131.
Botanic gardens, field genebanks, and the use of new technologies,
including in vitro methods, could be developed more fully
to complement and expand conservation of plant genetic resources
for food and agriculture. 132.
Longterm objectives: To conserve plant genetic
resources for food and agriculture so that they will be available
for use. 133.
Intermediate objectives: To develop management
strategies for ex situ conservation of vegetatively propagated
and recalcitrant seeded plants, as well as for species neglected
in current conservation activities. 134.
To promote the development and transfer of appropriate technologies
for the conservation of such plants. 135.
To encourage and strengthen the involvement of botanic gardens
in the conservation of plant genetic resources for food and
agriculture, particularly for those species for which they
already have a comparative advantage. 136.
Policy/strategy: Governments, international
agricultural research centres, NGOs, and funding agencies,
should provide adequate, appropriate, and balanced support
for the conservation of vegetatively propagated and recalcitrant
seeded plants. 137.
Capacity: Botanic gardens and field genebanks
should be strengthened, particularly in relation to their
capacity to conserve species neglected by more agriculturallyrelated
facilities. In
this regard, capacity building is especially needed in developing
countries. As
appropriate, genebank facilities of botanic gardens might
be strengthened. 138.
Simple, lowcost botanic gardens, arboreta and field genebanks
associated with universities, schools and other institutions
should, as appropriate, be strengthened and encouraged to
promote education and public awareness. 139.
Support should be given to training in in vitro techniques
and to other new and appropriate technologies. In
accordance with national, subregional and regional needs
and priorities, support should be given to establishing the
capacity to use such technologies. 140.
Research/technology: Protocols should be developed
for in vitro conservation and other conservation technologies
for important vegetatively propagated and non orthodox seed
plants. 141.
An assessment should be made of the conservation needs of
other species for food and agriculture which are not adequately
conserved, including a survey of activities as a prerequisite
for further planning and coordination of collecting and conservation.
142.
Administration/coordination: Crop and regional
networks as well as relevant international botanic garden
organizations, with the support of international agricultural
research centres and national agricultural research systems,
should regularly assess the state of conservation of vegetatively
propagated and nonorthodox seeded plants, and make recommendations
and take action as appropriate. 143.
Botanic Gardens should be encouraged to participate actively
in the activities of international botanic gardens associations.
Links
between international botanic garden organizations (such as
the International Association of Botanic Gardens and Botanic
Gardens Conservation International) and those responsible
for and engaged in conservation of food and agriculture species
(inter alia, FAO, IPGRI and other international agriculture
research centres) should be strengthened. Similar
links should be made between institutions, including the private
sector (such as the nursery trade), at the national level.
Practical
cooperation should be encouraged as a matter of priority.
144.
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