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Global Plan of Action 1.
The Conference recognized that the Global Plan of Action was
an important element of the Global System on Plant Genetic
Resources for Food and Agriculture and could be an essential
contribution to facilitating the implementation of Agenda
21 and of the Convention on Biological Diversity. 2.
The followup processes call for action at local, national,
regional and international levels and should involve all parties
which were associated with the preparation of the International
Technical Conference: the national governments, local and
regional authorities, regional and international organizations,
both intergovernmental and non governmental, the scientific
community, the private sector, local communities and farmers
and other agricultural producers and their associations. The
implementation of the Global Plan of Action should take place
as an integral part of the Global System for the Conservation
and Utilization of Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture
and in harmony with the Convention on Biological Diversity.
3.
In order to enlist the widest participation and support for
the implementation of the Global Plan of Action, the outcome
of the Leipzig Conference should be reported to the major
international, regional and national bodies and fora dealing
with food and agriculture and biodiversity, including, in
particular, the FAO Conference, the Conference of the Parties
to the Convention on Biological Diversity, the Commission
on Sustainable Development of the United Nations, and the
governing bodies of the United Nations Environment Programme,
the Global Environment Facility, the United Nations Development
Programme, the International Fund for Agricultural Development,
the World Bank, the Common Fund for Commodities, Regional
Development Banks and the Consultative Group on International
Agricultural Research, inviting their member constituencies
to promote and take part as appropriate in the implementation
of the Global Plan of Action. It
should also be reported to the World Food Summit which meets
in Rome in November 1996. 4.
Overall progress in the implementation of the Global Plan
of Action and of the related followup processes would be
monitored and guided by the national governments and other
Members of FAO, through the Commission on Genetic Resources
for Food and Agriculture. In
order to discharge this function, the Commission could develop
a phased programme with appropriate cost estimates, and a
procedure for the review of the Global Plan. Such
review should deal with the progress made at national, regional
and international levels in implementation, elaboration, and
adjustment as appropriate, of the Plan, thus making it a "rolling''
plan as recommended in Agenda 21. A first review should be
undertaken within four years. 5.
To this end, the Commission on Genetic Resources for Food
and Agriculture should set the formats for receiving progress
reports from all the parties concerned and establish criteria
and indicators to assess progress. In
the light of its findings, the conclusions of the Commission
should be brought to the attention of concerned governments
and international institutions to fill gaps, rectify imbalances
or lack of coordination, and to consider new initiatives or
activities. Those
conclusions of the Commission which have major policy implications
should also be brought to the attention of the FAO Council
and Conference as was already the case with its predecessor
body, the Commission on Plant Genetic Resources, and to the
Conference of Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity
and/or to the Commission on Sustainable Development for action,
endorsement or information, as appropriate. 6.
The Conference recognized the need for financial resources
for the implementation of the Global Plan of Action and that
its full implementation would involve a significant increase
in the activities currently taking place. The
Conference recognized that the Global Plan of Action would
have to be implemented progressively, and adequate financial
resources commensurate with the scope of the Global Plan of
Action should therefore be mobilized. Each
country should determine its own priorities in the light of
those agreed in the Global Plan of Action and in the framework
of its food and agriculture development needs. 7.
The Conference recognized that significant, but indeterminate,
funding for plant genetic resources for food and agriculture
is currently provided by national governments and other domestic
sources of funds, multilateral organizations and from bilateral
and regional sources. 8.
Recognizing the importance of the contribution of domestic
sources, including both public and private sectors, the Conference
strongly recommended that each country make every possible
effort to provide, in accordance with its capacities, financial
support and incentives with respect to its national activities
which are intended to achieve the objectives of the Global
Plan of Action, in accordance with its national plans, priorities
and programmes. 9.
The Conference reaffirmed that international cooperation for
conservation and sustainable utilization of plant genetic
resources for food and agriculture should be strengthened,
in particular to support and complement the efforts of developing
countries and countries with economies in transition. 10.
The Conference reaffirmed the commitments for the new and
additional funds made under Agenda 21 of the United Nations
Conference on Environment and Development and by the Parties
to the Convention on Biological Diversity. Under
those commitments, funds should be made available to finance
the implementation, by developing countries and countries
with economies in transition, of the Global Plan of Action.
Such
funding should come from developed countries and/or other
sources, and should, where possible, seek to facilitate the
leveraging of other funding sources and mechanisms, and assist
countries to implement the Global Plan of Action. Every
effort should also be made to seek new, additional and innovative
sources of funding within the process of the implementation
of the Global Plan of Action. 11.
The analysis of information on activities on plant genetic
resources for food and agriculture world wide and through
all funding sources should be extended under the auspices
of the Commission on Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture.
This
work should help to utilize the funds more efficiently and
assist national, multilateral, regional and bilateral organizations
to develop effective programmes. It
should be a continuing process of monitoring and should not
be construed as a precondition to funding. The
major multilateral and bilateral funding and development institutions
should also be invited to examine ways and means of supporting
the implementation of the Global Plan of Action. In
this process, close cooperation should be maintained with
the Convention on Biological Diversity. 1
Extract of the Report of the International Technical Conference
on Plant Genetic Resources, paragraphs 18 to 28. Additionally,
the Conference took note of the FAO Secretariat's estimate
of the cost of implementing the Global Plan of Action and
of its identification of existing sources of financing and
of possible new sources of financing. (Extracted
from para. 17 of the Report).
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