In situ conservation of plant and forest genetic resources has been regularly discussed in Forest Genetic Resources Information, including full issues largely focussed on these subjects (nbr 14/1985, nbr 15/1987). In FGRI nbr 17 (1989), the publication of the Booklet, “Plant Genetic Resources: their conservation in situ for human use”, was announced (FAO 1989). This Booklet was prepared by FAO's Forestry Department under the auspices of the Working Group on In situ Conservation of Plant Genetic Resources of the Ecosystem Conservation Group, and was complemented later the same year, by a small leaflet, “In situ Conservation -conserving plant genetic resources in situ to meet today's and tomorrow's needs” (FAO 1989). Publication of these documents followed the publication, in 1975, of the FAO/UNEP “The Methodology for the Conservation of Forest Genetic Resources”, and in 1984, of the document, "A Guide to in situ Conservation of Genetic Resources of Tropical Woody Species (FORGEN/MISC/84/2).
In 1980 FAO initiated, with financial assistance from the United Nations Environment Programme, UNEP, a project on in situ conservation of forest genetic resources, through organizing an Expert Consultation on the subject1, followed by surveys of needs and possibilities, and pilot-scale activities, in Cameroon, Malaysia and Peru. Although collaboration between FAO and the countries participating in the project is still continuing on a modest scale, the project itself finished in the late 1980s; the final report on the project, dating to 1990, is available in a limited number of copies from FAO's Forestry Department. Activities of the project included the establishment of pilot in situ conservation areas of Polylepis sericea, Alnus jorullensis, Swietenia macrophylla and Cedrelinga catanaefolia in Peru, plus taxonomic studies in the genus Cedrelinga; exploration and identification of target species and areas for in situ conservation in Cameroon; and research on the reproductive biology of species identified as target species for in situ conservation in Malaysia, including some species of rattan (Calamus spp.). In complementary activities, financed by FAO's Regular Programme, studies were carried out in Brazil on the reproductive biology of Schizolobium paraiba, Chorisia speciosa and Esenbeckkia leiocarpa with a view to establish a sound basis for conservation activities in and ex situ; and two in situ conservation stands of outlying provenances of Prosopis cineraria, were established in P.D.R. Yemen.
Activities carried out within the framework of the inter-Governmental FAO Commission on Plant Genetic Resources, included a study carried out by FAO's Forestry Department in 1990 on the possibilities of establishing a global network of in situ areas for the conservation of genetic resources of plant and animal species. Two consultants, Professor L. Roche of the UK (focussing on the institutional aspects) and Dr. B.A. Wilcox of the USA (focussing on technical and scientific aspects), assisted FAO in this task. A limited number of copies of the document by Dr. Wilcox, entitled “Requirements for the Establishment of a Global Network of in situ Conservation Areas for Plants and Animals” (Forestry Dept FAO 1990, unpublished), is available from FAO's Forestry Department.
The Secretariat Note prepared by the Forestry Department for the 4th Session of the Commission, partly based on the studies of Roche and Wilcox, is reproduced in the next few pages.
Fourth Session of the FAO Commission on Plant Genetic Resources1 Secretariat note CPGRI 91/6 (Febr 1991).
1 Rome, Italy, 15–19 April, 1991
