At the first International Technical Conference on Animal Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture, held in Interlaken Switzerland, in September 2007, the international community adopted the Global Plan of Action for Animal Genetic Resources (GPA). The GPA is the first ever adopted international framework to promote the sustainable use, development and conservation of animal genetic resources for food and agriculture. Specifically, among the four Strategic Priority Areas contained in the GPA, one is “Characterization, Inventory and Monitoring of Trends and Associated Risks”. To this end, the FAO is currently revising its “Draft Guidelines on Surveying and Monitoring of Animal Genetic Recourses”, “Draft Guidelines on Phenotypic Characterization” and “Draft Guidelines on Molecular Genetic Characterization”. Related documents can be downloaded from the following web site: Animal Genetic resources.

Since the adoption of the GPA, Central Eastern European countries have started to implement some of the actions contained in the GPA, according to their priorities. Because of the emphasis that the GPA puts on regional collaboration and exchange of experiences among National Coordinators, FAO regional workshop for Central and Eastern European National Coordinators for the Management of Animal Genetic Resources, entitled: Characterization, Inventory and Monitoring of Animal Genetic Resources willl be held in Tartu, Estonia, 17–19 May 2011. The main objectives of the workshop are to build capacity in surveying, monitoring and characterizing of AnGR in European countries with economies in transition. Specific objectives of the workshop are to

• Provide technical training on surveying and monitoring of AnGR to experts and National Coordinators for AnGR
• Provide technical training on phenotypic and molecular genetic characterization of AnGR to experts and National coordinators for AnGR
• Establish collaborative links on AnGR conservation activities among (Central and Eastern) European countries with economies in transition and between these countries and industrialized nations
• Obtain feedback on the Draft Guidelines

For more information please contact Mr Andriy Rozstalnyy FAO Animal Production and Health Officer e-mail:[email protected]