International Treaty on Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture

Setting conservation priorities for crop wild relatives in the Fertile Crescent

The aim of this paper is to contribute directly to the systematic, long-term conservation of crop wild relatives (CWR) in the Fertile Crescent by setting conservation priorities to secure and improve CWR conservation in situ and ex situ as a means of underpinning global food security. This paper presents the first inventory of 220 priority CWR for the Fertile Crescent. The inventory helps to improve in situ and ex situ conservation and the genetic diversity of CWR. Both the inventory and the methodology applied in prioritisation can be used in setting national, regional, and global conservation strategies. The recommendations will help the Fertile Crescent meet its targets in conserving CWR diversity as well as making sure that CWR genetic resources are preserved to prevent and tackle global food insecurity.

Topic(s)
Sustaining local crop diversity, Policy for sustainable use
Subject area(s)
Promoting local crop diversity
Subject category(ies)
Improving the knowledge base for local crop diversity, The role of gene banks
Publisher
Genetic Resources and Crop Evolution
Publication date
2018
Resource link
Resource type
Article or presentation, Case study
Resource format
PDF
Primary geographic focus
Near East
Open access
Yes


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