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Looking Forward: Role of AKST in Meeting Development and Sustainability Goals | 139
countries of CWANA (Dupuy et al., 2002; ACSAD et al., 2004). Many different methods of combating this phenomenon are known (for a review see Ramadan and Al Sudairawi, 2005), which allows AKST in CWANA to capitalize on lessons learned not only in the region but also in Sahelian countries and in China and Mongolia. 5.2.2.3 Biodiversity Biodiversity is undoubtedly being lost in many parts of the globe, often at a rapid pace. This loss poses a serious threat to agriculture and the livelihoods of millions of people. Conserving biodiversity and using it wisely is a global imperative. Biodiversity provides the foundation for our agricultural systems. It provides the sources of traits to improve yield, quality, resistance to pests and diseases, and traits than can adapt to changing environmental conditions such as global warming. Loss of biodiversity requires countermeasures such as increased efforts toward conservation by different means (see Table 5-2). Conservation may be in situ or ex situ, in either natural or seminatural habitat, or in some purpose-built environment (Braun and Ammann, 2002). The choice of one technique or the other, or a combination of both, will depend on the particular case. In situ conservation will involve maintaining and protecting natural habitats, while botanical gardens and seed banks are used for ex situ conservation. Both of the latter require precise knowledge of taxonomy. Today, conservation also embraces various components of agrobiodiversity like crop varieties, landraces, semidomesticates and crop relatives. The methods of biotechnology can be applied to the study of virtually any biological phenomenon and will in some cases have practical applications for maintaining biodiversity. Conversely, threats to biodiversity by biotechnology also need to be considered. |
Different approaches to conserving biodiversity and different ways of using genetic resources are described here in more detail. One approach is on-farm management that involves maintaining crop species on farms or in home gardens; ICM may play an important role in this approach. Wild populations regenerate naturally and are dispersed naturally by wild animals and winds and in water courses. A second approach is the in situ conservation of forests and other wild plant species, often carried out through, but not limited to, designated protected areas such as national parks and nature reserves. In addition and depending on the type of species to be conserved, different ex situ conservation methods may be used. A complementary conservation strategy can be defined as âthe combination of different conservation actions, which together lead to an optimum sustainable use of genetic diversity existing in a target gene pool, in the present and futureâ (Bioversity, 2007). It should not be forgotten that the main objective in any plant genetic resource conservation program is to maintain the highest possible level of genetic variability present across the gene pool of a given species or crop, both in its natural range and in a germplasm collection. Plant genetic resource conservation and use may greatly benefit from applying modern developments in molecular genetics. CWANA countries could benefit from the program the International Plant Genetic Resources Institute (IPGRI) has identified, which includes the following components (IPGRI, 2001):
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Table 5-2. Approaches to conserve biodiversity.
Intervention |
Description |
Move toward sustainable agriculture |
Develop means to support sustainable agricultural production that minimizes negative effects on natural biodiversity |
Keep bioregional perspective |
Adopt a broader perspective of agriculture to capitalize on shared regional opportunities offered |
Share inventories and information |
Survey, inventory and disseminate information for enhancing agricultural development |
Conserve genetic resources |
Develop national ex situ storage facilities |
Manage genetic resources on farm |
Enhance on-farm management of genetic diversity (landraces and traditional breeds of livestock) and explore ways to manage this diversity in a more efficient and durable way. |
Broaden the genetic basis of crops and livestock |
Efforts are needed to widen the genetic base of modern cultivars and breeds, usually very narrow. |
Conserve biodiversity in natural ecosystems |
Natural and seminatural ecosystems contain wild species, races and populations of great importance for food and agriculture; efforts need to be developed to strengthen maintenance of these ecosystems across the region. |
Broaden cultivated crop portfolio |
Efforts need to be directed toward widening diversity of farm crops and breeds to promote agricultural sustainability |
Source: Street and Khalikulov, 2004.
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