CWR in situ conservation in the national and international context

Abstract

Wild plant species related to our crops (crop wild relatives, CWR) are an indispensable genetic resource for plant breeding. At the same time, they are important components for ecosystems and for ecosystem services. Like many other species, they are increasingly threatened by climate and environmental changes and preserving their diversity as a genetic resource is a common mission and concern of nature conservation and agriculture.

The genetic diversity of wild plants can only be preserved to a limited extent in ex situ conditions. In addition, evolutionary development and genetic adaptation are only possible if new genetic diversity is created through natural reproductive and dispersal processes. It is therefore recommended to preserve CWR primarily in situ, i.e. to maintain the natural habitats of species and viable populations, in order to preserve their adaptation potential. In situ conservation should be complemented by conserving samples in gene banks, which represent safety duplicates especially for endangered populations. Through ex situ conservation these resources also become more easily accessible for characterization, evaluation and use in research and breeding.

The need to preserve CWR genetic diversity is explicitly stated in global conventions and action plans such as the Convention on Biological Diversity, the Sustainable Development Goals of the United Nations, the International Treaty on Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture, and the Food and Agriculture Organization's Global Plan of Action for Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture. Member countries, such as Germany, undertake to develop conservation strategies for wild and cultivated plant species that combine the advantages of conservation in situ in natural habitats with the advantages of conservation ex situ in gene banks. The German national programme for plant genetic resources envisages the establishment of genetic reserves, with an initial focus on improving the conservation of species and species groups that are regarded as particularly important in Germany.

The establishment of the “German Network of Genetic Reserves” provides for a framework in which existing and future CWR conservation measures are integrated and coordinated. The network consists of sub-networks for priority CWR species or species communities, which are coordinated by competent agencies. Sub-networks consist of genetic reserves for populations selected on the basis of scientific criteria. The German Network is coordinated by the Information and Coordination Centre for Biological Diversity of the Federal Office for Agriculture and Food.

Depending on the biology of the genetic resources, the identification of populations and the designation of genetic reserves vary. Procedures were developed in four model and demonstration projects funded by the Federal Ministry of Food and Agriculture. These regarded the last surviving populations of wild vines, wild celery species, historical grasslands in the Swabian Alb and Alpine foothills and wild fruit species, primarily in forestry. Corresponding sub-networks are in different phases of establishment. The establishment, designation and longterm management of genetic reserves require interdepartmental cooperation between agriculture and nature conservation.