Regional Co-operation in Southeast Asia for Plant Genetic Resources
(RECSEA-PGR)
RECSEA-PGR in brief
RECSEA-PGR is the Regional Co-operation in Southeast Asia for Plant Genetic Resources set up in December 1993 (See
History). Membership in the RECSEA-PGR is
open to countries in Southeast Asia. Current members are Indonesia, Malaysia, the
Philippines, Papua New Guinea, Thailand, Singapore and Vietnam (See List of Members). Other countries in Southeast Asia are
invited to join. The Chair of RECSEA-PGR is rotated every two years among
the members. The current Chairperson is not available. The first meeting was held in Bogor, Indonesia in December 1993, the
second meeting in Hanoi, Vietnam in May 1997 and the third meeting in
Serdang, Malaysia in September 1999 . The fourth meeting was held in the
Philippines in November 2002. The secretariat is located at IPGRI APO,
Serdang, Malaysia.
Activities
History and background
Goals and objectives
List of members/representatives
The activities based on needs expressed in the country reports are listed below.
1. Database development and sharing
2. Human resources development / Capacity building
3. Conservation protocols (In situ / In vitro)
4. Impact assessment and Public awareness
5. Maintenance and use of Germplasm
6. Germplasm valuation and evaluation
7. Coordination and resource generation
Publications
- Anon. 1992. IBPGR Regional Committee for Southeast Asia. Minutes of the Meeting in Chiang Mai, Thailand, 9-12 Dec 1992. IBPGR/RECSEA, Bangkok, Thailand.
- Minutes of RECSEA meeting No. 1, No. 2 and No. 3
Before RECSEA-PGR, RECSEA was a committee that was set up in 1977 by the International Board for Plant Genetic Resources (IBPGR), the forerunner of IPGRI, called the Regional Committee for Southeast Asia (IBPGR-RECSEA). Prior to 1975, collaborative activities on PGR were almost non-existent in the region. In 1975, a symposium on Southeast Asian Plant Genetic Resources was convened by FAO and SEAMEO BIOTROP in Indonesia. This symposium led the way to activities on PGR and raised the awareness and importance of PGR in the region. Subsequently, RECSEA was founded by IBPGR in 1977 to administer a regional co-operative programme for exploration, conservation, characterization, evaluation and documentation of PGR in the region. Until 1987, the RECSEA meetings were held once a year, when proposals for IBPGR funding were considered and funding allocated, and reports were made on status of ongoing activities. In this way, RECSEA could exert much influence in the region, and encouraged strong national programmes on PGR in the member countries and collaboration among the countries. In 1986, with the establishment of its South Asia and Southeast Asia office in Delhi, India, IBPGR decided to discontinue the regional committee. Prompted by IPGRI, the participants of IBPGR-RECSEA Committee decided, however, to continue with RECSEA with some funding by members to attend it’s meeting. In the 1993 meeting, which was sponsored by IPGRI, a firm commitment was made by the members to form a Regional Cooperative forum called RECSEA-PGR and Dr Achmad Soedarsan of Indonesia who was the first chairman in 1993. IPGRI-APO consented then to provide the initial secretariat services. The second RECSEA-PGR meeting was held in Hanoi, Vietnam, 6-8 May 1997 and members from Indonesia, Malaysia, Papua New Guinea, the Philippines, Singapore and Vietnam participated. Chairpersons:
2004- Dr. Patricio S. Faylon from
the Philippines (interim)
2002-2003 Dr.Vichien Petpisit from Thailand
2000-2002 Dr. Patricio S. Faylon from the Philippines
1999-2000 Dr. Crisanto R. Escano from the Philippines
1997-1999 Dr. Mohamed Senawi bin Dato’ Mohamed Tamin from Malaysia
1993-1997 Dr. Achmad Soedarsan from Indonesia
Goals and objectives (revised in
2002)
Vision
An effective network to protect and harness the Plant Genetic Resources
diversity in SEA for food, nutrition and health securities, poverty reduction
and sustainable environment protection
Goal
To promote and enhance the sustainable conservation and utilisation of
the region's plant genetic resources (PGR) through collaborative activities
that are of mutual benefit to member countries.
Guiding Principles
* We recognize that geographical distribution of PGR goes beyond national
boundaries and therefore collaboration among member countries on plant genetic
resources and their utilization for the well-being of the region and humankind
is essential.
* The Network will operate consistent with each country's legislations and commitment to International Agreements related to PGR.
* Strong National Committees are essential for sustainable management of PGR.
Objectives
-To build and enhance national research capacity of member countries through
collaboration in and support to existing and new activities related to
database development and sharing, exchange of experts and policy
-To identify the training needs of member countries and implement a program to train current and future PGR researchers
-To use information technology to support the network in communication, locating /mapping diversity and public awareness
-To develop and share strategies and technologies for valuing collections, rationalizing collections and utilizations of important germplasm.
-To develop effective protocols for complementary conservation including in situ and ex situ conservation, e.g. cryopreservation and disseminate them to member countries
-To develop and implement a resource mobilization strategy in support of RECSEA-PGR
-To establish effective linkages with Regional and International organizations, to generate institutional support to RECSEA-PGR
List of members/representatives
Mr Wichar Thitiprasert
Director of Plant Varieties Protection
Department of Agriculture
Phaholyothin Rd, Charuchak
Bangkok 10900
Thailand
Tel : 662-940-5628 Extn 110
Fax : 662-5760548
Email : wichar_doa@hotmail.com
Dr Kusuma Diwyanto
Chairman of National Commission for Germplasm Resources
Jl. Merdeka 147
Bogor 16111, INDONESIA
Fax: 62-251327031
Email:
genres@indo.net.id
Person to contact :
Mrs. Sudiati Silitonga,
Research Institute for Agricultural Biotechnology and Genetic Resources (RIABGR)
Jalan Tentara Pelajar 3A,
Bogor 16111, Indonesia
Tel No : 62-251-337975 Fax No : 62-251-338820
E-mail : sdg_balitbio@bogor.indo.net.id
Dr Mohd.Shukor Nordin
Deputy Director,
Biological Resource Program Strategic Resource Research Center
MARDI, P.O.Box 12301,
50774 Kuala Lumpur, MALAYSIA
Tel: (603) 89437391 Fax: (603) 89487639
Email: dino@mardi.my
Ms Rosa
Kambuou
National Agricultural Research Institute
P.O. Box 4415
Lae, Morobe Province 411
PAPUA NEW GUINEA
Tel: (675) 4721751 Fax:
(675) 4722242
Email:
narics@global.net.pg
Dr. Patricio S. Faylon
Executive Director
Department of Science and Technology
Philippine Council for Agriculture, Forestry and Natural Resources Research and
Development (PCARRD)
Paseo de Valmayor, Los Banos, Laguna 4030 PHILIPPINES
Tel: (63)49-5360014, Fax: (63)49-5360016 / 5360132
Email: pcarrd@ultra.pcarrd.dost.gov.ph
Dr Chin See Chung
Director
National Parks Board
Singapore Botanic Garden
1 Cluny Road, SINGAPORE 259569
Tel: (65) 719938 Fax: (65) 4754295
Email: CHIN_See_Chung@NPARKS.gov.sg
Dr Luu Ngoc Trinh
National Coordinator on PGR
Vietnam Agricultural Science Institute
Vandien, Thanh Tri, Hanoi, VIETNAM
Tel: (844) 845802 /320 Fax: (844) 8613937
Email: TRINH2003@hn.vnn.vn
Interim
Secretariat: International Plant Genetic Resources Institute
Regional Office for Asia, the Pacific and Oceania (IPGRI-APO), P.O. Box 236, UPM Post
Office, 43400 Serdang, Selangor DE, MALAYSIA.
Tel: (603) 89423891 Fax: (603) 89487655
Email: ipgri-apo@cgiar.org
Paul Quek
Scientist, Documentation/Information
P.O. Box 236, UPM Post Office
43400 Serdang, MALAYSIA
Email: p.quek@cgiar.org
